CarPlay CarPlay adapter to convert to wireless CarPlay?

[Trader05]

I have a 2017 Accord w/o Nav and recently purchased the Carlinkit 2.0. It seemed to work fine at first, i didn't really go on a long drive when I first got it. I updated the firmware to the latest and noticed that its freezing up a lot more. The screen locks up and the audio plays fine (i use waze a lot). I'd have to press home on my car radio screen, then go back into carplay to restart the carplay app. I tried using compatibility mode through the Carlinkit options and it was worse. Today i'm going to try the CD quality audio now to see if it makes a difference.

Anyone else have similar issues? The rep from the Aliexpress store is trying to get me the original firmware, he suggest that would work best...

 

[AnthonyMacaron]

Hello, I have the Car2play dongle. It has been working fine since day one. Today I've tried to do an OTA update and when the dongle rebooted it froze so I disconnected it and the reconnected it but it does nothing. Now I can only see a blue light and nothing happens. Can somebody help me or is it bricked ?

I am currently trying to manually update (thanks to the first post of this thread) but I can't see any red light.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Hello, I have the Car2play dongle. It has been working fine since day one. Today I've tried to do an OTA update and when the dongle rebooted it froze so I disconnected it and the reconnected it but it does nothing. Now I can only see a blue light and nothing happens. Can somebody help me or is it bricked ?

I am currently trying to manually update (thanks to the first post of this thread) but I can't see any red light.

Manually updating is super temperamental. Make sure the thumb drive is formatted as FAT32, as small as heavenly possible (<32GB), there is nothing on the drive, the update file is at the root, and you are using a quality power supply plugged directly into a wall outlet.

 

[AnthonyMacaron]

Manually updating is super temperamental. Make sure the thumb drive is formatted as FAT32, as small as heavenly possible (<32GB), there is nothing on the drive, the update file is at the root, and you are using a quality power supply plugged directly into a wall outlet.

I am doing all that. I think the USB port is dead the thumb doesn't light up.

 

[Fluke1]

I am doing all that. I think the USB port is dead the thumb doesn't light up.

Few pages back, maybe 10 or more, there was a procedure introduced by @2018 Denali and implemented by @BUXjr that if you follow might bring back your dongle from the dead.

 

[KevinGrabher]

How do you guys currently perform updates via USB (for those that didn't result in bricks)?

Do you wait for lights on the adapter and then plug in the flash drive or do you plug in the flash drive into the dongle first and then plug it into power after?

 

[MrMister111]

How do you guys currently perform updates via USB (for those that didn't result in bricks)?

Do you wait for lights on the adapter and then plug in the flash drive or do you plug in the flash drive into the dongle first and then plug it into power after?

Updated first post, wall power off, plug in USB into dongle then into wall charger, then switch on power.

 

[toddm]

Can we revert to an older firmware with the same manual process to put on new firmware? I just had 2020.08.22 OTA installed on my carlinkit and it's HORRIBLE in my 2020 GMC Sierra. 4 out of 5 times it now won't connect and the infotainment unit will give a "Connect a compatible apple carplay device" error, and when it does connect, I can no longer go back to the infotainment home screen and back to carplay. In other words if you want to use any of the factory infotainment functions I now have to unplug/replug the carlinkit unit.

08.04 or 08.10 were way more functional on my system

 

[Fluke1]

Can we revert to an older firmware with the same manual process to put on new firmware? I just had 2020.08.22 OTA installed on my carlinkit and it's HORRIBLE in my 2020 GMC Sierra. 4 out of 5 times it now won't connect and the infotainment unit will give a "Connect a compatible apple carplay device" error, and when it does connect, I can no longer go back to the infotainment home screen and back to carplay. In other words if you want to use any of the factory infotainment functions I now have to unplug/replug the carlinkit unit.

08.04 or 08.10 were way more functional on my system

There's a chance that the firmware has not been installed correctly, maybe before reverting back you should reflash a try again.

 

[Skmzatlanta]

Can we revert to an older firmware with the same manual process to put on new firmware? I just had 2020.08.22 OTA installed on my carlinkit and it's HORRIBLE in my 2020 GMC Sierra. 4 out of 5 times it now won't connect and the infotainment unit will give a "Connect a compatible apple carplay device" error, and when it does connect, I can no longer go back to the infotainment home screen and back to carplay. In other words if you want to use any of the factory infotainment functions I now have to unplug/replug the carlinkit unit.

08.04 or 08.10 were way more functional on my system

Exactly same issue with my 2020 Camaro. Saw others with GM radios that had success. Was hoping for faster connection but will not connect at all now! "Connect a compatible apple carplay device" every time after 5 attempts. 08.10 worked well enough.

 

[AnthonyMacaron]

Few pages back, maybe 10 or more, there was a procedure introduced by @2018 Denali and implemented by @BUXjr that if you follow might bring back your dongle from the dead.

thank you for your response. I tried that and i can’t access the 192.168.50.2 page. And my phone doesn’t charge when connected to the dongle via usb.
any ideas ?

 

[KevinGrabher]

Updated first post, wall power off, plug in USB into dongle then into wall charger, then switch on power.

Great, thanks!

I think we should consider noting in the sticky that the USB-method is actually to be considered less risky? I think most bricks have occurred through OTA updates.

 

[Skmzatlanta]

Exactly same issue with my 2020 Camaro. Saw others with GM radios that had success. Was hoping for faster connection but will not connect at all now! "Connect a compatible apple carplay device" every time after 5 attempts. 08.10 worked well enough.

To add I now get the same error "Connect a compatible apple carplay device" when I plug it in using lightning cable! How does that happen?

 

[MrMister111]

Great, thanks!

I think we should consider noting in the sticky that the USB-method is actually to be considered less risky? I think most bricks have occurred through OTA updates.

All methods are a risk, OTA or USB, read the thread, both have happened.

It’s always a risk to do any updates unfortunately, Windows/Mac etc can all go wrong.

 

[red bourbon]

OK so I fell for a glowing review of the CarPlay2Air adapter on 9to5mac. After doing some research I stumbled upon this thread and holy cow there are a lot of replies.

Knowing that hindsight is 20/20, I'm curious if there is a recommended Carlinkit the will work with a 2016 Ford F150? When I look online there are about a half dozen versions marketed on Amazon of the Carlinkit. I'm using wired carplay today but love the idea of being able to add wireless carplay.

I've combed through a couple dozen pages on this thread and see lots of chatter about issues with these adapters, updating firmware (OTA of with a thumb drive/dongle combo).

Just not sure where to even start or if it's not even worth pursuing based on the year/make/model of my truck.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

 

[vesalius]

Great, thanks!

I think we should consider noting in the sticky that the USB-method is actually to be considered less risky? I think most bricks have occurred through OTA updates.

it was the other way around for some time. both can be perilous. I trust OTA more just based on past, but so many have grossly different experiences with these.

 

[KevinGrabher]

All methods are a risk, OTA or USB, read the thread, both have happened.

It’s always a risk to do any updates unfortunately, Windows/Mac etc can all go wrong.

it was the other way around for some time. both can be perilous. I trust OTA more just based on past, but so many have grossly different experiences with these.

I did actually dig through the entire thread (started early, when we were still on page 10 or something like that).
I guess I'm biased since I've done 3 USB-updates without issue and then it full-bricked on my first OTA update (no lights at all), but it did seem to me that overall there were waay more OTA bricks than USB-bricks (or at least the USB ones usually could be recovered), could be wrong though.

 

[KevinGrabher]

OK so I fell for a glowing review of the CarPlay2Air adapter on 9to5mac. After doing some research I stumbled upon this thread and holy cow there are a lot of replies.

Knowing that hindsight is 20/20, I'm curious if there is a recommended Carlinkit the will work with a 2016 Ford F150? When I look online there are about a half dozen versions marketed on Amazon of the Carlinkit. I'm using wired carplay today but love the idea of being able to add wireless carplay.

I've combed through a couple dozen pages on this thread and see lots of chatter about issues with these adapters, updating firmware (OTA of with a thumb drive/dongle combo).

Just not sure where to even start or if it's not even worth pursuing based on the year/make/model of my truck.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Here's a very short summary.

There are 2 adapters from a company called Carlinkit, one with a detachable USB-C cable and one with an attached USB-A connector.
The carplay2air is a rebranded version of the USB-A Carlinkit, it is exactly the same device and runs the same firmware.
1) There's also a version for Android head units - make sure you don't have one of those but one that says something like "FOR FACTORY CARPLAY"
2) Plug in the adapter and see what happens. Make sure you use the same USB-Port you usually use for wired Carplay in your car.
3) You should now be able to switch to Carplay on your Infotainmen (the adapter should then display some kind of welcome-screen that shows you instructions on connecting your phone). If not consider updating the adapter via USB or generally check if your adapter works properly in another car (preferably one you know is supported)

 

[André Belotti Lacerda]

Alguém tem o arquivo auto_box_updade.img de 2020.07.27?

 

[shadowmyst1975]

Can we revert to an older firmware with the same manual process to put on new firmware? I just had 2020.08.22 OTA installed on my carlinkit and it's HORRIBLE in my 2020 GMC Sierra. 4 out of 5 times it now won't connect and the infotainment unit will give a "Connect a compatible apple carplay device" error, and when it does connect, I can no longer go back to the infotainment home screen and back to carplay. In other words if you want to use any of the factory infotainment functions I now have to unplug/replug the carlinkit unit.

08.04 or 08.10 were way more functional on my system

Exactly same issue with my 2020 Camaro. Saw others with GM radios that had success. Was hoping for faster connection but will not connect at all now! "Connect a compatible apple carplay device" every time after 5 attempts. 08.10 worked well enough.

As has been noted several times, the 2020 GM vehicles use the Mylink 3 infotainment system for which support is very much still a work in progress/use at own risk situation - even more so than for everyone else. You can definitely expect to find serious issues like this to randomly pop up.

To downgrade, the process is the same as for upgrading via USB drive. Just download one of the older firmwares that have been posted in the thread to the USB drive first.

 

[bookemdano]

I did actually dig through the entire thread (started early, when we were still on page 10 or something like that).
I guess I'm biased since I've done 3 USB-updates without issue and then it full-bricked on my first OTA update (no lights at all), but it did seem to me that overall there were waay more OTA bricks than USB-bricks (or at least the USB ones usually could be recovered), could be wrong though.

I think the key with USB updates is having a reliable USB stick and a reliable power supply. I've been using the same cheapo 4GB USB stick since January in conjunction with an authentic iPad power brick. Knock on wood it has always worked.

OTA seems to me to be more prone to failure for two reasons:

1. The firmware has to be downloaded during the update process--either over WiFi or cellular, both of which can be spotty. With the USB method you can download the entire file beforehand, verify the checksum, etc. Carlinkit's server has also had periodic issues where a file download takes forever. I just feel better having the complete file downloaded prior to the update process.

2. Car USB ports can be unpredictable in their behavior. Some shut off when the engine shuts off, some stay active for 10-15 minutes afterwards, some stay on 24/7, etc. The car's computer is basically in charge most of the time, and who knows what all different scenarios might cause it to cycle power to the USB ports. Home power is (usually) much more reliable, and aside from a freak power outage, you control when the USB plug is powered and not powered.

That said, I've done a couple of OTA updates without issues. But I agree with KevinGrabher that USB on the whole is probably the safer way to go (with the tradeoff of being not quite as easy).

 

[Skmzatlanta]

As has been noted several times, the 2020 GM vehicles use the Mylink 3 infotainment system for which support is very much still a work in progress/use at own risk situation - even more so than for everyone else. You can definitely expect to find serious issues like this to randomly pop up.

To downgrade, the process is the same as for upgrading via USB drive. Just download one of the older firmwares that have been posted in the thread to the USB drive first.

Thank you. Performed usb downgrade to 8.10. Back to working. Phone connects via lightning cable again too. From reading other posts in forum thought downgrade was not possible.

 

[shadowmyst1975]

From reading other posts in forum thought downgrade was not possible.

There was a time it was not. But that was downgrading from 2020.06.xx/later firmwares to 2020.03.xx/earlier firmwares. It was resolved mid July but since the activation servers are no longer up it is pointless to go that far back now.

 

[toddm]

Huh, I seem to be unable to downgrade, same adapter/cable/usb method I've used in the past, tried a fresh format, uploaded the older firmware on the USB drive. Put the USB drive in the carlinkit, plugged it into the adapter. Light comes on solid red, never blinks, usb drive access light stays on. Firmware never gets installed, still 8/22. Tried 7/29, 8/04, 8/12 same results.

Unit still works if I plug it into the truck, and it still shows 8/22 firmware

Update: I was able to flash it back to 08/04, however what I had to do was plug the carlinkit unit into the power adapter without the USB drive with the firmware on it until it showed a solid red bar. Then I plugged the USB drive with the firmware on it, and it flashed red/green, for maybe 20 seconds, then went solid red. I was sure in the past I've plugged the usb drive with the firmware in before plugging it into the power adapter.

 

[shadowmyst1975]

Update: I was able to flash it back to 08/04, however what I had to do was plug the carlinkit unit into the power adapter without the USB drive with the firmware on it until it showed a solid red bar. Then I plugged the USB drive with the firmware on it, and it flashed red/green, for maybe 20 seconds, then went solid red. I was sure in the past I've plugged the usb drive with the firmware in before plugging it into the power adapter.

It's possible you did, but I have noticed that the flash behavior of the devices will vary firmware to firmware. For example, some of the newer firmwares will trigger the red/blue or red/green light yet some of the older ones will not - even when downgrading from a newer firmware.