CarPlay CarPlay Static/Interference with Maps and Music

[TMothy]

I recently purchased a new 2022 Nissan Frontier and since I got it, I've been having issues with CarPlay.

Whenever I use Maps (Apple or Google, regardless if it's running a route or not) and any kind of audio (Apple Music, Podcasts, 3rd Party apps) I get intermittent static and popping only while the vehicle is moving. It does not happen when stationary, either parked, or stopped at a light.

Strangely it doesn't seem to happen when I'm full screen in the music app. It does occur in the split screen and the issue is the most pronounced when full screen in the Maps app. Also it seems to temporally get worse while transitioning from one screen to the next. Like when it's working harder, the issue is worse.

On a recent trip out of town, I noticed when I was in a rural sparsely populated area, I wasn't getting any static at all, but as I got closer to my city's downtown area, the static returned and by the time I got downtown, the static was so bad CarPlay was unusable. That to me tells me it's an interference issue of some kind, but I can't figure out if it's a headunit issue or a iPhone issue.

I've taken it to two different dealers and they claim they weren't able to replicate the issue and essentially gave up. I've recorded the issue and sent it to the dealer and supposedly they have forwarded it to Nissan and are looking at a fix but that was over a month ago and no progress has been made.

I've been able to replicate the issue with two different iPhones, but it does seem like the issue is worse with my iPhone (13 Pro Max). I've taken it to the apple store and had them check the lighting connector thinking maybe bad/dirty contacts, but they couldn't find anything wrong with it visually. I've tried multiple lighting cables (brands and lengths) and while some are worse than others, I was able to reproduce the problem with every cable I tested.

If it's a bad phone, I have no problem replacing it, but the fact that I can replicate the issue with another phone leads me to believe that it's a headunit issue.

Has anyone else had an issue like this? Any advice?

 

[BrianCarroll1979]

Yes! My 2022 Nissan Titan does the exact same thing with my iPhone 12 Pro. We have a 2021 Rogue and it works normally. There’s got to be something screwy in the head unit!

 

[waw74]

an easy thing to try would be re-routing the cable and moving your phone, try to get the cable path as far from it's current path as possible. in case the phone or cable, just happens to be aligned with something inside the dash that's causing noise.

if that doesn't help... the following might help, it might not.....

try a ferrite, it's that plastic bump on the middle of some cords, usually lower powered DC stiff. It's got a magnet in it, and can help to block extra RF interface on the cord.
You can get them from amazon, well under $1 each, but you probably have to buy a multi-pack, but the whole thing should be under $10. They're split in half, and just snap together around the cord. If you have an older cord with one on it, you might be able to pop the latches on it, and re-use it.

you'd take your lighting cable run it though the middle, then snap it closed. I'd put it at the USB end of the cable. You can also loop it once, so the cable goes through the middle of the ferrite twice, which will help keep it from sliding along the cable.

https://support.klipsch.com/hc/en-us/articles/4416949281044-Using-Ferrite-Chokes-

 

[AZhappyjack]

I recently purchased a new 2022 Nissan Frontier and since I got it, I've been having issues with CarPlay.

Whenever I use Maps (Apple or Google, regardless if it's running a route or not) and any kind of audio (Apple Music, Podcasts, 3rd Party apps) I get intermittent static and popping only while the vehicle is moving. It does not happen when stationary, either parked, or stopped at a light.

Strangely it doesn't seem to happen when I'm full screen in the music app. It does occur in the split screen and the issue is the most pronounced when full screen in the Maps app. Also it seems to temporally get worse while transitioning from one screen to the next. Like when it's working harder, the issue is worse.

On a recent trip out of town, I noticed when I was in a rural sparsely populated area, I wasn't getting any static at all, but as I got closer to my city's downtown area, the static returned and by the time I got downtown, the static was so bad CarPlay was unusable. That to me tells me it's an interference issue of some kind, but I can't figure out if it's a headunit issue or a iPhone issue.

I've taken it to two different dealers and they claim they weren't able to replicate the issue and essentially gave up. I've recorded the issue and sent it to the dealer and supposedly they have forwarded it to Nissan and are looking at a fix but that was over a month ago and no progress has been made.

I've been able to replicate the issue with two different iPhones, but it does seem like the issue is worse with my iPhone (13 Pro Max). I've taken it to the apple store and had them check the lighting connector thinking maybe bad/dirty contacts, but they couldn't find anything wrong with it visually. I've tried multiple lighting cables (brands and lengths) and while some are worse than others, I was able to reproduce the problem with every cable I tested.

If it's a bad phone, I have no problem replacing it, but the fact that I can replicate the issue with another phone leads me to believe that it's a headunit issue.

Has anyone else had an issue like this? Any advice?

Make sure your head unit firmware is up to date. You may need to check with a dealer/service department for the latest. I had an issue with my Ford (SYNC3) and the dealer had an upgrade newer that what was available via the car update process. It's worth a shot.