OEM Car Play Solution for 2016 and 2017 models

Yes, sorry. You do so by using the controls on the steering wheel that give access to all the information on the instrument cluster like settings, tire pressure, etc. If you scroll right and left thru the different options, you will see one for music indicated by the simbol, you select that and will get a submenu for all the different music sources. If you press “FM”, you will then have a list of your preset radio stations, once you select one you will start listening to it while having CarPlay on you HU. You will need to have the CARabc screen already on the HU for this to work.

 

Does anyone know what the boot time is for the carabc unit? Just wondering to know how long to allow to hit reverse and not black screen. Does it still send the song and artist title to the screen I the instrument cluster?

 

It doesn't transfer any information to the instrument cluster screen. Boot takes maybe 10-20 seconds

 

Thanks Saturnine!

 

I just tested it: once the CarABC logo appears, you can go into reverse and the backup camera works as normal. CarABC continues booting up while you are reversing, even though you're looking at the camera and not the bootup screen. You don't have to wait for full bootup of CarPlay to go into reverse.

The logo appears between 5 - 6 seconds after starting the truck. That's the minimum time to wait before driving if you want Carplay to appear automatically (like my wife's Rav4 with factory CarPlay does. The Rav4 CarPlay appear instantly either, but it can't be interrupted by reversing too soon).

This unit has continued to consistently connect wirelessly every time I get in the truck. I am pretty happy with it overall. The only issue I can't seem to solve is matching audio levels between Siri, navigation, and music & podcast apps. Navigation and Music can be balanced using the Settings screen in the CarABC menu (I have navigation maxed at 18 and music at 13), but Siri has a mind of it's own and is often very soft. If anyone knows how to turn that up I would appreciate the help.

 

Thanks BadDogMax! I can live with 10 seconds even. 5-6 seconds even better!

 

This might be a lengthy post. I tried the CarABC unit mentioned in this thread and a different model from CarSyncTech (CST).

$329 Wireless/Wired Adapter for CarPlay Android Auto Compatible with Toyota Tacoma 2014-2019 Entune 2.0 High Definition Audio High Screen Resolution.

https://www.amazon.com/2014-2019-Definition-Resolution-Mirroring-Compatible/dp/B0CB2ZR6QZ

Edit: Here's the install video they linked to in the install maual: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4thtJXk-bv8&t

I left an Amazon review that is pending review so it isn't live yet. So I'll post my summary here for those interested if the extra $100 is worth the upgrade.

Summary
*Yes, this unit is more expensive than the CarABC Carplay / Android Auto unit. But the screen resolution on the one from CST is much higher (no blurry text or images).
*CST is also more responsive as I often times found sluggish behavior on the CarABC unit.
*CST can be configured to use the factory unit Bluetooth or AUX audio sources. Bluetooth can be used so that map nav directions still happen even if using the car radio. I still prefer AUX though.
*CarABC had to fully load before I shifted into reverse. Otherwise it had issues with displaying the rear camera and may not load Carplay after shifting back into drive. CST does NOT have this issue and is a big advantage for me at least. I had a hard time trying to remember to wait until I backed out of the garage.
*The CarABC unit locked up on me a couple of times and I had to turn of the truck for it to work again. I've only had the CST version a few days, unable to comment on this.
*CST does NOT intercept the voice button. It triggers both Entune voice and Siri at the same time. But you can press the top phone button to bring up Siri. I guess not a giant issue, but is annoying.
*To bring up CarPlay or go back to factory, you press and hold the home button.
*I could not get phone mirroring to work on either unit. CST support says they are aware and hoping to fix. We'll see.
*CST support was very responsive to my questions. After first installing, the touch screen didn't work. They emailed me a firmware update and it worked fine after that. Shrug.
*The CST install process is more complicated than CarABC. You have to remove the screen and replace a ribbon cable so that it can overlay its video over the factory. But my oh my, does the video quality look better. My Wife even said it looked a lot better.
*Both CarABC and CST auto load when starting the truck.

 

I had the CarABC and returned it for every reason you listed. I’m very interested in ordering this after your review, so thanks!

Is there any audio lag when connected via Bluetooth to the CarPlay software? What about when connected via wire? I prefer to use my fast charger so the wireless option is preferred. Thanks in advance

 

This looks great and I'll likely buy it. I plan to use it mainly for Spotify and Google Maps. Any opinion on how those work on Carplay?

 

I have only used wireless when connecting. Their recommended method is to use the factory Bluetooth as the audio input source. It will have the same delay or lag as you see with entune today. This also requires 2 Bluetooth connections, one to the factory unit and one to carplay. This method seemed clunky to me.

I mainly use Bluetooth to the carplay unit as the audio source with the factory audio input set to AUX. There is still a couple second audio delay happening there as well. And only one Bluetooth connection to carplay.

There are some quirks, which I expect with an unofficial addon. But I'm willing to put up with them over Entune.

My Amazon review is live now, I recommend reading it for additional details.

 

Google maps works just fine. Looked just like it did in a rental I had a few months back. The apple maps work well too. I go back and forth on which I like most.

I no longer use Spotify, only apple music and the sirius xm app. Sirius has some small issues that seem to be app related though.

 

How does the mic sound with carplay? Some reviews I have read online say when you call someone they can't understand you.

 

No one has complained about the audio quality during a call. I haven't been on the receiving end though. That said I didn't have any complaints with either unit.

 

Hmm. "Unavailable" now on Amazon...

 

Decoder is also available from carsynctech website

 

Damn I was thinking about buying one too…

 

It'll be back

 

This is a timely post.

I finally gave up on my module. I wanted to really like it but I found that I was rarely using it outside of the screen mirroring so that my kids could watch YT videos on the way to school. The audio quality in playback with the soundstage issues had me more often than not going back to Entune.

The nail in the coffin for me was that the module was generating noise on my left front channel. As soon as I would put the truck into accessory mode I would sporadically get some level of noise in the front speaker. It would gradual increase in volume to the point I could hear it over phone calls on Entune and talk radio. It wasn't every day that I would hear it, but I'd hear it more often than note. I bypassed the module and this static disappeared.

I really like the idea of CarPlay and having Waze / Spotify, but there were just enough issues with mine that I'm done. I'll be fully removing it from my truck in the next few weeks and selling on the module. Entune doesn't bother me enough that I'm in the market to replace it with a proper HU, but it's still annoying.

 

I just installed mine and it looks good. However, I just lost my regular GPS maps and got this error. Other than that, it works. I’ll have to check out the forums and see for the fix.

 

I had the same error