CarPlay/Android Auto module - $270 solution for pre-2020 trucks

I haven’t had any issues. Their email is listed on their website.

 

yeah my audio has been the same as before.

 

Thanks for the replies. I found their email at the bottom of the instructions honk@carsynctech.com

They're looking into the decoder version to see if it's the latest.

I've noticed that it's only doing it while I'm driving around. The second I start hitting the gas pedal whether it's in XM radio or Spotify the sound quality decreases tremendously like it's low bandwidth. It reminds me of a low quality downloaded song.

By the way, the devices I have connected to my Tacoma are the car Solutions anytime camera after the decoder, I also have the Katie Jo heads up display, a redarc trailer brake controller, the truck is also flashed with a VF tune with AGM battery voltage setting for the alternator. Also the JBL system speakers have been changed out to JBL replacements. It sounds great when it's parked.

I might have to start disconnecting devices I'll report back when I hear anything (hopefully, better sound quality)

 

I lied. The original NAV of the truck doesn’t work. I’ll have to email them about that. I did remove the Sirius XM module but that shouldn’t have affected anything.

 

Just ordered this. Hopefully it works as well as I hope!

 

Any other problems with it after couple years ownership?

 

I just purchased a JBL Entune 3.0 NAV unit + amp from a 2022 tacoma to swap out with my JBL Entune 2.0 NAV unit +amp from 2017 tacoma. Purchased harness from AutoHarnessHouse. Having issues with new Entune 3.0 recognizing a USB is contacted so CarPlay is projecting on screen. Audio also shows no usb connected. Purchased new cable (morphie usb to usb c) from Apple Store and CarPlay popped up momentary. Apple's adapter for usb c did not work. AutoHarnessHouse has been very helpful and is sending a replacement USB adapter to see if it fixes the problem. Any one else have this issue ? any troubleshooting advice? I have triple checked all connections.

Also noticed the brackets from old amp do not connect to new amp.

Im using a iPhone 16 pro

 

Nice Work! How are you liking it still? Any glitches or firmware update issues to date?
Thank you

 

Anyone having issues using Apple FaceTime while connected to the unit? If so, any fixes?

 

I have not tried FaceTime while connected to the CarPlay unit. I will play around with it some this weekend and see what happens. I would really like to get mirroring working but I don't think it will be possible. On a side note I have tried watching YouTube videos on my phone while audio is connected to CarPlay, parked of course not driving. The audio has a very noticeable delay from the video making it unwatchable. I wish the unit had a HDMI AUX input. This would allow a lot of options. But this is asking for a lot from a unit that really just adds CarPlay to my stock head unit.

 

Just fyi, as of today, they are running a 15% off promotion at the CarSyncTech website, which brings the cost of the unit to around $255 before shipping. https://carsynctech.com/

 

A quick update. The one I had originally purchased was doing some weird things where it would restart randomly. I contacted the company and told me they would send me a replacement. I installed the replacement and it's been working flawlessly. I was even able to use my built-in GPS system when I was up in the mountains w/out cell signal. Saved my butt a little. Maybe they updated the firmware recently? I've been really happy with the replacement I received. So much so that I don't think I'll replace the stock deck anytime soon. I have everything I need now that I have wireless CarPlay with the stock deck.

 

Does this tab need to be removed? I noted some did.

 

I didn’t remove anything with my 2017 non-Jbl Entune system (came in my TRD Pro)

 

Got ahold of CST support. No need to remove lip. Was a bear to hook up one ribbon, cause on the Toyota side, the locking bar for the small ribbon came off. A few patient minutes and it finally clicked back in.
Left the XM module out. I never use it.
Buttoned it all up and tested - Everything works great!!

Thank you CarSyncTech and Tacomaworld.

 

This thread is the reason I bought this Android Auto solution, so I wanted to share my experience in case anyone runs into the problem I had.

Problem:
After following the included setup instructions Android Auto was playing audio from my phone, not the vehicle speakers.

TLDR:
On your phone, under Connected Devices/BlueTooth/Pairing find "Car Audio_xxxx" bluetooth device, click the settings cog wheel next to the name, turn off "Media audio."

Why was audio playing from my phone?
My phone would connect properly to the Tacoma head unit, both as phone and media player. Then it would connect briefly to "Car Audio_xxxx" bluetooth before connecting to "Car Audio_xxxx" wifi and disconnecting from "Car Audio_xxxx" bluetooth. When "Car Audio_xxxx" bluetooth connected it was taking phone audio away from the Tacoma head unit, and when "Car Audio_xxxx" bluetooth disconnected a moment later the audio was back to playing from my phone.

Solution:
On your phone, under Connected Devices/Bluetooth/Pairing find "Car Audio_xxxx" bluetooth device, click the settings cog wheel next to the name, turn off "Media audio." Do not turn off "Phone calls" here, doing so caused "Car Audio_xxxx" bluetooth to no longer auto-connect, and when manually connecting it would turn on both "Phone calls" and "Media audio" resulting in the same audio problem.

Hope this saves someone the hours of troubleshooting I spent >_<

2016 Tacoma, non-jbl. Android 12 phone.

 

I am having the occasional issue where the screen goes black. Happen three or four times over the past few months. Sometimes you can still hear audio and sometimes you can’t. If I turn the truck off and back on it comes right back on. Seems to happen when I am on long drives over an hour. I will email tech support and see what they say.

 

Does it go black and then the screen keeps going in and out while being unresponsive? I had this issue with the first CarPlay decoder I had. They sent me a replacement and it has been problem free.

 

Yes, goes black and the only way to reset is to turn my truck off and back on. Have to pull over to restart. Every once in a while the sound will still work. I will reach out about a replacement.

 

Yeah, I'd get a replacement. Mine did something similar the first go around. They're pretty quick and great to work with so send them a message and I'm sure they'll send you a replacement.