Android Auto freezes on big screen

[nanohead]

Not sure how to think about this problem. I might be the phone (Pixel 9 pro), but I'm not sure. The symptom is that the upper 70 of the screen, that displays Android Auto (maps, toolbar, media, etc) is hung most of the time. Occasionally, I can regain control, but in general, the screen is frozen. I cannot use the toolbar on the lower edge of the screen, if the maps are on the upper 1/3, I cannot make it full screen, etc. On some trips, Android Auto is basically useless.

Even if I disconnect, then reconnect, its hung.

I haven't had any modules replaced on my 2023, everything is as it was!

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[RickLightning]

First thing to try is to switch to Android Auto via cable and see if it still happens.

 

[nanohead]

Thanks Rick (as usual)

I've done that several times, with numerous different cables (incl the OEM google one) and it does the same thing. Sometimes that makes it even worse.... Have tried a few different phones too.

The Ford dealers aren't particularly adept at these subtle digital diagnosis unfortunately... don't know if we should even expect them to be

I know that there were some TSBs and field replacements of certain parts of the multi media controller that controls the screen, and some actual screen replacements. Don't know if this is a symptom of that.

 

[RickLightning]

We attempted to use Android Auto on a recent trip with our Pixel 6a phones. My phone was running GoogleMaps with Android Auto, and connected to Car Scanner, and running ABRP free version. I kept losing the Bluetooth connection between the phone and Car Scanner, and the phone and the vehicle.

I switched to a connection instead of WiFi, and still had the problem.

Before using GoogleMaps with Android Auto, I never had any issue like this.

I have since switched to a Pixel 8. I have not tested this new phone yet, but if I have the same issue then I'll run Car Scanner on an old Android phone.

 

[nanohead]

Thats a good idea. This happens less on the Mach E than on the Lightning, so part of my intuition is that there's something awry in the Lightning's media control plane, but I dunno

My wife has a Pixel 8a and that works generally ok and doesn't freeze, although it doesn't connect wirelessly in the Mach E about 50% of the time. Sometimes, it doesn't connect at all.....

I've asked for a warranty replacement phone from Google that comes today theoretically and will try that one and see if it behaves the same. The Pixel 9 Pro has a known set of problems around GPS freezing and hanging the phone on some units.

Will post when I do some more experiments....

 

[EFG]

I found I have similar (but of course different) problems with CarPlay on my
23 SR XLT Sync 4 display. It doesn't seem to help turning the truck off and back on, I need to do the Sync 4 reset function. Not sure about how this works on the "BIG screen" trucks but on mine it's the simultaneous press of power and fast forward buttons and hold for 10 seconds (I think I have that right) and the system display goes black and then resets. I do this maybe once every month or two when the system goes haywire.

Here's a video:

 

[bananaslug79]

Hey @nanohead , FWIW I have used Pixel phones exclusively with our Lightning for close to two years now. I did have an intermittent issue with the entire truck screen freezing and rebooting the whole system on occasion but lately that has seemed to have abated. Using a Pixel 9 Fold right now (and for a good long while, it's pricey!) but have used at least a Pixel 8, 6a, maybe some form of the 7 in there too (honestly can't remember). I have not seen the symptom you describe where it seems to be more of an Android/Maps issue. Wish I could help more...

 

[nanohead]

Thanks all.... I did some more experimentation today. It happened with the Lightning on my drive to the office this morning and my drive this afternoon. It was completely hung for a portion of the drive this afternoon. Only the Android Auto part was hung, I was able to select the Ford Apps (dot icon on the upper part of the screen) and was able to use Ford Navi perfectly fine and cycle through some Ford apps (useless as they are)

So in my estimation, its likely not the screen media control unit.

I then switched to our Mach E and lo and behold, the exact same thing happened. The quick launch toolbar was completely frozen, most of google maps was frozen, and I couldn't access any coolwalk features (smaller cards, windows, etc).

So at this point, I suspect the phone is the culprit for most of these problems. My replacement Pixel 9 Pro should be here this afternoon and will continue to experiment. I came from a Pixel 7 Pro and didn't have any of these problems.

Funny too, I figured I'd be generic-ish android phones from google so I would avoid these kinds of issues. But they are terribly sloppy software engineers on the android side.

 

[nanohead]

Update as of saturday 3/15. I received a replacement Pixel 9 Pro from google under warranty. Was not in "new unit" packaging, so I guess it was a refurb of some sort.

Did the migration from the phone that was hanging constantly to the new one. So far, I've tested it in the Lightning with a wired connection for Android Auto, and it works much much better, actually works as I would expect. But this is day 1 of testing. I will use it this week in both the Lightning and Mach E and see how it goes.

I'll test both wired and wireless in both cars. Will report back

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