Phone connectivity is squirrelly

3650 Views 10 Replies 7 Participants Last post by hasarad, Oct 13, 2018

dr_glenn

Discussion Starter · Jul 3, 2018

Immediately hit some snags with the phone (Android Moto G5). I expect that some software update will eventually arrive to fix these problems.

First did Bluetooth pairing. That was smooth.
But later I found that I had to select checkboxes for both phone and audio each time I got into the car and then Save settings. Even then I could not use phone for a call until I turned off Bluetooth on my phone, then turned back on. After a few iterations of this the phone now seems to pair whenever I get into the car - just as it should.
Next I used USB cable to connect. Android Auto started automatically - nice!
I tried to use Navigation. Since I've never used Android Auto before, I did not know how it should appear. But when I navigated to a nearby location it became obvious that Honda Nav was in use - the map was ugly and the directions not really correct.
I unplugged phone and went into store. When I returned I did not plug phone in and the car pestered me about not finding an active USB connection. A day later that problem has stopped.
Now every time I get into the car, it tells me that I am in an ongoing phone conversation, so it can't use audio! So I have to select Phone menu and Hangup.

But in between these glitches I can use the phone for calls and can play podcasts just fine.
Since none of these glitches are show-stoppers, I'm going to wait a few weeks and then bug the dealer about software updates.

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hobokencentral

· #2 · Jul 6, 2018

Dr. Glenn,

Thanks for the phone report. I have a Moto G4 and am concerned that the same thing will happen to me if/ when I purchase the vehicle. Mind if I ask what you paid for your car and what trim you have?

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dr_glenn

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 6, 2018

I bought Touring because I really wanted leather seats and dual A/C control. Most additional features didn't matter to me.
Since I was buying on the first day the car was available, I didn't have bargaining room. The price quoted on the Honda website, $28,090 apparently applies across the US. I talked them down on the extended warranty and 5 year service plan - at least I think I was able to save many hundreds on those items.

I will be interested (and depressed) to hear of anyone getting a big price break at the beginning.

Extended warranty - 8 years, 120K miles bumper-to-bumper. Given that this model is brand new, and given the high price of electronics, I considered extended warranty to be wise insurance. Expect to pay more than $1400.

5 year service plan - I can get an additional key fob ($300) by claiming I lost one. I also get front and rear brake pads replaced and rotors resurfaced. Could I get all the service appointments done for less than $1200 over the span of 5 years? I doubt it. So I think the service plan is worthwhile.

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Jaybird22

· #4 · Jul 6, 2018

Try seeing if you can use Android Auto and Google Maps using a USB cable.

I did that on a recent test drive (but with an iPhone), and Apple Maps worked perfectly. And we all know that Apple Maps is... Apple Maps.

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dr_glenn

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 18, 2018

dr_glenn said:
Immediately hit some snags with the phone (Android Moto G5). I expect that some software update will eventually arrive to fix these problems.

Now every time I get into the car, it tells me that I am in an ongoing phone conversation, so it can't use audio! So I have to select Phone menu and Hangup.

But in between these glitches I can use the phone for calls and can play podcasts just fine.
Since none of these glitches are show-stoppers, I'm going to wait a few weeks and then bug the dealer about software updates.

I haven't yet looked for a software update. I haven't used my phone for calling from the car in a while, so haven't seen funny problems with phone connection.
However, it actually doesn't play podcasts flawlessly. I use Bluetooth Audio daily to play podcasts. In a 40 mile commute I will always experience between 3 to 6 disconnects. These typically last no more than 15 seconds and then the connection and podcast resume. Not good.

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42

· #6 · Jul 21, 2018

The Display Audio (center touchscreen) system (EX and Touring) can be updated wirelessly when Honda makes an update available for download. I found this video detailing how to do it.

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Coffee

· #7 · Jul 21, 2018

I have a general smartphone/infotainment question. My old i-phone's bluetooth does not seem to work. It just won't pair with anything anymore. I'm getting ready to buy the Insight but I've never had a car that works with a smartphone (the big advancement when I bought my 09 Altima was the AUX audio cable!). So do I need bluetooth to work in order to make calls, listen to music and podcasts, etc. through the infotainment or can I just plug the phone in through USB and use it for all these functions that way? Do I need to get a new phone??? (it was a cheap used i-phone I purchased online, so no protection plan or anything.)
Thanks

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42

· #8 · Jul 21, 2018 (Edited)

Coffee said:
Do I need to get a new phone???

CarPlay comes in the EX and Touring trims. You don't need bluetooth for that - you just plug your phone into a USB port in the car. If you have an iPhone 5 or newer, you can do this.

About CarPlay in Insight: Apple CarPlay

See this link (scroll to the bottom) to see which iPhones can do CarPlay: https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/

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Coffee

· #9 · Jul 21, 2018

Thanks, insight! It looks like my old i-phone SE is compatible (and I'm planning on buying an EX). Good news!

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megawolf

· #10 · Oct 12, 2018

I'm using an adroid phone(lg v20) and the connections can get squirrelly at times. Sometimes it'll pair up bluetooth but no audio so you have to press FM then bluetooth to hear the audio. I hope they will release a fix for this.

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hasarad

· #11 · Oct 13, 2018

It seems that HondaLink only works via Bluetooth. If I connect via USB for AA, none of my stats update in HondaLink. Am I missing something?

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