Carplay GPS Problem and Fix for Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX

Problem:  Navigation apps on iPhone malfunction only when connected to CarPlay.   When connected wired or wireless the car appear to be going backward on the map and instructions to turn are erroneous.  Waze maps rotate while driving, Apple Maps repeatedly says, “Proceed to the route.”

Solution:  System settings in Pioneer unit—3D Calibration Status—Reset all three of the settings:

Learning, Distance, and Speed Pulse.

Details:  The Pioneer was an aftermarket install in a Toyota.  It worked properly for a long time with an iPhone 6, and for a few months with an iPhone 11 Pro.  It’s unclear what caused the problem.  iOS update to 13.3 and Pioneer firmware 1.02 failed to fix it.

While the Toyota never had a navigation unit, it appears that a GPS antenna was installed with the Pioneer.  I discovered the antenna connection status in the system settings.  Reportedly, Apple

requires an in-car GPS antenna when implementing wireless Carplay, perhaps to save battery or increase reception.  Reportedly, the in-car GPS may or may not be required by Apple when the phone is connected via a wire. 

In my case, when connected to Carplay, the GPS switches from the phone GPS to the in-car GPS antenna. While driving, a perfectly functioning GPS would malfunction as soon as I turned on the Pioneer receiver, whether connected by wire or wireless.

Resetting the 3D Calibration Status in the Pioneer unit

instantly solved the problem.

Prior to figuring out the issue, Apple replaced an iPhone because the internal compass was

broken.  That may have contributed to some of the problems such as spinning maps, but the problem with navigation persisted until I reset the setting in the Pioneer.