Carplay not working properly with Siri

I should have also mentioned, but I think you touched on it already, that while Hey Siri doesn't work when plugged in via CarPlay, pressing the home button on the NEX while using CarPlay to activate Siri almost always works. So it seems it is only when trying to use the Hey Siri functionality is when Siri c**ps the bed.

My other big issue, which I have only gotten one other to confirm, is the inability to access playlists that are stored in folders. I can see the folders but when I tap on one nothing happens. If it is a folder full of songs only (and not playlists) then it seems to be OK.

My experience with CarPlay, Siri issues aside, as been OK. I'd give it a B-. Initially it was quitting on me a lot but whatever was causing that seems to have been addressed in either iOS 8.1 and/or the latest Pioneer firmware update. It would be nice to see more 3rd-party support but that will come over time I am sure. Optimistic that Pioneer will continue to make improvements. From reading elsewhere I get the feeling that Pioneer isn't good in this department but am encouraged that they pushed out an update as fast as they did. What seems to be a "black hole" right now is reporting issues to Apple. Yeah we have a couple of random threads going on but I didn't see any (even minor) improvements in CarPlay from iOS 8.0 to 8.1. Fingers crossed that they will continue to make improvements to it with 8.1.1, 8.2, etc.

I've seen quite a few posts about the folders. And one other thing I'll throw out there. Sometimes I'll try to keep playing a radio station on iTunes radio or Rdio and nothing will happen. If I choose a different station, sometimes a time or two, it will play and I can then switch to the one I want and it will play. Also, simply unplugging and plugging in my phone has helped occasionally (all while the car is running and without turning off the 4000NEX), and I have also "solved" a few issues temporarily but rebooting the iPhone. But that's true of more than just Carplay.

One thing that does seem to be greatly improved is the message feature. It reads them well and actually listens pretty well. But again, you'd better not hesitate between words.

Finally got the update to install this evening. Like scr21 I tried installing it via a MacBook Pro, and kept getting a format error message. Installed it this evening using a Windows laptop, and it worked fine. Don't see/notice any changes. Hey Siri (or just Siri for that matter) still *****. If, like someone mentioned, I try saying the command right after saying "Hey Siri" it either cuts me off or just goes back to the home screen. Either pressing the Siri button in CarPlay or the Home button on the NEX until works better, but Siri still continues to misinterrupt what is being said.

I hate to say I'm glad to hear that, but in a way I am. They need to get this worked out. It's the first public release of Carplay and I would think it would be very important to them.

To your point that it worked well for a while then suddenly stopped, I suspect it could have something to do with the order in which things are plugged in and booted. I haven't had time to experiment, but I'm wondering if you would see a difference if you started your 4000 and let it boot completely then plugged in your iPhone. The try plugging in your iPhone before you start your car and before you boot the 4000.

I don't know if it matters but in the past with Toyota Entune and some Alpine equipment I've had it seemed that the order things were done in had an impact. Although goodness knows it shouldn't.

Keep us informed and if there is anything I can do as far as contacting Apple let me know. I've never much bothered in the past because they didn't seem all that interested in helping. But they're not alone in the computer industry when it comes to that.

Anyone else notice since iOS 8.1 AND Pioneers' firmware 1.0.8 upgrade, the time on CarPlay screen freezes until the physical phone is unlocked, then it catches back up?

Also, anyone hear of any word if Waze is coming to CarPlay?

Thanks!

I received an email from Apple in regards to the bug report I submitted. They confirmed that they are already aware of the Hey Siri/CarPlay issue, as it was already reported to them by someone else. Hopefully a fix will be in iOS 8.1.1

Cool! Thanks for the update!

I'm having the same problem with "Hey Siri" and my Pioneer Appradio 4 (SPH-DA120) and iPhone 6+. Installed the radio this week, all went well. Updated the Pioneer to 1.07 (shipped with 1.06) and running IOS 8.1 on the iPhone. The Pioneer picks up "Hey Siri" every time, but 90% of the time will not get present the straight line input bar on screen. Sometimes hitting the soft button on Pioneer works, most of the time no. If I push the home key on the iPhone, Siri works flawlessly.

I talked to Pioneer today when I noticed on their website the 1.07 firmware update had been taken off. (The rep. had not noticed this). I am hoping this is a bug in the Pioneer software. If this is an Apple Carplay issue, than shame on Apple. This is a very easy thing to test out and should work perfectly, since this is one of the big selling features and the reason I purchased the Pioneer in the the first place. (Problem with Siri is it needs a connection to the Apple server to work, if spotty cell service, than I don't expect it to work at all).

I also have had the Pioneer deck disconnect from the iPhone to where I had to physically disconnect and reconnect the cable. Once carplay works, it works well, but with the bugs I've seen, it is far more dangerous than using the phone untethered on a RAM mount or other holder and bluetooth to the radio. I am hoping that Carplay will get better and this is mostly an Apple implementation and not relying on Pioneer.

Some random rumbling on Carplay on receiver like the SPH-DA120:

I have Verizon, and reading through some of these issues, I am wondering if I'm using Maps for Navigation and talking on the phone at the same time, if Maps will update properly....voice and data connection. I know Verizon recently provided support for this with the iPhone 6 series of phones, but that is only in LTE areas. I have to check this out.

I'd like to add another issue I've had with Carplay and Pioneer. I had my phone paired to the Pioneer, which works fine. But if you plug in the cable for Carplay, while paired, the radio acknowledges that Bluetooth connection will be terminated (something to that effect), but than iTunes will not play correctly. IOS 8.1 will not terminate the connection even when the radio does. Worse, if you had been using Map, the radio will not mirror the map, but will provide turn by turn directions. This is true even after turning off Bluetooth on the phone, restarting the radio connect and reconnect the phone. I had to disconnect and cycle my phone off and on before Carplay worked properly. The Map problem happened once before right after I updated the Pioneer to 1.07, at that time, I thought it was a faulty Lightning/USB cable.

The whole Carplay seems to have been a minor thought on Apple's part and is like we are Beta testers without having channels open to communicate bug issues.

I too am having an issue with Hey Siri. This is what I received from Pioneer support:

"The Hey Siri function is not supported within CarPlay. This is something we

have made them aware of, you might check with Apple and have them provide

information on when it will be fully supported."

Hope this gets resolved.

One thing I noticed last night when I used Maps is that there is now a nighttime mode. Maybe this was part of the last iOS update? While not a big deal, it always bugged me a little that CarPlay didn't have a nighttime mode for Maps.

It's nice to see an improvement, hopefully 'Hey Siri ' will be fixed next.

Hi everyone

i have say that this is not a Pioneer problem as I have a 2009 honda type r and I get same behaviour from "hey Siri"

i think that phone behaves differently when plugged into a car stereo as opposed to just charging. Apple really needs to get this resolved as I think that it's a major set back for their car industry move.

Ps I'm not the only one with this issue on a honda car.

Having some issues with Siri as well with my 4000-nex but it usually works. Bigger issue for me is current song playing does not always pick up where it left off if I turn off car and get back in after getting gas etc..Have to start all over again finding track, I prefer Pioneer's search function overall. Also prior to car play hitting the mode button would black out the display, now you need to hold the mode button down for a few seconds to black out, nice at nighttime. Problem I have is the display won't come back on 80% of the time by hitting mode again. Need to turn car off then back on. Anyone else have this issue?

Using a Pioneer SPH-DA120 AppRadio 4 with an iPhone 6 Plus iOS 8.1.2 I am having the same issues with Siri and not listening. She seems to acknowledge "Hey Siri" but after that, it is a crap shoot if I will get the sine wave that she is listening. I hope Apple has a fix for this soon.