Apple Carplay/Pioneer sph-da120 Problems

I recently got some issues with Apple CarPlay (on my Pioneer AppRadio 4 SPH-DA120) and iOS 8.3. I want to drop my information here, because I found this thread while searching for my problem:

• Version 1.08 is a pre-installed version on Pioneer AppRadio 4 and not publicly available. Even the Pioneer employees were surprised, because they neither find this version on their website nor on their server. The currently available firmware is 1.07 and downloadable through the Support Page of Pioneer Electronics.
• CarPlay does not not work on the SPH-DA120 if its not plugged in the upper USB port. You can check this from the main menu of the Pioneer: there are two different buttons for both USB ports, make sure USB 1 is activated.
• CarPlay does not work if the settings point to "Smartphone" instead of "iPhone/iPod". You can check this in the settings for connecting / setup your smartphone. It must point to "iPhone/iPod" and the connectivity type "USB". (This setting may reset if you disconnect your Pioneer from the power source, which could be the case when you bring your car to service. Make sure you always check this, if there are any issues with CarPlay not starting, even if the iPhone correctly recognises the CarPlay unit.)
• In iOS 8.3 there were some updates and fixes for Apple CarPlay so make sure you updated to the latest version of iOS and the Pioneer which is 1.07 or 1.08.

I found my SPH-DA 120 completely unstable. Getting the dreaded ERROR 02-60 after a period of time of use. And my iPhone 6 and recently iPhone X just disconnecting after 20 - 40 mins of use and then displaying its not recognised on reconnect. etc...

The fix. I just didn't pair the phone via bluetooth. I was use to previous AppRadio's 1 & 3 where you HAD to pair your phone via bluetooth for it to work. You don't on the SPH-DA120. And all the phone disconnecting and 02-60 errors have vanished. Being it uses the phone functions over the lightening cable and not bluetooth.

So Pioneer REALLY needs to fix the conflict with the head unit having an iPhone connected via lightening cable and it also paired with the headunit at the same time via bluetooth. :-/

Hi, I have a similar problem too, a little bit worse maybe... Latest firmware version on both iPhone and SPH-DA120 but when connecting them the Carplay doesn't start. If I do the same with another iPhone from a friend it works really good. Anyone knows what might be the cause??

I bought my iPhone on New York and it's working in Spain, could that be a reason??

Any help would be fantastic!!!

I have this unit too. No problems for me as described. Unit remains connected & works like a dream other than the touch screen not being quite as responsive as the iPhone screen (to be expected). I'm running firmware 1.08 on the Pioneer Unit and iOS 8.1.3 on an iPhone 5.

What are you guys running?

v1.08 was listed as the firmware version on the unit when i checked it in the menu after purchase.

Weird i agree, as when i checked the Pioneer website the latest version available for download was v1.07?

I have a similar problem. My iPhone 5 sometimes (three seperate times) won't connect to Carplay. I would turn on the headunit. The phone would turn on and request my passcode to access Carplay (my phone is always on lock mode) and the Carplay icon would appear on my phone but the head unit would say something along the lines of "Attempting to connect to Carplay" and the message display would turn off but never connect. Everything else works fine in the headunit except Carplay. I would turn on and off the heading several time to see if its a glitch but nothing worked.

I was ****** and tired that night so I went to bed with my mind to call pioneer in the morning. Before picking up the phone that morning, I decided to turn off and on my phone to see if I can boot my phone system (perhaps my phone was the one causing this issue) and sure enough I plugged my phone and Carplay was fully connect and functioning.

I never experience drops from Carplay mode of any kind in my few weeks with this headunit. I absolutely love the AppRadio 4. My only two gripes is that this connection with Carplay is becoming a serious issue and there is this very specific speck of dust that lies within the LCD screen of the headunit which really bugs. I'm slightly an OCD nut so this rubs me the wrong way. I tried returning this headunit for another, but it seem like the other unit had the same issue (in a different location of the screen.

Anyone here has this same problem, a speck of dust within the LCD screen of the headunit?

Headunit: Pioneer AVX-X8750BT (firmware V.103)

iPhone 6 Plus (firmware 8.3)

Both phone and head unit on most current firmware as of May 2, 2015.

I'm also experiencing connection dropping issues on my car. There were times when I'm able to use the apple map with voice guidance but no sound when playing music from iTunes. And other times when playing songs the volume suddenly dropped to a much smaller level. All issues mentioned above could be eliminated after restarting phone or restarting the headunit.

I got some same things going on here, iPhone 6 running 8.3 and pioneer SPH-DA120 v1.08

When i connect the iphone I can use iPod functionality but there is nowhere an option to be found for CarPlay. The "top menu/bar" on my iPhone turns blue for a brief moment (just like when there is tethering), goes back to normal after a while.

SPH-DA120 does not find any option for CarPlay, I have double checked all settings and they are good (iphone/ipod device, usb connection (no digital a/v)), even rested my iPhone without any result.

Edit: Lightning cable is directly connected to USB1 on the SPH-DA120.

Any help appreciated!

Thanks,

Maarten

As of July 15th 2015 pioneer has released firmware 1.09 on their site. For some reason after following the instructions my firmware update button is grayed out and I can't update. Here is the link. http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/AppRadio/AppRadio+4+(SPH-DA120)

Hi!
I bought mine in Germany and I'm unsure about installing this update. Where did you get you information about the region restrictions besides the Pioneer web site stating this? I'm pretty sure Pioneer posted the same text with 1.07 last year - and that did work for me. There has always just been just one firmware file in the downloads section at a time, so how are users outside the US and Canada supposed to get "their" updates?
Pls. let me know if you have more insight to this.
Thanks from Hamburg / Germany
Detlef

Carplay on my DA120 is nearly useless. Today on a 20 minute drive it dropped out of carplay 3 times. I have no idea why. It will just lose the connection to the iphone. to restore it, i need to turn av off then on on the pioneer and then unplug and replug my iphone. then, it will work for a few minutes and drop again. I'll see if any of the solutions here help, but i suspect i'll end up returning the unit

Hi!

I also just got the SPH-DA120 and had the problem that it would recognize the iPhone as connected but would do any CarPlay. What helped was connecting the iPhone to the Lightning at USB1-Port before starting the power/car at all. If I connect my iPhone before starting/giving power to the radio everything works just fine.

Maybe that helped?

cheers

was having the same problem, i think i fixed mine it working back to the way it was. try turning on siri on if you haven't got it on already. then if that doesnt work you can just go to the setting on the pioneer system, and reset all settings to get it to factory set up then that would get if work 100%.

I also had consistent issues with the connection dropping. After much frustration, I have finally solved it.

For me, if I have an active VPN connection (using VPN Unlimited - haven't tested other VPNs), I get consistent drop outs as described above (guaranteed within 5-10 minutes). If I do not use VPN, all remains well.

I have passed this on to VPN Unlimited who suspect some incompatibility between Carplay and VPN and told me they will investigate. Not sure if this reflects an issue with VPN Unlimited or VPN in general.

I use an Alpine ILX-700.

Deleting the VPN and Onavo Also cured it for me....annoyingly when i was testing it outside my house it was working perfectly (as it was on the wifi not the VPN) when i drove away the trouble returned