GPS not work with Subaru USB port

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Level 2

309 points

GPS not work with Subaru USB port

When either an iPhone 5s or a iPhone 6 is connected to the USB port in a Subaru (2015 Outback), the GPS shows a location of 0 Deg Latitude and 0 Deg Longitude (i.e. in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa). We now are having to use a charger in the power port ('cigarette' lighter) to keep the phone charged. I believe the issue is when the phone is connected via a sync cord to the Subaru computer system via the USB port, it shuts down the GPS module in the iPhone.

Any suggestions on how to use this USB port and still have the GPS in the iPhone work??

iPhone 5s, iOS 8.4

Posted on Jul 22, 2015 8:39 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ckckckck

Level 1

8 points

Nov 9, 2017 9:06 AM in response to DJ Sailor

According to this post, the Subaru Starlink app is the cause of the issue. The Subaru attempts to connect to it each time you connect the phone via USB, and somehow that kills the GPS connection.

This post has details and a solution for fixing it:

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/138-gen-5-2015-present/407266-actual-fix-iph one-6s-gps-erratic-behavior.html

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Answer 2

Apr 6, 2017 9:08 AM in response to DJ Sailor

I've been having the same problem for a long time in my 2015 Impreza. I thought it was a problem with my 5S, then a while back I upgraded to a 7, same problem! I thought that it was a software problem that came over with my restore from backup, so I was going to wipe it. Then I noticed that I didn't have the problem in my Forester (where I used a cig lighter charger), so I tried unplugging in my Impreza, and sure enough, problem solved (except now I can't use USB audio, which sounds better than Bluetooth).

A few things that I've been thinking of trying for the last few days, but haven't yet:

* Get a better shielded cable

* Put some ferrite cores on the cable

* Run the stereo to a powered USB hub, plug phone into hub, power hub from cig lighter

* Give up and just use Bluetooth for all connections (goodbye sound quality)

If anybody tries these, please let us know!

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Answer 3

DJ Sailor Author

Level 2

309 points

Jul 28, 2015 5:07 PM in response to DJ Sailor

Update: Yesterday I was asked by a woman driving by in a car for directions. Seems her GPS was not working. GPS? It was an iPhone (iPhone 6 I believe) and she was using Waze to find a house but her was not showing her current location anywhere near where she actually was. I asked if she had her iPhone plugged into her car's USB port. Yes, it was. I asked her to unplug her phone and very quickly her location showed up in the right place. She was driving a Ford (I believe it was an Escape). So my problem is not limited to Subarus. Seems the iPhone GPS gets turned off when connected to some car's USB data port.

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Answer 4

Hammer2k

Level 1

11 points

Jan 23, 2016 1:14 PM in response to DJ Sailor

I've had this exact issue and been to Apple store 3 times with no help except wipe the phone. Tried using maps without plugging in usb and worked great. I have a 2015 Subaru Legacy so seems like the new Nav system they have is causing it.

THanks for posting this because it totally helped me and I was about ready to ditch my phone.

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Answer 5

Sep 7, 2016 4:16 PM in response to DJ Sailor

I have this problem as well, with an iPhone 5 and iOS 9 (up to and including iOS 9.3.5 now). Wife's iPhone 5, also iOS 9.x, also has this problem. Car is a 2015 Subaru Outback.

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Answer 6

Belhanj

Level 1

4 points

Dec 28, 2016 8:00 PM in response to Capncavedan

Outback 2016 checking in with a similar issue. The maps program doesn't seem to reroute or recalculate when plugged into the the car's USB port. So is it a phone issue or a the car's satnav entertainment unit issue

The another recent annoyance is that it always wants to play Pandora too

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Answer 7

Apr 6, 2017 7:01 PM in response to Belhanj

Same issue here.

Outback 2015. Apple Maps does not reroute when connected via USB.

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Answer 8

Apr 7, 2017 11:01 PM in response to a.h.hilsen

I tried the ferrite chokes (bought a pair at Radio Shack... going out of business clearance), but they didn't help.

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