Map app location way off using carplay - please help!

[SJDisk]

Have you addressed this issue with your dealer? Might need a software update, or maybe it’s a bad unit?

Had a similar issue in my wife’s 2018 Exploder Limited. The factory navigation always showed the vehicle icon pointing sideways, and when using Waze, the GPS speed was inaccurate. A handful of times, in low cell service areas, experienced the same issue with the vehicle appearing to be off to the side, driving in a field, river, etc. Mentioned it a time or two when the car was in for service, but the dealer always claimed they could not replicate the issue.

Our dealer said it is a software issue and it would be fixed last November. This has been happening since April 2024. There have been multiple software updates, and none have fixed the problem. I just called another dealer and they are at least willing to look at it further. When you say it might be a bad unit, what do you mean? What unit? Our dealer said there is no GPS antenna on his bronco, but the new dealership told me every Ford from 2017 on has a GPS antenna (?) -- so they are willing to look at that. Thanks.

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[SJDisk]

Not that this applies, but I had a similar issue with one of my F150's after I put bigger tires on it. Even though I was using the GPS, it was using the truck's steering and odometer to figure where I was when moving. The GPS only worked on startup. It was a feature that was supposed to help you keep navigation in big cities or in the mountains without a clear view of the sky. I'm pretty sure Ford has ditched that program now. However, the way I fixed it was to disconnect the battery for a few minutes. It seems like the truck then recalibrated the system and it would work fine. You could always try that.

Wow, okay. Something to consider trying. Thanks.

 

[SJDisk]

Even if the problem is on the Bronco side (and I doubt that it is) it wouldn't be the antenna. The antenna is just the transducer; the signal strength would be the issue in that case. The actual coordinates are determined by the software based upon the received stream, and either that info is available or it isn't. Another thing: how about those Bronco's not equipped with navigation (like my BB?)? When using wireless CarPlay or Android Auto, can we expect Ford to provide GPS info via bluetooth to our smartphones? I don't think so. My bet is that this is an Apple smartphone issue that is specific to that vehicle. There is the phone placement, as someone else pointed out. Also, are USB cables being used? If so, are the same ones being used in the vehicle where CarPlay DOES work? Does this problem happen both with using wireless and via USB cable?

Talked to another dealer and they are going to test the antenna (service at our dealer actually told us his bronco doesn't have a gps antenna...?). New dealer confirmed they all have a GPS antenna. I will look at it before taking it over, maybe it is damaged in some way. Thanks.

To answer other question - this happens when connected to carplay - wireless or with USB cable. Same cable works fine in other car. no phone we have tested works in his bronco regardless of location or wired/wireless. how could this be an apple smartphone issue specific to his vehicle?

 

[UncleBrad]

Well the fact that you can see the location of the vehicle on the ford pass app when it’s parked proves that all broncos have GPS receivers in them even if you don’t have onboard navigation. My 22 BD does not have nav and when it was at the dealership for a week I could see which parking spot it was in and actually watched it move from a parking spot into the shop once when I randomly opened the app. Happens with multiple phones wireless and wired from what I read. If it’s using the phones GPS placement should not have much if any affect on a vehicle with a plastic or cloth roof. Unlike other modern vehicles with heavy reinforced steel roofs the bronco does not provide much of a faraday cage effect. You are most likely correct that the issue is in the processing module or software I was simply pointing out something that the OP could actually do a visual check of themselves. To me it would make sense for phone based nav to use the signal from the vehicle GPS as it in theory a better antenna with a clearer signal. One way to test could be to disable CarPlay on the phone and see if the phone itself shows accurate location in that vehicle by itself.

Note that I never said a Bronco may not have GPS functionality. But it turns out that you're right on Ford using it when communicating with the smartphone! Got this answer via AI:

"Apple CarPlay GPS uses the GPS data from the connected iPhone, but it can also use the car's GPS antenna if it is available and the car's infotainment system supports it. OEM infotainment systems that support CarPlay definitely share the car's GPS data through the CarPlay protocol to the phone, regardless of whether the connection is wired or wireless. However, the GPS receiver in the iPhone is always active and will continue to work even without cell signal or data, which means the iPhone can still provide GPS data even if the car's GPS antenna is used.

When using CarPlay, the GPS data is fed to the phone through the CarPlay protocol, but turning off location services on the iPhone will stop location services from working entirely, regardless of the source of the GPS data. This means that if location services are turned off, GPS will not function properly in CarPlay, even if the car's GPS antenna is used."

So it DOES look like the problem is likely specific Bronco software/firmware having the the problem!

 

[Dover157]

Note that I never said a Bronco may not have GPS functionality. But it turns out that you're right on Ford using it when communicating with the smartphone! Got this answer via AI:

"Apple CarPlay GPS uses the GPS data from the connected iPhone, but it can also use the car's GPS antenna if it is available and the car's infotainment system supports it. OEM infotainment systems that support CarPlay definitely share the car's GPS data through the CarPlay protocol to the phone, regardless of whether the connection is wired or wireless. However, the GPS receiver in the iPhone is always active and will continue to work even without cell signal or data, which means the iPhone can still provide GPS data even if the car's GPS antenna is used.

When using CarPlay, the GPS data is fed to the phone through the CarPlay protocol, but turning off location services on the iPhone will stop location services from working entirely, regardless of the source of the GPS data. This means that if location services are turned off, GPS will not function properly in CarPlay, even if the car's GPS antenna is used."

So it DOES look like the problem is likely specific Bronco software/firmware having the the problem!

That all makes sense. It is most likely some hidden setting wrong in the broncs infotainment system or a fault in the module that processes the signal. GPS relies on very accurate clocks to determine your position so a faulty clock could definitely cause the issue the OP is describing.
Also apologies if my previous post came off snarky, I tried to edit that out of it but I’m up way to early for one who works nights and my internal processor is not functioning at optimum performance.

 

[SJDisk]

Well the fact that you can see the location of the vehicle on the ford pass app when it’s parked proves that all broncos have GPS receivers in them even if you don’t have onboard navigation. My 22 BD does not have nav and when it was at the dealership for a week I could see which parking spot it was in and actually watched it move from a parking spot into the shop once when I randomly opened the app. Happens with multiple phones wireless and wired from what I read. If it’s using the phones GPS placement should not have much if any affect on a vehicle with a plastic or cloth roof. Unlike other modern vehicles with heavy reinforced steel roofs the bronco does not provide much of a faraday cage effect. You are most likely correct that the issue is in the processing module or software I was simply pointing out something that the OP could actually do a visual check of themselves. To me it would make sense for phone based nav to use the signal from the vehicle GPS as it in theory a better antenna with a clearer signal. One way to test could be to disable CarPlay on the phone and see if the phone itself shows accurate location in that vehicle by itself.

You are correct, I think our dealer misinformed us when they said his vehichle doesn't have a GPS antenna.

"One way to test could be to disable CarPlay on the phone and see if the phone itself shows accurate location in that vehicle by itself." -- Yes, we have tested this. If in his car and disconnect from carplay, his maps work fine on his phone. This is actually what he is doing now when he needs navigation assistance. This is part of my concern as it is not safe for him to be looking down at a phone while driving to get directions. This is why I think it has to do with the location detection on his vehicle. Thanks. Hopefully it is the antenna and they can fix.

 

[Dover157]

You are correct, I think our dealer misinformed us when they said his vehichle doesn't have a GPS antenna.

"One way to test could be to disable CarPlay on the phone and see if the phone itself shows accurate location in that vehicle by itself." -- Yes, we have tested this. If in his car and disconnect from carplay, his maps work fine on his phone. This is actually what he is doing now when he needs navigation assistance. This is part of my concern as it is not safe for him to be looking down at a phone while driving to get directions. This is why I think it has to do with the location detection on his vehicle. Thanks. Hopefully it is the antenna and they can fix.

Was vehicle purchased new or used? Asking because I’m wondering if there is some setting the previous owner changed that could cause a problem. Was actually thinking of sitting in mine and going through all the settings to check lol. May be the antenna but I also agree with @UncleBrad that most likely any fault on the bronco end will be in the module that processes the GPS data. Does the ford app show accurate location when the vehicle is parked, and does the location remain constant when parked for a while?

 

[SJDisk]

Was vehicle purchased new or used? Asking because I’m wondering if there is some setting the previous owner changed that could cause a problem. Was actually thinking of sitting in mine and going through all the settings to check lol. May be the antenna but I also agree with @UncleBrad that most likely any fault on the bronco end will be in the module that processes the GPS data. Does the ford app show accurate location when the vehicle is parked, and does the location remain constant when parked for a while?

That was a super helpful suggestion. Just checked. His car is at our house in our driveway, but the ford app has it about a mile away on the other side of a highway. I guess this definitively rules out the phone and carplay.

 

[Lcubed]

To answer other question - this happens when connected to carplay - wireless or with USB cable. Same cable works fine in other car. no phone we have tested works in his bronco regardless of location or wired/wireless. how could this be an apple smartphone issue specific to his vehicle?

if the other phones work elsewhere, the source of the issue is in the bronco either at the antenna or the head unit.

ford's implementation of CarPlay is way more restrictive than in my other vehicles.
wouldn't be surprised if the gps antenna has a poor physical connection on the back of the head unit.

 

[SJDisk]

if the other phones work elsewhere, the source of the issue is in the bronco either at the antenna or the head unit.

ford's implementation of CarPlay is way more restrictive than in my other vehicles.
wouldn't be surprised if the gps antenna has a poor physical connection on the back of the head unit.

Thank you for this reply. Going to bring to a different dealer and will have them look at gps antenna and head unit. Another post suggested looking in ford app for location when parked and it has his vehicle a mile away -- so seems consistent with what you suggest. Appreciate it.

 

[bassist]

Thanks, but he is fine navigating his normal local surroundings - i.e. he does not need a map for guidance. However, nobody is limited to driving where they are familiar and he (and anyone) needs map guidance when in unfamiliar areas or taking a roadtrip somewhere new. We purchased him a new car to have safety features and carplay for map guidance. Otherwise people put their destination in their phone and need to look at a small device for navigation while driving - which is clearly not a great (or safe) option.

I could not disagree more that people need GPS in an unfamiliar area - what’s more, there are plenty of places in this country with no cell signal, and if you haven’t developed the life skill of navigating, getting lost, and then getting unlost, you will have issues.

This is how people end up in bad situations because of their GPS. People have literally died because they get stranded after relying on GPS.

Do I use the GPS in unfamiliar areas? Sure.

But I also spent years without one, both here and abroad. Navigating medieval cities without GPS is challenging, but it also helps develop skills.

I use a GPS to provide intel about my route, but it’s a luxury that supplements the skills I’ve learned over the decades.

Every car should have a paper road atlas stashed somewhere. Even when it is out of date, it’ll still have almost everything you need.

Your son needs to get lost in unfamiliar places. Repeatedly. Sometimes intentionally.

 

[projectbadlands]

Get him familiar with Map Quest

 

[bassist]

Get him familiar with Map Quest

Does Map Quest still exist?

There’s a name I haven’t used in ages.

 

[SJDisk]

I could not disagree more that people need GPS in an unfamiliar area - what’s more, there are plenty of places in this country with no cell signal, and if you haven’t developed the life skill of navigating, getting lost, and then getting unlost, you will have issues.

This is how people end up in bad situations because of their GPS. People have literally died because they get stranded after relying on GPS.

Do I use the GPS in unfamiliar areas? Sure.

But I also spent years without one, both here and abroad. Navigating medieval cities without GPS is challenging, but it also helps develop skills.

I use a GPS to provide intel about my route, but it’s a luxury that supplements the skills I’ve learned over the decades.

Every car should have a paper road atlas stashed somewhere. Even when it is out of date, it’ll still have almost everything you need.

Your son needs to get lost in unfamiliar places. Repeatedly. Sometimes intentionally.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion. However, your response has has nothing to do with the purpose of the post, which to figure out why the location service in his bronco is not functioning properly. Why you feel the need to reply with a tirade about paper maps and what my son "needs" to do is beyond me. Hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

 

[SJDisk]

Get him familiar with Map Quest

lol. haven't thought about map quest in forever!

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