Map app location way off using carplay - please help!

[Daveh370]

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.

I was thinking that the APIM (Accessory Protocol Interface Module) might be defective. IIRC, the APIM controls Sync, navigation, etc. Hopefully a different dealer is able to help you out.

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[crenca]

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

... with his Bronco in 4A as well, because if he can't navigate & deal with premature FDU failure at the same time he will have no chance in this life...


( Joke people, joke )

 

[OmahaKevin]

Wow. They still make Thomas Guides! This is how I got around LA/OC in the olden days of the 90s. My kids hardly believe you can get places with just paper maps.
https://a.co/d/5zV7zok

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 Even when it is out of date, it’ll still have almost everything you need.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.

 

[UncleBrad]

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.

There HAS to be a GPS antenna if there is GPS operation on the vehicle-even if it's buried somewhere, and regardless of what it looks like. There has to be a load on the transmitter.

 

[SJDisk]

There HAS to be a GPS antenna if there is GPS operation on the vehicle-even if it's buried somewhere, and regardless of what it looks like. There has to be a load on the transmitter.

Yes, I understand that now and thought it was off when they said there was no GPS antenna. I have a service appointment with a different dealer this week. Hopefully they can get to the bottom of it and fix. Thanks for all your help.

 

[Daveh370]

Yes, I understand that now and thought it was off when they said there was no GPS antenna. I have a service appointment with a different dealer this week. Hopefully they can get to the bottom of it and fix. Thanks for all your help.

I believe this is the GPS antenna on the rear cross brace on my ‘23 BD.

 

[rpaluch1]

I utilize Car play everyday vs the Ford Nav. It is a phone/carplay issue as the locations is based on your phone not the vehicle. Make sure the phone has a clear signal and is not in his pocket. I would reset the phone and CarPlay and that should fix it. It is not something the dealer will fix. Good luck.

 

[UncleBrad]

I believe this is the GPS antenna on the rear cross brace on my ‘23 BD.

This is likely the SiriusXM satellite antenna. Its location can cause problems when the roof rack is loaded with stuff (as found on this site) and Ford has recognized that the location can cause problems when (for those with a softop) the front section is pushed back.

 

[murphtron]

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!

UncleBrad is correct and AI for the win. Plus you can also learn this from reading Apple’s detailed CarPlay tech doc. I’ve know this ever since I got an aftermarket CarPlay wireless headset for an old car. These headsets also use their own GPS antennas that are not always installed in optimal locations.

The reason Apple (and perhaps Android) relies on the auto’s GPS is battery drain. GPS is an expensive power hungry operation. Older CarPlay implementations without wireless CarPlay did not rely on it since the phone was plugged in via USB and therefore powered.

 

[SJDisk]

I believe this is the GPS antenna on the rear cross brace on my ‘23 BD.

Thanks! He does indeed have this same thing. Have an appointment on Saturday, hopefully they can determine the problem and fix. Appreciated it!

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