[cbarra]

I just purchased a new '17 Cayman S about three weeks ago. Love it so far, but have one issue that is driving me nuts. Apple CarPlay navigation will sometimes not correctly pinpoint my location or the direction I am traveling. As soon as I disconnect from the vehicle, the phone relocates me to the correct location. The location seems to be a few miles away from where I really am. Has anyone else had this issue?

It's not my phone because my wife's phone has the exact same issue. The troubling part is that it works fine sometimes, but then doesn't again. No rhyme or reason to the behavior. I had a service appointment, but cancelled it because it starting working fine again. I've read that it could be an antenna issue. The vehicle does not have navigation. I'm taking it in for service tomorrow, but was hoping someone else had the issue and I could relay a potential fix to the service department.

 

[cipher]

Where are you placing the phone in the car? In the arm rest? I have the same issue so typically have to leave it outside the armrest.

 

[cbarra]

Yes, I place it in the center armrest. Seems odd it would work sometimes just fine when placed there. Same phone was placed in similar hidden area in my GTI without any issues.

 

[CupraLeon]

I just purchased a new '17 Cayman S about three weeks ago. Love it so far, but have one issue that is driving me nuts. Apple CarPlay navigation will sometimes not correctly pinpoint my location or the direction I am traveling. As soon as I disconnect from the vehicle, the phone relocates me to the correct location. The location seems to be a few miles away from where I really am. Has anyone else had this issue?

It's not my phone because my wife's phone has the exact same issue. The troubling part is that it works fine sometimes, but then doesn't again. No rhyme or reason to the behavior. I had a service appointment, but cancelled it because it starting working fine again. I've read that it could be an antenna issue. The vehicle does not have navigation. I'm taking it in for service tomorrow, but was hoping someone else had the issue and I could relay a potential fix to the service department.

Do you have the smartphone storage compartment? (here in europe it come's with connect)
That disables the smartphone antenne and connects with an exterior antenna on the car.

 

[jdstein11]

That's been driving me CRAZY in my '18 Boxster. I just took it to the NJ shore yesterday and noticed that I was at least 3 miles behind my actual location. Good thing I know where to go...sort of. I didn't realize it might be an issue with the car. The way home was perfect, so I don't know what's going on.

Next time I'll try just connecting via Bluetooth and see whether that solves anything.

 

[cbarra]

I'm not sure about the smartphone compartment. I'm using the center armrest where the USB connection is located. It certainly appears the car is taking over the GPS functions when plugged in.

 

[cbarra]

jdstein11 - Have you had Porsche look at it yet?

 

[Viffermike]

One thing to consider that may be a cause: if you have a case on your phone, all but the thinnest ones will interfere with the coupling between the car's antenna boost and the phone. IIRC, the function works in a similar fashion to wireless charging via a plate beneath the rubber tray for the phone.

I have an iPhone X in an aramid fiber case thin enough to allow wireless charging. I've never had this issue with reception in my car.

 

[cbarra]

So you think the GPS connection from the car to the phone is happening wirelessly in the armrest? I assumed that data was being transmitted through the hard-wired lightning connection?

 

[Viffermike]

So you think the GPS connection from the car to the phone is happening wirelessly in the armrest? I assumed that data was being transmitted through the hard-wired lightning connection?

I don't think: I know. It's called a passive repeater: basically a plate tuned to pick up your cellphone's existing antenna signal to send, via wire, to the external antenna and it's own signal booster located in the passenger side of the firewall.

That's why, on Page 165 of the Owner's Manual, it states:

"Place the mobile phone with the display facing upward centrally onto the phone symbol in the smartphone tray. Ensure that there are no objects between the tray and the mobile phone"

Also, that's why, in this passage:
".... provides a connection to the vehicles external antenna and features an USB connection for loading the mobile phone and connecting it to the PCM."
the external antenna and USB connections are treated separately within the structure of the sentence.

Most manufacturers employ this kind of booster in their hidden- or tray-based smartphone setups. It's not a hard wire connection. USB doesn't have the capability to transmit an actual analog signal; it's purely a digital-information transport medium. The only 'analog' signal USB can 'transmit' is amperage for recharging.

 

[jdstein11]

jdstein11 - Have you had Porsche look at it yet?

Not sure what happened when I replied the first time, but here goes.

cbarra, I haven't spoken with my local dealer yet about the issue because it doesn't happen every time and I'm enjoying my car too much to part with it for something that isn't too disruptive. I only have 1,500 miles on the car so when the first service comes, I'll likely bring it up then, unless it happens more frequently, in which case I'll have to stop using Car Play and see if that solves it.

 

[cbarra]

So you think the GPS connection from the car to the phone is happening wirelessly in the armrest? I assumed that data was being transmitted through the hard-wired lightning connection?

I don't think: I know. It's called a passive repeater: basically a plate tuned to pick up your cellphone's existing antenna signal to send, via wire, to the external antenna and it's own signal booster located in the passenger side of the firewall.

That's why, on Page 165 of the Owner's Manual, it states:

"Place the mobile phone with the display facing upward centrally onto the phone symbol in the smartphone tray. Ensure that there are no objects between the tray and the mobile phone"

Also, that's why, in this passage:
".... provides a connection to the vehicles external antenna and features an USB connection for loading the mobile phone and connecting it to the PCM."
the external antenna and USB connections are treated separately within the structure of the sentence.

Most manufacturers employ this kind of booster in their hidden- or tray-based smartphone setups. It's not a hard wire connection. USB doesn't have the capability to transmit an actual analog signal; it's purely a digital-information transport medium. The only 'analog' signal USB can 'transmit' is amperage for recharging.

Interesting. At the very bottom of that page in the manual it says something about the smartphone tray not being available in the United States. I wonder how it works in the US.

I took it to the dealer yesterday. They could not reproduce the issue after 2 hours of trying. I drive away frustrated, but it starting happening within five minutes of leaving. I returned to the dealer and the service coordinator documented/recorded the issue on his phone. The next step is a new antenna from Porsche.

 

[cbarra]

jdstein11 - Have you had Porsche look at it yet?

Not sure what happened when I replied the first time, but here goes.

cbarra, I haven't spoken with my local dealer yet about the issue because it doesn't happen every time and I'm enjoying my car too much to part with it for something that isn't too disruptive. I only have 1,500 miles on the car so when the first service comes, I'll likely bring it up then, unless it happens more frequently, in which case I'll have to stop using Car Play and see if that solves it.

I'm going to get this solved somehow. I'll let you know how this plays out with the dealer.

 

[Viffermike]

At the very bottom of that page in the manual it says something about the smartphone tray not being available in the United States.

IIRC, the smartphone tray wasn't available for only the 2017 model year. It began being fitted on 2018s. (My car has one; I have one of the first U.S.-spec 2018s built.)

 

[jdstein11]

jdstein11 - Have you had Porsche look at it yet?

CRAZY forum behavior - I've posted this TWICE and haven't seen it.

I'm going to try using Bluetooth instead of Car Play the next time to see what happens because it only happened in one direction of two trips, while coming home it worked perfectly. I'll try and narrow it down before taking it to Porsche, mainly because I also only have 1,500 miles on the car and have a ways to go until it's due for service and am enjoying it too much to give it up!

 

[cbarra]

Wondering if anyone else has seen this issue since my last post? My dealer supposedly ordered a new GPS antennae over a month ago. I was originally told the part was held up in customs, but now I'm being told they cannot get the part at all! And they can't tell me why. I really love this car, but I'm starting to wonder what I've gotten myself into here. I'm concerned about what happens if something really serious breaks.

 

[Michael1]

If you have the Smartphone Storage Compartment for $560, it boosts the cell phone signal, but does nothing for the GPS signal to the phone. By putting it in the Smartphone Storage Compartment, if you have this option, you are actually reducing the signal strength of the GPS signal. The same would hold true if you just have the plain old console compartment, except your cellular signal would be weaker, too. I would image, Porsche wants you to buy the Navigation option.

 

[Michael1]

Wondering if anyone else has seen this issue since my last post? My dealer supposedly ordered a new GPS antennae over a month ago. I was originally told the part was held up in customs, but now I'm being told they cannot get the part at all! And they can't tell me why. I really love this car, but I'm starting to wonder what I've gotten myself into here. I'm concerned about what happens if something really serious breaks.

The GPS antenna is only for the built-in Navigation option. It doesn't do anything for your cell phone.

 

[cbarra]

I'm not sure that is accurate. There is most certainly something in the vehicle that determines your location when connecting via Carplay. When I disconnect the phone from the vehicle, the location immediately updates correctly.

 

[Michael1]

I'm not sure that is accurate. There is most certainly something in the vehicle that determines your location when connecting via Carplay. When I disconnect the phone from the vehicle, the location immediately updates correctly.

I looked around, and couldn't find anything that say CarPlay gets GPS coordinates from the car. I thought I would find something.


What procedure did you use to test this?