Problems With 2016 Head Unit - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Prmspen · 03-24-2016, 03:39 PM

Hey Guys,

I took delivery of my 2016 Limited last week, and I'm loving it except for the head unit. I'm having problems connecting it to my iPhone 6. Bluetooth phone connection appears to be fine - I can make and receive calls. But I'm having real problems with Pandora and other apps. When I connect my iPhone via USB (as the manual tells you to) and select the Pandora app on the head unit, I get the white "Connecting" screen for several minutes, then I get an error message. When I use bluetooth audio as the input, I can play Pandora but the song and artist displayed stays the same as the first song - it doesn't update when I change songs or stations.

I notice that the manual doesn't list the iPhone 6 as a compatible device - it only goes up to iPhone 5, which seems strange since the iPhone 6 came out in 2014, and this head unit is new for the 2016 BRZ. I've talked to the dealer, and they're looking into it, but I don't have a lot of confidence in them finding a solution. Have any of you experienced something similar?

humfrz · 03-25-2016, 01:00 AM

Welcome to ye ol forum...........

You may get a faster response by posting your question over here:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=27

humfrz

Packofcrows · 03-25-2016, 06:11 AM

It works better with a Android.

I recommend just getting a 32GB slim flash drive and adding all the music you want.

Get dealer to check for update/flash.

hypebrz · 03-25-2016, 08:31 AM

The 2016 does NOT connect iPHONE and PANDORA with bluetooth or USB. The only way to have them work together is with an AUX cable. This was told to be by the salesman when I purchased my car, and he admitted it's not a "issue", it's just how Subaru designed it.

ed_423 · 03-26-2016, 06:13 AM

^ not true. my iphone connects to pandora via usb. it also shows spotify as well if you click on "usb" in the selection menu.

billwot · 03-26-2016, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hypebrz

The 2016 does NOT connect iPHONE and PANDORA with bluetooth or USB. The only way to have them work together is with an AUX cable. This was told to be by the salesman when I purchased my car, and he admitted it's not a "issue", it's just how Subaru designed it.

Let me get this straight...Subaru specifically designed its infotainment system to be non-compatible with probably the most popular phone in the world?

Yeah, I'm sure that must be true.

hypebrz · 03-26-2016, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billwot

Let me get this straight...Subaru specifically designed its infotainment system to be non-compatible with probably the most popular phone in the world?

Yeah, I'm sure that must be true.

It's not even close to the most popular phone in the world, probably only in America. Android has far higher sales and operating systems

shagoth · 03-26-2016, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billwot

Let me get this straight...Subaru specifically designed its infotainment system to be non-compatible with probably the most popular phone in the world?

Yeah, I'm sure that must be true.

As bad as the head unit in the 2016 limited is, you'd think there was a dealer installed replacement that they wanted to sell. The unit is slow, the UI is terrible and the compatibility with iThings is dicey at best. It also uses a weird shaped faceplate so aftermarket replacement is more complicated.

Where is the $1500 replacement from the dealer that justifies shipping this big a piece from the factory?

Prmspen · 03-27-2016, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed_423

^ not true. my iphone connects to pandora via usb. it also shows spotify as well if you click on "usb" in the selection menu.

Can you use the Pandora app on the head unit, or do you have to select USB as the audio source and play it through that?

ed_423 · 03-27-2016, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prmspen

Can you use the Pandora app on the head unit, or do you have to select USB as the audio source and play it through that?

the pandora app works on the headunit, as long as i connect the iphone via usb

Prmspen · 03-28-2016, 09:18 PM

Problem solved!

Turns out the input jack on my iPhone was full of lint and crud. Cleaned that out with a pin and now it works fine. I like easy fixes.

03-24-2016, 03:39 PM	#1
Prmspen Student Driver Join Date: Mar 2016 Drives: 2016 Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Portland, OR Posts: 225 Thanks: 118 Thanked 104 Times in 63 Posts Mentioned: 32 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Problems With 2016 Head Unit Hey Guys, I took delivery of my 2016 Limited last week, and I'm loving it except for the head unit. I'm having problems connecting it to my iPhone 6. Bluetooth phone connection appears to be fine - I can make and receive calls. But I'm having real problems with Pandora and other apps. When I connect my iPhone via USB (as the manual tells you to) and select the Pandora app on the head unit, I get the white "Connecting" screen for several minutes, then I get an error message. When I use bluetooth audio as the input, I can play Pandora but the song and artist displayed stays the same as the first song - it doesn't update when I change songs or stations. I notice that the manual doesn't list the iPhone 6 as a compatible device - it only goes up to iPhone 5, which seems strange since the iPhone 6 came out in 2014, and this head unit is new for the 2016 BRZ. I've talked to the dealer, and they're looking into it, but I don't have a lot of confidence in them finding a solution. Have any of you experienced something similar?

03-25-2016, 06:11 AM	#3
Packofcrows hey you, yeah you <3 Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: 2014 37J FR-S Location: Monterey County, CA Posts: 2,713 Thanks: 905 Thanked 1,258 Times in 809 Posts Mentioned: 38 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	It works better with a Android. I recommend just getting a 32GB slim flash drive and adding all the music you want. Get dealer to check for update/flash. __________________ Got my TRD wheels and TRD louvers. Thanks!!!

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03-25-2016, 01:00 AM	#2
humfrz Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S, white, MT Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 29,868 Thanks: 28,790 Thanked 31,816 Times in 16,425 Posts Mentioned: 708 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Welcome to ye ol forum........... You may get a faster response by posting your question over here: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=27 humfrz

03-26-2016, 06:13 AM	#5
ed_423 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Drives: 2016 BRZ Limited Location: 626 Posts: 109 Thanks: 13 Thanked 18 Times in 12 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	^ not true. my iphone connects to pandora via usb. it also shows spotify as well if you click on "usb" in the selection menu.

03-28-2016, 09:18 PM	#11
Prmspen Student Driver Join Date: Mar 2016 Drives: 2016 Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Portland, OR Posts: 225 Thanks: 118 Thanked 104 Times in 63 Posts Mentioned: 32 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Problem solved! Turns out the input jack on my iPhone was full of lint and crud. Cleaned that out with a pin and now it works fine. I like easy fixes.

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