Android auto adapter

New member here. I wanted a way to use Android Auto in my 2018 Tundra without spending $700 plus for a new head unit. I found this on Amazon for just $200. It just came out a few months ago and the few reviews so far are mostly positive. I just ordered it so I don't have any personal experience yet but will follow up with a review if any of you are interested. If any of you have installed this please let me know how you like it.

 

I've been using the

$45 Motorola MA1 Wireless Android Auto Car Adapter - Instant Connection Using Google-Licensed Bridge Technology from Smartphone to Screen - USB Type-A Plug-in - Secure Gel Pad

Motorola MA1 to support wireless car play in my truck. I'd say it works ~95% of the time (sometimes have to unplug/plug back in to get the pairing).

I would definitely be curious about this solution though as it's a lot cleaner!

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/carabc-carplay.118579/

Different head unit. 20+21 have android auto and apple car play. What OP is talking about adds android auto and apple car play to a head unit that does not support it.

 

Others who bought this for the Carplay function had mixed reviews. You have to reconnect it each time you start the truck. It doesn't pick up where the song left off. Kind of a pain.

 

Don't know if this applies to Android Auto. Guess I will find out.

 

Got it from Amazon a few days ago. Installed on my 18 Tundra. Awesome addition to the truck. Can't speak for Carplay but Android auto wireless connection works great. Only reason i gave it 4 stars is the manual could be more in depth as far as operation. Installation was a breeze.

 

Do you have any pictures of the install itself/hardware attached?

Sidenote, as a Tuscaloosa native, I absolutely hate that song lol

 

No pics of the installation. Should have taken some. Hardest part was taking out the radio. The rest was easy. Just removed 4 plugs from the radio and plugged in the unit.

 

Nice. Any issues with the backup camera turning off while backing up? I saw some others had this issue.

 

No problems so far but oly been using it a few days. Will report if any problems.

 

I installed this unit in my car a couple days ago so I thought I'd share my experience. I've got a 2016 Platinum which has the JBL system; and a Pixel 6 with Android Auto.

The unit comes with no instructions at all, it's just the unit and the cables in a box. Install is straight-forward, there are a few youtube videos on how to take the lower trim pieces out. Others have mentioned removing the XM unit below the head unit, there's no need to do that, there is a ton of room to the sides and far behind the unit. I found it snugly to the left side of the head unit and used some mounting tape to hold it in. The wire harness adapter is well made and can only go in one way. I didn't bother with the USB/Camera harness, I was using the wireless version of android auto and don't have a secondary camera.

Usage of the unit takes a little getting use to, but overall I'm happy with it.

The head unit will have 2 different modes after install; "classic mode" which works exactly as before, and AUX/hijack mode where CARABC is in control of the display and buttons. I've found 2 way to switch between the modes. The first is to hold down the talk button on the steering wheel for about 3 seconds then let go, it may start an entune voice prompt but will switch over to the unit. The second way is to switch to the "AUX" input when in classic mode. If you already in Aux you need to switch to another input and the back.

The backup camera works as before with one exception, you have to wait an extra ~2 seconds or so for the carabc unit to finish booting before you go into reverse. Camera switches on and off just like before when you shift in/out of reverse regardless of which mode you are in.

When you switch to Hijack mode, a clunky black and white interface comes up which allows you pair the unit and set a couple other options. I unpaired from my entune unit just to make things easier. After pairing and configuring android auto to startup on connection; you'll never see the clunky interface as long as you are paired with the unit.

Android Auto looked pretty good, no quite as crisp as classic mode but close. Voice recognition worked really well (unlike entune) and the call/hangup,skip etc. buttons on the steering wheel worked in android auto.

The biggest draw back is that you need to manually switch from classic to hijack mode every time you startup.

 

Great information. Thanks. Any touch screen lag when moving through Android auto screens?

 

Thanks for the install info. I'm also thinking about installing this but have a few questions.
1) I also have a Pixel 6 (pro) and will be using Android Auto mostly to use Google maps. So after pairing the CARabc unit to my phone (Bluetooth I guess?) I can use Android Auto wirelessly without using a USB cable? I guess I'm wondering what the USB cable that comes with the CARabc unit is for.
2) The picture of the CARabc unit shows a WIFI antenna. What is that for?
Thanks!

 

I have been experimenting with this unit for a few months.

$195 CarlinKit Android 13 CarPlay Ai Box Plus, 4 GB+64 GB, Snapdragon QCM 6125,Support Wireless CarPlay/Wireless Android Auto, for Netflix, for YouTube, Worldtv Online, 30% Performance Increase

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCQ1GKV6
I use it instead of my phone for all my apps since it is an independent unit that has all the apps loaded on to it.
Lets the kids and my dad use my truck and enjoy the apps without needing a phone.
I use a data only SIM from https://www.eiotclub.com for the data.
I got the 24Gig 360day card for $96 which works out to $8 a month. I have found I use about 1.5Gig a month when I use Waze everyday and some Tunein streaming. I have it connected to the home wifi when I need to update any apps or download any large files.
I do connect my phone to it via Bluetooth only so it can make calls via my phone. No longer need to connect my phone to my truck anymore.
Works well so far.

I also used the moto MA1 for a while but it would need to be unplugged and plugged back in about once a month for some reason.

 

@Rocko9999 - Other than the startup (a few seconds) the unit is as responsive for scrolling etc as other units I've used (OEM honda pilot system, and other rental cars).

@Outdoor Life - The USB cable that I didn't install is used for a wired connection to the carabc unit; it doesn't look like the tried to hijack the USB connection to the entune unit. If you wanted to do wired Android Auto you would plug in there, it also looks like if you wanted to do a firmware upgrade it would be from USB storage using that connection. It's also the connection if you have a second camera. I believe the wifi connection is used during the Android Auto scenario for more bandwidth; wireless Android Auto required 5Ghz wifi. You never have to manually connect to it, the only thing you need to connect to is the bluetooth connection.

I also figured out there is a "car" app in android auto, that when you click on it, it goes back to the carabc UI, and then you press android auto on the unit get back. It makes it a little easier than I though if you want to navigate to the secondary camera.

Still figuring things out since there are no instructions, but so happy to have this instead of still stuck with entune 2.0 which is worthless.

 

Thanks! If I ever get my tax return back this will be the first thing on my list.

 

Hey guys, have a 2017 Tundra and I'm looking into this product. Any updates? Do you have to switch from hijack mode to regular mode everytime you startup the truck? Thanks!

 

Yes, pretty much every time you get in, you'll need to double tap the power button on your head unit to initiate the hijack mode for display. I have my android setup to use wireless, always connect and always start playing media. So maybe 30 seconds after you start the car audio will start streaming even if you don't tap the power button.

Overall this thing has been game changer for me using my stock head unit. I hate fumbling around with my phone to try and stream different stuff while driving not to mention trying to use maps. But there are a few things that you need to be aware of with this unit:

1. You have to wait 5-10 seconds (until toyota logo appears) after starting before putting car into reverse or your backup camera won't show up.
2. Call switchover isn't great. If you are talking on the phone then get into your car and start it. You lose audio for 5-10 seconds while it's connecting to the head unit.
3. You don't get a volume level indicator in Hijack mode.

Mine connects 99% of the time with no problems. Android Auto has pushed an update which switches your phone automatically into Do Not Disturb mode when driving. That breaks audio streaming for this unit. Easy enough to disable once you find the setting on your phone. I wouldn't hesitate to buy this again... it's the best upgrade you can do.

 

I tore mine out and am working towards a new HU. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

I have a 2019 Tundra and also found the same CARabc accessory that you pointed to for abt $200. I noted some of the one-star reviews and have a little reservation about going with this one. Others like the Navik is for about $700 and seems to work pretty well. So I'm wondering if you got yours installed and found it to be a good upgrade. I want to be able to put my phone on the OEM display and view Waze, Google Maps and maybe browser content. What's your experience & recommendation?