Technology has infiltrated every aspect of our lives, and the auto industry is no exception. Cars are now becoming increasingly high-tech: more connected and more reliant on software. But as with any new technology, this comes with a new set of challenges and problems.
While you may love having all the latest and greatest features in your car, you may not be so thrilled when something goes wrong. Of course, you can reach out to extended car warranty companies, such as Protect my Car, to help you with car repairs. But before you do that, check if the issue may be a simple software glitch that you can easily fix.
Here are some of the most common issues that come with high-tech automotive features and how to fix them:
Trouble Pairing Your Phone to Bluetooth
Hands-free calling and turn-by-turn directions are two of the best features of high-tech cars. But if your phone won’t connect to Bluetooth, you can’t take advantage of them.
If you’re having trouble getting your phone to connect to your car’s Bluetooth, here are a few tips:
- Verify That You Have Enabled Your Bluetooth
Sometimes, the problem isn’t with your car’s Bluetooth system. It could be that you have not enabled your car’s Bluetooth. So, before you start fiddling with your vehicle’s settings, confirm that your Bluetooth is on.
- Clear Up Connection Issues With Your Phone
If you have verified that your Bluetooth is on but still have trouble connecting, it may be a good idea to restart your phone. Doing this clears up any connection issues that are causing the problem.
- Make Sure That Your Car Is in Wireless Mode
When using CarPlay, your iPhone gets connected to your vehicle with a USB cable or a wireless connection. If you’re using a wired connection, check if your car is in wireless mode. You can do this by going into your car’s settings menu. Under General, select CarPlay, and then find and choose your vehicle.
Screen Glitches
Another common issue with high-tech automotive features is screen glitches. These can be anything from your car’s infotainment system freezing up to the navigation system losing signal.
There are a few things you can try if you’re experiencing screen glitches:
- Try Restarting Your Car
If it is just a minor glitch, restarting your car might do the trick. Doing this will clear up any temporary issues and have your car’s systems back up and running smoothly.
- Try Resetting Your Car’s Infotainment System
If restarting your car can’t fix the problem, you may need to reset your infotainment system. You can do this by going into your car’s settings menu and selecting the reset option.
- Update Your Maps and Navigation System
If you’re experiencing glitches with your car’s navigation system, it may be because your maps are out-of-date.
If the problem persists, there may be an issue with the software. In this case, you will need to take it to a dealership or a qualified mechanic to have it checked out.
Spotty Wi-Fi Connection
Most high-tech cars these days come with built-in Wi-Fi, which is great for using features like CarPlay. But sometimes, the Wi-Fi connection can be spotty or even non-existent.
There are a few things you can do to try and improve your Wi-Fi connection:
- Make Sure That Your Car Is in an Area With Good Cell Reception
If you’re in a rural area or driving through a tunnel, your connection will be spotty at best. If possible, try to find a spot with good cell reception before you connect your car to Wi-Fi.
- Restart Your Router
If you’re using a personal hotspot, restarting your router can often improve your connection.
- Disconnect/Turn Off Other Devices Connected to Your Wi-Fi
The more devices connected to your Wi-Fi, the slower your connection will be. If you’re having trouble connecting, try turning off any devices connected to your Wi-Fi.
iPhone Connection Issues
With CarPlay, you can use your iPhone to access specific features in your car, from music to navigation. You can even access HomeKit-compatible accessories to control things. For example, you can open your garage door or enable your home security system from your car.
But sometimes, you may have trouble connecting your iPhone to CarPlay. When CarPlay can’t detect your iPhone, here are a few things you can try:
- Verify That Apple CarPlay Is Available in Your Car
CarPlay supports most vehicles from major manufacturers. But there are a few exceptions.
To check if your car supports CarPlay, Apple lists all supported vehicles on its website.
- Update Your iPhone’s iOS
The latest version of iOS is required for CarPlay to work. To update your iPhone, follow Apple’s step-by-step instructions. Make sure you have backed up your iPhone before updating.
- Enable Siri
CarPlay requires Siri to be enabled on your iPhone. To do this, go to Settings and choose Siri & Search. When Siri is enabled, you should see the Siri icon next to the home button on your iPhone.
- Restart Your iPhone and Your Car
Sometimes, simply restarting your devices can fix the issue. To do this, press and then hold the power button until you see the “Slide to Power Off” on your screen. Once your iPhone turns off, press and hold the power button to turn it back on again.
- Troubleshoot CarPlay With Apple
If you’ve tried all of the above and are still having trouble connecting your iPhone to CarPlay, you can contact Apple for support. They may be able to help you troubleshoot the issue or connect you with a qualified technician.
Learn How to Troubleshoot High-tech Automotives
Hands-free phone calls, music, navigation, and even home automation—all these features are becoming more common in automobiles. But as cars become more high-tech, they also become more complex.
It’s a good thing that most of these issues can be easily fixed with a few simple steps. And now that you know how to troubleshoot common high-tech automotive issues, you can enjoy all of the features your car has to offer—hassle-free.
