[BlaineH]

Back in 2018 I purchased a carplay adapter and successfully modified my 2016 Pilot's head unit with AutoHack to install the APK. Everything's been working great for years. However the little box is giving up the ghost, probably due to the Florida heat and is having trouble starting up. Thinking of replacing it with a wireless model but am finding that these new "2.0" models all say they require Android 4.4.2. The version of Android in the 2016 Pilot is 4.2.2.

Has anyone tried these newer wireless models in the 2016 Pilot?

 

[snobrd4life]

This worked for me.

I live in Florida also and keep the dongle out of the sun when possible because it definitely cooks and screen will go wonky/freeze if too hot.

 

[BlaineH]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the one you linked converts an existing Carplay adapter into a wireless one. I suppose I could buy the wired style to replace my failing one that runs on Android 4.2.2 and then add the wireless dongle as a daisy-chain.

This may work albiet I was hoping to have a single dongle solution. Curious if anyone has tried these newer ones that say they require 4.4.2 on the 2016's 4.2.2 headset. It doesn't look like there's a ton of differences between these software versions that it would matter, but I'm not an android development expert to know.

 

[BlaineH]

For anyone else who runs across this thread and has the same question, I have an answer. I went ahead and purchased this adapter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZKQ63CR/

Title of the listing clearly says requires 4.4. However, I can confirm that it works just fine on the 2016 Pilot's head-unit running Android 4.2.2 via Autohack's app store version of the AutoKit app. Worked right out of the box and I now have wireless CarPlay in my 2016 Pilot.

 

[snobrd4life]

Hey BlaineH, sorry I misread your original post. I thought you had a 2017/2018 head unit. I have a 2016 Pilot but with the 2017 transplant head unit with native CarPlay and have loved the wireless dongle I bought. Glad you were able to get a solution that worked. Curious, how is the phone audio quality? Any delay or degradation that either you or the other caller can notice?

That was the main reason I switched to the transplant head unit option. I could get past having the annoying USB popup every cold boot. Even though music and navi via CarPlay was great, not being able to have a cohesive conversation via handsfree call was something I (my wife) couldn't handle.

 

[BlaineH]

Oh no worries! I own a 2017 Civic too with native car play so I appreciate your recommendation link! That will be the nect purchase.

Great questions on the functionality. Here’s what I’ve observed so far after using it for a few days.

Pros:

1. No degradation of audio quality. As long as you select “Apps” as the source. There is a detail in the cons below worth noting.
2. Startup is seemless (minus the popup of course) and it connects with the iphone in my pocket about 20 seconds after accepting the popup.
3. No perceptible delay of audio.
4. Wired carplay still works.

Cons:

1. If someone else turns on the car and you get in afterward you may have to manually initiate the bluetooth connection to Carplay. Not a huge deal, equivilant to plugging the cable in for this circumstance.
2. If your phone is also buletooth paired to the Pilot AND this Carplay dongle they fight over who gets the audio stream. You will need to disconnect bluetooh (at least temporarily) from the Pilot to get audio on Carplay.
3. The USB popup. It’s livable, but it’s still a con.
4. Audio quality on calls is muffled a bit when your phone is in your pocket. This isn’t the dongle’s fault, it’s just a reality. Your mileage may vary.

On balance, the pros outweigh the cons for me. One really nice option is that wired carplay still works as the dongle has a physical connection. You will need to disconnect the bluetooth and wifi to get the cable to work, but it does work. You can also manually set the app to disable wireless turning it into a wired only if you end up preferring the old way.

 

[pilot1226]

Hi @BlaineH -

Just trying to make sure I understand this before I buy anything. If I buy the AutoKit you mentioned in the post or two above, I just connect it and away I go? Or do I have to get up in there with a laptop and start messing around with the head unit?

We have a 2016 Pilot EXL that doesn't have sensing or navigation. It doesn't have native CarPlay or anything like that.

We both have relatively newer iPhones, 12 and 13 with whatever the latest iOS is running.

Is anything being changed with the native software? Can it be reset or removed easily and restored? Does the lane watch camera still function over top of this?

Thanks!

 

[BlaineH]

If you've already hacked your headunit with AutoHack then yeah it's pretty much plug and go. You will need to access the AutoHack "app store" and install AutoKit; that's it. The biggest hurdle is simply getting the headunit hacked in the first place.

As for your lane watch camera, I have the Elite model which doesn't have those so I can't say with 100% certainty; however, considering the backup camera works and nothing else is interferred with, I have no reason to think you'd have any issue with the lane watch camera. As for resetting and restoring, yes it is quite easy to remove. AutoHack has an uninstall feature that just wipes itself away. I've been using AutoHack since the day I purchased the pilot in 2016 and it's been largely flawless. This new wireless dongle has only made things more convenient.

 

[pilot1226]

Thanks. Can you give me a walkthrough or a link on autohack?

 

[BlaineH]

Absolutely, you can find it here: Honda Hack – How to root your Honda head unit and install apps freely.

Instructions for the 2016 Pilot are here: Pilot 2016-2017 – Honda Hack

There is a free and paid version.

 

[pilot1226]

Thanks. Looks like the basic is 10 and pro is 25. I’ll read up on them and try it. I don’t see a free version. But if it works, it’s worth it.

Also confused @BlaineH - does the hack give you wired CarPlay? I don’t necessarily want or need wireless, I just want CarPlay going. So if autohack gives you wired CarPlay that’s all I would want.

edit. Answered my own question. Have to find autokit from the App Store.

 

[pilot1226]

Weird, I formatted the flash drive for AutoHack and Windows is suggesting it contains malware, Multiverze? Is this a false positive, anybody familiar with this?

 

[mlbj93]

For anyone else who runs across this thread and has the same question, I have an answer. I went ahead and purchased this adapter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZKQ63CR/

Title of the listing clearly says requires 4.4. However, I can confirm that it works just fine on the 2016 Pilot's head-unit running Android 4.2.2 via Autohack's app store version of the AutoKit app. Worked right out of the box and I now have wireless CarPlay in my 2016 Pilot.

View attachment 152531

I will try this! I was able to install the Honda hack! Just ordered the Dongle!

 

[mlbj93]

For anyone else who runs across this thread and has the same question, I have an answer. I went ahead and purchased this adapter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZKQ63CR/

Title of the listing clearly says requires 4.4. However, I can confirm that it works just fine on the 2016 Pilot's head-unit running Android 4.2.2 via Autohack's app store version of the AutoKit app. Worked right out of the box and I now have wireless CarPlay in my 2016 Pilot.

View attachment 152531

I got my adapter today, I cannot hear the music through the car stereo and I can’t make calls with it. Did you have any issues with this?

 

[gotbst05]

This is perfect and much needed! I've been wanting to add CarPlay to my wife's 2016 for years. @BlaineH... the adapter that you link is no longer available. Any inputs on a good replacement?

 

[zodiackiller013]

Weird, I formatted the flash drive for AutoHack and Windows is suggesting it contains malware, Multiverze? Is this a false positive, anybody familiar with this?

Any update on this if it was a false positive? I would like to hack my headunit as well. Thanks!

 

[Scarabeus [CZE]]

Hi Guys!

I really don't know what I am doing wrong but I am not able to make AndroidAuto working on my 2016 Pilot.

I have used HondaHack (Pro). I have bought Carlinkit adapter ( model CPC200-CCPA). I have installed carKit app from Hondahack...aaaaaand nothing.
I have tried to install other versions of CarKit app without any effect.

The carkit app doesn't see the adapter. And I am unable to update the app as the Install button stays gray. I am also not able to connect to adapters bluetooth. It is paired but it does not connect. I have also tried to factory reset the Dongle.

Any suggestions? Many thanks!