I’ve given up waiting for Jeep to ever provide regular uConnect map updates.
Found a local guy in Perth who developed an Android Auto/CarPlay retrofit module that hooks into uConnect on the older 8.4” uConnect that doesn’t have factory CP/AA like the MY14/15 (and 16?). Not a cheap solution but cheaper than replacing your uConnect with newer MY screen/hardware/modules and works pretty well overall.
Factory reverse camera still works normally.
Kit is largely plug and play but does require opening the uConnect display module to insert an extra ribbon cable to get touch input and add an extra video signal to the touchscreen. No cutting or splicing required. Everything else is plug/play.
Has a few limitations and isn’t quite as perfect as the factory CarPlay/Android Auto in more recent model years but you still retain full standard uConnect functionality and can easily switch between the AA/CP module and uConnect by pressing and holding the Back or steering wheel input button. Uses Aux input on uConnect for audio and uses it’s own microphone and antennas for wireless CarPlay and GPS. Has a separate USB input for connecting your phone with cable for Android Auto or CarPlay so doesn’t affect the uConnect USB either if you want to be able to switch back.
Limitations:
- No steering wheel function button integration at the moment but otherwise works quite well just using the uConnect touch screen for all input. Not quite handsfree if you just want to be able to use steering wheel buttons as usual. Don’t need to touch your phone for anything so legally handsfree I guess. Press and hold the home button on CarPlay to launch Siri or press/hold button on Android Auto to launch google Assistant from the touch screen but I’m sure “Hey Siri” or “ok Google” voice prompts probably work fine too. (I don’t use either personally)
- Aspect ratio on CarPlay is a little stretched looking but isn’t really that noticeable once you get used to it. Looks fine to me on Android Auto.
- Uses Aux input on uConnect for audio from the module so you always have to set UConnect to Aux if you want sound. If you want to listen to the radio, you still can set the sound input to AM/FM and switch to video from the module but you won’t get any sound. I.e no turn-by-turn navigation prompts from Google Maps or Waze etc while on radio.
- Sensitivity of the uConnect touchscreen means you have to press harder than a smartphone screen to swipe left/right etc. Use same force as a regular uConnect screen press.
- Can still use uConnect for phone calls but you’d need to switch back to uConnect to answer the call instead of using Android Auto or CarPlay or you won’t get any call audio due to it routing through the uConnect Bluetooth system. I just unpaired my iPhone from uConnect and use CarPlay for calls instead which works fine.
- You don’t see any Climate Control overlays when changing temperatures etc while in AA/CP but the controls all work normally in the background. You can always hold Back button to quickly toggle to the uConnect interface to access the “controls” or anything in the uConnect “apps” menus as normal. AA/CP continues to run in the background even when on the regular uConnect screen. If you change the audio input back to FM radio or plug your phone into the factory USB, UConnect continues to work as per standard uConnect media player. Fairly seamless that way.
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SHEEP
