Android Auto hijacking WiFi

[Mooncatt]

I just replaced the radio in one of our vehicles and taking a dip into Android Auto through the wireless connection. From my understanding, AA wireless is allowed to control your WiFi and Bluetooth connections to connect itself to the vehicle. The only settings I'm seeing for this is to allow it to auto start always, auto start if used on the last drive, and default to the car's settings (which are the exact same options). I don't see any "never" or manual connect option.

We planned to let it auto start always, but the problem is when we are home. Because of how I had to wire the radio, it powers up any time the accessories do and not simply by the key position. I.e. When using the key fob to unlock it. The accessory circuits stay powered on for 30 minutes after shutting the car off or since the last trigger that activated them.

When this happens, if our phones are in range, it will disconnect from the home WiFi and connect WiFi direct to the new radio. If we manually switch back to the home WiFi, it will switch itself back to the radio until either out of range or the accessory circuit times out and it finally shuts off completely.

None of the three available options are really suitable. Is there no way to fully manually control when we want to activate AA? Aside from the wired option, that is.

I've tried searching, but all the results I'm finding are related to WiFi connection issues with a vehicle/radio. I can't find any results related to this problem.

 

[mustang7757]

What if you open your car door then close it does it power off your radio? This usually happens in newer cars , it's controlled by the body control module on the vehicle.

 

[mustang7757]

Like you mentioned at the moment wired option

 

[Mooncatt]

What if you open your car door then close it does it power off your radio? This usually happens in newer cars , it's controlled by the body control module on the vehicle.

Not on ours. The lights will dim shortly after closing the doors, but the other accessories stay powered. Unfortunately the factory radio is CAMBUS controlled. If would turn off shortly, but not because of the accessory signal.

 

[mustang7757]

Not on ours. The lights will dim shortly after closing the doors, but the other accessories stay powered. Unfortunately the factory radio is CAMBUS controlled. If would turn off shortly, but not because of the accessory signal.

What year make and model vehicle?

 

[mustang7757]

CAN BUS is just a Controller Area Network so what that means the trans , engine,brakes ,body computer , ect ..can share information and their sensor Data with each other.

 

[Mooncatt]

2015 Ford Transit full sized van (not a Transit Connect).

And yes CAN BUS is basically a controller set up, but it controls virtually everything these days. There are very few devices that are triggered by a simple switch anymore, which is the problem. Heck, I had to pull the key pad from the original radio face (the body and display were two other separate pieces) and stuff it up inside the dash to keep one factory plug connected so the airbag light wouldn't trip. Yes, the airbag is tied into the factory radio. This is what is currently sitting behind the new radio. I don't like Android radios that are basically a glorified tablet, but at least it left me enough space for this cludge.



But this is getting way off track, and of the problem with Android Auto. Unless you have a better solution of wiring the radio. I guess I could put a manual switch in line with the accessory wire, but that would take some planning.

 

[mustang7757]

Let me look up the wiring diagram on this vehicle tomorrow see what involved, for now I would just do it wired no splicing into wires , is this stock infotainment AA wireless and wired option or you have a dongle for AA wireless ? I believe I don't remember but AA wireless was around 2020 model vehicle.
And this is sync 3 Ford ? If it's by a dongle then disconnect it then connect when u get in the vehicle

 

[spARTacus]

With my phone's Wi-Fi turned off, it will by itself be turned back on, to facilitate wireless Android Auto connection. However, for me this seems to only be triggered after the phone and vehicle first establish a Bluetooth connection as part of vehicle or head unit startup. So, for me it doesn't unintentionally happen very often (or for like your scenario, switch the phone to the vehicle's Wi-Fi). Not sure if that helps for understanding your scenario. Sucks that you can't use the radio power circuit.

I do have a not really related problem in that as I pull into my garage, my head unit will often switch to my wife's iPhone that is in the house, for some reason preferring such in priority over my Android (and ironically, her vehicle priority prefers my Android).

 

[gomezz]

Wondering if a Macrodroid macro could be used to block connection to the AA wi-fi when it also detects the home wi-fi is available?

 

[Mooncatt]

Let me look up the wiring diagram on this vehicle tomorrow see what involved, for now I would just do it wired no splicing into wires , is this stock infotainment AA wireless and wired option or you have a dongle for AA wireless ? I believe I don't remember but AA wireless was around 2020 model vehicle.
And this is sync 3 Ford ? If it's by a dongle then disconnect it then connect when u get in the vehicle

It is the mid range radio with the 3.5" LCD screen in the dash above the radio controls. No Ford Sync, no steering wheel controls, no OEM Android Auto, and no OEM WiFi. Android Auto and associated Wi-Fi is built into the new radio.

 

[mustang7757]

It is the mid range radio with the 3.5" LCD screen in the dash above the radio controls. No Ford Sync, no steering wheel controls, no OEM Android Auto, and no OEM WiFi. Android Auto and associated Wi-Fi is built into the new radio.

Oh ok so you have an aftermarket radio