Interference with Phone GPS and EZ Pass transponder

[Amster]

Do you have 2025 Touring model?

No. Its a 2022 Grand Touring with the glass canope. And it is tinted. Maybe the 2025s have more problems.

 

[segbrk]

Not that this really helps, but you should know that when using CarPlay or Android Auto, your phone will strongly prefer to use the car's GPS. So any shielding or interference around your phone itself shouldn't matter at that point as long as the CarPlay/AA connection to the car keeps working. If you're having this issue in CarPlay nav, try switching to the native nav just to see where it thinks you are - maybe the car's GPS module is acting up. If you're awaiting AA... hang in there

 

[iwilltravel2@yah]

I have the wandering GPS on my CarPlay sometimes, but I also experience that sometimes in our Subaru - usually it’s when my iPhone is still in my pocket. Once I pull it out and stick in a cup holder or something, GPS gets back on track.
Also, I have my “GoodToGo” sticker (WA’s version of EZ Pass) installed just below the rear view mirror assembly, and I’ve never had a problem with it working.

WA Resident also. I have regular 2025 with regular windshield and my pass works everyday.

 

[lmarcc]

I discovered today that I've got the same problem with my new 2025 Touring with the glass roof. The cellphone isn't picking up GPS very reliably. It's definitely the glass.

I had the same problem with a 2016 Tesla Model S, and I used a GPS repeater similar to this one: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832673829379.html. The receiver portion has to be installed outside of the car's passenger area (I installed mine in the frunk) and the retransmitter portion, the one with the attached USB-A cable, has to be installed inside the car's passenger area. It's supposed to take the GPS radio signal received from outside the passenger area and pass it over the cable to the transmitter that is mounted inside the passenger area, so that the retransmitted GPS signal can be picked up by the phone. This did actually worked quite wall in my Model S, though passing a cable from the frunk into the passenger compartment was a pain - I had a professional installer do it.

The unit I bought 9 years ago is no longer listed on Amazon, nor could I find another on Amazon to test out. I don't know if the unit I linked to on AliExpress will work, but I ordered it to see if it solves the problem for me.

 

[Nitemist]

I discovered today that I've got the same problem with my new 2025 Touring with the glass roof. The cellphone isn't picking up GPS very reliably. It's definitely the glass.

I had the same problem with a 2016 Tesla Model S, and I used a GPS repeater similar to this one: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832673829379.html. The receiver portion has to be installed outside of the car's passenger area (I installed mine in the frunk) and the retransmitter portion, the one with the attached USB-A cable, has to be installed inside the car's passenger area. It's supposed to take the GPS radio signal received from outside the passenger area and pass it over the cable to the transmitter that is mounted inside the passenger area, so that the retransmitted GPS signal can be picked up by the phone. This did actually worked quite wall in my Model S, though passing a cable from the frunk into the passenger compartment was a pain - I had a professional installer do it.

The unit I bought 9 years ago is no longer listed on Amazon, nor could I find another on Amazon to test out. I don't know if the unit I linked to on AliExpress will work, but I ordered it to see if it solves the problem for me.

Let me know if it helps! I'm just glad I'm not the only one who is experiencing this. I thought I was being crazy. I still don't understand why not everyone is experiencing this. The interference from the glass roof due to the metal coating is quite strong and neither phone GPS or garage door opener/ex pass works reliably inside the car. But I wonder if some cars don't have the same coating?

I'm hoping Android Auto uses built in GPS and not the phone's. If it's the phone's, Google map will be useless for navigation.

 

[lmarcc]

Let me know if it helps! I'm just glad I'm not the only one who is experiencing this. I thought I was being crazy. I still don't understand why not everyone is experiencing this. The interference from the glass roof due to the metal coating is quite strong and neither phone GPS or garage door opener/ex pass works reliably inside the car. But I wonder if some cars don't have the same coating?

I'm hoping Android Auto uses built in GPS and not the phone's. If it's the phone's, Google map will be useless for navigation.

Sure I can report back and see if it works.

Incidentally, I'm almost certain that Android Auto won't allow the phone to use the car's GPS. Android Auto is more of a screen projection feature, where it mirrors a simplified version of phone's screen - for certain apps - to the vehicle's display, and uses the vehicle audio for music, calls, Google voice assistant, etc. With that said, a GPS retransmitter would solve the problem, since the phone's built-in GPS would (hopefully) work properly from inside the passenger compartment.

 

[segbrk]

Sure I can report back and see if it works.

Incidentally, I'm almost certain that Android Auto won't allow the phone to use the car's GPS. Android Auto is more of a screen projection feature, where it mirrors a simplified version of phone's screen - for certain apps - to the vehicle's display, and uses the vehicle audio for music, calls, Google voice assistant, etc. With that said, a GPS retransmitter would solve the problem, since the phone's built-in GPS would (hopefully) work properly from inside the passenger compartment.

AA should share the car’s GPS with the phone. It does for CarPlay now, works great.

 

[lmarcc]

AA should share the car’s GPS with the phone. It does for CarPlay now, works great.

That's really interesting. I was looking it up just now and it looks like with some car systems iOS can leverage the car's GPS receiver. It didn't seem as clear for Android Auto though. It would indeed be amazing if that would work in the Lucid. Hopefully we can test it directly soon .

How can you tell if your carplay system is using the car's GPS versus the one that's built into your iPhone? Does your iPhone have trouble connecting to GPS inside the car without being connected to carplay? That could be an indicator.

 

[kort6776]

I have an EZ pass transponder mounted high to the left of the center stack and I have never had issues with my mobile in my '23 AGT

 

[MacBain00]

I have an EZ pass transponder mounted high to the left of the center stack and I have never had issues with my mobile in my '23 AGT

This may be specific to the 2025 models. It's possible they changed the coating in the 2025 models for the glass roofs which is causing interference with GPS. I definitely experience cell phone signal GPS issues in my 2025.

Also my 2025 AT, the EZ pass needs to mounted to the right of the center stack. That's where there is a small area where the glass coating is different (or not there). If you do not mount the EZ pass in that specific space, EZ pass will not read.

 

[segbrk]

How can you tell if your carplay system is using the car's GPS versus the one that's built into your iPhone? Does your iPhone have trouble connecting to GPS inside the car without being connected to carplay? That could be an indicator.

The dead giveaway is that I've had a stuck location in the car's nav before (many versions ago), and my phone (waze, apple maps, etc) showed the exact same thing while connected to CarPlay, then corrected as soon as it disconnected.

 

[kort6776]

This may be specific to the 2025 models. It's possible they changed the coating in the 2025 models for the glass roofs which is causing interference with GPS. I definitely experience cell phone signal GPS issues in my 2025.

Also my 2025 AT, the EZ pass needs to mounted to the right of the center stack. That's where there is a small area where the glass coating is different (or not there). If you do not mount the EZ pass in that specific space, EZ pass will not read.

that this is a new car concern is certainly possible but it isn't unique to Lucid. many windshields have the same situation, there is a small area that allows transponders to work. it is good that people are learning where that sweet spot is now located.

 

[lmarcc]

Let me know if it helps! I'm just glad I'm not the only one who is experiencing this. I thought I was being crazy. I still don't understand why not everyone is experiencing this. The interference from the glass roof due to the metal coating is quite strong and neither phone GPS or garage door opener/ex pass works reliably inside the car. But I wonder if some cars don't have the same coating?

I'm hoping Android Auto uses built in GPS and not the phone's. If it's the phone's, Google map will be useless for navigation.

I received and installed the little GPS booster. It definitely helps. I didn't even have to install anything outside of the car. I placed the GPS receiver portion in the trunk area where the 12 volt cigarette lighter is located. I then plugged the transmitter into the center console power port and just hid everything in there. Since the installation, my Android phone hasn't lost GPS connectivity. It has also helped maintain GPS connectivity for an Android AI box that I use from time to time.

I think the reason why it's working is because the receiver of the GPS booster is in the trunk area and is subject to less interference from the glass.

 

[Nitemist]

I received and installed the little GPS booster. It definitely helps. I didn't even have to install anything outside of the car. I placed the GPS receiver portion in the trunk area where the 12 volt cigarette lighter is located. I then plugged the transmitter into the center console power port and just hid everything in there. Since the installation, my Android phone hasn't lost GPS connectivity. It has also helped maintain GPS connectivity for an Android AI box that I use from time to time.

I think the reason why it's working is because the receiver of the GPS booster is in the trunk area and is subject to less interference from the glass.

Awesome and thank you for the update! Which GPS receiver and transmitter combo did you get?

 

[lmarcc]

Awesome and thank you for the update! Which GPS receiver and transmitter combo did you get?

I got this one that I found on AliExpress. I would have much preferred getting one from Amazon in the US so I could test it out first, but I couldn't find any for sale these days. It ended up working out though. That particular listing on AliExpress also offered free returns which was helpful.

 

[Nitemist]

I got this one that I found on AliExpress. I would have much preferred getting one from Amazon in the US so I could test it out first, but I couldn't find any for sale these days. It ended up working out though. That particular listing on AliExpress also offered free returns which was helpful.

Thank you. I think I will order the same. How did you route/hide the cable between the transmitter and receiver?

 

[lmarcc]

Thank you. I think I will order the same. How did you route/hide the cable between the transmitter and receiver?

I'm not sure yet. I'm afraid of pulling apart any trim at this point, so right now I have the cable running down from the center console (which blocks me from closing the lid btw), across the base of of the front passenger seat and then along the right side of the car tucked under the various trim . When I get to the back seat, I fold the seat down, run the thin cable along the lower side of the seat, fold the seat back up, and then put the GPS receiver in the cubby where the 12v outlet is in the trunk. The cable is very thin, so it's not so hard to squeeze it under the trim.