Configuring Audio and CarPlay Hamilton Upgrade Kits for LexusUpdated 4 days ago
It is very important for you to understand all these steps closely to correctly setup your audio and CarPlay with your Lexus Hamilton Upgrade Kit. We are adding brand new functionality to much older technology (first pioneered for the Land Cruiser in 2007). These steps are not as intuitive as new technology, so it is important to be really familiar with them.
Here is a video, that we recommend fully watching. It will show you not just CarPlay pairing but two really important steps for any Lexus Upgrade Kit: (1) Setting your factory radio to AUX mode and (2) Delete your factory pairing records.
Please watch this full video very closely:
We show a 10-13 GX but this applies to all Lexus Upgrade Kits. We have a specific pairing video like this for almost every product we sell on hamiltonmotorcompany.com/pages/manuals
Setting Factory Head Unit to AUX Mode *Critical Step* to Play Audio
1. After you pair and setup CarPlay, it is really important to set your factory radio to AUX mode.Your phone is going to stream audio through the new Hamilton network to the Hamilton Upgrade Kit. Your Hamilton Upgrade Kit plays audio through your factory head unit using the AUX mode audio source, not your factory Bluetooth.
2. Long hold your voice-speech button on your steering wheel for 3 seconds to switch between the Hamilton OS and your factory Lexus OS.
3. Select "Audio" on your Lexus Home Screen > Select "AUX" from the Source List.
Pro-Tip: You may also toggle through the audio modes using the "Mode" button on the steering wheel without ever going back to the Original OS. Make sure you press the button repeatedly until you are in AUX mode. Usually, the car will hold AUX mode even after you turn it off.
Erasing Factory Bluetooth Pair Records - Important to Prevent Factory BT From Fighting Hamilton Network
It is very important to erase your factory iPhone pair records from your factory Lexus and from your factory Lexus network from your iPhone also.
Long hold the voice-speech button on your steering wheel for 3 seconds to switch between the Hamilton OS and your factory Lexus OS.
To Delete Lexus Pair Records:
1. Go to your original Lexus OS Home Screen. Click "Setup" > "Bluetooth" or "Audio" > Click "Bluetooth Audio Settings" > Remove your device from your factory Bluetooth pair records. We also recommend you turn off factory Lexus Bluetooth power from this menu. On some Lexus vehicles after you delete all pair records, the Bluetooth power automatically turns to "Off." That is ideal.
You do not want your factory Bluetooth network trying to connect to your iPhone anymore.
To Delete Lexus Bluetooth Network from Your iPhone
1. On your iPhone open Settings > Bluetooth > Locate your factory Lexus bluetooth name (Usually named "CARMULTIMEDIA") > Click (i) > Scroll to the bottom > Select "Forget This Device"
Pairing Wireless CarPlay on Hamilton Upgrade Kit
1. To pair wireless CarPlay, when you get in the vehicle, pull out your iPhone. Open Settings > Bluetooth > Look for the new Bluetooth network similar to "Hamilton-1234."
2. Click on your new Hamilton BT network. Your phone will give you a pairing code. You can ignore what the code says and click "Pair." Next it will ask you to use Contacts and Favorites, click "Allow." Finally, when you get a prompt that says "Connect to CarPlay," click "Connect."
Try to answer these prompts without delay.
3. Wait a few seconds and wireless CarPlay will appear on the screen.
4. Make sure your factory radio is set to AUX mode.
How to Correctly Disconnect CarPlay (Watch to the End - Important)
1. CarPlay uses Bluetooth to initiate a connection, then it automatically switches over to a high-speed WiFi connection. This is how wireless CarPlay works from Apple.
2. To Disconnect CarPlay swipe down from the top right of your phone to access control center. Press the white "WiFi" button and your iPhone will prompt you to disconnect CarPlay. Then, press the blue Bluetooth icon to turn off Bluetooth to make sure it does not automatically reconnect.
Note: Apple has designated that WiFi channel to automatically be taken over for CarPlay. You never need to make a manual WiFi connection to use CarPlay.