My wife's 2024 ES 300h is having some issues with the infotainment system and it's Apple CarPlay connection. Generally it works OK, especially when my wife if the only one driving it. However, last night, we drove to a Thanksgiving dinner and had problems with the connection on the way back only. Three of us were in the ES and it connected normally to my wife's phone on the way to the dinner. On the way back, after connecting to my wife's phone, a message popped up on the screen asking us to enter a six-digit PIN. I tried my wife's normal PIN, but it didn't take it. Rather, it said we had two attempts left prior to being locked out. So we left it alone as CarPlay was still working. Two of the three iPhones in the car have been configured to interface with the system, but one hasn't. Was the ES trying to establish a connection with the third phone perhaps?

Today my wife is driving the car solo and it's doing the same thing...asking for a PIN. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to deal with this now, and, avoid a repeat performance in the future? I searched the forum, but didn't see any posts regarding this issue.

 

Just to be sure, are you absolutely certain it was your wife's iPhone that was connecting for the return drive? Of the two iPhones registered with the ES's Lexus Interface system, which iPhone is registered as the primary Bluetooth phone device? Her's or the other one?
See my 2024 ES350 Login post #3 for a link to a Lexus support FAQ with cited text on when a PIN prompt may occur. In short, it is whenever the system determines it needs to verify the driver/user profile is in fact the person driving/owner of the profile.

 

Open the Lexus App in her phone. Tap the very small "head and shoulder" icon at the upper right corner.
Tap on "Account" tab and then open "Security Settings". Midway down is "Account PIN" and Reset PIN.
Type a 6-digit PIN (can be the same as before if you wish or new) and confirm when asked. Next time
the car displays the enter PIN dialog box type in the newly updated PIN and all's done.

 

Thanks guys, that helps a lot!

One might wonder how and why designers/marketers feel the need to unnecessarily complicate vehicles this way. I'm sure there are some benefits to their strategies, but are they worth the added stress to those who just want to drive their vehicles without being harassed by PIN prompts? I have other vehicles with aftermarket CarPlay, and I'm not asked by these systems for PIN #'s.

Lexus should reconsider their security protocols.

 

I ask a somewhat similar question, why so much unneeded tech. I drove five hours to pick up my new ES UL with all the features and was dumbstruck after the purchase to be told I would have to link a smart phone to create an account and have navigation. I have never owned a smartphone and don't want one so I'm thinking this isn't ideal for long term ownership. I feel a bit strange driving around with a blank screen as if I'm its chauffeur and it is displeased for not being turned on. Reminds me of my ex wife.

 

You don't strictly need a smart phone. All that's really needed is a My Lexus account (to link your user profile to); some means of running the Lexus app to enable the trial subscriptions that was included in your ES purchase; and a Bluetooth capable mobile phone that you can register with the Lexus Interface system in your ES.

For the Bluetooth capable mobile phone, a cheap, dinosaur tech flip phone with absolute minimum (i think) support for Bluetooth profile Hands Free Profile (HFP) will do. The HFP is through what hands free calling functionality works and informs the Lexus Interface system of the phone number of the Bluetooth phone device. (Once everything is completely set up, that phone number is what the system uses to associate the in-car possessor of the phone - hopefully you - to the user profile to download from the cloud and configure the Lexus Interface system to that profile's settings.) The ES supports additional Bluetooth profiles including the ones most if not all still working cell phones support: Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) for synchronizing contact data and call history between your phone and the Lexus Interface phone support features and Message Access Profile (MAP) for SMS text messaging through the Lexus Interface's text messaging support functionality.

If you don't already have a My Lexus account, you can create one at My Lexus. Click on the "SIGN IN" tab and the click on the "CREATE ACCOUNT" button on the drop down window pane. When filling out the account information make sure you have the mobile phone number filled in with your cell phone number that you're going to be registering with the Lexus Interface system as the owner profile's phone number since it is the phone number which ties everything together.

Which leaves enabling the trial subscriptions along with linking your My Lexus account as owner user profile with the Lexus app. You don't strictly need a smart phone to do that. An Apple or Android tablet with a camera (for QR code reading), an internet connection (Wi-Fi and/or cellular network), and installed Lexus app will work for that. I know the combination of existing My Lexus account, internet connected tablet with Lexus app, and dinosaur tech, Bluetooth capable flip phone works because I've seen it done.

I can't rule out there may be some way to do this without using the Lexus app but I haven't tried that nor seen anything showing it accomplished without using the Lexus app. The no-active-subscription Navigation screen's "Get started" button or the no-active-subscription Intelligent Assistant screen's "Update subscription" button looks promising but I don't know if either of those will work for activating any and all of your trial subscriptions.

 

I have an Alcatel flip phone but I don't think it can do any of that. It seems that Lexus is taking a lot for granted when assuming all of their market has a capable device for setting this up. My Garmin requires nothing but an update but it sits clear over by the passenger window because of the useless to me screen. I appreciate the information you've provided but in the end I don't wish to go down this rabbit hole for two reasons, all of this is to put a name on the telematics they collect and two, I have all the tech I need.

 

I mean no disrespect, and I don’t wish to sound confrontational, but I don’t really think their expectations are out of line for 2024. I spent a career in information technology, so I definitely come at this issue from a different perspective and I respect that difference. But in 2024 it just doesn’t seem like a stretch to assume people today carry a smartphone, or have access to a computer/tablet/grandkid.

 

Granted I am but one of the last few who don't carry a smartphone but why is it necessary? I wish I had been informed of this requirement before purchasing but regardless I was looking at it as a $10,000 gamble so I can sell it this summer and move on. To what I have no idea.

 

True, but when I was a kid (in Dana Carvey's old man voice) we didn't have all these fancy electronics for driving, and we did just fine. We used hand signals, manual chokes, reserve gas levers, manual spark advance, and non-syncro manual transmissions, but, felt like we were actually driving the vehicle!

Off topic, but...These days, people are so pampered and uninvolved behind the wheel, they're mostly just passengers along for the ride! It's great what money can buy, but, not sure all the tech is ready for prime time. It needs to be more user friendly!

 

I come from a tech background I just don't care for today's tech. Tech should work for the individual not the other way around but getting off topic, sorry.