CT5-V New '26 5BW: Some Annoyances

[jvp]

I just revieved my new '26 5BW from Dustin at Sewell. So far: 169 miles on the odo and counting down till the big 500. This isn't the first GM vehicle I've had with the catastrophic Google Auto interface, so I'm accustomed to its myriad of problems, idiosyncracies, and general pains in the ass. But a couple of things are quickly bubbling to the top as "completely unacceptable":

1. Apple Carplay and the microphone are only sorta getting along. Most times, I hold the talk button on the steering wheel, the phone beeps telling me it's ready for a verbal command, and I'll say something like, "Call <so and so>". It does it just fine. There are moments, though, where it doesn't pick up anything I'm saying. I can see the little microphone symbol lit up in the IP, so I know it's listening. But Siri and/or the iPhone just are not getting the commands passed through from the car. I'm not sure if this a fucked up microphone that was installed at the plant, or if there's some other problem.

2. A much larger annoyance is the Collision/Alert system defaulting to On all the time. I have to go through every single time I start my car and set those three annoyances to "Off". Those settings are not saved at all in my car. I don't know if this is a legal thing or if it's a software failure here.

Again, nothing from this system is new. I have a '24 GMC pickup with it, and I sold my '24 Z06 that also had it. Same phone, too. So I'm a little stumped here.

 

[dribs15]

1. I feel like the steering wheel mic is better for car stuff (tuning radio) or usually phone. But everything else I use the mic button on the screen (Android Auto) instead and it's much more responsive.

2. It seems like for many of the personal car settings (except for drive modes) that there is a greening that sets it back to what it wants (default?) whenever it wants... Sometimes it's next drive... Other times it doesn't happen for days or weeks. My guess is that GM is gonna GM. Still happens in my 22 and I'm 1/2 used to it and 1/2 annoyed. Bummed that it still seems an issue as I'm looking to get a 26.

 

[jvp]

1. I feel like the steering wheel mic is better for car stuff (tuning radio) or usually phone. But everything else I use the mic button on the screen (Android Auto) instead and it's much more responsive.

The mic button is working though. It ducks the music playing and the Siri *BING* plays with the little squiggly ball in the bottom of the screen telling you that Siri is listening. But whatever I'm saying doesn't get sent from the actual mic --> phone.

 

[dribs15]

The mic button is working though. It ducks the music playing and the Siri *BING* plays with the little squiggly ball in the bottom of the screen telling you that Siri is listening. But whatever I'm saying doesn't get sent from the actual mic --> phone.

Not what I have going on.
For me the steering wheel won't do my android auto commands,... the mic hears me, but then tells me that it doesn't recognize the command or whatever it says

 

[jvp]

Here's another one that I didn't have in my '23: a constant false Ka band signal that's tripping off my V1. My detector is basically useless in the car with it constantly alerting to a false Ka. It's originating from the front end of the car somewhere. This is... bad.

 

[dribs15]

Here's another one that I didn't have in my '23: a constant false Ka band signal that's tripping off my V1. My detector is basically useless in the car with it constantly alerting to a false Ka. It's originating from the front end of the car somewhere. This is... bad.

Hopefully that won't be the same for my redline

 

[rubberduck]

Don’t have a V1, only R7 and R8. But if you can, set blocking for 24.058 – 24.080GHz. Also, really should be using Ka Narrow.

Do you have SuperCruise?

 

[jvp]

Don’t have a V1, only R7 and R8. But if you can, set blocking for 24.058 – 24.080GHz. Also, really should be using Ka Narrow.

I'll have to poke around with the V1 app and see if I can get it to block that range. Thanks for that.

Do you have SuperCruise?

Nope. Manual transmission.

 

[rubberduck]

Interesting, I have no issues with my R7 and R8. But I have blocking set for all the common cars. Go to Vortex Radar and he should have recommended settlings for the V1.

 

[ngoni]

You can try updating the firmware as newer firmware has better false-positive filters. The V1Driver app may also help you eliminate false-positives. It costs $10, but is cheaper than getting a different detector.

 

[jvp]

Interesting, I have no issues with my R7 and R8. But I have blocking set for all the common cars. Go to Vortex Radar and he should have recommended settlings for the V1.

Interesting. The range you're mentioning is K, not Ka band. And it's the Ka band alert that's going off.

 

[jvp]

You can try updating the firmware as newer firmware has better false-positive filters. The V1Driver app may also help you eliminate false-positives. It costs $10, but is cheaper than getting a different detector.

Fully updated to the October, 2025 version. Also not keen on having any intelligence running on the phone. I need the detector to be self-contained.

There's something on the car that needs to be unplugged and I'll bet a dollar it's the stupid forward facing RADAR.

 

[nordique14]

you are correct in that is is a KA band the V1 has issues with. Use the V1 app and connect to your V1 via Bluetooth. Then go into the settings and set up custom frequencies to exclude 35.100. See screenshot below on how it should look. Note I do not have X band enabled as it is not used around here.

 

[BigShark]

That frequency exclusion trick for the V1 should definitely help with the Ka false alerts from the forward radar sensors.

 

[Ty88]

I have issue #2 as well in my 2026 BW and hate it. I now just leave all alerts on now and they rarely go on in a bothersome way. I don’t think this is a legal issue because I could turn them off in my 2023 BW

 

[jvp]

you are correct in that is is a KA band the V1 has issues with. Use the V1 app and connect to your V1 via Bluetooth. Then go into the settings and set up custom frequencies to exclude 35.100. See screenshot below on how it should look. Note I do not have X band enabled as it is not used around here.

<snobby voice> You suhh are a lifesaver! </snob>

Seriously, thanks much for that. I'm so inexperienced with using the V1 app on my phone, I hadn't even realized that stuff was there. Bam. No more (false) Ka's in my car.

 

[nordique14]

You are welcome! Necessity is how I learned. I was driving the car home from Dallas and the V1 would not shut up. So I had to quickly figure out what to do.

I recommend a Blendmount and the Gen5DIY power harness for a nice clean install.

 

[jvp]

I recommend a Blendmount and the Gen5DIY power harness for a nice clean install.

I can't use Blendmounts even as nice as they are. Detectors are illegal in VA so mine has to stay as tucked in and out of sight as possible. Blends hang the detectors out for everyone to see, very, very easily.