Wish the OP would give feedback.
Ironically…just had my own experience with picky cables.
Some background: I use Motorola’s MA1 for wireless Android Auto as my truck doesn’t have wireless natively. The MA1 just plugs into the USB port you would normally plug your phone into for AA. I continue to plug my phone in after the MA1 boots up so that it will maintain a charge on long drives.
Last week I started getting Sync3 messages that I either had a bad cable or the USB port unit was going bad. Yet my wireless AA/MA1 still connected and worked fine on the other port. Switched ports, no wired connection, MA1 worked fine.
I use another cable to charge headphones in my center console through the power port there, and it charges fine. Switched it out, still no love. Tried another TWO cables from inside my vacation home which charge fine, also access my phone through a laptop fine, no love there, either. I thought maybe the MA1 draws a lower amount of power than my phone, and thinking of the other posts here, decided my USB port unit must be on the way out and it was only a matter of time before the MA1 stopped working as well.
Ran my VIN, confirmed the part to replace the USB ports was HC3Z19A387H, went to Ford, got the part ($76 including tax), popped out the old and connected the new. Still the same problem, MA1 worked, none of my other cables which functioned just fine on every other USB power supply worked. Popped the old port unit back into the truck.
Started to think it might be the current build of 3.4, but decided I would try a new USB cable before downgrading. The new USB cable works just fine. So I had three wonky cables which worked fine on everything else, but didn’t work in the truck. Just got back from returning the new USB port unit as my old one is working fine.
So…when all else fails to fix Android Auto…try a brand new cable.