Strange satnav happenings

[Simpo Two]

For the last few trips out I'd noticed a whirring noise coming from somewhere after start-up that lasted a few seconds. Didn't stop to work it out.

Last night I had to find my way to a pub in the middle of nowhere. I figured out that the whirring was coming from the satnav, and it sounded like it was trying to open. So I pushed down on the back of the panel and it opened as normal. Well no, in fact the screen was blank for a few seconds then it came on. I groped my way through the prehistoric menus and managed to enter the postcode (I got the disk that upgrades it from Middle Ages to Tudor). I haven't worked out how to actually 'enter' the postcode because it sits there wanting Address or City and that is far too tedious to bother with, though once I managed to get it working on postcode. Can't remember how. Anyway, I was parked outside my house with the engine running then remembered my phone. So I switched off and went back inside to get it.

When I got back and restarted, the satnav had gone back down into its cubby hole, and when it started whirring I pushed down on the cover as before. Except this time it wouldn't raise. I could prise open the cover about an inch, but the hideous lump that is the satnav unit remained firmly planted face down in its hole. Couldn't shift it. Oh great, a journey to nowhere and the satnav has died just when I really need it. Bloody Aston Martins, if only the car was a good as the badge, stupid bloody flap, bah mutter.

So I set off anyway, cursing my luck that the satnav had packed up just when I had to find my way to Nowheresville in the dark. This is when I discovered that the map reading light is too dim to read a map by (you have to park up and squint at it). During the journey the satnav said a couple of times 'No destination set'. It was obviously on, but stuck face down. Eventually after a few wrong turns, parking and squinting I found my way to the pub. Ah yes and I did curse the design of this £100,000 car that had a satnav more primitive than my 2001 S-Type built six years earlier. But at least the weight distribution is 50:50, which is always handy I find...

Returning to the car for the homeward journey I expected the satnav to be still on (because without seeing the screen there's no way to turn it off). And now it started giving directions from the darkness of its dashtop compartment. I ignored them because it would be trying to direct me back to the pub... But hold on, the postcode for the pub hadn't been fully entered - if it had been, it would have directed me on the way out. Perhaps the postcode engaged on restart? Anyway, I knew the rough way home so carried on regardless and ignored the instructions. After some miles it became clear it was directing me somewhere else, but where? A few miles from home I was certain - the unit was directing me home! On arrival, it called the address an 'intermediate destination' which was different from usual. How did it know I wanted to go home?

Anyway, the satnav is still 'on', I presume, though where it will take me next time from the depths of its cubby hole I have no idea. More importantly, how do I get the bd thing up? It seems firmly stuck in the recess and there's no room to get fingers round the edge. I can see a V-shaped wire spring under the cover but that's all.

If it's any clue, when I first saw the car the satnav lid flapped about when closed; the dealer fixed this before collection. Is the unit supposed to be fixed to the lid?

Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 13th February 09:49

[Austin_Metro]

Disconnect it and use your phone?

Hardly what you want in an expensive car but is that actually the best solution?

[Simpo Two]

Austin_Metro said:

Disconnect it and use your phone?

I knew that would come up, but I hate (mobile) phones so my 2014 example is not up to satnav. I barely use it even for calls.

[Austin_Metro]

Fair enough. I prefer the integrated solution too. My 2013 car has sufficiently modern sat nav that works, but it has not been updated so there are plenty of road improvements that mean you are driving in a field occasionally.


This any good to you

https://youtu.be/ldTKT3x4mJs

Edited by Austin_Metro on Sunday 13th February 10:14

[EVR]

Ahaha you are always funny when you describe the GPS. Anyway, I know what you mean. I am adamant too in using the car sat nav just because I hate to have phones attached in the cabin, I believe it spoils the looks and well, feels cheap.

But, I honestly am ok-ish with mine. It is a 2011 car, updated to I believe the 2017/2018 disc (the latest done for Volvo systems). And it's... decent? I always got there, I find it way clearer than my previous GranTurismo and 2008 Range Rover. Probably not the best comparison, but still, it's where I come from. Just the lady's voice is a bit... Gestapo? My RR sounded way more kind.

Anyway, never had the cover problem you mention. My suggestion would be to remove to ski slope and see if the screen gears inside are stuck/broken/whatever.

There is a lot of info on it via Red Pants on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Redpantslol/videos

[EVR]

Also, regarding reading lights: consider switching the traditional bulbs to LEDs? Mine are LED from factory and I have no complaints. Granted, I did not had to read a map in the dark yet.

[rickyf1]

quite common for the teeth on the plastic gears that raise the sat nav to strip off - theres a kit available with "improved" parts, though you have to remove the ski slope and takes a bit of patience to fit diy....

[Neil1300r]

Simpo Two said:

Austin_Metro said:

Disconnect it and use your phone?

I knew that would come up, but I hate (mobile) phones so my 2014 example is not up to satnav. I barely use it even for calls.

You complain the AM system is from the Tudor ages but you refuse to use a device 2 with integrated sat nav from this century. What period would satisfy you, Georgian, Victorian?

[Simpo Two]

Thanks all for the helpful replies

Austin_Metro said:

This any good to you
https://youtu.be/ldTKT3x4mJs

Great video. That's exactly the solution I conceived when I first bought the car, but I don't have the skill/knowledge to do it and don't know anyone who could. So plans stalled, and luckily I don't need satnav very often.

EVR said:

Anyway, never had the cover problem you mention. My suggestion would be to remove to ski slope and see if the screen gears inside are stuck/broken/whatever.

There is a lot of info on it via Red Pants on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Redpantslol/videos

Yes, I'm sure it's a mechanical thing - but I can't wangle the unit up out of its hole and I don't want to use too much force in case I break it even further.

Aha this seems to be the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClL5hwaO4SQ - I'll look at it later.

EVR said:

Also, regarding reading lights: consider switching the traditional bulbs to LEDs? Mine are LED from factory and I have no complaints. Granted, I did not had to read a map in the dark yet.

Interesting idea; right now I have bigger fish to fry though.

rickyf1 said:

quite common for the teeth on the plastic gears that raise the sat nav to strip off - theres a kit available with "improved" parts, though you have to remove the ski slope and takes a bit of patience to fit diy....

Thanks. If I can get the other things fixed that's one to consider. I just borrowed back my old TomTom (c.2004) which is now mounted on an air vent. Luxury!!

[Simpo Two]

Neil1300r said:

You complain the AM system is from the Tudor ages but you refuse to use a device 2 with integrated sat nav from this century. What period would satisfy you, Georgian, Victorian?

I'd love to fit a newer/better satnav, but it must replace the current one. I like the middle option from the video above, but as stated am not qualified to dabble with Aston electronics.

[Neil1300r]

Simpo Two said:

Neil1300r said:

You complain the AM system is from the Tudor ages but you refuse to use a device 2 with integrated sat nav from this century. What period would satisfy you, Georgian, Victorian?

I'd love to fit a newer/better satnav, but it must replace the current one. I like the middle option from the video above, but as stated am not qualified to dabble with Aston electronics.

buy a smartphone and mount it where you've stuck an outdated Tom-tom
You do like over complicating things

[LTP]

In defence of Aston Martin I think you'll find that the mechanism to raise the screen is actually a lower-end Volvo part, as used on C30 and S40. And yes, the gears strip on the Volvo versions as I've replaced those on my wife's C30. And yes, sometimes the screen will not lift properly, even with new gears fitted - guess how I know.

[Simpo Two]

LTP said:

In defence of Aston Martin I think you'll find that the mechanism to raise the screen is actually a lower-end Volvo part, as used on C30 and S40. And yes, the gears strip on the Volvo versions as I've replaced those on my wife's C30. And yes, sometimes the screen will not lift properly, even with new gears fitted - guess how I know.

Why would that be?

I've released the spring wires from the lid for a better look inside. It dawns on me now that somebody's been in there before, because when the lid was wobbling on the test drive it was because the spring wires hadn't been engaged.

Anyway, the head unit seems totally jammed in the down position. I've tried prising it up with forceps but it seems stuck fast. No give at all, very strange.

And so it makes a whirring noise when the ignition goes on and off, and keeps navigating me home, and I can't stop it.

The £100 TomTom ran rings round this unit in 2007 and it still does!

[Simpo Two]

Last night I found a vicious-looking hook thing and had one last go at levering the satnav unit up. The choice was either live with the satnav directing me to god-knows where from inside the dashtop for ever, or break it (a risk that suddenly didn't bother me too much). With the little motor whirring I applied some brute force.

The unit is now free, though with a battle scar on one side. There's no physical clip holding it down, just a metal rod about 5mm diameter at the base that's an axle it rotates on. Quite why it would totally fail to operate at the weekend, but does now, is a mystery.

[hueyhoolihan]

buy a new/used solid waterfall w/o screen and a Mr12volt unit. then you can forget about the lousy GPS unit that came with the car and use your phone instead. what could be easier than saying, "hey google, navigate nearest walmart"?

[Simpo Two]

hueyhoolihan said:

buy a new/used solid waterfall w/o screen and a Mr12volt unit. then you can forget about the lousy GPS unit that came with the car and use your phone instead. what could be easier than saying, "hey google, navigate nearest walmart"?

Thanks - though it might take some time to get to a Walmart Got any plans that don't use a smartphone?

[JonnyCJ]

Simpo Two said:

Thanks - though it might take some time to get to a Walmart Got any plans that don't use a smartphone?

You’re not helping yourself ! Get a smartphone and just use the satnav app. £60 for a used iPhone and the maps will be up to date.

A lot of the helpful advice being given out over your many issues involved getting involved in doing stuff yourself. If you aren’t able to do it, the advice will always be “go to a dealer and present yourself in the prostate position”

[Simpo Two]

Yes, the help here has been very good and has lots of ideas which I appreciate and consider. It's unfortunate there seems no middle ground between (a) learning to be a car mechanic on YouTube, and (b) handing the car and my wallet to a dealer - who may or may not fix it, and may not even be up to speed on a 2007 car. I've never owned a car before where you pay people not to fix it.

As for the satnav, I've decided to leave it as it is and just curse it until I change the car. Cost £0, effort and stress Zero



ETA: By way of an ending, bearing in mind that this thread was started in the hope of a quick easy fix (ie return to original condition), the unit now works again!

With the lid detached from the unit and left open, the unit rose up as as normal when the Enter button is pressed. Then select 'Shut down' and it went back down. Remarkable - but would it work with the lid attached? I refastened one of the two spring wires. The thing actually works. It seems to have fixed itself.

The mystery now is why it jammed shut at all... but at least that's one problem fixed so I'm back to where I was last Friday. Progress!

Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 15th February 15:37