Compass and Nav off

[DannyMK2]

i noticed the other day that my compass is off 180*, on both the evic and radio. my nav is also showing the truck about 50 miles away in the ocean lol. for reference, this is a 2015 that i did the 8.4 swap many years ago. i dont have a compass calibration setting in the evic. i tried driving in circles in a parking lot with no change. my nav info screen is showing 0 satellites. i dont have sirius on this truck, but the sirius preview channel works. radio is an RA4 with FW 18.45.01. i believe that is the latest? i also occasionally get the 911 needs service error message pop up despite having the bypass plugged in (my initial though was maybe this failed but now im not sure). i pulled the radio and disconnected everything and let it sit for a minute then reconnected. no change. is this pointing to a failed radio or is the gps antenna no good?

 

[markabby]

there's been a few threads in here on that issue. not sure if they got it resolved or not, but give it a search and see if they come up in here

 

[wrench78]

Sounds like you did everything I was going to tell you. Did you check the time zone setting to make sure you're in the correct time zone?

 

[SitKneelBend]

i noticed the other day that my compass is off 180*, on both the evic and radio. my nav is also showing the truck about 50 miles away in the ocean lol. for reference, this is a 2015 that i did the 8.4 swap many years ago. i dont have a compass calibration setting in the evic. i tried driving in circles in a parking lot with no change. my nav info screen is showing 0 satellites. i dont have sirius on this truck, but the sirius preview channel works. radio is an RA4 with FW 18.45.01. i believe that is the latest? i also occasionally get the 911 needs service error message pop up despite having the bypass plugged in (my initial though was maybe this failed but now im not sure). i pulled the radio and disconnected everything and let it sit for a minute then reconnected. no change. is this pointing to a failed radio or is the gps antenna no good?

I'm pretty sure it will be a failed Sierra Wireless Aircard. They are replaceable if you're comfortable with opening the radio to get the right part number for an eBay search.

 

[dhay13]

Same thing happened to mine a few years ago. Called someone. Can't remember if it was Ram or Panasonic but either way they had me go to an empty parking lot and open my door 3x, back up in a circle 5x, etc...lol. Didn't work. Dealer ended up replacing my head unit under warranty

 

[DannyMK2]

I'm pretty sure it will be a failed Sierra Wireless Aircard. They are replaceable if you're comfortable with opening the radio to get the right part number for an eBay search.

is there a write up for this? i swapped the touch panel once already a while back. seemed pretty easy. im guessing the compass is tied to the radio? meaning if i swapped back to the stock radio my compass would work? i was leaning toward an issue with the radio but wanted to rule out the antenna before i went that route.

 

[RamDiver]

is there a write up for this? i swapped the touch panel once already a while back. seemed pretty easy. im guessing the compass is tied to the radio? meaning if i swapped back to the stock radio my compass would work? i was leaning toward an issue with the radio but wanted to rule out the antenna before i went that route.

I've read several posts on removing the Sierra wireless card, it looks pretty simple if you have any mechanical aptitude and a few basic tools. I've also seen them available on Amazon and eBay, IIRC.

The wireless card has a small ribbon cable and 3 pressure-fit coaxial cables, at least on the several posts I've read. I don't recall which forum had the posts, it wasn't here. I'll hunt around to see if I bookmarked the info.

I plan to disable my wireless card ASAP, as soon as I find the time and reasonable outdoor temperatures.

I recently picked up a 10.1 tablet on sale and a mounting bracket to hold it in front of the Uconnect radio. Google Maps on a tablet is so much better than the Uconnect NAV, I tried it with an old tablet first.

.

 

[SitKneelBend]

is there a write up for this? i swapped the touch panel once already a while back. seemed pretty easy. im guessing the compass is tied to the radio? meaning if i swapped back to the stock radio my compass would work? i was leaning toward an issue with the radio but wanted to rule out the antenna before i went that route.

I'm sure there are posts about it but feel free to ask questions here and post pictures and we'll make one. I've helped several in private messages with this issue and it's not searchable or I would link to it...

 

[DannyMK2]

i opened up the radio up to find the wireless card. im not sure how to remove it. i found a write up for the newer radios that have the 3 push on cables and is attached with thermal paste, but it appears this radio is soldered on if im not mistaken? anybody thats done this before and can offer some guidance? i found a replacement but before i go ahead and buy it i want to make sure i can actually get it off.

 

[SitKneelBend]

i opened up the radio up to find the wireless card. im not sure how to remove it. i found a write up for the newer radios that have the 3 push on cables and is attached with thermal paste, but it appears this radio is soldered on if im not mistaken? anybody thats done this before and can offer some guidance? i found a replacement but before i go ahead and buy it i want to make sure i can actually get it off.

View attachment 557664View attachment 557665View attachment 557666

Ok, great question as I've never actually done this myself, just identified the issue and part for others. However I do know of several who have done this exact thing recently and maybe they can chime in...IF I'm looking at this right though it looks like you have it removed already? I see the thermal paste you speak of I'd imagine the new one goes right back on but I'd clean that thermal paste and apply new.

@bloup and/or @frostytj any insights on how this card is removed/replaced?

 

[RamDiver]

i opened up the radio up to find the wireless card. im not sure how to remove it. i found a write up for the newer radios that have the 3 push on cables and is attached with thermal paste, but it appears this radio is soldered on if im not mistaken? anybody thats done this before and can offer some guidance? i found a replacement but before i go ahead and buy it i want to make sure i can actually get it off.

Bravo!

Your radio appears much different than the examples I've looked at online. Yours does appear to be soldered on and more of a PITA than the more recent model trucks radios.

Could you show a picture of the backside of the circuit board where the Sierra module is attached?

If you could show pictures of both sides of the circuit board side by each and aligned in the same orientation so we can see the likely solder connections, that would be helpful in determining the level of difficulty for the extraction/re- installation.

How experienced are you with soldering electronic components? Any experience with using solder wick to remove solder?

.

 

[DannyMK2]

Ok, great question as I've never actually done this myself, just identified the issue and part for others. However I do know of several who have done this exact thing recently and maybe they can chime in...IF I'm looking at this right though it looks like you have it removed already? I see the thermal paste you speak of I'd imagine the new one goes right back on but I'd clean that thermal paste and apply new.

@bloup and/or @frostytj any insights on how this card is removed/replaced?

thats just the cover for the card. the card is still attached.

Bravo!

Your radio appears much different than the examples I've looked at online. Yours does appear to be soldered on and more of a PITA than the more recent model trucks radios.

Could you show a picture of the backside of the circuit board where the Sierra module is attached?

If you could show pictures of both sides of the circuit board side by each and aligned in the same orientation so we can see the likely solder connections, that would be helpful in determining the level of difficulty for the extraction/re- installation.

How experienced are you with soldering electronic components? Any experience with using solder wick to remove solder?

.

in the second picture, the white square near the top left is the center of the backside of the wireless card. the pic had more glare then i thought. ill have to re-take it tomorrow. ive removed and soldered capacitors on the main board of a tv before. ive used a solder wick. if i know where i need to remove and solder, it shouldnt be an issue for me.

 

[SitKneelBend]

thats just the cover for the card. the card is still attached.

in the second picture, the white square near the top left is the center of the backside of the wireless card. the pic had more glare then i thought. ill have to re-take it tomorrow. ive removed and soldered capacitors on the main board of a tv before. ive used a solder wick. if i know where i need to remove and solder, it shouldnt be an issue for me.

Apologies, just realized we are talking about an RA4 and that's what your pictures are. I didn't realize the board was soldered on the older units but if your comfortable with replacement have at it! The newer UAQ/UAS radios have boards like this...

PC Board Sierra Wireless Air-prime AR7552 4G for VP4R Chrysler 300 200 Dodge | eBay

We will respond to you within 24 hours and do our best to help you out! This includes showing sign of any use.

www.ebay.com

Do you have a part number on your card that you have looked up? If so share it here for future reference. In addition, are you sure the GPS antenna was running to this card with the button cable (I haven't really looked inside an RA4), just want to make sure you get the right part replaced.

 

[Hockeygod]

Hello I have recently installed a Uconnect RA4 8.4
When I am driving the truck, the map does not refresh on it as the truck is in motion. I tried everything on it Updated Software, etc.but I can't figure out what is the problem. The map will refresh (every 1-2 minutes) and show the right location but then again it will stop. The compass shows the right direction and it’s getting signals from satellites it acts as if it’s behind my location about 1-2 minutes. Any help would be greatly appreciated thank you.

 

[Hockeygod]

I too thought it was the Sierra wireless card and then bought another radio and tried it and it does the same thing wondering if it’s the antenna on the roof?

 

[bloup]

I can only offer insight on 4C CarPlay models and if you can’t fix your RA4 I would recommend upgrading to a 4C Panasonic model.

 

[DannyMK2]

new pics: