Swapped out OEM Radio for an Android. And the one "problem".

[MoToad]

Ram 2022 1500 Classic came with the teeny tiny screen. Bugged me enough, just not enough. Backing up to the trailer hitch was, literally, hit and miss. So, I finally dropped the dime. Well, a couple of dimes. Seeing it was only a few hundred bucks I thought why not. It's an Eonon DRMX7A Android 14 9" screen. They pretty well guaranteed it plug and play, no drilling, no wiring. Went in easily with only one small hitch. the GPS connection was the thread on type and not the plug in type like the Uconnect. Did find an adapter that threaded on then plugged into the OEM antenna. So, the first good thang. Nice big color backup screen. Second, great, clean, powerful sound. As all u Classic owners know the radio comes with horrible paper speakers. So, immediately I replaced them with some not too expensive rubberized ones. Got noticeably better sound. Not great sound, turns out. But what a difference with this one. Third was fit and finish and last was all steering wheel controls and HVAC work great. Sept for that one little thing that keeps poking me in the eye. The compass on the cluster. Just two dashes. Now I got that once before when I disconnected the battery for some reason or another. But it did pop back up a few days later. I haven't do that much driving since install so I am still hoping it just a matter of time. I did do the tight left and right circles in a parking lot as prescribed by Google but to no immediate avail. Anyone popped in a new unit and had this happen? Sure would like to find the fix.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Ram 2022 1500 Classic came with the teeny tiny screen. Bugged me enough, just not enough. Backing up to the trailer hitch was, literally, hit and miss. So, I finally dropped the dime. Well, a couple of dimes. Seeing it was only a few hundred bucks I thought why not. It's an Eonon DRMX7A Android 14 9" screen. They pretty well guaranteed it plug and play, no drilling, no wiring. Went in easily with only one small hitch. the GPS connection was the thread on type and not the plug in type like the Uconnect. Did find an adapter that threaded on then plugged into the OEM antenna. So, the first good thang. Nice big color backup screen. Second, great, clean, powerful sound. As all u Classic owners know the radio comes with horrible paper speakers. So, immediately I replaced them with some not too expensive rubberized ones. Got noticeably better sound. Not great sound, turns out. But what a difference with this one. Third was fit and finish and last was all steering wheel controls and HVAC work great. Sept for that one little thing that keeps poking me in the eye. The compass on the cluster. Just two dashes. Now I got that once before when I disconnected the battery for some reason or another. But it did pop back up a few days later. I haven't do that much driving since install so I am still hoping it just a matter of time. I did do the tight left and right circles in a parking lot as prescribed by Google but to no immediate avail. Anyone popped in a new unit and had this happen? Sure would like to find the fix.

Had the same thing happen with a factory UAS from 2019. No amount of fixes worked except replacement. Quick question, does the dash display work immediately if the radio is unplugged?

Also, pictures and links or it didn't happen...

 

[MoToad]

No it wouldn't work unplugging because I would have to reinstall (plug the canbus back in) the Uconnect and, yes that would fix it. Pics? Just imagine 2 little dashes where it usually says N E S or W

 

[SitKneelBend]

No it wouldn't work unplugging because I would have to reinstall (plug the canbus back in) the Uconnect and, yes that would fix it. Pics? Just imagine 2 little dashes where it usually says N E S or W

I meant pictures of the radio and URLs to purchase. Try removing the radio fuse located in the engine bay just over the battery in front of the brake booster.

 

[MoToad]

Interesting. So shut down the radio by finding and pulling the fuse. Then checking to see if compass is back or waiting a bit to see if it resets? Sounds like a plan.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Interesting. So shut down the radio by finding and pulling the fuse. Then checking to see if compass is back or waiting a bit to see if it resets? Sounds like a plan.

MOstly just to see if it immediately starts working with it unplugged. It will break again when plugged in and from my testing it is something in the radio (hardware or software) causing this.

 

[Ana1Ravager]

1. Just like an android phone, there’s a rather large amount of settings for an android radio. I have the same radio so I’m going to go look and see if I can find a setting related to the compass. The manual kinda sucks and is very brief.

2. My good friend ChatGPT said there’s a 10 amp fuse in the #80 spot under the hood that’s usually labeled Overhead Console/Compass that you can check. Apparently the Compass unit is in the Overhead Console. I’m not sure if I have that as I have a tradesman.

3. ChatGPT also says you can turn off the compass in the display so you can’t see it. If you want to try that too.

 

[RamDiver]

F80 - Universal Garage Door Opener / Compass / Anti-Intrusion Module

https://procarmanuals.com/ram-1500-classic-2019-2023-fuse-layout/

.

 

[MoToad]

I lost the compass after a battery disconnect before. It did come back after a while. Some have said it either takes a number of starts and stops or a certain amount of time. I disconnected the radio at the fuse and compass was still out. I have now gone the whole nine yards and disconnected the battery and reconnected after about an hour. No immediate fix yet. Went for a drive, did the left and right circling, shut off and back on again several times. Nothing yet. Leaving the radio disconnected for now and gonna wait a few days. But not hopeful. Took me several days to get the radio, maps, music and android auto working properly. All with AI "help". They have all, and I mean all the answers. Unfortunately, finding the right ones takes some doing.

 

[RamDiver]

I lost the compass after a battery disconnect before. It did come back after a while. Some have said it either takes a number of starts and stops or a certain amount of time. I disconnected the radio at the fuse and compass was still out. I have now gone the whole nine yards and disconnected the battery and reconnected after about an hour. No immediate fix yet. Went for a drive, did the left and right circling, shut off and back on again several times. Nothing yet. Leaving the radio disconnected for now and gonna wait a few days. But not hopeful. Took me several days to get the radio, maps, music and android auto working properly. All with AI "help". They have all, and I mean all the answers. Unfortunately, finding the right ones takes some doing.

There are a few AlfaOBD tweaks that require several ignition cycles before they become available.
This may be similar.

.

 

[Ana1Ravager]

1. So I have the more expensive version. I wasn’t able to find any setting for the compass specifically. That doesn’t mean there isn’t one but my a/c went out last week (hell yea) and I don’t have a garage or any shade so it a bit hot in there.

2. Is there a compass somewhere on the radio’s navigation app? (not Android auto or CarPlay) Does it show your location?

 

[seems fishy]

Does your new 14.9" screen have a compass readout..any of the large screens have them,dependent on the brand.Yours may or may not.If so is it working?I have an aftermarket large T screen,not your brand..You adjust the readouts that show on your cluster like,time ,,everything that is also on your tscreen that also shows on your cluster .If your tscreen doesn't show it it doesn't show on your cluster.So if it is not on your tscreen as a feature( or if a flaw in your tscreen),it may not show on the cluster.Or,not showing when it is supposed to be,it won't show on the cluster.You paid a very reasonable price btw.I paid $2,400.00cdn for a 15.6"tstyle" screen made by Linkswhell.When I purchased it there was a feature(a gyro)that didn't work.It bothered me same way yours does for the compass.Good news happened a month later,when it started working on it's own,for some reason.You can also change the items on your cluster,and delete the compass for a different feature ,if you want.

 

[MoToad]

1. Just like an android phone, there’s a rather large amount of settings for an android radio. I have the same radio so I’m going to go look and see if I can find a setting related to the compass. The manual kinda sucks and is very brief.

2. My good friend ChatGPT said there’s a 10 amp fuse in the #80 spot under the hood that’s usually labeled Overhead Console/Compass that you can check. Apparently the Compass unit is in the Overhead Console. I’m not sure if I have that as I have a tradesman.

3. ChatGPT also says you can turn off the compass in the display so you can’t see it. If you want to try that too.

When you say check do u mean weather it blown or not. Cause it's not. And I don't think I have a switch to turn off the display. This is what I was talking about with out AI buds with a wealth of (unorganized) info.

 

[MoToad]

Does your new 14.9" screen have a compass readout..any of the large screens have them,dependent on the brand.Yours may or may not.If so is it working?I have an aftermarket large T screen,not your brand..You adjust the readouts that show on your cluster like,time ,,everything that is also on your tscreen that also shows on your cluster .If your tscreen doesn't show it it doesn't show on your cluster.So if it is not on your tscreen as a feature( or if a flaw in your tscreen),it may not show on the cluster.Or,not showing when it is supposed to be,it won't show on the cluster.You paid a very reasonable price btw.I paid $2,400.00cdn for a 15.6"tstyle" screen made by Linkswhell.When I purchased it there was a feature(a gyro)that didn't work.It bothered me same way yours does for the compass.Good news happened a month later,when it started working on it's own,for some reason.You can also change the items on your cluster,and delete the compass for a different feature ,if you want.

It's an Android 14 with a 9" screen and yes it does but Mr AI's explanation was that it wasn't a true compass.

 

[jc56berg]

There are a few AlfaOBD tweaks that require several ignition cycles before they become available.
This may be similar.

.

Another acronym to add to my list yes, I look them up and write them down. My favorite is the BFH ya'll got me on. Coffee must not have kicked in yet that morning.

 

[RamDiver]

1. So I have the more expensive version. I wasn’t able to find any setting for the compass specifically. That doesn’t mean there isn’t one but my a/c went out last week (hell yea) and I don’t have a garage or any shade so it a bit hot in there.

2. Is there a compass somewhere on the radio’s navigation app? (not Android auto or CarPlay) Does it show your location?

Please disregard. I just read your last post that includes more radio details.


Are you referring to the Uconnect 8.4C NAV or non-NAV?

I searched the soft copy for compass or direction and found nothing.
I know that displaying the compass direction is an option on the Premium EVIC.

I'm not going outside until at least tomorrow morning. The temperature and humidity have been barfy hot for the last few days.

.

 

[RamDiver]

Another acronym to add to my list yes, I look them up and write them down. My favorite is the BFH ya'll got me on. Coffee must not have kicked in yet that morning.

AlfaOBD is an app for tweaking the body control module (BCM) and a few others.

AlfaOBD

.

 

[Ana1Ravager]

When you say check do u mean weather it blown or not. Cause it's not. And I don't think I have a switch to turn off the display. This is what I was talking about with out AI buds with a wealth of (unorganized) info.

Yea check to see if it’s blown.

This is page 100 of a 2022 Ram 1500 manual. This is basically just turning the compass off on the dash so you don’t have to see that’s it not working lol. It’s an option but I understand if you want it to be working.

Edit: I believe this is for the basic little rectangle dash in between the gauges. Do you have this dash or the bigger digital fancy one?

 

[jc56berg]

AlfaOBD is an app for tweaking the body control module (BCM) and a few others.

AlfaOBD

.

Got it.....on paper

 

[Ana1Ravager]

Yea check to see if it’s blown.

This is page 100 of a 2022 Ram 1500 manual. This is basically just turning the compass off on the dash so you don’t have to see that’s it not working lol. It’s an option but I understand if you want it to be working.

Edit: I believe this is for the basic little rectangle dash in between the gauges. Do you have this dash or the bigger digital fancy one?

Just remembered you have a classic.

Page 95.