BRZ NAV system GPS signal issues?

[DSPographer]

Originally Posted by Sayfailo

I experienced a bunch of GPS issues but have narrowed it down to the Bluetooth Audio... BTA works great in my car, it connects to my iPhone flawlessly!

The issue is when I am using BTA, the GPS has a lot of difficulty getting a signal. As soon as I go to FM, the GPS connects -- very strange.

Interesting. I will try turning off the Bluetooth on my Atrix phone and switching from XM radio to FM and see if the GPS behaves better.

[Edit] Well I tried turning everything else off and it made no difference to the GPS failure of the Nav. I completely shut off my phone, I turned Bluetooth off on the head unit, I switched the audio to FM then turned it off: and still no GPS lock with blinking one to three dots for status. I tried with the car off in acc mode while four red reception bars showed steady, then started the car and stopped at a stop sign for three minutes with five red reception bars and never got a lock. I did all this testing in a school parking lot with a good view of the sky. Total testing time: 20 minutes. Total GPS lock: zero.

[DigDloppyFonkeyBick]

Originally Posted by DSPographer

This is a good description of what I often see too. If you tap the spinning satellite on the full page map display it shows the satellite reception. On that display it often bounces back and forth between one dot and three in the upper right GPS status, while turning the accuracy and UTC time display on and off at the same time- with about two seconds in each state. When the UTC time comes on it starts at the time when it went off, which is about two or three seconds behind, then immediately updates to the correct time for a second or two before turning off again. This can happen continuously while the signal strength shows four strong red bars without ever locking. When not locked my location on the map wanders all around with no relation to my actual motion. Usually if it gets six red bars for a short while it will suddenly lock, turning the bars green and yielding my correct location. Once locked it typically stays locked until I shut off the car. But, then even if I immediately start the car again, it can go back to its perpetually unlocked state. If you check the status in the Info:system status page it says the GPS is off until the system locks, then it shows the number of green bars on the GPS reception page. I have been using Bluetooth with my Atrix phone and listening to XM radio with no issues.

Yup. That's the one. Snagged a cell phone video on the way home:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jVNXQPWQgM&feature=plcp"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jVNXQPWQgM&feature=plcp[/ame]

Turning off bluetooth and xm have no impact. XM and bluetooth otherwise work fine. I would complain that XM signal is a little poor but I don't really care.

[DeepHunta]

subaru stock gps suck! I use the gps on my phone instead. waaaaay more reliable. It is hard to hold it though while I'm driving. There is no right place to put it upright.

[DSPographer]

Here is my example with five unlocked satellites:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKX6Mt0a3sE&feature=plcp"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKX6Mt0a3sE&feature=plcp[/ame]

This isn't the only condition where the unit fails to lock. Sometimes it just continuously shows 2 dots on the signal indicator, but the location is still wrong and the status shows GPS off: in that state it doesn't show the spinning satellite icon on the map display so I can't get to the reception page.

[feedbag]

My GPS always loses signal when I go through a certain part of my neighborhood which happens to be under some power lines at an intersection. It takes a good five minutes to get a new lock.

[xwd]

I've posted in the other thread in the electronics section but just wanted to add the same thoughts.

Mine either has no signal or does what someone else says, it cycles between a strength of 1-3 dots and updates the map erratically with me on a road about 5 miles from my actual location.

There is a specific freeway where this happens every time travelling in the south direction, I can't get a good signal at all anywhere. When I change over to another freeway and am headed east, it picks the signal back up and seems fine...

I'm hoping this isn't a hardware issue but I will call SOA just to get it documented since it's an obvious issue... I can use a handheld GPS and my phone while in the car and it has no issues.

[DSPographer]

I did some more investigation. From the Imprezza forum and some experimentation I found out the GPS antenna is under the dash behind the head unit. The roof antenna is just for XM and FM. You can restart the head unit without shutting off the car by pressing and holding the map then the audio buttons. You can enter the head unit service menu by pressing and holding the map, then the voice command, then the audio buttons all together. In the service menu there is a GPS and vehicle sensor status. Looking at the vehicle sensor status it shows the wrong speed as shown below. I wonder if this is part of the problem? (Note: this wrong data on the navigation diagnostic display is from the speedometer sender, not the GPS)

By the way, when the head unit is doing its blinking signal status dance, in the service menu the GPS status is constant with signal levels according to the height, but not color, of the bars on the head unit reception page.

[DigDloppyFonkeyBick]

Good info. I got good lock in 5 minutes this morning on the way to work.
Next time it goes bizerk I'll check the menus on mine.

I wonder if we could fashion a gps antenna extension to put it in a better location.

[Spaceywilly]

I wonder if there is something metal in the vent structure that could be blocking the signal?

[dorkymork]

I don't want to be that guy but do you think we are having enough issues to actually complain to Subaru about this?

[DSPographer]

Originally Posted by dorkymork

I don't want to be that guy but do you think we are having enough issues to actually complain to Subaru about this?

I sent an email via the Subaru.com site, and here is the reply:
Dear John: Thank you for your message to Subaru of America, Inc. At this point in time, we suggest you arrange to have the navigation system on your 2013 Subaru BRZ inspected by an authorized Subaru dealership. We depend on our dealers to inspect and diagnose concerns with Subaru vehicles. Once we have the results of the dealer's inspection, we can determine how we will help you. We appreciate the opportunity to be of service! Sincerely, Judy York, CDS E-Mail Representative, Subaru of America, Inc.

[THREAD ID:1-XFEAB8]



-----Original Message-----

From: xxxxxxxxx@yahoo.com
Sent: 6/20/2012 07:55:30 AM
To: CustDlrServices@subaru.com
Subject: (SR #:1-2021244595) Vehicle Problem

My new BRZ has a problem with the NAV not locking GPS satellites. Other owners on ft86club.com report the same problem. Here is a description of one symptom:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...468#post267468
Note the thread was started by an owner whose dealer changed everything but couldn't fix the problem.

[DigDloppyFonkeyBick]

Originally Posted by dorkymork

I don't want to be that guy but do you think we are having enough issues to actually complain to Subaru about this?

I've already contacted Subaru NA directly and my dealer is talking to them as well.
I paid a premium on the subaru versus the scion to get the headlights and nav. I expect them to work. My nav fails 75+% of the time so I certainly expect this to be corrected.

BTW...the response I got back from subie na:
Dear MR Floppy: Thank you for your message to Subaru of America, Inc. We are sorry to learn of the difficulties you have experienced with the navigation system on your BRZ. We will research this further and get back to you by the end of the week. We appreciate you taking the time to contact us! Sincerely, Judy York, CDS E-Mail Representative, Subaru of America, Inc.


I suggest everyone who has flakiness with their nav to email subaru. More datapoints will help. We're also likely to have better success if you doing a good job describing the symptoms and are polite. For example:
"You c*ck suckers need to fix my busted-a$$ get me places box".

[Spaceywilly]

I'm going to my dealer today to get some paperwork so I'll make sure I have the service manager report it.

[xwd]

I did some more testing in my case and I found if I waited a few minutes in my driveway for the Nav to get good satellite reception it worked the entire same drive where it previously didn't work. I think it's when I start moving without it first syncing up it has a terrible time ever getting a satellite signal. This time around it never lost signal.

Tomorrow morning I'll try it again just leaving right away and see if it ever gets a good signal.