Lebowski

There are a bunch of those on sale at aliexpress.com, just search for "fiat freemont". The problem is, nobody wants to be the first to buy and see if they work as advertised

Apparently they didn't use an uconnect system either (and specifically mine), since in that case they wouldn't be just regurgitating chrysler's propaganda, they would be highlighting its shortcomings instead. Unless they're just a humor magazine, in that case I appreciate they're being sarcastic.

Yes, not as much as you (I'd say about 1 minute a week) but not acceptable in this day and age.

... I'm not familiar with that publication, but seeing what they write it must be a humor magazine, right?

Which graphics? The only one I see is the thermometer with the engine temperature, and it is useless since it's a static picture (i.e. it doesn't change neither the level nor the color based on the temperature). Or do you mean the line showing current consumption? That would fit well in the same screen with the current speed and current trip distance. Edit: oh, I forgot, there's also the picture of the car showing the tire pressure, that's nice and it can stay on a screen on its own. Well, I disagree, at least current speed (since the dial is too coarse and it doesn't match the speed shown by the evic) and current consumption are needed while driving, the current trip distance is nice to see even if not strictly needed, the rest, I agree, though some information could be useful while driving too. And one of my pet peeves is that the speed set with the cruise control is displayed nowhere! Sorry, but I've seen better information on more limited displays (TBH I have also seen worse).

I don't know, probably some clown disguised as a programmer. Hey, it's a wonderful way to waste screen real estate. Why present the whole picture in one screen, without the need to distract the driver, when you can squander it in 20? Maybe they billed Chrysler based on the number of different screens And don't get me started about the radio...

Thank you redtomatoman and doubleO7, I think most of the problems are due to the hurried Chrysler/Fiat integration: everything except the engine (which is Fiat and, crossing fingers, I had no problem with it) has been designed by Chrysler, and I can understand that the Fiat network had some teething problems with what was an alien technology to them. OTOH I think they've had plenty of time now to familiarise themselves with Chrysler's technology and it pisses me off seeing that these problems are known and have been apparently solved your side of the pond[*]. I don't know if it's Chrysler that's not pushing the updates overseas or if it's Fiat that's dragging its feet, but I do know that I'm the one that's waiting (and I'm not alone). At times, even a "yes, we know those problems and we're working on them" would be enough, instead of "oh, we're sorry but we can't do nothing". So, yes, someone like DodgeCares or DodgeCACares would be welcome. [*] I'm referring to the radio and the mp3 player, I know there's no cure for the insane delay of the automatic lights and the recirculation not working with the airflow directed at the feet.

Negative? I appreciate the useful contributions of DodgeCares and I think that DodgeCACares will be the same, that's why I'm missing a similar attitude from Fiat, which really doesn't care (11 months and counting and no problem solved).

Yes, now we only need a FiatCares (which actually doesn't seem to be the case).

The price for the kit is $1099 without navigation and $1799 with (see the the last page of this newsletter.) The guy that posted the above video sells the kits in Mexico, he says that it works on the freemont (though I cannot access his webpage I could see the google cache). Maybe the problem is just the language (i.e. it's not translated to European languages).

Same switches, same dials, same connector, the sd slot is on the radio and not on the panel, I say it should work but the only way to be sure is to try. Pity for the bezel, that's needed for sure.

I'm afraid I was wrong: if you look at this video around 2:48 you'll see that the sd card slot protrudes from the unit and then enters the slot in the new panel (4:15 onwards). Most probably the old panel would interfere with the slot.

I cannot say with absolute certainty, but I'd say the only difference is the the SD slot, electrically they should be exactly the same. You could try and if it doesn't work buy the panel later. BTW, who are "they"? Because the price, while not cheap, is about one fifth of the official one, it's even cheaper than the Chinese radio on sale on aliexpress.com. Another question, are you replacing a 4.3? Because in that case you'll also need the bezel (which is a rather expensive part). Unless that's included in the $310 for the screen.

According to the manual the fob should work even with the battery dead, just put it near the start button. Didn't try if it really works though.

They're probably just selling the Chinese model, look for "fiat freemont" in aliexpress.com.

My car has a Fiat diesel engine, so it's not that useful to you, but it can be used as a reference (considering that it drives the same weight): according to fuelly the average MPG(uk) is 35.9 (7.9l/100km), and, while not too bad for the weight of the car, it's a bit more fuel than expected according to the specifications. Even if I don't like German technology (I think it's just overrated s*it with a not deserved reputation), it cannot be that bad, so I think it must be defective. BTW, even with a completely different engine, I have the occasional misfire and lack of power. Once, while driving in the highway, I though the engine would stall. As usual the dealer found no faults.

Don't worry, it just a matter of time and that "problem" will solve by itself But then you'll have another set of problems BTW: I love the clear interiors, pity that there was no such option when I bought the car.

Well, other manufacturers manage to add features for existing customers, not only that, they don't even have to pay a visit to the dealer. Chrysler/FIAT OTOH doesn't even fix the bugs.

Ah, OK, in another thread somebody said that the radio didn't show the station name. Without pressing info does it show the full, 8 characters, name, or does it cut it to 3-4 characters?

Supposedly they'll work with the new radio (not that I trust them too much), and, BTW, even that Chinese radio for $600 is too much for my taste. Sure, an external unit is not as well integrated, but it's 10 times cheaper and they can't blame any possible radio malfunction on it That's true for the cam, but the $1799 OEM kit includes navigation. Then there's this Chinese (ahem ) audio/video interface for the 8.4 to connect one or more parking cameras. They even have an option to add an external navigation unit.

As strange as it may seem, and as I said before, it depends on the radio and the AF (alternate frequencies) function: if reception is good there's no skipping or it happens just from time to time, if it's bad it can be even worse than that video. One can turn off the AF function or select an AM station before switching to the player, but in 2011 one shouldn't have to resort to these nasty workarounds. I can try but I doubt they're willing to change it, and if it's a software problem the new one would probably perform equally bad. It seems that the US/Canada version has limited RDS functionality: no AF function and it doesn't even show the stations' names. I don't think that's an option.

In my case I got the shaft because the system doesn't work and they don't fix it, I don't miss features that shouldn't be there, but I want the advertised features (and in my case that doesn't include SMS) to work.

Are you sure you can do that all by yourself (I mean, without reprogramming)? Not that I'm interested in the OEM kit (you know, I'm cheap ) but I'm curious. This guy is just swapping one unit for the other, but I don't know if it works because the car has been reprogrammed before:

Well, their thinking is that this way you're going to buy a new car My thinking is that my new car will be from another manufacturer that hopefully treats their customers better. I know that's wishful thinking, but at least I won't get the shaft from the same people twice.

Nobody forces you to activate the recirculation, OTOH this stupid system forces me not to. Trust me, I tried (by setting the flow to the feet and face and closing the vents in the dashboard, with the net effect of having recirculation on and only air directed at the feet) and there's no trace of fogging.