Lebowski

Hello pcma Really? Lucky you, I have mine since september 2011 and to this day it still has the full set of problems, however... ....I had no problems (crossing fingers) with the gearbox (and I was used to an automatic). I don't find it hard at all, but then maybe it's a problem of perception. I had a clunking noise, not only when changing but also when accelerating/decelerating. It turns out it was a loose nut in the front wheels. BTW, keep in mind that the engine and the gearbox in the US/Canada is completely different than those sold by FIAT (maybe the automatic gearbox is the same), also I don't even think that a manual gearbox is even available, so you will only hear from international subscribers to this forum.

This is the holder I'm fabricating, using epoxy putty. Rough version, hand molded (saran wrap to protect the unit, adhesive tape to protect the dashboard): Sanded, ready to paint. Notice the connector to quickly remove it/put it in place (I hope it lasts since this kind of connector isn't designed for many insertion/removal cycles): :

Discovering the meaning of some of the messages in the CAN bus isn't too difficult (it isn't too easy either), but I think that finding a way to modify the settings is another matter: a lot of people tinker with their router (a $50 piece of equipment) and find the way to install a different firmware, the same with a mobile phone or a tv set (did you know that the low end sets are actually the same as the most expensive ones but with features disabled in software?), but not so many are willing to potentially brick a $20000-$30000 car. Those that are professionally reverse-engineering these things won't sell their knowledge cheap (see the various audio/video interfaces that are more expensive than the factory option, which isn't cheap to begin with), so unless there is somebody on the inside leaking information, I think that it is that difficult.

The storage bin (with the mirror) is 1NU53HDAAA, however for the rest of the console I have various codes and I don't know which one is the right one. They are 1MS52DW1AB, 1MT59DW1AB, 1MT681W1AB, 1MU021W1AB, 1MU03DW1AB, 1MU061W1AB If you google the storage bin (or any of the other part #), it will lead you to sites selling the part and a description of the various assemblies.

I think 10 months is plenty of time to fix those bugs, yet mines are still there just like the first day.

My opinion is that the uconnect 4.3 is a POS, just hope it was a momentary glitch.

Not likely: the physical buttons would still work in that case. Also, just touching the screen or any of the buttons would have turned on the screen.

Well, in these Internet times, maybe they're sending that TSB across the Atlantic swimming Or, more seriously, it isn't suitable for the European software.

I don't think that solves the problem. The TSB only mentions CD skipping, not Mp3. Also, I don't know if they applied the same or a similar TSB here in Europe, but I had an update performed later that this TSB and still have all the problems (radio not turning on, mp3 skipping, search not working, inconsistent duration of the songs, etc.).

Same here, and I though I was getting taller, you just burst my bubble

Same here, but I have the same problem in other sites too.

5 months since the last update and the radio still doesn't turn on from time to time.

Yesterday I changed the location, since I had some problem seeing the satellites (the unit was still operational, but it wasn't "perfect"), now that I'm on holiday I hope I manage to fabricate a custom holder to clean up the mess and completely hide the cabling: I used some network UTP cable I had lying around, since the dash is soft I didn't need to drill any hole, and hopefully I should be able to remove it without leaving any trace: This is the other end of the cable, behind the glove box. Currently I just go from there to the socket in the center console, but eventually I plan to put everything here (camera connection, an extra socket, the 12V to 5V converter, a TMC receiver, etc.).

In theory the car should try to detect the fob only when you grab the handle, so, even with the fob nearby it shouldn't discharge the battery. In theory....

Touching the handle will light up the dashboard even with no fob near.

I find it picky, i.e. sometimes it doesn't respond do the buttons even if I do notice the click. Also I think there is a problem with the sensor in the clutch (I have manual transmission): once there was no way to engage it until I switched gears, next time it happened I raised a little bit the clutch pedal and it worked. The dealer could find no problem with it. BTW, it doesn't work as it should: the manual says that it works from 40km/h, and you can reset it starting from 32km/h (it should then reach the speed set before cancelling), but mine does both things starting at 42km/h.

Nope, those were modified first in the Journey (at least were announced several months before the announcement of the Freemont).

Don't you guys have RDS in USA/Canada? Edit: according to the Wikipedia, it's called RBDS (Radio Broadcast Data System) in the US.

Hello, AFAIK, sadly, there's no update for the 4.3 (though I heard one is available in Italy but not here in Spain). RDS is "Radio Data System", i.e. a way to broadcast data on FM stations (like the name of the station, an indication of traffic or news bulletins and a list of alternative frequencies of the same station). The AF (Alternatives Frequencies) function, when enabled, tries some other frequency when the signal degrades (the best units have a double tuner, so the switchover is seamless). The TA (Traffic announcement) will switch to the radio whenever there is a traffic announcement, even if you were listening to another source. Both functions are accessible through the "more" button when you're listening to an FM radio, then either with "AF" for AF and "Alerts" for TA and other alerts. At least in the European version.

Most probably it's just a dead battery, the brake is hard to push because with the engine off the servo doesn't work.

Never said otherwise, but it isn't theft. Edit: BTW: I don't even have a garmin navigator, so I don't really care about the map upgrade. I just care about using the correct words for things, regardless of the (very effective as I can see) brainwashing by the copyright lobby.

Well, since you mentioned the wikipedia article: See above the article you mentioned: it's copyright infringement, it's not theft. openstreetmap is doing just that, and they're doing a better job than atlas/navteq, now, where does garmin explain how to load openstreetmap's maps on their devices? Oh, wait, they don't, since they want to force you to buy their maps. That's extortion.

You are playing with words: intellectual property doesn't resemble physical property at all, the difference I explained before (if I take physical property from you, you have it no more, if I copy intellectual property from you, you still have it, or, as Thomas Jefferson put it:“He who receives ideas from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine receives light without darkening me”) It is just a legal construct with no root in reality, so, no, copyright violation is copyright violation, not theft, so, please refrain from calling thieves those that are just violating copyright. Besides, copyright violation may be a legal offence in a country, just a civil offence in another and nothing at all in another one (e.g., where I live I can freely copy music for my personal use, while I cannot copy software). BTW: I'm not promoting any behaviour (again, "piracy" is a loaded word that has nothing to do with the issue at hand), I'm just saying to be careful with the words one uses to describe things (e.g., "illegal copying software" is not "piracy", since usually there are no boats or guns involved).

Be careful with your words: it's copyright violation but it cannot be called theft. If I take, e.g., your car without your consent, you're left without a car, that's theft. If I copy a map, garmin still has the map to sell, that's a copyright violation. That the law in some countries treats both things in the same manner (or worse, copyright violations deserve stiffer penalties than theft) it's just an artificial construction not grounded in reality.

Wouldn't that confirm that the original brakes weren't big enough?