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Intermittent Uconnect Issues


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While my Uconnect 8.4 RB5 basically works well, I do have some intermittent Uconnect symptoms.

1. Ever since new, iPod music consistently skips/drops out every 20-30 minutes. This is constantly annoying.

2. Ever since new, Uconnect sometimes recatalogs iPod library after parking for a short time (this process takes about 1 minute per gigabyte of music on the iPod). Annoying!

3. The screen sometimes displays incorrect title information. It almost always does this after a parking library recatalog. It will sometimes display incorrect title info when playing iPod music in the shuffle mode.

4. Screen has randomly gone blank while driving (buttons still work). This has occured twice over the last few months. This requires an engine shutoff and restart to remedy.

5. Navagation has frozen 4 times over the last few months. This also requires an engine shutoff and restart to remedy. This is dangerous because I am relying on the nav at the time and there is not always a safe place to stop. This is infuriating when it happens.

6. Climate control temperatures constantly unsync. Again, dangerous as it is another thing that I need to constantly correct while driving.

I am considering beginning the process to have my dealership replace my Uconnect whatever that means (not sure what actually has to be replaced). My concerns are that the problems are intermittent and I will have to endure the "couldn't reproduce the problem" BS almost endlessly. I am concerned that I will go through the process and my new Uconnect will be the same as my current one. I am also concerned about some ding-a-ling ripping into my dash and breaking parts that I cannot see so that rattles begin in a few years.

Comments?

Peace.

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Is your radio still under warranty? The info says you have an '11 and unless you have an extended warranty this implies you are past the 3 year point - replacement radios are VERY expensive.

But it does sound like there is *something* with the radio.

Given the possible age of your unit, I wonder if the radio doesn't have button cell battery inside to keep the parameters going - and that the battery could be dying, necessitating a full recatalog of your music on restart after it's been sitting off for a while - my RHA and my RE2 didn't and my RB5 doesn't do this - of course it may also have something to do with the iPod . . . . if it is a Gen4+ which has been updated to the most recent OS release then all bets are off.

Considering what's involved in pulling the radio, if you have any Journey-owning friends with 8" display radios who are feeling generous you might want to try swapping your radio with them to see if the problem follows the radio or stays with the vehicle (I'm specifically wondering about the display issue you describe).

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Uconnect only support iOS up to 7.1. If you are using a higher iOS, this will cause problems. I had zero issues with my 5s, 7.1 music and phone. Then I uploaded to iOS8 never giving this a second thought. Phone worked fine, music went to hell as you explained.

So, I bought an iPhone6 just for phone, and hunted high and low for an iPod with iOS7. They all come with 8 now. Found a brand new blue one on ebay with 7.1. Synced it with my iTunes Library. Music is still a mess. I'll figure it out. Finally got the SD card to work as it should. If i use the iPod for skeet shooting, I'll only have one shot. No fun in that.

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Is your radio still under warranty? The info says you have an '11 and unless you have an extended warranty this implies you are past the 3 year point - replacement radios are VERY expensive.

But it does sound like there is *something* with the radio.

Given the possible age of your unit, I wonder if the radio doesn't have button cell battery inside to keep the parameters going - and that the battery could be dying, necessitating a full recatalog of your music on restart after it's been sitting off for a while - my RHA and my RE2 didn't and my RB5 doesn't do this - of course it may also have something to do with the iPod . . . . if it is a Gen4+ which has been updated to the most recent OS release then all bets are off.

Considering what's involved in pulling the radio, if you have any Journey-owning friends with 8" display radios who are feeling generous you might want to try swapping your radio with them to see if the problem follows the radio or stays with the vehicle (I'm specifically wondering about the display issue you describe).

I have the lifetime extended warranty. While the radio has been quirky since new, the previous symptoms were tolerable and more intermittent. The more recent blank screen and Nav freeze symptoms are what are really getting under my skin. Is the radio difficult to remove? I really hate the idea of some tech digging into my dash.

More comments and thoughts please!

Peace.

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Pulling the radio involves removing 2 bits of trim, the buttons and knobs panel below the screen (2 screws and some prying and unplugging it's connector), then 4 more screws . . . and the radio slides out. There are then a number of connectors on the rear to unplug.

The only tools you will need are a pry tool (I have a plastic trim kit, but you can use a small blade screwdriver or knife with a cloth over it ) and a torx screwdriver. You may want to put a soft cloth over the shift lever and console ahead of the shift to prevent scratches if you let the radio slip.

I've extracted the relevant pages from the backup camera installation guide - note that the tools at the top of the page are the end of the list of tools required to install the camera and not all all are involved in removing the radio module. Also note that the screw at the bottom center of the radio module that the document shows as having to be removed does not need to be, nor does the battery need to be disconnected.

Pages from Chrysler Install Backup Camera Instructions.pdf

Edited by bramfrank
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Thanks bram. Makes me feel better that there isn't a lot of digging to get it out. I suppose I'll take it in to have them give me a diagnosis. I am hopeful that a new radio would cure my symptoms, but not holding my breath. I have used 3 generations of ipods, 7 year old classic, a 2 year old classic, and a new ipod touch. All behave the same way, except the touch confuses the music ordering structure. I sold that piece of junk. My classics work well except for the skips. I have no idea what is causing the blank screens, freezes, erroneous title info, and climate unsync. I doulbt Dodge will know either, but I guess I will give them a shot at it.

Peace.

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  • Official Dodge Support

redtomatoman,

Be sure to keep us posted on how everything goes at the dealership! One piece of advice I always like to give customers with intermittent issues is letting the dealership hold on to your vehicle for a longer period of time. This can give them more time to duplicate your concern.

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I've noticed that my wife's iPhone does this and I think I've narrowed it down to being caused by a song that was pre-installed that we removed. The title of that song still shows in the list even though it is not there, and every song after that is off by one song in the playlist... Annoying. I figure something must still be there like an information file or something...

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Open itunes. Select songs from the list at the bottom of the screen. Find the song. Put your finger on the song, and slide it to the left. A red DELETE box will appear on the right. Hit delete. It will ask you if you are sure. Say yes. See if this then puts the songs in order.

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Open itunes. Select songs from the list at the bottom of the screen. Find the song. Put your finger on the song, and slide it to the left. A red DELETE box will appear on the right. Hit delete. It will ask you if you are sure. Say yes. See if this then puts the songs in order.

Was this for me? I think that is what she did... The song is gone, but it shows up on my DJ only...

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Was this for me? I think that is what she did... The song is gone, but it shows up on my DJ only...

Yes. Then, I have no idea how to remove it from the DJ. When the radio initially reads the files, it copies something from the list. Strange. I can not get my iPod to work, except for a list. I want by MyGig back. Did I mention that before?

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Maybe if you plug in a different iPod it will delete the current list - then when you plug the original back in it will re-import the original, minus the deleted song.

The first time I hooked it up was after it was already deleted, so I don't think that is it... I'm not really concerned about it too much, I don't allow her to play her crappy music in my car that often anyway. :) I figured there must be some file or something still on the phone.

Yes. Then, I have no idea how to remove it from the DJ. When the radio initially reads the files, it copies something from the list. Strange. I can not get my iPod to work, except for a list. I want by MyGig back. Did I mention that before?

Doesn't sound familiar... Oh wait, yes, now I remember...

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Redtomatoman:

Hmmmmmm . . . . . I see from your screen that you have a 'more' button on the lower right corner of your radio display. On my Canadian unit I have a 'settings' button there - and while I have a TravelLink subscription, the menu entries are not present in my radio and, even though the radio says I'm subscribed I have no access to the service - they don't support it in Canada, but I spend enough time in the US that having gas prices and such would be nice to have while I'm there.

I wonder if there are different Canadian and American versions of the firmware, with the Canadian missing the TravelLink code?

If someone in the US has a V2 RB5 navigation radio (2013 and later model) and could PM me their VIN I would like to check to see if their firmware is different than mine by checking the update site.

The information would be most appreciated.

Edit: Well, a kind soul pointed out that there are VINs all over the web and I found one from a nice US unit, checked the code and it was the same. So it must be an issue tied to the vehicle configuration, which is in the BCM.

Edited by bramfrank
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Well, my DJ was at the Dodge service center for a day and a half. The service folks told me it was fixed after an update. I wasn't buying it. When I arrived, I was told to go on a test drive to be sure all was working. Finally the technician was able to experience most of my concerns after I took him on an hour test drive to show him how my uconnect misbehaves. Better late than never. Service manager suggested replacing the uconnect/radio unit for the touchscreen behaviors and the USB connection cable that runs to the center console for the iPod (just to be more thorough). I really don't think the USB connection cable is causing any issues, but I am hopeful that a new radio/uconnect unit will behave more agreeably. I will not be too surprised, though, if the new unit behaves the same or very similiar.

Thank goodness for my extended warranty!!!

If I can just be rid of the iPod music skips and Nav freezes, I'll be satisfied.

Peace.

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Since it is under warranty, let them change anything they want (I agree that the likelihood of it being the cable is low). As long as when they're done it all works properly. The more they change now, the less likely you are to have to go back next week to have them change something else.

Edited by bramfrank
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  • Official Dodge Support

Well, my DJ was at the Dodge service center for a day and a half. The service folks told me it was fixed after an update. I wasn't buying it. When I arrived, I was told to go on a test drive to be sure all was working. Finally the technician was able to experience most of my concerns after I took him on an hour test drive to show him how my uconnect misbehaves. Better late than never. Service manager suggested replacing the uconnect/radio unit for the touchscreen behaviors and the USB connection cable that runs to the center console for the iPod (just to be more thorough). I really don't think the USB connection cable is causing any issues, but I am hopeful that a new radio/uconnect unit will behave more agreeably. I will not be too surprised, though, if the new unit behaves the same or very similiar.

Thank goodness for my extended warranty!!!

If I can just be rid of the iPod music skips and Nav freezes, I'll be satisfied.

Peace.

Happy to hear that the service manager is looking to get to the bottom of things. Continue to keep us posted!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well, the new radio seems to function well. No Nav freezes, no blank screen, no issues so far, but the iPod skips are still present. I don't get it. Maybe the music skips are related to the iPod and not uconnect. If they are an iPod issue, I just don't know why no one else complains. Anyway, just another quirk of our system, I guess.

Peace.

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How about simply putting your music on a card and taking the iPod out of the equation?

After 2 months of screwing around with my iTunes Library on my PC, I finally got the SD card to do what it is supposed to do, as far as integrating with the radio, so I use the card. But, now I have no idea how to add new music to the card without starting all over again!

My iPOD Touch with iOS7.1 refuses to work with the radio as it should.

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How about simply putting your music on a card and taking the iPod out of the equation?

I feel like a whiner. I'm not. I have thought about using the SD card, but I use my iPod for bike rides and other activities so its always in the car. The other factor is I don't have a SD card reader. I may still load up a card, but like dhh3 states, not sure bow handy adding new music is. IPod/iTunes makes that quite easy. Anyway, not

whining. . . no Nav freezes, so I'm happy about that.

Peace.

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After 2 months of screwing around with my iTunes Library on my PC, I finally got the SD card to do what it is supposed to do, as far as integrating with the radio, so I use the card. But, now I have no idea how to add new music to the card without starting all over again!

My iPOD Touch with iOS7.1 refuses to work with the radio as it should.

Do you get album art with all your music files?

Peace.

Edited by redtomatoman
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