2013 Tahoe With Crazy Nav Radio

[Ebay Mike]

I have a 2013 SSV Tahoe that I have installed the factory Nav Radio in and I have a very strange issue going on with my radio today and I am hoping someone can give me some guidance on what the problem is. The radio has been working fine all week and then today when I started the truck the screen flashed the bowtie and then the radio came on. With-in 1 minute the radio cut out for 1 second and the display reset to the FM display at first not showing the song title and then it reappears a few seconds later. I might be wrong but it looks like the display is on the dim setting and not the bright setting (I had to take off my sunglasses to see the display which I did not have to do before today). Then about every minute it would cut out for one second and then reset the FM display again. I put in a CD to see if it was just the radio and it cut out on the CD also. It continued doing this all the way to work. Once I got to work I turned off the truck and opened the door and the radio did not turn off. I pushed the off button and it turned off the music but the bowtie display appeared on the screen and stayed on the screen. I went into work and came back 20 minutes later to check and the screen was still showing the bowtie and it had not shut off? I unplugged the two connectors that went from the radio to the amp and it turned off the screen so I left them unplugged so it would not kill my battery. Any idea WTH is going on?

Any help or guidance would be Very Helpful! Thank You in Advance.

Mike--Hamilton Chevy

 

[Ebay Mike]

Anyone????? I sure could use some help here.

Mike--Hamilton Chevy

 

[dubyagee01]

Sounds like a loose pin/socket in one of the connectors. I wouldnt think a bad RAP relay would cause that issue.

 

[swathdiver]

Let's ask the mods to move this into the right forum. @NathanJax

The fellas here are more familiar with the older systems. I wonder if these also throw codes or have their own diagnostics and such inside the radio itself?

 

[NathanJax]

Let's ask the mods to move this into the right forum. @NathanJax

Moved

 

[Ebay Mike]

Moved

I started it in Audio and it is still in audio so what did I do wrong and how was it moved?

Mike--Hamilton Chevy

 

[NathanJax]

I started it in Audio and it is still in audio so what did I do wrong and how was it moved?

Mike--Hamilton Chevy

You had it in the 2015+ section and belonged in the 07-14 section and I moved it with my Admin powers...

 

[Ebay Mike]

You had it in the 2015+ section and belonged in the 07-14 section and I moved it with my Admin powers...

Oh Ok, Sorry I did it wrong. Thanks for fixing it.

Mike--Hamilton Chevy

 

[Ebay Mike]

OK so I took the radio back out. Unplugged everything and then reinstalled it. Seems to be working normally so lets hope it was just a loose wiring or plug.

 

[Ebay Mike]

OK so I took the radio back out. Unplugged everything and then reinstalled it. Seems to be working normally so lets hope it was just a loose wiring or plug.

I guess I spoke too soon. I sat in the driveway with the radio playing for at least 1/2 hour and it worked just fine. Today I got about 1 mile from the house and it turned off for 1 second and then came back on and started doing that 1 minute of music and then click off and then 1 minute of music and repeat! I turned the radio off and the bowtie stayed on the screen and I could see the bowtie clicking off about every minute and then coming back on. I am baffled on this and have no idea what to check or do? I am not good at wiring when it does not work as it should!

Mike--Hamilton Chevy

 

[swathdiver]

Mike, I looked around and did not see any trouble shooting guide for these, none in my shop manual, nothing online after a quick search. I reckon it either has to be reprogrammed or repaired or replaced. Hopefully, someone else will chime in who knows about them.

 

[yates ™]

Try plugging in the old radio. Radio could have an internal issue.

 

[Ebay Mike]

So I unplugged the amp and drove the truck all day yesterday without the radio. Hooked it back up last night and it worked fine sitting in the driveway for over 1/2 hour. This morning I went to the bank and while sitting in line the radio turned itself off? I pushed the power button and it came back on for about 10 minutes and then it turned itself off again. Push the power button and it came right back on. This is where it is at right now. Tonight I am going to unplug the amp and try the radio without the amp plugged in to see if it is an amp issue or a radio issue. 99% sure it is not a wiring issue. To be continued!

Mike--Hamilton Chevy

 

[swathdiver]

Would you agree that it seems as if when something heats up it starts causing problems? I would think something in the radio is your culprit.

 

[Ebay Mike]

Would you agree that it seems as if when something heats up it starts causing problems? I would think something in the radio is your culprit.

No because I sat in the driveway for over 1/2 hour with the radio on and it worked perfectly. It seems to be an issue after it is being driven so I keep thinking the VSS wire? But since I know nothing about wiring on new vehicles I do not have a clue. I am used to working on 1967/68 Mustangs which are SOOOO Much Easier!

Mike--Hamilton Chevy

 

[Ebay Mike]

So I unplugged the amp yesterday and drove it to work and the same thing happened. After 10 minutes of driving it turned itself off and came right back on when I hit the power button. So today I cut the wire to the VSS to see if it had any effect and then drove it to work with the same results. This pretty much rules out everything but the radio. This weekend I plan on swapping the original radio back in to see if the issue goes away. Does anyone know a place that will repair these Navigation radios and not just exchange them? I checked at the dealership I work at on our source wants $990 exchange which is the dealership cost (Nearly $1400 public cost) so that is out of the question. I would buy another radio and pay to have it programmed long before I spent that kind of money. Suggestions?????

Mike--Hamilton Chevy

 

[Ebay Mike]

Ok so I put the original radio back in and drove it for a few days and everything worked as it should. I pulled the original radio back out and reinstalled the nav radio using a different conversion harness. I only hooked up the conversion and the antenna and nothing else. Now the radio works as it should and no longer turns itself off however now whenever I turn the truck off and restart it the radio clock resets itself to 12:00. It does it every time I open the door but if I turn the radio off and then turn it back on a short time later the clock holds the time. It has been suggested that I may need to hook the GPS antenna back up for the clock to get a signal to hold the time so I will try that this weekend. Weird and this radio issue is driving me crazy. I am about ready to pull the nav radio out and put the original radio back in and call it done! This is just too much craziness for me to deal with right now!

Suggestions or solutions are greatly appreciated!

Mike--Hamilton Chevy

 

[Ebay Mike]

Ok I think I need to learn more patience! I finally pulled the Nav radio back out and plugged in the GPS antenna and then drove the truck to work this morning. When I stopped for gas and turned the truck off the radio kept playing like it should and when I opened the door it turned off. Shockingly when I got back in the truck and restarted it the clock had held the correct time instead of resetting to 12:00! Maybe Ron was right and I just needed the GPS antenna to fix the clock issue. That is why I came here was to get help from people who are much smarter than I am. Thanks.

Mike--Hamilton Chevy

 

[KBones]

Glad to see that was all it needed. Was the nav unit used? Did you have to have it reprogrammed to make it work in yours?

 

[Ebay Mike]

Glad to see that was all it needed. Was the nav unit used? Did you have to have it reprogrammed to make it work in yours?

Yes it came out of a 2013 GMC Sierra and yes I sent it to OEM GM Radios and had it programmed and I had the back-up camera turned on as well. Now only if I could get that to work right!

Mike--Hamilton Chevy