uConnect 12.1" & 8.4" - Intermittent Pauses in Audio for All Sources

[moonfire]

I just got an update on my radio at the dealer a couple days ago related to this TSB, but it's now up to REV C, however the I ended up with the same software version as listed in REV B of the TSB, so I don't think it's changed much. I don't have the full REV C version, here's a link to the REV B version that may be useful to some of you. I don't think it applies to 12" screens, but maybe they have a similar version. Also, dealer said that an update is due out in the 4th quarter for the radio. http://www.wk2jeeps.com/tsb/tsb_wk2_0800319b.pdf

 

[RIC3BOY]

Just an update:

I haven't had the issue since it completely disappeared in April/May. Truthfully, I haven't checked the software version, but I'll make a point to check today. I'm hoping it was a software issue, and not any of the suspicions I had before (cold weather and/or camera related).

 

[xdrugfreex]

And its back..... sadly, after months of warm weather and no issues, the turn to cold weather here in Alabama has brought back the cutout issues on my truck...sucks....

 

[RIC3BOY]

And its back..... sadly, after months of warm weather and no issues, the turn to cold weather here in Alabama has brought back the cutout issues on my truck...sucks....

Yes, same here! First day at 0*C with a frost advisory. Decided to use my remote start to warm-up the truck, and when I got into the truck and pressed the engine start button and powered on the radio, the issue re-appeared. This is after MONTHS of no issues. I checked the radio revisions, nothing has changed.

So this appears to be some sort of cold weather and/or moisture issue.

 

[Donbaragar]

Yup same here. Cold weather and whammy, radio takes a . So aggravating. And to be told there's no fix really doesn't help . Gunna lose it here.

 

[d_THRILL]

Back for me today, too. 49 degree day and used fob to remote start. Sad. Two amp replacements, multiple TSB software updates and still have the problem. This is a thousand percent cold weather related as @RIC3BOY stated from almost the beginning. Wonder how many more amps, head units, fake tsb’s will be thrown at us now. I called my STAR case manager and asked her to reopen my file. I’m not rolling over on this and letting it go. I’m demanding a fix. I encourage everyone to again submit their complaints to FCA and their dealers. Keep us posted!

 

[d_THRILL]

 

[xdrugfreex]

Keep us posted. I wonder if we could add insulation to a connect point somewhere in the circuit. Maybe around the camera termination in the tailgate? A friend had a similar issue with an Audi and it was actually the antenna wiring that had to be replaced.

 

[RIC3BOY]

Keep us posted. I wonder if we could add insulation to a connect point somewhere in the circuit. Maybe around the camera termination in the tailgate? A friend had a similar issue with an Audi and it was actually the antenna wiring that had to be replaced.

I actually thought about this. It has something to do with temperature. Perhaps heat-shrinking the connectors to where the camera is? Or is there some sort of circuit somewhere thats opening/closing when the temperature threshold gets to a certain point?

I also made an observation on the JL Wrangler forum, where ONE user had success by having the dealer replace the camera entirely. I asked him to provide the part number, and it turns out that the camera part number was discontinued for an "updated" version. I'm curious to ask the dealer to see if there has been an updated part number of our trucks for the rear-camera.

 

[d_THRILL]

I also made an observation on the JL Wrangler forum, where ONE user had success by having the dealer replace the camera entirely. I asked him to provide the part number, and it turns out that the camera part number was discontinued for an "updated" version. I'm curious to ask the dealer to see if there has been an updated part number of our trucks for the rear-camera.

Interesting. When did the dealer replace his camera? This solved his audio problems? Just trying to see the timing of the replacement compared to the approaching cold weather and whether it's proven to have worked or not.

 

[RIC3BOY]

Interesting. When did the dealer replace his camera? This solved his audio problems? Just trying to see the timing of the replacement compared to the approaching cold weather and whether it's proven to have worked or not.

It was replaced earlier this spring apparently, so timing is relevant since cold weather may have not hit him yet.

Really starting to think some sort of circuit is closed/open when a certain threshold is met in terms of temperature, causing this issue. I’m going to open up the tailgate panel and see if any exposed wiring can be wrapped in heat shrink.

 

[Viking42]

Just had the issue for the first time today , have the truck since 5 months now
note that i probably don't get the OTA as i never got the wifi to work
Car didnt go to the dealer since june

 

[RIC3BOY]

UPDATE - POSSIBLE WORK-AROUND

Before reading the update, here are a few tidbits:
1. The issue comes when its cold. This is confirmed by DT RAM 1500 and JL Jeep Wrangler owners.
2. The only way for it to "reset", is to:
a. Wait for the truck to sit for 30mins+ (giving uConnect to restart from boot - you know when you get the "warning" splash screen with the "accept" button to skip".
b. Disconnect the negative terminal on the battery or pull the radio fuse - this also makes you have to go through a few procedures in order to get your settings back (after connecting the battery and starting the truck, shutdown the truck and close the door, then restart the truck, voila your theme settings among other things are back).

So we all know the issue returned when the temperatures dropped. This completely rules out a software issue, as software isn't affected by temperature (unless something is programmed). So none of the current software TSB's will fix this. There is a theory on the rear camera causing the issue, but part numbers between RAM 1500s and Jeep Wranglers are different, where the Jeep's camera saw a revision in part numbers. There is also a factor of common programming between the cameras (regardless of hardware part numbers), or bad wiring, possibly causing this issue.

Thinking about temperature, what do our trucks do when the temperature drops to a certain threshold? They tend to rev higher at startup-idle, and I'm sure a circuit or two must open or close somewhere to make that happen, among other things to get these engines to start in cold weather. Also thinking about what most of us do when we start our trucks in the cold - we crank the heat. But what happens when we're done our drive from point A to B? Usually the heat isn't cranked that high anymore, probably set at low or medium heat to maintain a comfortable temperature.

So I've been testing this theory for the past 2 weeks. BEFORE you shut down your truck, set the heat to the highest setting. So in my 8.4" Nav uConnect, I have dual zone climate control. I set both (set at sync, so they change together) to *HI* before shutting down the truck. So far, given the weather in Autumn weather in Toronto, Canada (about 2-3*C in the morning, reaching about 9-10* in the afternoon) the issue hasn't returned.

I'm asking everyone with this issue to try this - if we all can concur then we have a better basis of figuring out the issue, seeing that FCA/RAM doesn't seem to be resolving this issue for us - even after one year.

TL;DR - set the heat to the HIGHEST setting (both if you have dual-zone climate control) in your truck *** BEFORE *** shutting down your truck. Report back if it comes back.

 

[d_THRILL]

Struck again at 435pm. 52 degrees outside. It’s going to be a long winter.

 

[RIC3BOY]

FWIW, I keep a 10mm socket in the centre console for the times I need to disconnect the negative terminal.

As much as I love the truck when its working, this has to be the worst "new car" experience in my life.

 

[Get N Dirty]

I was expecting my intermittent pauses to return this fall with the drops in temperature. So far I am happy to report no pauses. Could this be because I had a new radio put in for the random tone I was getting blasting over my speakers? I was the first one to report the tone on this forum and others came forward later to report they had same tone. I will let you guys know if my pauses in audio return, but so far the new radio put in earlier this year stopped the tone and possibly the pauses in audio (at least I hope). Here is a link to my other thread I started when I first developed tone. https://5thgenrams.com/community/threads/beep-or-humming-noise-coming-through-speakers.5623/

 

[d_THRILL]

I'm not sure what's more frustrating; this bug or the fact that FIAT/Chrysler hasn't figured it out NOR will they acknowledge their intent to do so. I would not buy another RAM specifically because of this issue and have told family/friends to stay away. Maybe FIAT/Chrysler considers it minor, but until it happens to you and you have to sit in silence you'll never understand how big of a deal this is.

 

[RIC3BOY]

I was expecting my intermittent pauses to return this fall with the drops in temperature. So far I am happy to report no pauses. Could this be because I had a new radio put in for the random tone I was getting blasting over my speakers? I was the first one to report the tone on this forum and others came forward later to report they had same tone. I will let you guys know if my pauses in audio return, but so far the new radio put in earlier this year stopped the tone and possibly the pauses in audio (at least I hope). Here is a link to my other thread I started when I first developed tone. https://5thgenrams.com/community/threads/beep-or-humming-noise-coming-through-speakers.5623/

Thanks, please keep us posted. Perhaps getting a new radio is the answer. Is there a way for you to determine the part number before and after?

 

[Get N Dirty]

Thanks, please keep us posted. Perhaps getting a new radio is the answer. Is there a way for you to determine the part number before and after?

Not sure of the part number for the original, but I have a copy of the invoice for when they installed the radio. Part number I believe is Z8307655AI. They originally told me new radio would only stop the tone and not the intermittent pauses in audio. Hopefully they are wrong on this.

 

[RIC3BOY]

Not sure of the part number for the original, but I have a copy of the invoice for when they installed the radio. Part number I believe is Z8307655AI. They originally told me new radio would only stop the tone and not the intermittent pauses in audio. Hopefully they are wrong on this.

So that tells me the dealer knows the intermittent pauses is not a radio issue, rather something else. Based on what everyone is saying on the JL Wrangler forum, I bet it is a camera issue where dealerships are waiting for an official recall from FCA to replace cameras - but no one wants to cover it since its expensive.