I am new here, I have tried reading as much as I can but not finding answer. I have a Z2 and has been working fine. About a month ago it started to not fully load. The radio, or whatever was left on, would come on, but the flash screen (toush screen) would not load. It would show "Loading nav" and then stay dark or the Pioneer logo would come up and nothing else. If I shut off the car and restarted it, many times it would reload and work. After some time now, it hardly works. If I am lucky I can play a CD. I was told by the place I bought it from that I can send it in to Pioneer with $200 and they WILL fix it and return it to me. Then he looked at this web site in the shop and found so many suggestions. I do not know if it is the hard drive and if I would be better off with one that some of you sell that is pitched as much better. Or if there is some other problem, or if all I need is an update. Please, where do I get these updates? I need to update it anyway as it is a Z2. If that does not help, then I need to buy a new hard drive and need to know what is best one to buy OR, should I just send it in to Pioneer? My email is [email protected] Thank you in advance for reading this and any help you may offer.

Patrick

You can try the Pioneer firmware update for the Z2 and see if it will fix your problem. It's a free download and you will need to burn it to a CD or they will mail you the update disc in the mail. This will not update your maps, but only the firmware to fix a known issue with the freezing that you describe:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/ ... zing+Issue.

If your unit will not accept the update, or it does not fix your issue, then you most likely have a failing hard drive. You can send the unit to Pioneer for repair, or buy a new pre loaded hdd. See the link in my sig below.

Thank you. I tried the link you sent. I had to cut and paste it without the last two words to get it to work. I went to web site and looked for a downloadable update, I could not. Now I am on hld with Pioneer hoping they can tell me what to do or send me disk. If there is a better way to download the disk, that would be great.

Thanks

Patrick

Use this link:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/ ... C-Z2?tab=F

Then click "AVIC-Z2 Firmware Update to Address Lock-Up/Freezing Issue"

I will let you all know if this works

***

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/ ... zing+Issue.

Notice about AVIC-Z1 and Z2 Firmware Update for Lock-up and Freezing Issue.

September 14, 2007

Dear Valued Pioneer Customer:

Re: Free Firmware Update for Pioneer AVIC-Z1 & AVIC-Z2 to Address Lock-up/Freezing Issue

We would like to inform you of the availability of a free firmware update for the AVIC-Z1 and AVIC-Z2 to address a potential lock-up/freezing issue. Pioneer has become aware that a small percentage of AVIC-Z1 and AVIC-Z2 systems, especially in very hot temperatures, lock-up or freeze when powered on, such that the systems do not proceed further than the initial boot up screen.

If you are not experiencing any lock-up or freezing issues currently, there is no need to take action at this time because the one-time fix to resolve the issue will be available if an AVIC-Z1 or AVIC-Z2 later experiences the issue and because your system may never experience the issue. Importantly, this potential service issue does not pose any health or safety risk, and there is no risk of property damage.

To address this potential service issue, Pioneer is offering a free firmware update. If you would like to receive the free update, you may do so in one of the three ways listed below. Before obtaining the firmware update, you need to know whether you have an AVIC-Z1 or AVIC-Z2.

Download the free update to your computer from here; and burn the update onto a computer disc for insertion into your AVIC-Z1 or AVIC-Z2; OR

Order the computer disc containing the free update by calling Pioneer Customer Service toll free at 800-421-1404; OR

Call Pioneer Customer Service toll free at 800-421-1404 to arrange for your AVIC-Z1 or AVIC-Z2 to be mailed to Pioneer for Pioneer to install the free update.

There are separate firmware updates for the AVIC-Z1 and AVIC-Z2. Please only use the firmware update that corresponds to your model, as the firmware update for the AVIC-Z1 will not work for the AVIC-Z2 and the firmware update for the AVIC-Z2 will not work for the AVIC-Z1.

If you have any questions, please contact Pioneer Customer Service toll free at 800-421-1404.

Pioneer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this potential product issue may cause you, and we thank you for your cooperation and continued support of Pioneer.

Sincerely,

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/ ... zing+Issue.

Notice about AVIC-Z1 and Z2 Firmware Update for Lock-up and Freezing Issue.

September 14, 2007

Dear Valued Pioneer Customer:

Re: Free Firmware Update for Pioneer AVIC-Z1 & AVIC-Z2 to Address Lock-up/Freezing Issue

We would like to inform you of the availability of a free firmware update for the AVIC-Z1 and AVIC-Z2 to address a potential lock-up/freezing issue. Pioneer has become aware that a small percentage of AVIC-Z1 and AVIC-Z2 systems, especially in very hot temperatures, lock-up or freeze when powered on, such that the systems do not proceed further than the initial boot up screen.

If you are not experiencing any lock-up or freezing issues currently, there is no need to take action at this time because the one-time fix to resolve the issue will be available if an AVIC-Z1 or AVIC-Z2 later experiences the issue and because your system may never experience the issue. Importantly, this potential service issue does not pose any health or safety risk, and there is no risk of property damage.

To address this potential service issue, Pioneer is offering a free firmware update. If you would like to receive the free update, you may do so in one of the three ways listed below. Before obtaining the firmware update, you need to know whether you have an AVIC-Z1 or AVIC-Z2.

Download the free update to your computer from here; and burn the update onto a computer disc for insertion into your AVIC-Z1 or AVIC-Z2; OR

Order the computer disc containing the free update by calling Pioneer Customer Service toll free at 800-421-1404; OR

Call Pioneer Customer Service toll free at 800-421-1404 to arrange for your AVIC-Z1 or AVIC-Z2 to be mailed to Pioneer for Pioneer to install the free update.

There are separate firmware updates for the AVIC-Z1 and AVIC-Z2. Please only use the firmware update that corresponds to your model, as the firmware update for the AVIC-Z1 will not work for the AVIC-Z2 and the firmware update for the AVIC-Z2 will not work for the AVIC-Z1.

If you have any questions, please contact Pioneer Customer Service toll free at 800-421-1404.

Pioneer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this potential product issue may cause you, and we thank you for your cooperation and continued support of Pioneer.

Sincerely,

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/ ... zing+Issue.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/ ... e+Download

AVIC-Z1 and Z2 Firmware Update Download

System Firmware Update Instructions for Model AVIC-Z1/AVIC-Z2

IMPORTANT:

Please download & print the AVIC-Z1&Z2 Firmware Update Instructions (Adobe Acrobat PDF, 210kb) for your reference when downloading and installing the firmware update. It is very important that you complete all steps correctly and in the order described below.

The data saved or recorded onto your navigation system by the customer cannot be guaranteed. Lost data that was saved or recorded by the customer is not guaranteed.

Note: If you have any difficulty carrying out these instructions, please contact Pioneer Customer Support Center.

Toll Free in USA 1-800-421-1404

Before updating

Please check your system version and confirm the correct update file for your system.

First select the “Settings” tab.

Then select the “Hardware” tab.

Select “Service Info Screen”.

Then you can see your map version number on the screen.

Please click HERE if your "Version" shows "01.0000".

You will go to the "Z1firmwareupdate.zip" download page. Please download the file to your computer.

Or, use update disc part number: GXY1016 and go to Step 4.

Please click HERE if your "Version" shows "02.0000".

You will go to the "Z2firmwareupdate.zip" download page. Please download the file to your computer.

Or, use update disc part number: GXY1017 and go to Step 4.

Downloading the Firmware Update

Step 1

Once you have downloaded the file to your computer, locate the file on your computer and double click the file to decompress it. If you do not have a decompression utility installed on your computer, you can download WinZip at http://www.winzip.com.

Step 2

Open the decompressed folder which named "Z2 firmware update" or "Z1 firmware update". Then you can find a "AVICZ1_HD1" folder and "Basefile.dat" file in it.

Step 3

Copy the "AVICZ1_HD1" folder and "Basefile.dat"on your CD-R.

*Note: Ensure these objects are located on the top layer of the CD-R.

Make sure that your CD-R follows these specifications as follows;

- You can only use a CD-R finalized with single-session format.

- You can only use a CD-R finalized with "Mode-1" format.

Installing the Firmware Update into your AVIC-Z1/Z2

Step 4

Please load this CD-R into your AVIC-Z1/Z2. The system will automatically start the update process in 1 minute.

WARNING! While your navigation system is being updated, do NOT turn off the power to the navigation system. Severe damage to your navigation system could result from your failure to obey this warning, including but not limited to the loss of all content/data that is stored on the Hard Disc Drive (such as song files ripped from CDs as well as address book entries and other user information).

If your system do not reboot and start the update process, then please check your system and CD-R as follows:

Check your system version again and confirm that the update file which you've downloaded is the correct version for your unit.

Check your CD-R and confirm that the CD-R burned with correct format.

Step 5

Please wait about a few (7 to 10) minutes to complete all updates in the system. The system will be automatically rebooted after completed update process.

Checking the CD-R.

Started updating.

Updating the firmware.

Completed updating and then automatically restarted.

Step 6

Please follow these steps below to confirm the update process succeeded.

Press the “MENU” key

Select the “Settings” tab

Select “Hardware”

Select “Service Info Screen”

Press & hold left upper corner of the “Hardware Version” screen for a few seconds

Confirm that your system correctly shows information as below:

AVIC-Z1:

PlatformVersion: 1.000700

HDD Application Version: 1.050000

AVIC-Z2:

PlatformVersion: 2.000500

HDD Application Version: 2.140000

Step 7

Please eject the CD-R from the system. The car navigation system is now ready for use.

If you have any questions, please contact Pioneer Customer Service toll free at 800-421-1404.

Pioneer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).

------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright© 2007 Pioneer Corporation

This is a well known update by members on the forum

I love how Pioneer claims that only a "small percentage" of these units has this problem. Pbffft yeah right.