I bought an avic Z2 off a guy which he had updated...so he told me it's actually an avic Z3 now of the update. Since it's been installed, everything has been working great up until yesterday. The GPS has just started acting wierd. The GPS's indicator arrow is telling me that i'm nearly 5 miles away in an open field. When i start driving the arrow is no where near where i'm actually driving. Would there be something wrong with the GPS antenna?
Could be the GPS antenna or it could be a problem with the gyroscope inside the unit. Try replacing and/or relocating the antenna and see what happens.
Could be the GPS antenna or it could be a problem with the gyroscope inside the unit. Try replacing and/or relocating the antenna and see what happens.
i'll try that. where's the best place to get a replacement antenna for it?
just bought an antenna off ebay for $25...hope that works. How do i update the GPS system to the most recent 2011 maping?
Updates are obtained directly from Pioneer. 2011 Updates are not yet available but here is a link to the Map Updates page http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/Accessories/Map-Upgrades
so it looks like it's just a CD for the avic Z3 then right? Do i just put the cd in the head unit and does it automaticly update then?
I believe the Z3 reads the maps directly from the disc in real time. the disc stays in the unit. it does not upload the new maps to the hard drive.
thanks! Now if for some reason there's a problem with the so called gyroscope...does that mean the head unit is toast, or could it be fixed?
thanks! Now if for some reason there's a problem with the so called gyroscope...does that mean the head unit is toast, or could it be fixed?
more than likely it can be fixed but it will have to be shipped to Pioneer or United Radio for that.
All the info in this thread is completely wrong, aside from the GPS antenna possibly being bad.
You can find the updates on this forum under the Hacks/Mods section, and if you DO buy the DVD from Pioneer it DOES load the maps onto the hard drive.
I think you're thinking of a different unit, Newman.
All the info in this thread is completely wrong, aside from the GPS antenna possibly being bad.
You can find the updates on this forum under the Hacks/Mods section, and if you DO buy the DVD from Pioneer it DOES load the maps onto the hard drive.
I think you're thinking of a different unit, Newman.
Thanks for clearing this up. Maybe i'll wait for the 2011 update to be released. Just gotta wait for the new antenna to show up and hopefully it's better. I did notice today that there were a few times that the GPS was displaying the correct location where i was driving, but then there were times when it wasn't. The GPS antenna has been in the same spot since i installed the unit...which has been a couple months ago and never had any issues with it unitl it just started acting up a couple days ago.
Check the length of the wire to see if it got pinched anyway. If you put in a new antenna and have the same problem then it's probably the gyroscope in the unit itself.
Also, no rush on updating the maps, I'm still running the maps from 2009! 
I would also recommend doing a level 2, 3, or 4 reset to see if your problems get better. Also reset the 3D calibration settings.
I would also recommend doing a level 2, 3, or 4 reset to see if your problems get better. Also reset the 3D calibration settings.
how do i go about doing the level resets and the reseting the 3D calibration?
how do i go about doing the level resets and the reseting the 3D calibration?
The 3D calibration reset is in the menus. The system level resets are in the owner's manual. I have attached the pages from the manual...
The 3D calibration reset is in the menus. The system level resets are in the owner's manual. I have attached the pages from the manual...
I did the 3D calibration resets and i now have 0 as distance and the learning status now says status initializing. Also the GPS arrow is now frozen and doesn't move at all. Here's some pics i took....
Your first pic shows only 2 sats. This is not enough for navigation. If your vss is connected, then distance will increment as you drive.
Your first pic shows only 2 sats. This is not enough for navigation. If your vss is connected, then distance will increment as you drive.
VSS? only thing i diconnected was the old GPS antenna and connected the new one. I installed the new GPS antenna yesterday and then reset everything. But i didn't drive anywhere after that or start the truck...Maybe thats why. I'll go for a drive today and report back.
well after taking a drive...still nothing. I noticed tho that a few seconds after i put the vehicle in drive and take off...the installation position setting went from "OK" to "excessive vibration", then just after i come to a stop it goes back to "OK". I also noticed that when it goes to "excessive vibration" i have no satellites, but when i put it in park and shut the vehicle off i get two of them, but no more than that. I ended up pullling the whole head unit out of the dash and noticed that the "car speed signal input" wire isn't hooked up...does it need to be cause the previous owner ran it without it hooked up for over two years without any issues with the headunit and it's been great for the two months that i've had it up until now. It's one of those wires where the connector end looks like a billet connector with a clear plastic tube over the connector. This thing is really starting to tick me off now, and i'm beginning to think i should've just bought a new one.
The speed sense wire is the VSS. It does help the accuracy of the unit. I have not seen the excessive vibration warning.
The speed sense wire is the VSS. It does help the accuracy of the unit. I have not seen the excessive vibration warning.
i guess i'd hafta find what that wire is and where it's located on my truck and connect the two. I guess i can try plugging the old GPS antenna in and see if i still get the "excessive vibration" for the installation postition.
I had the same issues with my z3 and followed garrettomey's advice. Works fine now.