Oem Nav System- Ipod Popping Noise

rprice54 · June 5, 2011

I just bought a 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 with the factory Nav radio. I've been playing with the USB port but whenever I hook up an iPod or iPhone, there is an intermittent static/popping noise, kind of how a CD sounds when it's scratched. It's not every time, but most times. A few times here and there it will play without noise.

I can use a USB jump drive, and I finally figured out how to get the playlists to work on it, but the radio won't let me shuffle the playlists. I can randomize a folder but not a playlist.

I've tried my first gen iPod nano and my iPhone 4 with the same results, I've tried two different cables, without success. The navigation menu for the iPod is so much easier to use than the jump drive I'd like to get this to work.

The truck is brand new, so it's easy to head back to the dealership, I wanted to check here first to see if anyone had the same experience and what the fix was. I thought one time I found a post talking about a firmware update for the radio, but I can't find it now. I'm guessing the dealership will just swap out the radio, but if that's not nessesary I'd like to avoid it.

rprice54 · June 12, 2011

nobody? Dealership was clueless over the phone as well. I guess I need to drop it off.

PhilB · June 13, 2011

Weird! From reading your post, you are experiencing this popping issue with your Apple products, but not with the USB jump drive, correct? I'll take a stab at helping you.

Can you duplicate it when you hear the popping noise? Like when you hear it, can you back up the song and hear it again? I see you are driving a hybrid. Does the issue seem to occur whenever the truck is switching from electric to gas or vice versa? Does it ever happen when you are not driving (parked) and listening to your mp3 player in ACC mode?

If this was happening to me, I would try to isolate the conditions that cause the static/popping noise. Then I would try to duplicate the conditions. Once I can duplicate them, I would try to see if the problem happens in other 2010 model trucks - gas and hybrids - to see if it's a common issue, or unique to your truck. It's going to take some detective work to figure it out. If the noise is totally random and you can never duplicate it, then you could try to talk the dealer into getting another nav unit for you. But that could be no guarantee that it will solve your problem.

Good luck!

rprice54 · June 13, 2011

All good thoughts- I wondered too if it wasn't some electrical interference from the other gadgets on the truck. It seems to be fairly random. Happens in park, while moving, while the engine is in 'AutoStop' or running. I'll have to try it with just ACC power and not with everything fired up. Funny thing is that it doesn't even happen all the time, at least at first, if I drive around long enough (20 min or so) it usually shows up. It's a fairly random popping sound. The dealership let me speak to the 'radio' guy who thought we may try to flash the firmware if there's an update.

He suggested trying MP3 files vs Apple AAC files since the Jump drive works. I put some MP3s on the ipod, but I don't know if it gets converted or not. I did check the 'Convert songs to 128mps' box in iTunes which cut the files down from 256 (or whatever they come in from Apple) and that did seem to help. I see the nav manual says the max bitrate is 192, so I think there's something with the file format that the system is having a hard time with. It's not even song specific which is weird.

I really like the navigation on the iPod better than the jump drive, I guess I just need to bite the bullet and take it in. I was hoping to find someone who's had the problem before and how they fixed it.

rprice54 · June 27, 2011

I'll post the answer in case anyone comes across this in the future. It's a known problem with the factory unit. There is a firmware update to fix it. Some units can be updated via the USB drive after the dealer downloads the firmware. My unit has to updated by a physical disc which they had to order, but it's supposed to fix this specific problem. Fingers crossed.

old-chevy-dude · June 27, 2011

the issue can also be resolved by using itunes to convert all your songs to AAC 128 bitrate..

anything above 128 bitrate will cause the popping sound.

old-chevy-dude · July 20, 2011

I am bumping this to the top..

hope the OP reads it..

as of June 24, 2011 there is a new TSB to fix this.

PI0003B Navigation Radio USB Error Message, Ticking Noise.

Models: 2010 Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe; 2010 GMC Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL

All equipped with Navigation Radio RPO UUK or UUL.

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Contact your dealer for the software update, This involves the Dealer updating the firmware on the Nav Unit AND the USB Module.

had mine done today and the ticking is gone.

rprice54 · July 21, 2011

I am bumping this to the top..

hope the OP reads it..

as of June 24, 2011 there is a new TSB to fix this.

PI0003B Navigation Radio USB Error Message, Ticking Noise.

Models: 2010 Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe; 2010 GMC Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL

All equipped with Navigation Radio RPO UUK or UUL.

-----------

Contact your dealer for the software update, This involves the Dealer updating the firmware on the Nav Unit AND the USB Module.

had mine done today and the ticking is gone.

Well, for me the update did not work. Still had the popping sound. I did convert all my songs to the lower bitrate after reading the manual and it stated the upper limits of the player were around 192.

First they replaced the USB port even though it worked fine for a jump drive, and not surprisingly that did not change things. So the dealership (after 3 days in the shop, on my third trip back to the dealer for a total of 5 days in the shop) replaced the radio. It works fine now, except I've lost the Hybrid display/function of the radio where it displays the info re:the hybrid system, so back to the shop again. I had an appointment this morning but they cancelled it. I think they ordered the wrong radio, they think it's a software issue. This is getting a little silly... should I try a different dealer?