Wandering GPS screen

poodle guy · June 5, 2020

I have a 2016 Denali HD that has a problem where the GPS screen wanders and will not lock in. It comes and goes but I was able to get it into the dealer while it was happening. The got some codes, I don't have the code numbers, that indicated low voltage at the fuse block. They also said there was a service bulletin out about it. I searched for bulletins and don't see anything specific to the 2500 Denali. Not that I don't trust the dealer but ... The plan is to change out the fuse block ( $300.00+) and if that isn't the fix, replace the radio ($600.00+) Just wondering if there is anyone here that has had the same issue or some advice.

carnau · June 7, 2020

On 6/5/2020 at 3:21 PM, poodle guy said:

I have a 2016 Denali HD that has a problem where the GPS screen wanders and will not lock in. It comes and goes but I was able to get it into the dealer while it was happening. The got some codes, I don't have the code numbers, that indicated low voltage at the fuse block. They also said there was a service bulletin out about it. I searched for bulletins and don't see anything specific to the 2500 Denali. Not that I don't trust the dealer but ... The plan is to change out the fuse block ( $300.00+) and if that isn't the fix, replace the radio ($600.00+) Just wondering if there is anyone here that has had the same issue or some advice.

Ok, So lets not just change parts. That's a mistake. I don't know why the dealer would even offer that. (I'm a dealer tech). I'm not putting something on your vehicle unless I am 100% sure it will fix it. If not, We will keep at it until we get it.

I need to know this, Next time it wanders, the GPS sign on the radio. (should be in the corner) I need to know if it has a line through it or not.

The fuse block isn't going to cause your GPS to wander. The display could if the screen had an issue. (but the display/screen is not the radio. the radio is it's own component)

Mike Bizon · June 7, 2020

Chris, Thanks for the feedback. This is actually the second time I’ve had issues. The first time back in November, the GPS did have the red line across GPS in the corner. That time they replaced the shark fin on the roof because water seeped in around the antenna. That immediately fixed the problem. That time it was only the GPS that went wonky.

Now the GPS screen just wanders, I have a video but it’s too big to post.

The other symptom is that when my iPod is attached, the car system switches back and forth between the Apple Car Play and the GMC Infotainment system. The iPod is connected by the USB port. It dosen’t matter which port and it doesn’t happen all the time.

Both GPS wandering and iPod issues happen at the same intermittent frequency.

The rational from the tech is that low voltage causes strange thing to happen down stream of the low voltage event. ( My words not his).

I do want to avoid the ‘just keep switching out parts until the money runs out or the issue is fixed method of troubleshooting “

Maybe I need to visit your shop? I’m on the shores of Lake Murray visiting for a few days.

Jamie Tousignant · June 21, 2020

i have a 2017 denali with some of the same issues the information screen will freeze up and nothing i do short of turning the truck

off will reset it so i cannot use any of the touch controls the steering wheel controls still work but that limits function

I've tried the onstar button reset as noted but i guess I'm off to the local dealer for a diagnostic ******

also CarPlay is totally intermittent it seems like a ground issue or a voltage drop as the screen toggles back and forth for the menu screen items anyone else had this

carnau · June 21, 2020

On 6/7/2020 at 9:27 AM, Mike Bizon said:

Chris, Thanks for the feedback. This is actually the second time I’ve had issues. The first time back in November, the GPS did have the red line across GPS in the corner. That time they replaced the shark fin on the roof because water seeped in around the antenna. That immediately fixed the problem. That time it was only the GPS that went wonky.

Now the GPS screen just wanders, I have a video but it’s too big to post.

The other symptom is that when my iPod is attached, the car system switches back and forth between the Apple Car Play and the GMC Infotainment system. The iPod is connected by the USB port. It dosen’t matter which port and it doesn’t happen all the time.

Both GPS wandering and iPod issues happen at the same intermittent frequency.

The rational from the tech is that low voltage causes strange thing to happen down stream of the low voltage event. ( My words not his).

I do want to avoid the ‘just keep switching out parts until the money runs out or the issue is fixed method of troubleshooting “

Maybe I need to visit your shop? I’m on the shores of Lake Murray visiting for a few days.

I'm sorry. I wish you would have quoted me or @carnau me so I knew you responded. I would have been happy to look at it for you.

Even if the low voltage was causing an issue, it wouldn't be just with the things you see on the display.

!!!Luckily!!! Friday I had a vehicle come in doing this exact same thing! I want to ask you a few questions please.

When it starts wandering, Do you hear a beep? Like the beep when you press the map and try to move it manually? Also, Do the steering wheel controls for the radio work while this is happening?

Sorry I missed your response. I don't check this site as much as I use to now that the adds have it so slowed down to a creeping hault tryind to load. I normally just check it when someone quotes me in something or every few days.

carnau · June 21, 2020

6 hours ago, Jamie Tousignant said:

i have a 2017 denali with some of the same issues the information screen will freeze up and nothing i do short of turning the truck

off will reset it so i cannot use any of the touch controls the steering wheel controls still work but that limits function

I've tried the onstar button reset as noted but i guess I'm off to the local dealer for a diagnostic ******

also CarPlay is totally intermittent it seems like a ground issue or a voltage drop as the screen toggles back and forth for the menu screen items anyone else had this

7B063A03-B125-4F34-9EC2-D7EF8B31C9E8.mov

I can't hear anything on your video. Please read what I posted above and answer. Thank you.

Mike Bizon · June 21, 2020

1 hour ago, carnau said:

I'm sorry. I wish you would have quoted me or @carnau me so I knew you responded. I would have been happy to look at it for you.

Even if the low voltage was causing an issue, it wouldn't be just with the things you see on the display.

!!!Luckily!!! Friday I had a vehicle come in doing this exact same thing! I want to ask you a few questions please.

When it starts wandering, Do you hear a beep? Like the beep when you press the map and try to move it manually? Also, Do the steering wheel controls for the radio work while this is happening?

Sorry I missed your response. I don't check this site as much as I use to now that the adds have it so slowed down to a creeping hault tryind to load. I normally just check it when someone quotes me in something or every few days.

Hi and not problem about getting back to me. This is the first time I’m on this site and posting.

To answer you. No beeping while the curser moves around the map. I don’t specifically remember the steering wheel responses but I was pushing everything. No beep when I try to recenter the map.

This is my tow vehicle and I was towing my trailer through North GA last week. The beep you mentioned started but nothing was happening on the screen. I was listening to my iPod. The beeping went on for a couple of minutes and then the GPS went to wandering. That was a problem as I was depending on the GPS to get home. I just turned everything off and when I came to the next rest stop, turned off the vehicle and came back everything worked just fine.

Thanks for even caring about this issue.

carnau · June 22, 2020

21 hours ago, Mike Bizon said:

Hi and not problem about getting back to me. This is the first time I’m on this site and posting.

To answer you. No beeping while the curser moves around the map. I don’t specifically remember the steering wheel responses but I was pushing everything. No beep when I try to recenter the map.

This is my tow vehicle and I was towing my trailer through North GA last week. The beep you mentioned started but nothing was happening on the screen. I was listening to my iPod. The beeping went on for a couple of minutes and then the GPS went to wandering. That was a problem as I was depending on the GPS to get home. I just turned everything off and when I came to the next rest stop, turned off the vehicle and came back everything worked just fine.

Thanks for even caring about this issue.

No problem. The way it sounds is like you have a bad touch screen. That the screen is separating and when it does this, the GPS will wander and the stations will jump ect.

Luckily this could be a really easy test if your dealer is willing to help you test it. The touch screen can be removed and installed from another like vehicle very easily. Test drive it with the other screen in it and see what happens. If it goes away, Reinstall the old screen in the other vehicle and the new one in yours. It's only four 7mm bolts holding it in and takes less than a minute to remove and install.

This is the way I would go with it.

Mike Bizon · October 21, 2020

carnau Did you ever get to look at the video ? I believe it is the touchscreen. Would like your input and would come to where you work for the fix.

Edited October 21, 2020 by Mike Bizon

BarryT · June 29, 2024

My screen just started doing the same. I hear a faint beep and I see the system hunting through POI locations to navigate to. I pressed the "system" button and noticed that it "appeared" like I was continuously pressing the POI button (but I wasn't). Thinking that there was something stuck on my screen, I rubbed my finger back and forth across the POI button to try to clean off the screen and the wandering stopped. So maybe there is an issue with the screen itself.