Pxamg Is Junk

AirForceAngler · January 31, 2009

A few months ago I installed the PXAMG iPod interface with the GM1 harness. If I have it on the iPod setting where it shows the info on the radio, it frequently turns off the shuffle mode that I use all the time. If I have it on the Aux1 mode where you can still use the iPod control, but don't see the info, it begins playing whatever song is up when I turn the truck on, even if I am listening to FM or AM. Sometimes it doesn't pause or stop when I shut the truck off either and the remote start starts the iPod also even though the radio is not on until you turn the key.

Needless to say, I'm quite disappointed in this unit.

D&SYukonDenali · January 31, 2009

Never had a problem with the unit when I had in my truck. But I also never used the shuffle mode.

longhorn_giant · January 31, 2009

when did you install your unit? Have you looked into updating the firmware for it?

I installed the PXAMG on Wednesday. Sure that's not long at all, but I've kept the ipod on shuffle mode and it hasn't cut it off yet. It also remembers if I had the radio on FM/AM or ipod.

I really enjoy having the unit. The only thing that gets frustrating is the few seconds every time I start the truck and go to iPod, it says "busy" for a few seconds while it loads everything.

AirForceAngler · February 1, 2009

I installed it about 1.5 months ago. I've thought about checking the firmware, but it's not easy getting this thing in and out and I"ve had to do that already about 3 times since the wires would come unplugged until I finally taped them in place. I also put some velcro on the back of the unit and on the HVAC duct behind the radio so it wouldn't rattle around back there.

longhorn_giant · February 1, 2009

You mounted yours behind the radio? I didn't think I'd have enough room behind there. I ended up mounting it on the left side of the top glove box behind the dash. Do you have any pictures of where you mounted yours? I haven't had any rattle problems with it yet, but I don't know if that's where I want to keep it.

bulump · February 1, 2009

You mounted yours behind the radio? I didn't think I'd have enough room behind there. I ended up mounting it on the left side of the top glove box behind the dash. Do you have any pictures of where you mounted yours? I haven't had any rattle problems with it yet, but I don't know if that's where I want to keep it.

I just picked one up for my '03 burb. Where did you install you ipod connection wire? I'm thinking about possibly porting it through of of those cubbies below the temp control unit. Did you do a firmware update last week? I think they are up to v.8. I have to go and find out if my unit needs an update or not.

AirForceAngler · February 2, 2009

Mine is kinda behind the radio, but on top of the HVAC duct that is way back there, not much room but it does fit. There is no way I could get a picture of it because it is all done by feel.

I ran the iPod wire under the carpet to between my front seats. My truck has the 40/20/40 bench with fold down center console, basic interior. The wire comes out of the lower part of the console and I keep the iPod between the fold down console and the center of the seat for easy access.

longhorn_giant · February 2, 2009

I did not need to do a firmware update with mine. I ran my connector out through a hole I drilled in the lower glove box. I thought about running it through to the middle 40/20/40 seat/console, but I keep my extra ECM/TCM modules in there, and didn't want them bashing around the ipod. The glove box is perfect though. I put a rubber grommet around the hole and you wouldn't guess it was hand-done just by looking at it.

I'm tempted to take the dash back off this next weekend to see if the module has stayed where I put it. It was a very tight fit so even if the velcro came undone it would still sit where I put it, but I kinda want to know.

TahoeMike, I've never run anything under carpet. What all is involved with that?

asilverblazer · February 2, 2009

TahoeMike,

I have experienced all the problems you describe at one time or another. In general they all kind of went away. EXCEPT the shuffle thing. My favorit play list is a few thousand songs long, I don't want to listen to it in order. I have found that I can set my iPod to shuffle, plug it in to the PXAMG and it will shuffle for some undetermined amount of time, then it will quit and go back to playing in order. No explanation or reason for it either.

The few seconds of Busy, well ok, I'll deal with that.

***EDIT***

One of peripheral's customer service members, registered here and contacted me about some of the complaints I had with mine, maybe they will contact you too. In short they asked me if I had a cover on mine, and some other stuff I don't remember, but I wondered how a cover would affect anything in the first place...

AirForceAngler · February 3, 2009

Longhorn,

I pulled the passenger seat out and pulled up the plastic door sill molding then reached under the carpet and pulled it through from under the dash, didn't have to drill any holes or anything. I kept mine in the glove box for a while when I first got it and didn't have to drill there, either, but with the shuffle thing turning off, I needed it closer so I ran it to the console.

asilver,

Thanks for the info, maybe someone will get a hold of me. I first contacted peripheral and they sent me a new cable that went from the unit to the iPod, I didn't think it would fix it and it didn't. Now I have an extra cable I guess. When it works, it is nice, but is kind of frustrating with the problems.

asilverblazer · February 3, 2009

I agree completely when it works, its great, when it doesn't its incredibly frustrating.

I guess when it doesn't can always go back to the plug on the front, with the charging cord, and not seeing song titles, and lacking control of the iPod...

longhorn_giant · February 3, 2009

Now that I've been using it for awhile, I have noticed the shuffle turned itself off. But it was after I disconnected it one time to bring into work. I'll re-do it later and see if it fixes it.

My biggest complaint is that when you step back through the menus it always starts you at the beginning. If I was listening to an album called, "Greatest hits" and I want to go to "Greatest hits Vol II" I'd like to be able to step back to albums, scroll one and go to it. Instead I start back at the A's and have to go all the way to it again.

asilverblazer · February 3, 2009

...ditto...

like artist ZZtop. LOL

AirForceAngler · February 3, 2009

About going back to the plug in the front of the radio, I didn't like that because of all the wires all over the place with that and a charger, plus when the charger was plugged in, I got a whine through the speakers that correlated to engine RPMs like the old amps/boosters used to do.

Then mine loses the shuffle mode in iPod mode, I switch to Aux1 mode and then you can control the iPod manually and turn the shuffle back on. Just a real big inconvenience for how much this thing cost.

bulump · February 4, 2009

I just installed my PXAMG and am completely happy (for now). I also put the unit on top of the HVAC, however, I wonder how think that tube is in order to keep the heat down within there. I would hate for it to heat up. I ran the cable through one of the little cubbie next to the temp unit. I also fabbed a braket for a universal gps/phone/ipod holder. It works pretty good, now I have the option to either use the iPod through the head unit or it's in within reach to use the iPod itself.

Thanks for your replies.

Bulump