Oem Navigation: Clock Issues On 2003 Yukon Denali

heftylefty58 · April 30, 2009

Hi fellas,

I posted about my OEM NAV clock issue last year in a different subforum, but didn't get any leads. I hope this doesn't violate any rules, but I'm posting again here hoping that it hits a different set of eyes.

Background:

2003 GMC Yukon Denali

~60k miles

I'm the second owner.

Aftermarket components (thanks to the original owner):

-Clifford MATRIX 50.5X (security with remote start)

-K&N Air Filter

Problem description:

Roughly once or twice a month, some of the clock settings on our Navigation unit get reset. Here are the settings that I noticed get changed:

a) Time zone (It gets reset to C.S.T.)

b) Daylight Savings

c) Auto GPS Update

According to the previous owner, this happened to him, as well. Both the previous owner and I reside in CA (ie, Pacific Time zone).

The previous owner tried to bring this issue to the dealer's attention several times, but he didn't have any luck because the issue wasn't reliably reproducible.

Some other notes:

1) The only thing that has been 100% consistent for me is this: The only times I catch that this issue has occurred is when the car is first started up in the mornings. (In other words, it happens when the car has been not been started for at least ~8 hours or so.) I've never caught it during any other scenario.

2) I'd say that ~90% of the time, this issue occurs when the previous evening has been fairly cold for San Jose, CA--I'd say <40 degrees F.

3) My memory is horrible, but I don't think this issue has ever occurred during the summer months.

4) My NAV region is correctly set (to CA, AZ, NV), and this does NOT get reset when my clock issues occur.

5) My compass zone (on my rear-view mirror) is also set correctly, and this does NOT get reset when my clock issues occur.

Pardon my ignorance with automobiles and electricity, but do you think I may need a new battery? Maybe a bad relay? Or, does it sound like my NAV unit is defective?

Any thoughts are GREATLY appreciated.

bill190 · April 30, 2009

Well since you don't know electricity, I suppose you would be best to have a dealer install a new NAV unit.

Find out if they installed a new NAV unit, if the new unit would be under warranty and for how long?

Then if you have the same problem, keep taking it back until they fix it.

superjim · April 30, 2009

It does not sound like a NAV unit problem to me.

You said it happens when it is cold...and doesn't happen when it is warm.

Batteries lose power in cold weather.

This sounds like a momentary loss of electrical power to me.

First thing I would do is check the battery cables.

Take the cables off...clean them GOOD...and reattach them.

I would also have the battery load tested.

Replace battery if necessary.

bill190 · April 30, 2009

...This sounds like a momentary loss of electrical power to me.

First thing I would do is check the battery cables.

Take the cables off...clean them GOOD...and reattach them.

I would also have the battery load tested.

Replace battery if necessary.

I agree with this as well.

On those cold mornings, does it sound like it is having a hard time starting? Like it does not have as much "energy" to start? Or does is start with the same "energetic sound" as on a warm day?

heftylefty58 · May 13, 2009

...This sounds like a momentary loss of electrical power to me.

First thing I would do is check the battery cables.

Take the cables off...clean them GOOD...and reattach them.

I would also have the battery load tested.

Replace battery if necessary.

I agree with this as well.

On those cold mornings, does it sound like it is having a hard time starting? Like it does not have as much "energy" to start? Or does is start with the same "energetic sound" as on a warm day?

Sorry for the late response--I lost track of this thread. Texas Jim--thanks for your recommendations!! Certainly sounds better than just blindly buying a new unit.

I'll clean the battery terminals and see if that helps. In case anyone's as inexperienced as me, here's a video I found helpful: http://www.expertvillage.com/video/142978_...y-terminals.htm

I'll also get a load test done. Again, a couple helpful links for anyone else who also hasn't load tested a battery before:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qi...03204143AAxgrSV

http://autorepair.about.com/library/weekly/aa101604c.htm

Bill, to answer your questions: Unfortunately, it does NOT sound like the car has a hard time starting during cold mornings.... It sounds the same when I start it up on warm days. Regardless, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the problem is at the battery instead of the NAV unit. We'll see!