How to Troubleshoot the Navigation System

General Operation

Refer to the Honda Navigation System Owner's manual, for the navigation system operating procedures.

Symptom Diagnosis

Certain circumstances and system limitations will result in occasional vehicle positioning errors. Some customers may think this indicates a problem with the navigation system when, in fact, the system is normal. Keep the following items in mind when interviewing customers about symptoms of the navigation system.

Self-Inertial Navigation Limitations

The limitations of the self-inertial portion of the navigation system (the yaw rate sensor and the vehicle speed signal) can cause some discrepancies between the vehicle's actual position and the indicated vehicle position (GPS vehicle position).

The following circumstances may cause vehicle positioning errors:

Moving the vehicle with the engine stopped and the vehicle stopped, such as by ferry or tow truck, or if the vehicle is spun on a turn table.
Tyre slippage, changes in Tyre rolling diameters, and some driving situations may cause discrepancies in travel distances. Examples of this include:
- Continuous Tyre slippage on a slippery surface.
- Driving with snow chains mounted.
- Abnormal Tyre pressure.
- Incorrect Tyre size.
- Frequent lane changes across a wide highway.
- Continuous driving on a straight or gently curving highway.
Tolerances in the system and map inaccuracies sometimes limit how precisely the vehicle position is indicated. Examples of this include:
- Driving on roads not shown on the map (map matching is not possible).
- Driving on a road that winds in one direction, such as a loop bridge, an interchange, or a spiral parking garage.
- Driving on a road with a series of sharp hair-pin turns.
- Driving near a gradual highway exit or transition.
- Driving on one of two close parallel roads.
- Making many 90 degree turns.
- The direction to destination icon or ‘‘Destination icon'' shown or the map may be up to several hundred feet away from the actual location.

Global Positioning System (GPS) Limitations

The GPS cannot detect the vehicle's position during the following instances:

For the first 5 to 10 minutes after reconnecting the battery (This can take as long as 45 minutes).
When the satellite signals are blocked by tall buildings, mountains, tunnels, large trees, or large trucks.
When the GPS antenna is blocked by an object placed above it in the vehicle. The GPS antenna reguires a clear unobstructed view of the sky.
When the satellite signals are blocked by the operation of some electronic aftermarket accessories including, but not limited to non-OEM in-dash entertainment units (radio, CD players/changers, and Lo Jack), cell phones placed near navigation system and window tinting above the GPS antenna.

The accuracy of GPS is reduced during these instances:

Metallic window tinting above the GPS antenna.
When only two satellite signals can be received (Three satellite signals are required for accurate positioning).
When the satellite control centers are experiencing problems.
When driving near high tension power lines.
When the satellite signals are blocked by the opertion of same electronic aftermarket accessories including, but not limited, to non-OEM in-dash entertainment units (radio, CD players/changers, radar detectors, and theft recovery systems), and cell phones placed near the navigation system.

Muting Logic

Whenever the navigation system is giving guidance, all of the speakers are muted. When the voice control system is being used, all of the speakers are muted. If the Hands Free Telephone is in use, the voice control.

LCD Unit Limitations

In cold temperatures, the display may stay dark for the first 2 or 3 minutes until it warms up.
When the display is too hot because of direct summer sunlight, it will remain dark until the temperature drops.
When the humidity is high and the interior temperature is low, the display may appear cloudy. The display will clear up after some use.
Fingerprints on the screen may sometimes be noticeable because of the panel's low-reflection coating. Clean the screen with a soft, damp cloth. You may use a mild cleaner intanded for eye glasses or computer screens.

NOTE: The display is unaffected by sunlight, as in previous displays.

Symptom Duplication

If you can duplicate the symptom, compare it to a ‘‘similar known-good vehicle.'' Only use a vehicle of the same model, same year, same trim, and same software version. If you can duplicate the symptom in the similar known-good vehicle, then it is a characteristic of the system.
When the symptom can be duplicated, follow the self-diagnostic procedures and the appropriate troubleshooting procedures.
When the symptom does not reappear or only reappears intermittently, ask the customer about the conditions when the symptom occured.
- Try to establish if outside interference may be the cause.
- Try to duplicate the symptom under the same conditions the customer was experiencing.
- Vibration, temperature extremes, and moisture (dew, humidity) are factors that are difficult to duplicate.
- Inspect the vehicle for after-market electronic devices (vehicle locators, radar detector amps, etc.) that may be hidden.

Service Precautions

Check for service bulletins or service News articles that may relate to the customer's concern.
Before disconnecting the battery, make sure you have write down the frequencies for the radio's preset buttons.
The navigation unit is located behind the glove box.
When the battery is disconnected, the internal GPS clock is reset to ‘‘0:00''. The clock will reset to the correct time after the system finishes the GPS initialization.
After reconnecting the battery, you have to wait to get the initial signal from the satellite. It will take from 10 to 45 minutes.
Before returning the vehicle to the customer, enter the customer's radio station presets, and adjust the clock as necessary.

System Initialization

If for any reason, you lose power to the navigation system (like the battery was disconnected), the navigation system will require initialization. Once completed, your system will be ready to use.

This initialization requires the following:

GPS initialization (may not be needed depending on the length of time the system was without power)
Map matching to align the GPS to a location on the map

GPS initialization

Depending on the length of time the battery was disconnected, your system may require GPS initialization. If it does, the following screen appears:

If this procedure is not necessary the system proceeds directly to the Disclaimer screen. During initialization, the system searches for all available GPS satellites, and obtains their orbital information. During this procedure the vehicle should be out in the open with a clear view of the sky.

If the navigation system finds the satellites properly, this box clears, and changes to the Disclaimer screen. If within 10 minutes the system fails to locate a sufficient number of satellites to locate your position, the following screen appears.

After 30 minutes with this screen displayed, turn off the engine, then restart the vehicle. If you now see the Disclaimer screen, the GPS initialization is complete.
NOTE:

The average acquiring time is less than 10 minutes, but it can take as long as 45 minutes.
If the system is still unable to acquire a signal, follow the instructions on the screen. If this screen appears again, go to troubleshooting for the GPS icon does not indicate.
To bypass the GPS Acquire screen, press and bold the ‘‘MENU'', and ‘‘Zoom out'' keys at the same time. Touch the ‘‘Return'' button on the screen to exit the diagnostic mode. This allows you continue troubleshooting while in the stop.

After Servicing Procedures-Map Matching

Park the vehicle in an area where the GPS satellite signals will be unobstructed, and check the satellite mark on the display.
Drive the vehicle 1 mile before entering a destination and confirm the road being used is displayed at the bottom of the screen (map matched).
Enter the dealer address and confirm the system routes and performs normally.
Clear any previous destinations and address entries that may have been entered for testing purposes.