XM/NAv Unit Malfunction 2010 Grand Sport
 

My XM radio navigation unit is malfunctioning and the dealer can find nothing wrong. It is in a new 2010 Grand Sport with less than 1100 miles. The radio sporadically, when in XM satellite mode, justs stops producing any sound. There is no indication of loss of signal. It can happen anywhere, at a stop light, or on the highway. The dealer checked the antenna signal strength and it was fine. The dealer checked the central computer for error codes and none were found. The dealer can not reproduce the problem, yet when I left the dealership it did this twice on the way home. Each incident lasts about three to five seconds. It does not matter if it is cloudy or clear outside, raining or not raining. This is quite frustrating. Anyone else have a similar problem and what was the resolution?

If its only when using sat radio then does it happen when you drive like under a bridge or next to a tall building? If it ONLY does it with sat radio nothing is malfunctioning its just the loss of signal temporarily. Again this is NOT a problem!

I am familiar with the loss of signal like under bridges and near tall buildings. This happens under clear skies and not under bridges or near any obstacles. Does XM have broadcast problems?

So how does AM/FM work? Does the actual NAV seem to work ok?

It happens to me when I drive along heavily wooded areas, even if no portions of the trees are directly overhead. Have you determined if, when the loss of sound happens, it happens every time when driving along a specific area? Or is it a completely random situation in terms of where you are when it happens?

Most likely a signal loss/buffering issue. The radio uses a buffer so that if the signal is temporarily blocked by a tree or even a building or bridge depending on your speed you will not notice the blockage and loss of signal. The fact that you can look around at the instant the sound stops and see no blockage means nothing. The blockage occurs, the buffer plays out and after you are again in the clear it takes a few seconds to again fill the buffer.

Yea really. Lot of places here in the PNW where XM drops out (especially mountain roads on the way to the coast)

Perhaps see if you can repeat the problem by driving the same road in the same direction? If it repeats, it's probably blockage or interference. If not, ...

There are 10 or 12 spots around here that it usually happens

I got rid of XM for the poor quality sound and the fact that it lost signal quite a bit. I live in Arizona... driving to Vegas there isn't much overhead and nothing tall around and it droped off several times on that drive as well.

It is worse on my Fiance's VW Tiguan with Sirius.

I have been an XMer since 2001. I've heard that XM got worse after the government forcred them to curtail using their ground repeaters. I know that in the last 2-3 years, my XM reception degraded noticeably. On our 2009 Vette, the reception is on par with my last car (a 2005 Infiniti G35). I now have a Ford SHO with Sirius. On my commute, it is better than the XM in either the Vette or the G35. That said, summer always makes satellite radio reception worse with the thick vegetation. Also, most satellites are positioned more to the middle/south of the country. So for someone like me in the Northeast, reception may be worse.

The reception on the '10 at least seems to be very poor even compared to other GM models. There is only one area where I have loss regularly in the CTS, but my '10 Vette seems to cut out in places that always work in the other car. If I'm not mistaken, the antenna is mounted next to the rear view mirror which only give a small forward facing window. The CTS has a fin plus it sits on a metal roof.