Pioneer AVIC-Z1 Install

[f5fstop]

I just downloaded the update for Gracenotes, and was wondering, what is on that 20 gigs that we cannot access on the AVIC hard drive? There must be a lot of empty space, just waiting to be filled with something.

[marin8703]

Supposedly its all maps, maps and more maps, the gracenote database, the windows mobile operating system, and whatever other files are needed for operation. There most likely is plenty of free space on there, but i guess that might be needed for future updates.

Im not totaly sure, but i think also all of the used data is stored onto that partition of the drive, except for the music lybrary which is in a separate partition.

Some people on avic411 are trying to figure out the HD, how it can be modified and upgraded, looks like they have made great progress.

Oh by the way the flashing circuit that unlocks teh nav doest work for me , which totaly sucks, i got a July 2006 build, and aparantly that bypass was fixed somewhere in july. im praying for some smart fella to figure out another way to unlock the nav, fo i dont have to pull over to enter a new adress.

oh an also, does anyone else get a "pop" through the speakers when turning on onstar, right aster you press the button, and everything else after that is normal?

[f5fstop]

Mapping software is not that large. I have Garmin Street Maps, which contains all the same information as the Pioneer Nav, and it is contained on two CD-ROMs, and is not compressed. So, that's about 1.5 gig.
(My Garmin total USA Topographical set, is only on three discs.)
Gracenote is a pretty large data base, the update was about 400 meg, and I'm not sure if that was an update, or a total new file.
Operating system takes quite a bit I'm sure, but here must be about 10 gig non used. Just my thoughts.

I had heard that on later systems the Z1 did not work. Give 'em some time and someone will find a way. I guess I'm lucky, the Z1 works great for me.

If yours was manufactured in July, you probably don't need the Gracenote update with is dated in June.

The times I have tested onstar for the alterator whine, and the one time I actually used it to place a quick call, did not produce any snaps or pop. Even with Bluetooth, there is no snapping or popping, and the owner's manual warns you that it can happen. Only problem so far with Bluetooth is I get complaints from people saying they receive an echo. Something that is common with Bluetooth setups.

[f5fstop]

I will have to add something about this unit which is annoying, and it is the voice system. Sometimes, I can say, Call, Telephone book and it takes me to telephone book. However, most of the time when I say telephone book, it takes me back to the Map screen. It may not actually be in the voice recognition circuit, it may just be a flaw in the system, but it is annoying as hell.
Other things I have noticed that make no sense.
You can't mute the audio when actively on the phone.
Echo is terrible on the other end. In fact, I have some people who refuse to talk to me while using the bluetooth system. I even contacted Pioneer before purchasing this and they said that it was not a problem.

Pioneer says that if people are receiving this feedback echo, it is due to the location of the microphone. I have it installed in the corner of the I/P cluster trim. Per Pioneer, it must be installed on the visor; however, they don't say what happens when you have to use the visor...something I do quite often since I travel west quite a bit in the evening.

I'll relocate the mike somewhere on the top of the A-pillar and see if that solves the problem, but I believe the problem is in their unit.

Anyone else getting complaints on the echo from people they talk too?

[deserth3]

Well, the coil (filter) made no difference at all; alternator whine is still there and drives me crazy

Couple of things to check.
First remove the redundant ground. The two ground connections can develope a feedback between them (can't remember the "big" words for this offhand). It's best to use only one ground. In my opinion the shorter the better.

Second check and make sure your antena wire is in all the way. If you had to add an adapter check that too. but I think the first is your problem.

[f5fstop]

The problems existed before the extra ground wire to the battery was run. The original ground is about four inches in length. I agree a redundant ground can be a problem, not if the wire to the second redundant wire is directly to the ground post of the battery.

All connections are in tight, and the VCIM connections were never touched.

Spend a lot of time this evening on AVIC411, the Bluetooth echo is talked about in many forums. I have to agree with a few, it might be that the mic is not a sound cancellation mic, and that the sound from the speaker is feeding back into the mic.
As for the screen going to the map when the phone book is requested, many are experiencing this, and some only experience it if calling while on the map screen, but not when on the AV screen. I will check this out tomorrow, but still, doesn't sound right.
I just wrote pioneer a very long bitch letter. I am quite sure they are well aware of the problems, and if it is as simple as a new mic design, then I would hope the would be in the development stage at this time.

I know now, that next year when I sell the H3, the Pioneer nav can go with it, and I'll just pay for the overpriced H3 optional NAV unit. At least Onstar will work without an alternator whine.

[BuzzH3]

Originally Posted by marin8703

Supposedly its all maps, maps and more maps, the gracenote database, the windows mobile operating system, and whatever other files are needed for operation. There most likely is plenty of free space on there, but i guess that might be needed for future updates.

Im not totaly sure, but i think also all of the used data is stored onto that partition of the drive, except for the music lybrary which is in a separate partition.

Some people on avic411 are trying to figure out the HD, how it can be modified and upgraded, looks like they have made great progress.

Oh by the way the flashing circuit that unlocks teh nav doest work for me , which totaly sucks, i got a July 2006 build, and aparantly that bypass was fixed somewhere in july. im praying for some smart fella to figure out another way to unlock the nav, fo i dont have to pull over to enter a new adress.

oh an also, does anyone else get a "pop" through the speakers when turning on onstar, right aster you press the button, and everything else after that is normal?

Check this out: http://www.sminntech.com/z1flash.html

This guy figured out the bypass for the newer units.

[Mark805]

OMG great write up! Glad you got it all installed.


sorry for the slow response.. I was on vacation all month

[marin8703]

Originally Posted by BuzzH3

Check this out: http://www.sminntech.com/z1flash.html

This guy figured out the bypass for the newer units.

Thanks for the heads up! Ill try it whis weekend, hopefully it works!