Home News Models Alternatives
 
Smart Car of America - America's Largest Smart Fortwo Enthusiast Community   Smart Fortwo, smart car, smartcar
HOME FORUMS GALLERY

Go Back   Smart Car of America Forums > Smart Car Technical > Smart Car Modifications > Audio & Video

Notices

» Supporting Partner
» Recent Threads
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-28-2009, 06:32 AM   #1 (permalink)
 
Location: Washington, D.C.
Eclipse GPS and Automatic Light Dimming

Hi, all --

We have now had our blue cabrio for almost two months and love it. However, there is one perplexing operational glitch that I can't figure out. Our car came with an Eclipse add-on GPS system, dealer installed. It works great, with one little problem -- or maybe two.

First, in the morning it often takes as much as 10 minutes to get a gps signal -- our other car has a gps also and tracks immediately at our house, so its not a "dead reception area" problem. This is strange because it's only a morning phenomenon -- all other times the car knows right where it is immediately.

Second, perhaps related, and even more perplexing, when the car is started in the morning it can take up to 30 minutes for the automatic light dimmer (headlamps) to engage, and this happens even when I am driving in full sunlight. (It is easy to tell that the headlamps are still on because the gps screen stays dark until the lights turn off.) Again, once the lights finally are automatically turned off the system works great for the rest of the day -- turning off in tunnels, turning back on again as soon as the car emerges.

I am wondering if the latter problem (and perhaps the former) could be dirt or dew on the sensor device for the dimmer mechanism and/or the sensor for receiving gps signals. Not sure where those sensors are on the car. Anyone else experienced this? (The easy solution is just to turn off the automatic light dimming setting but this has gotten me curious!)

Dale Andrews is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2009, 06:57 AM   #2 (permalink)
Mod./Adm.
SCOA Club
 
JPaul's Avatar
 
Location: Washington, DC
Drive: w/s/r '08 passion
My SCOA Gallery
The OEM sensor is the "puck" glued to the windshield, behind the central mirror; if that helps...

JPaul is online now   Reply With Quote
Today
 


This ad will not be shown if you are logged in.

Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
01 eclipse to Smart holliwud New Members Area 2 04-03-2009 12:34 PM
Eclipse AVN52D Indash Nav/DVD Player Mluisgr81 Audio & Video 2 08-27-2008 03:10 PM
Auto dimming mirror installation? MercuryX100 Interior & Exterior 13 04-16-2008 10:05 PM
Auto-dimming rearview mirror august8pm Interior & Exterior 7 01-19-2008 06:41 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.0.1

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:08 PM.


Smart Cars of America, LLC is not affiliated with, authorized by, associated with or have any connection with G&K, Zap, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz AMG, Mercedes-Benz McLaren Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, smart Canada Division, DaimlerChrysler, Chrysler LLC, DaimlerChrysler AG, Maybach, smart gmbh, a division of Mercedes Benz LLC, the manufacturer of SMART automobiles, smart USA Distributor, LLC, a division of Penske Automotive Group, Inc, the exclusive authorized U.S. importer and distributor of the smart vehicle or any of their official dealerships


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.3.2
Ad Management by RedTyger