RICK

Nissan customer service called me back today and asked how everything is going. I explained the gps/ phone issues and what amazes me is he's never driven or tested this model, but says that's the way it is and there is nothing they can do. 

I asked him if he can drive 1 and see it for himself. Says he can't do that, yet he's more knowledgeable on a product he's never used, than a customer who just spent $1000.00 on a technology package that is as dated as a model year 2000 vehicle.  

I'll be going back to the dealer and testing another nv to see if it's just as bad as what's in my van. I can't imagine that all of us would put up with this. My customers can't properly communicate with me while on bluetooth. They can tell something is wrong with the audio quality, and voice cutting out. 

Anyone else have anything positive or negative about their bluetooth gps unit?

Rick

just for kicks, put a battery operated co detector in the van with the windows rolled up and see if you get it to alarm. the better ones will display a percentage. 

Rick. 

ok, but i can't even go to back to a map screen while on the phone. not the navigation route or just the basic map screen

since when is looking at the callers phone number and elapsed time more critical than the map or the route.  

anyone else have more positive results or is this the way nissan designed the $1000.00 upgrade?

Rick

Not sure if it's a bad gps entertainment center or just a very poor design of the navigation system. 

My 2 week old 3500 with the upgraded radio gps will not dsplay the navigation or maps while i'm on the phone using bluetooth. I've tried to push the map button to swap the screen while on the phone, but all it will display is the current call information. 

So basically if i have a navigation route set up and either make or receive a call, i lose the ability to get directions to my destination. same holds true if i have just the map screen on without a route entered, i lose the maps while on the call. 

The dealer has ordered a new map sd card as the original is a dec. 2012 and the replacement they ordered is dec. 2013. have not been to the dealer to have them swap the card, but i don't think that will upgrade the issues i'm experiencing with the navigation and phone. 

Another issue. the bluetooth doesn't recognize the majority of my voice commands for my phone book. the phone book register only displays 1 name at a time starting from A. So having to keep asking it to display next would take hours for a list of 600 numbers. according to the manual it has a capacity of 1000 numbers so it's not full. 

The phone picks up the incoming phone number, but not the callers name that is associated with the number. 

Is this factory  radio that bad or is my unit defective?  

Thanks,

Rick

i  have the scangauge 2 and not only does it give you lots of gauge options, it also give you instant mpg and fuel consumption. lets you recall yesterdays and current results. best $150.00 you can spend. 

of course there are much less expensive bluetooth obd2 readers paired with an app, i just prefer a dedicated unit. 

Rick. 

Depends on the distance from the hitch to the trailer A frame. but it shouldn't be an issue unless you have a tongue jack right up front. 

Rick. 

Spoke to them yesterday about my 2014 that I purchased on 12/30/14 and it has a 2012 sd nav card in it. Not to mention the gps, bluetooth and entertainment center is a joke.

While on bluetooth, I can't access the map screen. The bluetooth sounds like a tin can according to the people I called. And who the heck is going to scroll 1 name at a time on the phone book. Honestly the raido, gps and bluetooth is worse than a 2000 model year first generation unit.

My cell phone and portable gps unit blows away the factory $1000.00 nissan unit. Nissan should be embarassed by installing this garbage in a $35,000 vehicle.

Rick.

I too am having issues with my brand new 2014 3500 that's 7 days old. i even contacted nissan commercial today and they checked into my issues and called me back. my sd card is from 2012 too. nissan rep told me the newest one that have out is from 12/13. so go back to the dealer and have them swap it out. 

yesterday i took a 250 round trip from la to san diego and was on the phone a good portion of the time. lots of phone issues. everyone mentioned the blue tooth connection sounded terrible. i heard them fine yet they all said my side was a poor connection or tinny. 

while on the phone via bluetooth. i couldn't get the map screen to come back on. even pushing the map button or nav button while taliking. all i saw was the callers number and elapsed time. when i received a call, it only showed their number, not their name , even though they are in my phone book. 

the gps is terrible. what modern gps doesn't tell you the street name to turn onto? mine just  tells me right turn in 1000', just a  waste of $1000.00 to get a very poor and very dated entertainment center. 

between the gps, mapping and bluetooth nissan should be embarrassed in what they install in these vans. heck my phone has a much better gps along with my 2013 chevy traverse. plus no one complains when i talk to them from my chevy and the maps are much better with more detail , lane guidance, points of interest and it doesn't drop the map when i;m on the phone. plus it has caller id along with a much better all around screen. 

is mine a lemon or are all of these entertainment centers this bad? 

I too have used inverters for my contracting business. They are fine for a while and then they seem to overload overheat. Finally got smart and purchased a 2000 watt honda inverter generator that's as quiet as a whisper. Between the extra batteries and charging off the alternator, remember to get 2000 watts, you need to supply about 170 amps of 12 volt current. Inverters are not 100% efficent. So a honda is actually less room and money for a 2000 watt surge, 1600 watt continous honda.

Of course if you have the room and don't mind the noise, larger and less expensive generators can be had for 300. Or more.

Rick.

You're correct. When I bought my sprinter, there was nothing on the market with a high roof. I knew thr diesel was going to be a waste of money as my milage would never pay off, but I didn't expectit to be so troublesome.

In 35 years of driving, I've never been to the dealer this many times with all my other cars and trucks combined. Not to mention, the proximity to my home. Its not like I live in the country, I live in los angeles with Mercedes in literally every other driveway. There's an independent Mercedes shop 1/2 mile away that's hugh and very busy highly recommended, they don't work on them even though they have the ceiling height and lifts.

Very frustrating and the dash cam just proved what others never could.

Rick.

Sprinter dealer had the truck for 5 hours , but only looked at it for about 45 minutes. My concern was a possible transmission issue as I had an issue 3 weeks prior and needed to be towed out of a driveway ramp.

Transmission guy says it needs a torque converter, yet never bothered to even check the oil level in the trans. I discovered this that night when I reviewed my dash cam video that the hood was never opened. 2 days later I take it to a trans shop and its almost 2 quarts low on atf. Spoke to service manager and they believed me as I have the video. Mechanic tells the manager he did check it. My video says no as it's time stamped second by second. Tried calling another dealer and they want to keep it for 2 days to look at it. 2 other mercedes dealers dont want to mess with it.

Dealer wanted 2500.00 for a torque converter and will not stand behind the repair if that doesn't fix it. There are no check engine lights or codes in the computer. The only issue im having is there is no power when I park on a slope and try revving the engine. The engine won't rev past 1000 rpm. Yet I can climb hills and tow my 4000# trailer if im already moving. Engine has 75% load when im stopped at a light in drive, yet 25% load if in park or neutral.

Between the lack of dealers and outright thieves and lies, I decided it was time to get something new and being the end of year, my opportunity for a business expense write off was there with just 1 day remaining to act.

I will get it repaired once I have my new nissan fully loaded for work.

Between the glow plugs that were replaced 1 at a time, the wrong clamps used on my fuel filter and the multiple 30 mile trips each way to the closest dealer. It was time to find a better option. Even the independent mercedes dealers are a hassle to deal with. They either dont do sprinters as they can't lift or fit them in their shops, or they male you drop them off and wait 2 days for service. Oil changes I do myself, but 14 quarts of sythetic oil, oil and fuel filters are a large expense. 6 tires and brakes are another large expense. And honestly 12 mpg is no big savings for all the expenses and hassles of dealing with a vehicle that no one wants to fix in a reasonable time.

Had the nissan been around 6 years ago, I would have purchased that back then over the sprinter. I needed the high roof, not the diesel or all the headaches that come with it.

Now if we can make this forum come alive like the sprinter forum has, it will be good for all of us.

I will be contacting Dodge about my experiance with their dealership and will share the footage if they need to verify my findings.

Rick.

I can relate to the mileage with my 3500 sprinter I just retired with 38,000 miles. My van weighs in around 9200# daily. In the 6 years I have personally owned and driven since new my average mph in 6 years is 12.5 mph at an average of 12 mpg. I do 75% or more city driving in Los Angeles. Stop and go. Also in the building trades and make approximately 5 stops a day. On the highway it will get 19 mpg, but the LA traffic and slow average mph is a killer along with the weight.

Will see how my 1 day old 3500 high top sv pans out. It's totally empty, but in a few weeks will be up to crusing weeight when the shelving and material gets installed. So I might be able to compare empty with full weight and also get a weight on it too.

Now off to lowes to buy some masonite to finish the top half side panels.

Rick.

Just picked up my 2014 , 3500 sv to replace my 2008 sprinter with 38,000 miles.

Yes you heard that right, 38,000 miles barely broken in. Mainly due to dealer incompetency and outright lies. But that's a whole other story that will entertain you and frighten you anytime you go to a dealer for service.

My van is too valuable to be sidelined and I feel much more confident with my new NV.

Keep an eye out for me as I cruise along in Los Angeles, along with this forum to learn more about my new van.

Looking forward to sharing my story and knowledge with you.

Rick.