Technical CN+ ...Fiat Logo and than black screen !!??

[markill]

Hi Guys and girls

I've got problem similar to this one.
www . fiatforum.com/stilo/148262-connect-navigation-fiat-stilo.html
When I was trying to delete ex-owner of the car voice dial messages CN+ has frozen......
I had "Deletion in progres" message on the screen for a 5-8 min and non of the buttons was responding - so I had to switch OFF the engine. When I've turned it ON .... a Fiat Logo Poped in like usual but after that just black screen - All the buttons are illuminating but non of them work
I was already trying to reset CN+ pressing 4 times Setup button - and it did turn off an on again but situation repeated - black screen just after Fiat Logo ....
I've unpluged the battery for an hour - which I think reseted the system because time is not adjusted and its flashing but CN+ is still black.
I've got a CD (MP3 music) inserted and it can't be ejected.

What happened ? and what can I do to fix it ?
Please Help

Fiat Stilo Abarth, 2.4, 2002

 

[yellowstilo]

re-install the firmware (after you removed the cd) .....but never turn your ignition off during the installation procedure !!

 

[markill]

I was just thinking about it....especially that my Firmware is old 7.7...but how the he** I'll eject that MP3 cd ??

 

[yellowstilo]

you can open the top of the CN+ and try to turn the small motor for the load/eject mechanism with a small srewdriver - this way it will finally eject the stuck cd.
There is a description of this procedure on this forum posted not long ago but you will have to search a bit....

 

[markill]

..."re-install the firmware (after you removed the cd) .....but never turn your ignition off during the installation procedure !!"...

I've just read the sticky guide how to upgrade to 9.8 and....
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Updating the CN+ Unit:
N.B. All stored contacts, agenda items e.t.c. will be deleted once this update procedure starts.

1. Remove SIM Card (if installed).
2. Turn on the CN+ unit and clear any error messages using the “Escape” key.
3. Insert the update disk and wait for the unit to display “CD Error” on the screen. Press the “Escape” key to clear this message.
4. Turn off the CN+ unit by pressing the “ON” key.
5. Remove the ignition key, then wait 30 seconds.
6. With the ignition key still removed, switch on CN+ by pressing the “ON” key.
7. Now this is where you start to panic! The update procedure will begin. Ensure that the CN+ is not switched off during this procedure! The update may freeze for a few moments at 50%, this is normal.
8. When completed, the Fiat logo will appear on the screen and the CD will automatically be ejected. Remove the CD
9. Switch the CN+ unit off using the “ON” button.
10. Switch the ignition on, insert the Setup CD when it first turns on, and allow the unit to boot up automatically.
11. Go into Setup -> Language to change the language.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
So....Do you take the key OUT? .. or leave it IN ??

 

[john55]

My CN+ is stuck in exactly the same state. You can try to reinstall the firmware but it may not work.

When you try the reinstall, put the CD in and if it does not start by itself, press 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and then the Tel key. The buttons backlights should flash 3 times and it start updating. If the backlight only flashes twice, there is nothing you can do except take it apart and reprogram the flash chips manually.

 

[yellowstilo]

..."re-install the firmware (after you removed the cd) .....but never turn your ignition off during the installation procedure !!"...

I've just read the sticky guide how to upgrade to 9.8 and....
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Updating the CN+ Unit:
N.B. All stored contacts, agenda items e.t.c. will be deleted once this update procedure starts.

1. Remove SIM Card (if installed).
2. Turn on the CN+ unit and clear any error messages using the “Escape” key.
3. Insert the update disk and wait for the unit to display “CD Error” on the screen. Press the “Escape” key to clear this message.
4. Turn off the CN+ unit by pressing the “ON” key.
5. Remove the ignition key, then wait 30 seconds.
6. With the ignition key still removed, switch on CN+ by pressing the “ON” key.
7. Now this is where you start to panic! The update procedure will begin. Ensure that the CN+ is not switched off during this procedure! The update may freeze for a few moments at 50%, this is normal.
8. When completed, the Fiat logo will appear on the screen and the CD will automatically be ejected. Remove the CD
9. Switch the CN+ unit off using the “ON” button.
10. Switch the ignition on, insert the Setup CD when it first turns on, and allow the unit to boot up automatically.
11. Go into Setup -> Language to change the language.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
So....Do you take the key OUT? .. or leave it IN ??

my mistake , i meant don't switch the power off which isn't the same of course...

 

[markill]

My CN+ is stuck in exactly the same state. You can try to reinstall the firmware but it may not work.

When you try the reinstall, put the CD in and if it does not start by itself, press 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and then the Tel key. The buttons backlights should flash 3 times and it start updating. If the backlight only flashes twice, there is nothing you can do except take it apart and reprogram the flash chips manually
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Well....I'm gona find out tomorrow wherever the servis guys can take that CD out - ....it's not a Fiat Servise though...'cos they don't even have the proper tools to do it!!....and if it's done...I'll follow your advice..
Luckly it will work....because I have NO idea how to take CN+ apart and reprogram the flah manually .....

 

[markill]

OK...Service Guys managed to remove the MP3 CD....but CN+ doesn't take any new ones....so I'm back to start point It looks like the Eject mechanism is still in position when the CD is inside...maby that's why I can't insert any new CD's....so I won't even find out wherever I can restore the firmware using 9.8 update .....

Any other Ideas...??

 

[markill]

....and One more Thing....If there's gona be no way to fix CN+ can I just replace the whole unit with new one or....will it ask for some codes or something ??
.....or will I be able to replace it with standard Stilo CD/Radio Player ??...... like - will it work??...and if yes ... will I be able to use the steer wheel buttons to controll it ??

 

[Davren]

If you replace it with another CN+ you will need the Master Code for the new unit. They're often for sale on eBay. some with and some without codes. The code is available from some Fiat dealers for about £40. Some dealers tell you they can't get the codes. There is also 9.8 software available to make it so you don't need the code.

If you replace it with a standard radio you won't be able to use any of the car related settings eg. trip computer, time setting, door locking etc. If the car was originaly fitted with CN+, the only thing you can set with the MODE button is the speed limit warning.

Some forum members are currently working on a program to achieve all the settings without having a CN+ fitted.

Dave.

 

[markill]

I've took the CN+ unit to a guy that does EPROM reprogramming - hopefully he'll make it running again - I've gave him CD with 9.8 soft update just in case but he browsed the CD and said that there's no files over there that he needs to reprogram the EPROM - he mensioned HEX or bin files??? (or something like that) or files that are 16,32,64,128,256,512,1021 KB...etc...He has all the hardware needed to program the EPROM itself....But I'm not sure if he'll find that specific software he told me about .....

 

[danhans115]

I've took the CN+ unit to a guy that does EPROM reprogramming - hopefully he'll make it running again - I've gave him CD with 9.8 soft update just in case but he browsed the CD and said that there's no files over there that he needs to reprogram the EPROM - he mensioned HEX or bin files??? (or something like that) or files that are 16,32,64,128,256,512,1021 KB...etc...He has all the hardware needed to program the EPROM itself....But I'm not sure if he'll find that specific software he told me about .....

He wont,

The CD contains the flash rom image but it is compressed. NIT_SH4.zip i think its called, and it cant be opened with winrar. Its a compressed flash image which is compressed using LZW algorithm, which is part of vxworks.

Each one of the flash chips in my CN+ is 4Mbyte IIRC, i did do a post on it before as I wanted to dump the flash of my CN+ without lifting the flash chips, but things such as a near-shafted steering rack have back burnered it for a while.

Dan

 

[markill]

He wont,

The CD contains the flash rom image but it is compressed. NIT_SH4.zip i think its called, and it cant be opened with winrar. Its a compressed flash image which is compressed using LZW algorithm, which is part of vxworks.

Each one of the flash chips in my CN+ is 4Mbyte IIRC, i did do a post on it before as I wanted to dump the flash of my CN+ without lifting the flash chips, but things such as a near-shafted steering rack have back burnered it for a while.

Dan

So what can he do? Is there any way he (or me) can download files that are needed to flash that eprom again ?...
DanHans...do you have those files ? .... please help

 

[danhans115]

So what can he do? Is there any way he (or me) can download files that are needed to flash that eprom again ?...
DanHans...do you have those files ? .... please help

I wish I did have some dumps of these roms, but i dont

there are different revisions of the CN+, with slightly differing motherboards so if you had a dump of the flash roms of another CN+ it wouldnt definately work on your CN+ (but it might).

I have looked everywhere for a raw dump of flashrom and there is nothing anywhere. I doubt very much someone would be able to do anything with the compressed image on the CD just to write it to a flashrom either.

You never know though, there might be a radio repair shop somewhere who has a dump of these files when they have repaired one in the past, but i wouldnt get your hopes up.

If I find anything more out ill let you know, but I think at the moment your going to be looking at either a new motherboard for it if you can get one, or a second user CN+.

Dan

 

[markill]

Bad news than......

Thanks for all the info and keep me updated if you find something.

Take care.