Thanks for the Reply. I got diagnosed yesterday the issue that the Uconnect system keep switching off. Unfortunately it seems to be related with the fan of that cools down the radio/sat nav. I have been told it cannot be fixed and that the new unit will cost me 900GBP ... and my guarantee has expired. This is really disappointing. As I said I was very happy for my car, but I would never expect that such an essential component will have such a short live (4 years) and that is so expensive to replace ... now I am searching on the web if there is a way to buy second hand devices for instance from savage vehicles ...
Thanks again!
Yep the uConnect is expensive, which is why I suggested if you're in warranty to get it checked asap. Those on the 500x claimed under warranty and got a new unit. I am shocked that it has not lasted long, I'd think it might be possible to replace the fan if it is that, but from what it seems is that it is thermal tripping as the cpu gets too hot and to protect it from burning out it switches off. Probably poor thermal cooling heatsink designs as well. I'd suggest having a look to install a new fan and probably make some form of heatsink from metal adding thermal paste, I have done it before on a passive network switch which used to go to 90degrees celsius and cut out like this radio.
Maybe adding a heatsink block small enough to fit inside the enclosure ontop of the cpu chips. (this is the larger model cannot find one for the 5)
And adding some heatsink fins held on by thermal paste like this
There may not be enough room for the blocks, I cannot find an dissambled uconnect 5 for some reason, this is a chrysler model which is some touch screen radio which looks similar to the outside of the uconnect 5
Maybe an electronic board repair store can have a look it might not be a cooling issue as well, it could possibly be faulty mosfets or traces on the pcb or corroded solder points?
If you are going to get a second hand uConnect, from I can see you will need some radio code as they're linked to the original car's body computer and if it recognizes a different VIN, then it will require the radio code which is found on the radio leaflet. If you have a friendly dealership, they can use the serial number of the second-hand radio to generate the radio code, I do not believe there is an attempt limit (but I have not tried so I do not know) you may be able to brute force it.
If you have the newer 500L with the colourful dash screen then it is the new body computer which can accept the 7" as well. I think anything 2016 and below the body computer is incompatible with the 7", though there have been specialist ex-Fiat engineers to get it to work.
If you do get a nav model on a non-nav installed or vice-versa you will require a 'proxi alignment' as well.
It is pretty easy to install 3rd party radios at a fraction of the cost, just ensure it fits and you'll need to get an adapter set from the proprietary uconnect cable to the standard power and speaker cables. I believe the radio antenna is coax so can be plugged in with no mod? You will need to install a molded plastic frame to get it to double-din size.
If you are going the 3rd party route, you'll also need an interface if you wish the radio to have the functionality of reading to the car's canbus so like steering wheel controls to work. I would think getting an Android radio and using an ELM327 setup with Torque and the Fuel Economy plugin for Torque can serve the purpose of the trip computer.