compass in mirror blinks.

9949 Views 17 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Drew, Jun 7, 2015

Dave H

Discussion Starter · Jul 13, 2014

My car was built July, 2013 and purchased Oct. 3, 2013 and has always had a blinking compass direction indicator instead of one that is steadily on. It has been checked for the correct zone, re calibrated per the manual instructions, and finally replaced by dealer with a new mirror a couple of months ago. It still blinks; otherwise looks, acts, and operates normally. (I'm referring to the visible direction letters of N, S, E, W, etc.) The mirror auto dimming works fine; Home link works, mirror in all other ways is normal.

Preferred Customer rep. Michelle had a field tech examine last week at my dealer; he verified and witnessed this issue. Checked power and ground, and said the mirror is self contained and does not depend on car antenna or any other input. Could not find a fault electrically during his visit at my dealer.

Tech. has referred back to Korea and the manufacturer of the mirror; no replies yet.

Has anyone else experienced this same issue and/or found the answer?

It's not a HUGE deal, but, the frequent blinking can be distracting when driving, especially in lower light. Mirror does it whenever car is turned on; sitting, driving, idling, etc.

Thanks in advance,

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Dave H

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jul 14, 2014

bump to add info:

should clarify that the blinking is random and like a Morse code type signal; rapid off and on, then maybe pause, then more off and on several times. rarely is it on steady as it should be. direction reads correct and changes correctly as I drive; it just never stays on steady like it should.

I know that, of course, it briefly blinks when it changes direction; this is blinking when direction stays the same and the indicator should be steady.

has no one else had the same with their mirror compass?

rmartinez05

· #3 · Jul 14, 2014

Dave H said:
My car was built July, 2013 and purchased Oct. 3, 2013 and has always had a blinking compass direction indicator instead of one that is steadily on. It has been checked for the correct zone, re calibrated per the manual instructions, and finally replaced by dealer with a new mirror a couple of months ago. It still blinks; otherwise looks, acts, and operates normally. (I'm referring to the visible direction letters of N, S, E, W, etc.) The mirror auto dimming works fine; Home link works, mirror in all other ways is normal.

Preferred Customer rep. Michelle had a field tech examine last week at my dealer; he verified and witnessed this issue. Checked power and ground, and said the mirror is self contained and does not depend on car antenna or any other input. Could not find a fault electrically during his visit at my dealer.

Tech. has referred back to Korea and the manufacturer of the mirror; no replies yet.

Has anyone else experienced this same issue and/or found the answer?

It's not a HUGE deal, but, the frequent blinking can be distracting when driving, especially in lower light. Mirror does it whenever car is turned on; sitting, driving, idling, etc.

Thanks in advance,

Mine does, but it doesn't bother me! Keep me posted though if there's a fix!

sh30469

· #4 · Jul 14, 2014

Odd, maybe it's a message from beyond? Try decoding it and get back to us! On a serious note this would drive me absolutely crazy. I REALLY need to look and see when mine was build, bugging me now. Mine does not do this however. Weird it does this even with a whole new mirror though if it is indeed all self contained, maybe dirty power? I know you said he tested it though...

Dave H

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 14, 2014

sh30469 said:
Odd, maybe it's a message from beyond? Try decoding it and get back to us! On a serious note this would drive me absolutely crazy. I REALLY need to look and see when mine was build, bugging me now. Mine does not do this however. Weird it does this even with a whole new mirror though if it is indeed all self contained, maybe dirty power? I know you said he tested it though...

I know; it really is annoying when it's darker out. I also have the blind spot detection feature ( which is terrific ), so any blinking like this weird compass gets real distracting. plus, it's just dumb; this technology has been working great for 20 years for other car makers but it baffles KIA...

they build great cars for the $ but they don't seem to know how they did it.

thanks for the replies; it helps to know if others have the issue !

gene

· #6 · Jul 23, 2014

Mine stays on solid no blinking, EXCEPT when I travel on one road and at one point.
sounds dumb but acts like it is trying to decide if I'm going north or west. always stays on north when blinking but as soon as road bends a little goes to west. Then is solid every where else

[email protected]

· #7 · Jul 23, 2014

Dave H said:
bump to add info:

should clarify that the blinking is random and like a Morse code type signal; rapid off and on, then maybe pause, then more off and on several times.

Have you figured out if it's trying to tell you something?

>

Dave H

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 23, 2014

thanks for the information Gene; KIA corporate claims their engineers have had several reports of malfunction like mine. KIA says it's basically the same mirror/compass design used in the other models like Sorrento and Optima, so, they don't know if the problem is somewhere electrical.
In my case, it is a constant problem in any location; it's like the compass is searching for a signal rapidly; lately it has started showing all directions in a sequence each time it blinks, then it returns to the correct direction and then resumes blinking off and on.
I do appreciate hearing from anyone who has the same or similar issue; thanks!

gene

· #9 · Jul 24, 2014

Dave H
sounds like it is having a power problem. They replaced the mirror so connections should be good there. Could be a wire isn't seated right at the fuse block. Just for shits and grins why don't you change the fuse. Could be a crack in the element of the fuse works and then arcs over. don't know as it is that but worth a try. crazier things have happened.
Let us know what kia finds out
Gene

Kamikazeape

· #10 · Aug 6, 2014

Dave H
I had posted here once about the blinking mirror. I have the same issue andhave had it in the shop for another reason and had them check it out. They didthe whole recalibrating and thought they fixed it. 10 minutes after leaving theshop it blinked and does it random just as you explained. I was going to havethem replace it, but sounds like it’s a bigger issue and I won’t waste my timeyet. My HD radio is horrible in my area and sirus isn't top notch consideringthe price and part of me thought it was all connected with the antenna and thatthe compass was having issues with a weak signal. I haven't escalated to KIAyet, but would enjoy your updates as you go through the process.

Dave H

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 6, 2014

Kamikazeape said:
Dave H
I had posted here once about the blinking mirror. I have the same issue andhave had it in the shop for another reason and had them check it out. They didthe whole recalibrating and thought they fixed it. 10 minutes after leaving theshop it blinked and does it random just as you explained. I was going to havethem replace it, but sounds like it’s a bigger issue and I won’t waste my timeyet. My HD radio is horrible in my area and sirus isn't top notch consideringthe price and part of me thought it was all connected with the antenna and thatthe compass was having issues with a weak signal. I haven't escalated to KIAyet, but would enjoy your updates as you go through the process.

Hi Kamikazeape,

thanks for posting; sorry yours does the same. My latest status from KIA USA Consumer Affairs ( escalated to them after no resolution for months through the Customer Preferred Tech. group); it's still a pending issue. The US KIA engineers have driven 8 other Cadenzas and duplicated the problem in all of them. The mirrors are self contained and have their own antenna with just a power feed. I've replaced my mirror once already with another new one; same problem. KIA field tech spent couple hours testing it; power/ground all good so he was clueless.

Now, the latest update last week from Sam Kim in the consumer group is the US engineers are talking to the Korean engineers who are supposed to talk to the vendor who makes the compass mirrors. So far it seems lots of people are 'talking' to each other; so far nobody seems to have a clue. So, I still have an open ticket with KIA.

I urge you to also contact the KIA Preferred Customer group; their TN is 855 542 7733; they're in CA. Open a case with them; it helps us all.

Thanks for your inquiry!

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brandontaz2k2

· #12 · Aug 7, 2014

I think my cadenza does that as well, it looks like the light gets brighter for a split second, enough for me to notice it in the corner of my eye. It doesn't bother me much because it happens RARELY.

carz0159

· #13 · Aug 19, 2014

If you press and hold the compass button, it starts going through numbers, I find that interesting. Anyone know what the numbers mean?

Dave H

Discussion Starter · #14 · Aug 19, 2014

carz0159 said:
If you press and hold the compass button, it starts going through numbers, I find that interesting. Anyone know what the numbers mean?

those numbers are the geographic zones of the united states; the owner's manual has a map of how the zones are assigned by locality. if you change the number from what your state should show, it will affect how the compass reads true north. check the map in the manual to find the number for your state/locality and hold the button to reach that number and leave it there.

as for status; my dealership just informed me today the engineers in the US, Korea, plus the manufacturer of the mirror in Korea now think the problem may be somehow connected to the blind spot warning feature somehow; they are still researching to determine how to correct that ( I do have the tech. package which has the blind spot warning). But, I have driven a loaner from the dealer which is non-tech package, and it did the same thing.

So, if anyone's compass blinks when it should be steady, please notify KIA. thanks!

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wch966

· #15 · Jan 13, 2015

Dave H said:
My car was built July, 2013 and purchased Oct. 3, 2013 and has always had a blinking compass direction indicator instead of one that is steadily on. It has been checked for the correct zone, re calibrated per the manual instructions, and finally replaced by dealer with a new mirror a couple of months ago. It still blinks; otherwise looks, acts, and operates normally. (I'm referring to the visible direction letters of N, S, E, W, etc.) The mirror auto dimming works fine; Home link works, mirror in all other ways is normal.

Preferred Customer rep. Michelle had a field tech examine last week at my dealer; he verified and witnessed this issue. Checked power and ground, and said the mirror is self contained and does not depend on car antenna or any other input. Could not find a fault electrically during his visit at my dealer.

Tech. has referred back to Korea and the manufacturer of the mirror; no replies yet.

Has anyone else experienced this same issue and/or found the answer?

It's not a HUGE deal, but, the frequent blinking can be distracting when driving, especially in lower light. Mirror does it whenever car is turned on; sitting, driving, idling, etc.

Thanks in advance,

My 2015 SXL does this as well. It is also not calibrated to the compass that appears on the instrument panel screen when in navigation mode. The one on the instrument panel may show NE, while at the same time the one on the mirror will show E. Very irritating...the should be the same. I have recalibrated the mirror to my region several times to no avail.

Personally I find the one on the mirror annoying, so I just turn it off. Unfortunately the mirror compass defaults to "on" when the engine is turned off then restarted, so I have to manually turn the compass "off" all the time.

I plan on having the dealer look at it when I take it for the first oil change.

Dave H

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 13, 2015

wch966 said:
My 2015 SXL does this as well. It is also not calibrated to the compass that appears on the instrument panel screen when in navigation mode. The one on the instrument panel may show NE, while at the same time the one on the mirror will show E. Very irritating...the should be the same. I have recalibrated the mirror to my region several times to no avail.

Personally I find the one on the mirror annoying, so I just turn it off. Unfortunately the mirror compass defaults to "on" when the engine is turned off then restarted, so I have to manually turn the compass "off" all the time.

I plan on having the dealer look at it when I take it for the first oil change.

wch966,

good luck with your dealer; I would suggest quoting this post history to them as well as the fact that KIA corporate knows they have a problem.

I haven't posted further on this; but, still have the problem. For some reason, the indicator for South ( S ) will blink; not when it is SE or SW or any other direction; just S. KIA has put in three different mirrors, and, this is the best I can get so far. When I last reported to corporate in October ( had opened a case with them in the Customer Preferred department; (855 542 7733 ), they escalated to a higher group who wanted me to let KIA replace it with a 4th mirror, and, then let them 'autopsy' my third one to see what might be wrong. No way was I going for that as this one works better than any so far and changing again might mean all directions blink again. KIA corporate had already told me they'd found 8 Cadenzas that do the same thing so I asked why didn't they autopsy one of those car mirrors or have the mirror maker do it? So, I told my dealer I'm dropping it until there are more customer complaints as KIA doesn't know what to do and the frustration isn't worth it.

I'd suggest you go over this with your dealer, including that it is not in agreement with your NAV compass ( mine isn't either ), and, see what they say. Make sure they film it blinking if it does it while at the dealer; or, film it yourself and show them the video. Then when they can't fix it by replacing it, I'd suggest you call KIA corporate at the 855 # above and open a case with them; they do care and they do need more customers complaining.

I love my car; this is just one of those stupid quirks KIA can't figure out which will kill a great car's reputation. This car is the best for the money and even beats some Lexus I've owned; but KIA just doesn't seem to know how they built such a great car when they hit a roadblock.

Good luck and let us know!

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ragg

· #17 · Jan 13, 2015

Call me crazy, the mirror's navigational direction is magnetic, right?

Metal+Magnet? Maybe different density of the metal in the car, OR the unique feature of the Cadenza... Maybe there is metal of some minor sort in the sound deadening on the front windshield?

Or another thought!

If it's only the ones with the blind spot detection, are they sensing things on the same frequency somehow? IE the programming signal sent by garage doors maybe fiddling with the mirror's homelink, thus shorting something? Or maybe the frequency of the blind spot detection just wigs out that electrical current? Wired to the same fuse? Could be a few things. Either way, engineers would have to figure it out, and I don't see them doing it. I'd rewire the power to it and test.

Drew

· #18 · Jun 7, 2015

I think if you pay close attention the the blinking you'll find that it's happening when you are in the edge of one heading going into the next heading. I believe the system is wavering back and forth and will stop blinking once you are no longer on the edge of two headings. Hope this makes sense. I notice mine blinks at very exact spots on my regular routes. I have one intersection where it always blinks waiting at a stop. As soon as the light is green and I make my turn the blinking stops.

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