The Chrysler REC navigation unit installation guidelines are spartan….to put it mildly. However, they are workable and the only real problem is the placement of the GPS antenna.
The antenna has a metal plate with an adhesive backing. The area Chrysler recommends for attachment is not a smooth surface…it is an area of reinforcing ribs…..the contact point of the adhesive would be along ridges…..most of the adhesive would be in “mid air” and not effective. Maybe it would hold…..hey, it might…but, this is my car and I don’t want to worry about it. Also: maybe it doesn’t matter; but, when mounted as recommended (metal plate up; antenna side down), it seems counter intuitive to proper reception of GPS signals.
I chose to mount my antenna on the ac/heat duct going to the area near the head light switch (roughly in line with your left shoulder when seated in the driver's seat). If mounted here, the antenna is further “out” (i.e., better reception? well, it can’t be worse) and the business side is pointed up.
It is really not that hard to access this area. See below:
1) There is a vertical plastic cover to the left of the dash (open the driver’s door, look for a narrow cover roughly the depth of the dash, between the door frame and the dash). It snaps in place. Remove this piece.
2) Remove the plastic cover that extends the width of the driver’s side beneath the steering column. There are two screws…..one is accessed from where your left knee would be in a driving position…the other is assessed from behind the cover you removed in the previous paragraph….after removing these two screws, the cover “snaps” off.
3) Remove the plastic cover that extends the width of the drivers’s side over the steering column.. This cover snaps off. There is an insert around the ignition switch (what we call the ignition switch, let’s not get to technical) that is included in this step (I can’t remember if it’s first or second; but, it will be clear when you do it).
4) There is a collar around the steering wheel. Remove four screws.
5) The actual instrument panel is held in by only two screws. There is no reason to remove any wiring. I used a string to hold the panel out of the way (suspend from rear view mirror)
You now have clear access to a great mounting place for the GPS antenna….adhesive side down, business side up.
HINT: lower the steering wheel to the maximum position before disconnecting battery (some say don’t bother to disconnect, I did, the reset procedures aren’t that involved). The lower position helps step 5.
Now, my problem: I’ve got this great nav system installed that I don’t know how to use. I guess it’s time to ask my kids…..hey, they couldn’t have installed it; but, probably can figure the operating system out in a flash….I had no problem with installation; but, I am struggling with usage…..maybe my kids & I together will make a great team.
The antenna has a metal plate with an adhesive backing. The area Chrysler recommends for attachment is not a smooth surface…it is an area of reinforcing ribs…..the contact point of the adhesive would be along ridges…..most of the adhesive would be in “mid air” and not effective. Maybe it would hold…..hey, it might…but, this is my car and I don’t want to worry about it. Also: maybe it doesn’t matter; but, when mounted as recommended (metal plate up; antenna side down), it seems counter intuitive to proper reception of GPS signals.
I chose to mount my antenna on the ac/heat duct going to the area near the head light switch (roughly in line with your left shoulder when seated in the driver's seat). If mounted here, the antenna is further “out” (i.e., better reception? well, it can’t be worse) and the business side is pointed up.
It is really not that hard to access this area. See below:
1) There is a vertical plastic cover to the left of the dash (open the driver’s door, look for a narrow cover roughly the depth of the dash, between the door frame and the dash). It snaps in place. Remove this piece.
2) Remove the plastic cover that extends the width of the driver’s side beneath the steering column. There are two screws…..one is accessed from where your left knee would be in a driving position…the other is assessed from behind the cover you removed in the previous paragraph….after removing these two screws, the cover “snaps” off.
3) Remove the plastic cover that extends the width of the drivers’s side over the steering column.. This cover snaps off. There is an insert around the ignition switch (what we call the ignition switch, let’s not get to technical) that is included in this step (I can’t remember if it’s first or second; but, it will be clear when you do it).
4) There is a collar around the steering wheel. Remove four screws.
5) The actual instrument panel is held in by only two screws. There is no reason to remove any wiring. I used a string to hold the panel out of the way (suspend from rear view mirror)
You now have clear access to a great mounting place for the GPS antenna….adhesive side down, business side up.
HINT: lower the steering wheel to the maximum position before disconnecting battery (some say don’t bother to disconnect, I did, the reset procedures aren’t that involved). The lower position helps step 5.
Now, my problem: I’ve got this great nav system installed that I don’t know how to use. I guess it’s time to ask my kids…..hey, they couldn’t have installed it; but, probably can figure the operating system out in a flash….I had no problem with installation; but, I am struggling with usage…..maybe my kids & I together will make a great team.
