I'm talkin' really squelchy pcb level experience, because considerable swapping of players and disks, gives me a collection of repaired Jaguars and several dud control modules after too-common error messages of “not a maps disk” . . . which, of course, the disks are!


Let me start by displaying my puny knowledge and dominant ignorance . . .

• there are only 3 devices in this Sat-Nav system and they are GPS aerial (input), console screen (output), and Navigation Control Module, which includes the DVD disk player;
  
• it is only the latter that has the “smarts” so, with entire working replacements costing just AUD150 (about GBP80 o USD100), commercial repair is uneconomic . . . I am happy to tinker, hoping to release any repaired units for other Jag owners, as the failure rate suggests a continuing need;
  
• my initial working theory, given failures after 10 to 20 years of faultless service, are more likely to be caused by failure of passive electronics (eg heat) or mechanical (friction, wear, etc) . . . connector pins and sockets are not bent and all are free of corrosion;
  
• internal inspection seems to confirm this . . . electrolytics are hi-temp caps and show no signs of leakage, the multi-layer pcb looks pristine, with hundreds of SMD components and 20 to 40 pin micro-chips of minute proportions (at least one looks a DAC link);
  
• I have cleaned laser lenses carefully with cotton-bud doused in isopropyl alcohol, and also sprayed electrolube onto the pickup arm drive . . . but all to no avail;
  
• with the internals, including laser, well shielded and working mechanisms quiet compared to lounge room or pc drives, it is difficult to assess if disks are spinning and reading head is moving as intended;
  
• without wiring schematic at a pcb level, and many of the SMD components being bare of ID numbering, it seems prudent to ask before undertaking further internal surgery . . . can you help?
  

I am posting here rather than in the X-Type, S-Type and XJ forums of the '99 to '09 era, because this Denso unit is common to all these models.


In this front view with top removed, A is the disk slot while B is the switch that lies behind the eject button in the face-plate, and X is the screw hole that fixes the top cover but is hidden until the front face-plate is removed, as seen here.
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In this view of the back of case, C are the GPS input and local network ports, while D is unused by Jaguar, the E ports are served by multi-part connectors, and the 3 X screw points fix the top cover which has been removed.
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The top cover with its all-important part numbers seen at F . . . this failed unit having Jaguar suffixes ending AE and 8342 being re[laced by a unit with suffixes AG and 8345 . . . which connected, promptly, then updated its firmware from disk, and works perfectly
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This view inside this failed unit, shows what I believe to be power supply area at P, with a postage stamp size micro-controller (MCU) daughter board at M and the 40pin chip being the small black object about 6 - 8mm square and only 1mm thick above the M character. Well hidden at H, is the laser + reader head that is propelled across the tracks of the spinning in seeking, reading and forwarding the required digital data. It is this latter mechanical process that I would like to verify . . . because no spinning and/or no head seeking equates to no data.


Any pointers?

Cheers,

 

No pointers but a great and detailed post!
I learned a good bit from the above.
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Not sure any of this helps but we rec. this device from JLR NA but have not had any time to dedicate toward understanding it. It functions and came complete with two NOS sat. screens for S type. The Denso manual is thick but the technical portion is simply the wire diagram from the S Type WSM.

 

Thanks to both of you. Many other priorities have seen no further action as yet.

That manual looks interesting. Any chance of a bulk scan that you could PM or post as attachment.
The S-Type wiring diagram would be of great interest, especially as I suspect identical implementation on the XJ and X-Type of same era.
Never know what other gems may be buried in such a manual.

As an indicator of scale, I alone have collected several failed units (such as pictured previously) and I am aware of many more. I have also collected many hundreds of threads and posts here on SatNav issues on these cars that point directly to unreliability and/or failures in these Denso player units. By comparison, there appear to be no new replacements and known-to-be-working used units are proving difficult to source, even internationally, despite offering what may be only a temporary reprieve.

Obviously, the "why bother" option could be to discard the entire sub-system in favour of a new head unit that could bring new features without mechanical reliance on reading disks, but this opens up a rats' nest of wiring issues involving the entire telematics area involving existing touch screen and steering wheel controls.

My background in component level technology wants to solve this challenge although I remain convinced of mechanical rather than electronic failures. My current suspicion is that Denso may have grafted a generic DVD disk reader (mechanical) onto their purpose-designed PCB (electronic) platform. If so, and I can identify that reader, it may open a low cost path to brand new replacement.

Cheers,

 

Will ask one of the volunteers to scan it but it may be a bit before they can get to it.

 

Greeting from Canada!

I cam across this thread while searching for a possible repair for the Denso (Fujitsu) navigation unit. It is actually in a Lexus not a Jaguar, but I noticed quite a bit of resemblance to the board in "Cat_as_Trophy" post above.

The problem seem to be with the power supply section which doesn't start most of the time, but every now and then it does then turns off again. I have a reasonably equipped electronics lab and don't mind having a go at repairing it. But with a multi-layer board and no components markings it is quite the mission.

I am wondering if "Cat_as_Trophy" managed to find any circuit schematics for the unit he has? Even if it is not the same unit, but anything can help (knowing many circuits are common).

Cheers,

 

@cat_as_trophy Check out Gus Glikas' Jagrepair.com for electrical wiring diagrams of the various models using the Denso nav.

I respect your effort to rehab the DVD technology units. However, I wonder about the maps. Do you have a plan to craft a disk update?

 

Thanks Bill and others, PMs etc . . .

Unfortunately, and despite months of research both here in Oz and internationally, little more has come to light. Jaguar wiring diagrams are fine for how the modules are powered and interconnected, but don't provide what we need . . . a PCB level wiring diagram of what is contained INSIDE the DVD maps player! Unlike lounge room DVD players (for which the web is awash) our inability to find DENSO wiring diagrams, is surprising.

On 2 failed units, I have expended my efforts in obvious directions . . . on the first, I replaced all the electro caps in the power supply section as per photo in post #1 . . . in the second, I removed and tested many of the SMD components around the MCU . . . all to no avail. The MCU itself has no identifying marks and, even if it had, there is no data available of the firmware code it contains.

This leaves me calling a halt to further work . . . and a total of 4 failed units have now gone in the bin!

This is hot on the heels of the dead end Alpine system in the Jaguar XK8/XKR SatNav (Jaguar even cancelled maps disk production for AUS/NZ so our fully equipped model knows nothing of how to get to Melbourme, but wants to go from London to Manchester instead! Learning nothing from years of Lucas electrics (great for blinkers but little else . . . now they're working . . . now they're not!), Jaguar's record of backing losers is staggering. Alternatives like USB and SD/uSD/nSD card connectivity are iniquitous and cheap . . . I have just bought 3x 1Tb microSD cards for well less than AU$200 in total . . . and the seller threw in uSD to USB adapters to boot! I'm sorry to end on such a negative note, especially when I suspect such a common failure probably arises from either a design or component failure.

My solution? If you own a SatNav equipped Jaguar of that era. and you see a used, working maps unit (from the boot/trunk) that is for sale . . . grab it . . . because yours is likely to fail at some time.

ITMT, best wishes to all and, if this has helped a better understanding, your LIKE will be appreciated.

Ken

 

Well Ken,

I appreciated all your efforts and sympathise with the feeling of dejection from not being able to track down the required documents.


All the more as I am one of the victims of humidity/water ingress to the Satnav module having stored the car in a yard for the last 6 months.
I suspect the unit is beyond repair as the damage is both extensive and probably create many short circuits that have damaged the components.

TIA