I would start with a ten min neg terminal reset and then update the software on the rec

 

X2 if that doesn't work could be some sort of short.

 

Hey guys,

I went ahead and tried the negative terminal reset...left it for about 25 minutes, hooked everything back up, still same issues with the radio.

I thought it might be worth mentioning that the VES (DVD player for the back seat) seems to work fine. I also noticed that many buttons on the radio itself apparently aren't working. In particular, the right side and bottom buttons seem to be entirely unresponsive. Volume knob still works, left side buttons work. This is probably why the steering wheel controls don't work. I think when the LCD works, all the face buttons and steering wheel controls also work. Last thing, I don't have access to a new maps dvd to update the radio and the eject button for the nav disc isn't working anyway.

So, I'm not exactly sure what to do with this now. If there are any other suggestions, I'm more than happy to hear them. Either way, thanks for all your help! I'm glad to know that I can always come to this forum for help.

 

Definitely sounds like there are some electrical gremlins roaming around in your REC. If you're electrically inclined, you may want to take it apart, carefully, and look for obvious signs of blown capacitors, poor solder joints, etc. on the circuit board. Does your Nav. "joy stick" still work as it should? This was a common problem on the early REC's. I had to replace mine when I first bought it ~ 3 years ago. If you have multiple issues, it may be wise to do an internet search for good used/refurbished REC's. There are also a few places that rebuild them. Some folks have upgraded to the later model Nav. radios. I don't know too much about that, but maybe someone that's done it can chime in and give you some pointers and potential pitfalls. I just got a new map disc for mine and it can now actually get me home.

 

I'm also having the same problem. My steering controls also don't work neither does the bottom buttons on my REC.

 

do some searching here or on google but im pretty sure there are aftermarket radios that will allow the use of the steering wheel controls and are by far way advanced on the nav over what you have now and the cost of replacment is probably in the same ballpark

heres some options im sure there are many many more click on the "car selector"

Car Selector

 

SinRG,

Did you find a solution to your problem? I'm experiencing the exact same thing with my 2005 JGC Limited WK.

 

I read some threads a while back about re-soldering some connections which had deteriorated after time on the REC units, but those threads also included very low success rates. The cheapest solution is to just replace the unit with an aftermarket solution, or of you insist on keeping the OEM look, to go with the newer MOPAR nav units with Lockpick. Once those RECs go on the fritz, they're basically scrap metal/parts.

 

^This.

Unfortunately, they are now 10+ year old technology (that was a little behind even when it was first released). With the flaky joysticks, DVD based navigation, and propensity to overheat and simply stop working with age they are not worth replacing. For a "new" unit, you're looking at more than a MyGIG and a lockpick to make it work. To have it fixed, your still looking at more money than a way better after market unit, with no guarantee the next on the list of common failures with these won't happen the very next day.

The only time it would make sense to replace with another REC (as far as I'm concerned) is if you can get one off a wrecker for real cheap.

For those with the rear DVD, it'll still function through the headphones even if you pull the HU.

 

Sounds like good advice; thanks all!

 

Have the same problem with mine . Sometimes when I start it, the stereo comes one for about 10-30 seconds. Screen turns off but it still plays sound . The presets work and volume works but nothing else. I have service 4x4 system light on as well. No 4x4 low. Also TPS service light . I'm probably going to just upgrade to a new stereo . Crutchfield has good deals 🤙 good luck . Too bad there isnt a recall for that. I have heard there is a recall for the 4x4 system light... hope to get it fixed easy

I wanted to throw this to the community to see if anyone else might have either experienced anything similar or have some suggestion for a repair. I'm not thrilled at the prospect of paying dealer prices to replace this radio.

I have a 2005 Jeep with the REC navigation radio. Starting this past weekend I noticed the LCD screen seems to fail to turn on with the car, but the radio seems to work fine otherwise. At first, I thought the LCD panel itself probably just died, but then it came back on so I guessed it might have been an aberrant glitch. Since then, the LCD mostly fails to show anything--occasionally it will come on while I'm driving, but it inevitably shuts off.

The other odd thing that I noticed is that when the LCD isn't working, most of my steering wheel radio controls don't work either. Only the volume control works on the steering wheel. Notably, all on-radio controls still work fine. The exception to this was this morning: after I started driving, the LCD came on and the steering controls returned with it, but when the LCD later turned back off the steering wheel controls still worked.

Does this sound like something anyone else has dealt with? Any ideas if/how/where I could look into getting it repaired? I'm assuming a dealer would probably just prefer to replace the unit entirely...

Thanks for your help.

 

Have the same problem with mine . Sometimes when I start it, the stereo comes one for about 10-30 seconds. Screen turns off but it still plays sound . The presets work and volume works but nothing else. I have service 4x4 system light on as well. No 4x4 low. Also TPS service light . I'm probably going to just upgrade to a new stereo . Crutchfield has good deals 🤙 good luck . Too bad there isnt a recall for that. I have heard there is a recall for the 4x4 system light... hope to get it fixed easy

 

Welcome to the forum. You'll notice this is a very old thread and you probably won't get much response from those that posted above, as many have long ago gotten rid of their Jeeps. I am one of the diehards though and probably keep mine until the wheels fall off.

If you have the old REC Nav/Radio, they're really not worth messing with unless you have the capability to fix it yourself. They're really pretty useless by today's standards. I have two vehicles (05 Magnum and 06 Jeep GCO) with REC's in them and one still works flawlessly, but was reconditioned about 10-12 years ago. Everything on the other one works except the CD player. No matter though, because I only use the Satellite Radios in them. I also have aftermarket Garmin GPS's in both and only use the REC's Nav. unit only for current location.....longitude/latitude readings.

Over the years, one thing I've noticed on both of mine is that when the weather is cold, they do all kinds of wierd things until they warm up.......stuff like blank screen, CD motor squeeking, no sound, etc. Both of mine have worked like this for years. Warm them up and they work as said above.