NavTrak Info

[EuroPicnic]

Hi All,

I have recently had a battery drain problem on my GS. If I leave the car undriven for more than 48 hrs, the main car battery goes completely flat (i.e. even the remote alarm won't work). I've called out the AA a couple of times and they have said that the battery is in good condition and there must be another source in the car draining it.

Using this forum, I hope I've been able to isolate the problem to the NavTrak tracking system. To summarise what I've learned so far: the NavTrak unit has its own battery which can die after 3 or 4 years (my GS is a 2007 model). Once this battery is finished, the tracker relies solely on the main car battery for its power supply, hence the draining problem many people report.

The purpose of this post is to detail some of the info I found out this morning whilst on the phone to NavTrak. Hopefully, it will speed up the process if anyone else has questions on this topic:

1. Warning: Initially, the NavTrak people told me that there is no separate battery in the tracking unit. After much insistence, I eventually spoke to someone who knew that there was.

2. NavTrak offered to send an engineer out free of charge. The engineer will do one of 3 things (you can decide on the day):
(i) Replace the tracking unit's battery. The cost of the new battery is not on their system (they don't offer this unless you ask specifically) but they suggested it will either be free or up to £50.
(ii) Install an entirely new unit. If your unit is out of warranty, like mine, this will cost £320.
(iii) Disconnect the unit entirely. No charge for this but you'll need to inform your insurance company if you go down this route...

3. There are two NavTrak subscription services offered:
(i) NavTrak ADR: Insurance companies call this a Category 6 tracker. It costs £270 for a 1 year subscription although you can extend it up to 3 years.. You are supplied with a fob which must be present when you start the car up. If the fob's present you hear 3 beeps from the dashboard. If not, 5 beeps. If you start the car without the fob, NavTrak call you up to see why. The service will use GPS to locate the car constantly even if the engine hasn't been started e.g. if it's being towed or if the car battery is flat/disconnected.
(ii) NavTrak Std: Insurance companies know this service by this name. It costs £153 for 1 year, again with the option to extend to 3 years. Unlike NavTrak ADR, it is your responsibility to inform NavTrak if your car is missing. NavTrak will then loccate the car using the GPS signal.

3. Lastly, the car must be parked off road for a NavTrak engineer to work on it (their insurance requirements). NCP car parks don't count but a garage or service sentre would be fine. You do not need to be present.

The UK number for NavTrak Customer Service is 01619 245403.

Hope somebody finds this helpful. I will update later in the week when I know the outcome. Obviously I'm hoping it's just a case of replacing the battery...!

Dan

 

[conaero]

Dan, great bit of info, many thanks.

We see it on this forum, time and time again with the Navtrak system battery failure.

All I will say is that not always is it the Navtrak. We have heard other reports of electric seats, HiFi head units etc. What you can do is find you local auto electrician and get them to do a current leak test (or its called something like that) what they do is rig the cars electrics up to a multimeter and monitor current drain. This can very simply determine if you have an ancillary item draining the system. Can see it costing more than £100 to have done. Also, if I were you I would ask NavTrak where you unit is situated, they should have it on file. 9 times out of 10 its under the rear parcel shelf.

Here is a link to a guide:

http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/showthread.php/351-Rear-Parcel-Shelf-removal

Basically, if yours is situated under there, you only have to remove the seat back and you can get to the multiplug and just disconnect it. Make sure you get the right one, you also have the high rear brake light and reverse sensor buzzer wiring down there too.

I am pretty sure the white multiplug is the high level rear brake light you can see it going through the bulkhead:

You can see the reverse buzzer on the side of the speaker on the right:

 

[2b1ask1]

Mine on an 03 4200cc was all located in the left rear arch (taking out the boot lining enabled me to track it back from the battery) with the exception being the GPS antenae that remains under the parcel shelf. It would be quite easy to change the battery yourself if you wanted to they are a standard sealed 12v unit like the ones they put in the kiddies electric cars etc.

 

[EuroPicnic]

Thanks Matt!

Depending on the outcome of Friday morning's meeting with the NavTrak engineer, your suggestion could well be the next step!

I might book a slot with an auto elctrician for Friday afternoon. I'll see if I can find a decent garage in central London (I usually use Bill McGrath for services). I can always cancel the booking if the problem's fixed.

Also, thanks for the link - I've read that post before. My only concern is with my iinsurance policy and whether it would cover me if I disconnected the tracker!

Dan

 

[lozcb]

Dan we have found that there are pro's and cons to trackers , the cost of running the tracker subsciption is far 3/4 times greater than the discount you get from the insurance company (normally around £30-50) , the general concensus being that if the car was stolen , it would most likely be ragged during the gettaway, bits broken/damaged on Breaking the enrty and so on , would you really want the car back , after its been ragged and abused , personally i would want the payout to go and buy another fine unragged example ,

Not all insurance companies demand a tracker , in fact the most cpmpeteive ones dont , im with Aplan/royal sun alliance on the GS and the 4200 is with Aplan grouparmour, both of my trackers are disconnected and not listed as part of my insurance criteria


regards loz

 

[EuroPicnic]

Thanks for the responses!

FYI: I just spoke to my insurance company and they said that there would be no increase in my premium if I were to have the tracker removed. Seems you were right, Loz!

I'm going to get the engineer to look at it on Friday in any case since there's no charge.

Dan

 

[lozcb]

Thanks for the responses!

FYI: I just spoke to my insurance company and they said that there would be no increase in my premium if I were to have the tracker removed. Seems you were right, Loz!

I'm going to get the engineer to look at it on Friday in any case since there's no charge.

Dan

Ultimately Dan , trackers are a way for insurance companies to save money , and just like low cut jeans and high waisted underpants with designer names showing they have fooled the punter into paying for the privelage, win win in their eyes and i bet they think themselves lucky to have got away with it for so long , nearly as good as the great bottled water con


regards loz

 

[Woody]

I have just renewed my tracker, primary reason being that if someone takes my baby, I want to know about it. I called the broker and he said that I had to have a tracker, or the car garaged overnight. It is garaged overnight, so I could go without.

Next year, I think I'll renew my insurance without a tracker, but keep the tracker subs running for my own peace of mind....oh, and because they don't give partial refunds! Gits.

 

[lozcb]

I have just renewed my tracker, primary reason being that if someone takes my baby, I want to know about it. I called the broker and he said that I had to have a tracker, or the car garaged overnight. It is garaged overnight, so I could go without.

Next year, I think I'll renew my insurance without a tracker, but keep the tracker subs running for my own peace of mind....oh, and because they don't give partial refunds! Gits.

Wouldn't surprise me Woody , that if one was to check via companies house etc that most of the tracker companies are invested by / sponsored by the big insurance companies , almost like Duracel owning 60% of the toy factories that produce battery related toys .............. oh sorry i already forgot they do ...... makes sense


regards loz

 

[Emtee]

Mine on an 03 4200cc was all located in the left rear arch (taking out the boot lining enabled me to track it back from the battery) with the exception being the GPS antenae that remains under the parcel shelf. It would be quite easy to change the battery yourself if you wanted to they are a standard sealed 12v unit like the ones they put in the kiddies electric cars etc.

Thanks for that Newton. I was wondering where to look next as mine isn't under the parcel shelf. Didn't find anything that looks like a GPS antenna either? What's it look like?

 

[2b1ask1]

Tracker ones I've seen have all been about the size of a tax disk (80mm dia) round, black, plastc biscuit with a single cable comming out (Coax) about 3.0mm dia. bear in mind it must have a clear view of the sky so they are usually up under the dash, or parcel shelf (if a fixed one like CC's) or under the wiper scuttle!

Unless you are driving a composite like a Lotus where it could be anywhere!!!

The Antenae is supplied with about 7 meters of coax so they can be well away from the other parts. Best thing for discovering the main boxes is to follow the lives away from the battery till you find a gremlin fuse that is cut into the loom and work out from there... That said the battery of mine had come loose from it's mount and fell into my hand when I was investigating the knock I was getting in the left arch, through the bulb access panel. Electricians tape never works long term in a sweaty space especially trying to hold up a heavy battery!

 

[Emtee]

Thanks Newton, I've been under the scuttle and it ain't there, so it maybe it's under the under the dash, though I'm not too fussed about finding the antenna, other than out of interest. It's the battery I'm after just so I can disconnect the darned thing. So you got at it through the passenger side boot bulb access panel? Or did you remove the whole side liner?

 

[2b1ask1]

Miles, when I took it out I removed all of the boot lining, just so much easier to follow the whole thing over the top of the tank to remove the wires at the solder points & not leave any stragglers that could short anything - especially around the tank!

Mine had the big chunky side clip fuse (not a bullet type or spade like all the others in the car) off the positive block next to the battery then an ignition kill feed cut into the loom in the middle of the top of the fuel tank, so easy to spot just look for insulation tape as again it is not a factory feature these two wires then picked up the coax from the underside of the parcel shelf and they all routed over the bulkhead brace into the left inner arch. The stack of anonymous grey alloy boxes (two in my case) were screwed crudely behind the chassis tail (that the CD changer would bolt to) beside the boot hinge. The battery was just dangling by its two tiny wires. Nothing much else to say really no great effort required I just wish I could loose 3kg that quickly!

Boot lining has a sequence:

1/trim plate - 8 screws around lock between lights
2/ Floor
3/ Sides
4/Tank cover or back

 

[Emtee]

Thanks again Newton. I suspect mine isn't in that location then, as these are some photos in and around my left inner arch taken the other weekend when I was looking under the parcel shelf...

Is this the fuse you're referring to? Next to the two relay boxes?



Anything look familiar in these photo's?

 

[2b1ask1]

Hi Miles; doesn't appear to be anything alien in there, mine was in the void to the left of photo 3 and above the alarm siren in photo 4. I think you are going to find your one is entirely under the dash - the give away is the insulation tape as it is not used on any OEM parts.

Incidentally if anyone is interested the vertically mounted black rubber topped item (centre of photo 4) is the fuel cuttout that kills the fuel in an impact - they sometimes activate after significant pot holes or parking knocks... It is worth knowing where they hide them!

 

[Emtee]

Hi Miles; doesn't appear to be anything alien in there, mine was in the void to the left of photo 3 and above the alarm siren in photo 4. I think you are going to find your one is entirely under the dash - the give away is the insulation tape as it is not used on any OEM parts.

Incidentally if anyone is interested the vertically mounted black rubber topped item (centre of photo 4) is the fuel cuttout that kills the fuel in an impact - they sometimes activate after significant pot holes or parking knocks... It is worth knowing where they hide them!

Thanks Newton, The search continues..................

 

[2b1ask1]

Looking at the photos in a bit more detaile Miles...

Doesn't look like the battery breather tube is connected to the battery as it should be and why is there water marks on the fuel tank, have you had a leaky boot?

 

[Emtee]

Looking at the photos in a bit more detaile Miles...

Doesn't look like the battery breather tube is connected to the battery as it should be and why is there water marks on the fuel tank, have you had a leaky boot?

Nope, never had a leaky boot Newton, so I assume they're Italian waterstains from when they left a batch of 4200 tanks in the yard and it unexpectedly rained!

The battery's a sealed unit.

 

[2b1ask1]

Ha!

Sounds about right.... "Hay; who lefta da tanks outta ina da rain???"

 

[EuroPicnic]

Last bit of info:

The engineer came and replaced the NavTrak's battery free of charge and I haven't had a problem since (touch wood!)...