Speedhut GPS Speedo Issues

[BrewCityCobra]

So I recently was able to install my dashboard for what I thought was the last time only to be greeted by an error on my speedhut GPS speedo. Specifically, the screen indicates "bad uart connection" from time to time when I turn on the ignition. It has been a few days now I'm at like a 40-50% rate of that error being displayed either right away (e.g., right after the "acquiring" sign disappears) or after the sensor found a signal and had been displaying an "N" for north for a few minutes.

I suspect it is also important to point out that all of my "tests" are taking place inside my garage with the car stationary. I haven't tried go-carting as the car is just not in a condition to do that at the moment and might not be before winter hits in earnest here in Wisconsin.

So my question to the group - has anybody else run into this error? Is it just an issue of having bad signal in my garage or is there a chance my Speedo or GPS sensor are broken/defective and needs to be replaced?

I ask because right now I'm faced with two crappy options:

1) rip my dash out and send the speedo to speedhut to have it checked out of an abundance of caution - understanding that to be a non-trivial but dooable project.
2) let it ride and hope everything works - understanding if it takes a crap after the body is on for good that it will be a massive undertaking to get it out at that point in time.

I'm leaning toward just playing it safe and going with option 1 but wanted to see if anybody else here had that issue as well.

[Andrew Davis]

Brew, the gps antenna has some reception requirements. But I also found the speedhut tech rep, very helpful.

[maclonchas]

Brew,

I cannot comment on the Speedhut gauges and GPS as I went different direction. One question I have for you is your seat mount and sliders. I see your sliders in that picture and was wondering what base and sliders you used.

Thanks

Bill

[edwardb]

I've never seen that error message with the Speedhut gauges in several builds. I've only seen "Acquiring" for varying periods of time (even indoors) and then the gauge functions. UART is a communication protocol and would seem something internal to the gauge and antenna. I'd be talking to Speedhut. I'd be surprised if you don't have to remove the gauge and send it back. Painful. But better now than later.

[michael everson]

take the gauge and antenna out. Hook up a cigarette adapter to the power wires and take it for a ride ion your daily driver.
Mike

[BrewCityCobra]

I've never seen that error message with the Speedhut gauges in several builds. I've only seen "Acquiring" for varying periods of time (even indoors) and then the gauge functions. UART is a communication protocol and would seem something internal to the gauge and antenna. I'd be talking to Speedhut. I'd be surprised if you don't have to remove the gauge and send it back. Painful. But better now than later.

Yeah, that is where my head is at too. I was kind of hoping for a miracle on the board that I wasn't aware of, but I think you are right - "take time to make time" was always the family motto and I think failing to do it now will just be setting me up for a potential major headache down the road.

[BrewCityCobra]

Brew,

I cannot comment on the Speedhut gauges and GPS as I went different direction. One question I have for you is your seat mount and sliders. I see your sliders in that picture and was wondering what base and sliders you used.

Thanks

Bill

The seat rails are Recaro "Double Locking Slider" that can be found on Winding Road. They are a bit pricey compared to what you can find on JEGS and the like but I really prefer the solid cross-bar versus the slide latch for engaging and disengaging the action. They are smooth as silk.

That said, they actually won't fit our seats out of the box, they are too wide, but if you swap it around so that bar engages the rails on the outside (instead of the inside) they are perfect. [Thought I had a picture of one bolted to the bottom showing that alignment - I'll add tonight]

190384

190383

As for the base - at the moment I just have them bolted to the floor directly but I do have a custom design I was going to build to re-inforce the area a bit and get the rails off the floor directly. I'll add that to my build thread when I get around to it but right now I'm tackling a few other items first.

[BrewCityCobra]

take the gauge and antenna out. Hook up a cigarette adapter to the power wires and take it for a ride ion your daily driver.
Mike

Not a bad idea. I'll have to give that a try.

[scrubs]

So I recently was able to install my dashboard for what I thought was the last time only to be greeted by an error on my speedhut GPS speedo. Specifically, the screen indicates "bad uart connection" from time to time when I turn on the ignition. It has been a few days now I'm at like a 40-50% rate of that error being displayed either right away (e.g., right after the "acquiring" sign disappears) or after the sensor found a signal and had been displaying an "N" for north for a few minutes.

I suspect it is also important to point out that all of my "tests" are taking place inside my garage with the car stationary. I haven't tried go-carting as the car is just not in a condition to do that at the moment and might not be before winter hits in earnest here in Wisconsin.

So my question to the group - has anybody else run into this error? Is it just an issue of having bad signal in my garage or is there a chance my Speedo or GPS sensor are broken/defective and needs to be replaced?

I ask because right now I'm faced with two crappy options:

1) rip my dash out and send the speedo to speedhut to have it checked out of an abundance of caution - understanding that to be a non-trivial but dooable project.
2) let it ride and hope everything works - understanding if it takes a crap after the body is on for good that it will be a massive undertaking to get it out at that point in time.

I'm leaning toward just playing it safe and going with option 1 but wanted to see if anybody else here had that issue as well.


No Brainer, out now after a call t9 speedhut. They are helpful and things only get harder the more buttoned up things get.

J