Hi - this is my first post. My 2005 UK spec CRV exec had been giving a sat nav DVD disc reading error for quite some time. The disc itself was scratch free. I tried a lens cleaning disc with no success. Next I tried the old window cleaning wipe wrapped around a ruler method. This did help for a few weeks but before long the annoying error screen had returned. Finally I decided to take the plunge and open up the head unit to clean the lens with a cotton bud. I found a few guides on various forums but none with photos so I decided to take a few snaps and throw together my own guide:
A few things before you start:
Remove the sat nav DVD and check that it's not badly scratched
make sure you have the keycode!
I disconnected the battery - probably not strictly necessary but better to be safe
Equipment - a large and small Phillips screwdriver, a powerful torch, a container to keep screws in, a pile of books roughly the same height as the unit, cotton buds & cleaning fluid eg isopropyl alcohol or window cleaner
Here's a picture of the unit:
To remove it unscrew the two screws under the silver trim and then carefully disengage the two clips at the top of the trim (sorry no photos of this). Once you've done this it's just a matter of removing four screws that hold the headunit in place.
Next slide the unit out and unplug all the connectors at the back and lie it with its top down on a table.
Remove all the screws from the back plate
The two screws circled in red are the only ones that are different from any of the others you'll be removing throughout the whole of this guide (they're much longer) so there's no need to remember which screw goes where. Carefully remove the back plate as it's got a fan attached.
Next detach tne fan by removing the two screws marked in red below:
Flip the unit over and remove the top plate by pulling it up - sorry no picture.
This will expose the underside of the circuit board which is covered by a metal plate - DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THIS PLATE - it's not necessary. Before removing the circuit board be aware that it is attached to something (I don't know what) by a ribbon cable. As far as i know it is not possible to detach this ribbon cable so once you remove the board you'll have to flip it over to the left (when you have the back of the unit towards you). I used a pile of books roughly the same height as the unit to support it after I'd flipped it over. The circuit board also plugs into a socket at the front right.
So now go ahead and remove the screws at the four corners of the board (circled in red) and disconnect the two little white connectors at the back of the board (one is for the fan).
Next remove two screws at the back below the board. In actual fact you will have removed the one circled in blue when you took of the back plate - I didn't!
Next comes a slightly tricky bit - removal of the board itself. First slide the board toward the back of the unit to disconnect the board from the socket -
Pins on board:
Socket:
Once you've done this you'll need to tilt the back of the board upwards and pull it GENTLY towards you to get it out from under the little tabs at the front. unfortunately it's attached on the left hand side by the aforementioned ribbon cable. In order to clear the tab at the left hand corner I bent it back just a little bit with a screw driver. You might get away without having to do this but I didn't want to risk damaging the ribbon cable.
Once you've freed the board up flip it over to the left onto the pile of books.
Here's a photo of the bent tab after I've flipped the board:
Now all that remains is to clean the lens. If you're not sure what it looks like have a look at one on an optical laptop drive. using a bright torch shine it at into the location shown below. It looks like a small drop of blue water.
To clean it shove your cotton bud dipped cleaning fluid through one of the holes at the back of the unit as shown below - I can't remember which one:
I also used a dry cotton bud to finish.
Once you've put everything back together reinstall the unit, reconnect the battery, drive your CRV somewhere outside away from buildings and keep your engine running - the reason for doing this will become clear shortly!
Enter the keycode and pop the sat nav DVD back in. At this point you'll see the following message:
Have to say I found this message a bit odd - if you happened to be parked near some buildings/inside it's telling you that you can't move your car at this time!
Be warned it can actually take 10 mins for a signal to be acquired.
It's late and I'm tired so I hope that was all fairly clear
A few things before you start:
Remove the sat nav DVD and check that it's not badly scratched
make sure you have the keycode!
I disconnected the battery - probably not strictly necessary but better to be safe
Equipment - a large and small Phillips screwdriver, a powerful torch, a container to keep screws in, a pile of books roughly the same height as the unit, cotton buds & cleaning fluid eg isopropyl alcohol or window cleaner
Here's a picture of the unit:
To remove it unscrew the two screws under the silver trim and then carefully disengage the two clips at the top of the trim (sorry no photos of this). Once you've done this it's just a matter of removing four screws that hold the headunit in place.
Next slide the unit out and unplug all the connectors at the back and lie it with its top down on a table.
Remove all the screws from the back plate
The two screws circled in red are the only ones that are different from any of the others you'll be removing throughout the whole of this guide (they're much longer) so there's no need to remember which screw goes where. Carefully remove the back plate as it's got a fan attached.
Next detach tne fan by removing the two screws marked in red below:
Flip the unit over and remove the top plate by pulling it up - sorry no picture.
This will expose the underside of the circuit board which is covered by a metal plate - DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THIS PLATE - it's not necessary. Before removing the circuit board be aware that it is attached to something (I don't know what) by a ribbon cable. As far as i know it is not possible to detach this ribbon cable so once you remove the board you'll have to flip it over to the left (when you have the back of the unit towards you). I used a pile of books roughly the same height as the unit to support it after I'd flipped it over. The circuit board also plugs into a socket at the front right.
So now go ahead and remove the screws at the four corners of the board (circled in red) and disconnect the two little white connectors at the back of the board (one is for the fan).
Next remove two screws at the back below the board. In actual fact you will have removed the one circled in blue when you took of the back plate - I didn't!
Next comes a slightly tricky bit - removal of the board itself. First slide the board toward the back of the unit to disconnect the board from the socket -
Pins on board:
Socket:
Once you've done this you'll need to tilt the back of the board upwards and pull it GENTLY towards you to get it out from under the little tabs at the front. unfortunately it's attached on the left hand side by the aforementioned ribbon cable. In order to clear the tab at the left hand corner I bent it back just a little bit with a screw driver. You might get away without having to do this but I didn't want to risk damaging the ribbon cable.
Once you've freed the board up flip it over to the left onto the pile of books.
Here's a photo of the bent tab after I've flipped the board:
Now all that remains is to clean the lens. If you're not sure what it looks like have a look at one on an optical laptop drive. using a bright torch shine it at into the location shown below. It looks like a small drop of blue water.
To clean it shove your cotton bud dipped cleaning fluid through one of the holes at the back of the unit as shown below - I can't remember which one:
I also used a dry cotton bud to finish.
Once you've put everything back together reinstall the unit, reconnect the battery, drive your CRV somewhere outside away from buildings and keep your engine running - the reason for doing this will become clear shortly!
Enter the keycode and pop the sat nav DVD back in. At this point you'll see the following message:
Have to say I found this message a bit odd - if you happened to be parked near some buildings/inside it's telling you that you can't move your car at this time!
Be warned it can actually take 10 mins for a signal to be acquired.
It's late and I'm tired so I hope that was all fairly clear