Help! Lockpick/iPod no longer working = bummer!

[SanDiegoXLR]

Hi everyone,
The battery on my 2005 XLR died unexpectedly this week. Good thing the top was down so it was easy to pop the hood. Had to get the car jump-started, and luckily a $110 battery from PepBoys has me back on the road again.
I'm surprised the original Delco battery lasted as long as it did!!

One small problem- my Lockpick is no longer working for my iPod. Usually the iPod screen goes to a the Lockpick screensaver when plugged it, but I'm no longer seeing this. On the Nav screen, it no longer shows XM1/XM2, it just shows WX (weather band)- which is what it used to do before I connected the Lockpick. My car came from the factory with the XM option.
I checked all the connections, and it seems like everything is ok.

Just wondering if:
(1) the Lockpick shorted out, and this is what drained my battery?
(2) the jump start fried the electricals of the Lockpick?
(3) installing the new battery somehow requires the XM power to be turned back on again?
(4) regular CD/radio/nav is working fine. From what I understand, the XM is on the same fuse, so I don't think that's the problem?

I hate having to shell out $129 again for another Lockpick, so wondering if there's another possible fix. Was spoiling being able to play my iPod these past 2 years with the Lockpick...it worked really well up to now. The CD changer drives me nuts because it struggles to play burned discs (I've tried Memorex CD-R with cd audio wave files burned at very slow speeds and that still won't fix it).

Thanks!
Mark

 

[tyrone]

lockpic of crap

HI, I had a lockpick from those helpless guys in Florida and after 1 month it stop working and my battery died also. Wouldn`t even hold a charge. Took out the lockpicofcrap.....no more car battery problems. Good luck.

 

[SanDiegoXLR]

Hi Tyrone....thanks for sharing your experience. I had mine for 2 years with no problems, but after hearing your story, I can't help but think it also messed up my battery. Did you end up buying another type of iPod interface? I might get the USASpec (PA-11Vette) or the one from Log Jam Electronics. -Mark

 

[tyrone]

lockpikocrap

I was told the PA 50 Vette is the replacement unit for the pa 11 and the pa 15 . Haven`t bought one yet, just burned alot of cds instead. Let us know if you buy one and how it works for you.

 

[SanDiegoXLR]

What are you using for burned CDs? I've tried Memorex, and the changer skips like crazy on songs after the first 5 tracks.

 

[Phrede]

I have the latest model and it works fine and does not drain the battery. I am a bit disappointed on the crude interface and that the soft buttons a greyed out after pressing scan up or down. I was expecting a more graphic display. The directions were useless for an XLR.

I am still on the fence about keeping XM. The audio quality from the IPOD is better than XM. I think it may be a matter of creating better playlists for the 80GB of music on my IPOD.

 

[SanDiegoXLR]

Hi Phrede,
Did you buy the latest version of the Lockpick from Coastal? How much did you pay for it?
Their customer service finally called me back, but I still can't get my older unit to work.
-Mark

 

[Crimson Pearl]

What are you using for burned CDs? I've tried Memorex, and the changer skips like crazy on songs after the first 5 tracks.

One of our fellow members here, affectionately known as "Corndog", made a "mix" CD for some of us that went on a trip, and it plays perfectly well in my XLR. It has 20 tracks on it.

He used Maxell CD-Rmusic discs.

And speaking of "lockpicks" and other interface devices between ipods and the XLR Audio / Navigation System, it's a shame that the iSimple device that I have in my Tahoe is not available for the XLR!

 

[onalaska]

One simple solution is to just wire a circuit into your XM receiver that plugs into you ipod or other MP3 device. No display except on your device, but no electronics to go bad either. Mine works perfectly and cost about $25.

 

[Phrede]

Hi Phrede,
Did you buy the latest version of the Lockpick from Coastal? How much did you pay for it?
Their customer service finally called me back, but I still can't get my older unit to work.
-Mark

Yes, The only one off of their web page that they say will work with an XLR. $129

It works fine except that after you change playlists or songs by pressing the scan forward, you have to cycle the power on the radio to get the info button functional again.

The interface is very clunky, crude and slow. It is nothing like what they advertised as it only shows a line of text with the song name on the top of the display.

I may change and use the aux audio input and control the IPOD directly on it and mount it in view.

HTH

 

[SanDiegoXLR]

Hi Phrede....try holding down on pre-set channel "6". I found that was a way to restore the ability to see playlists when the buttons disappeared at the bottom of the nav screen.

 

[Phrede]

Hi Phrede....try holding down on pre-set channel "6". I found that was a way to restore the ability to see playlists when the buttons disappeared at the bottom of the nav screen.

Yes, that works too. Go out of Ipod Mode then back in. I have found it's faster to power off than back on. Either one resets the Ipod interface.

I was not able to get a real answer from Carlos in tech support why it does this. I get the feeling they know they have no competition so you get what you get.

 

[SanDiegoXLR]

Lockpick Follow-up

Hi All- forgot to write my follow-up.
The best way to get the Lockpick working again:
1. disconnect iPod and reboot it
2. unplug both connectors for the Lockpick
3. put all the dipsticks up and down a few times to reset it
4. leave dipsticks 1 &5 down; all others should be in the up position
5. reconnect 2 cables to Lockpick
6. reconnect iPod
7. go to XM1 menu
8. press and hold pre-set # 6

Sure beats having to find CDs that play ok on your XLR (mine HATES all burned CDs....regardless of how slow I burn them on Roxio).