STICKY: Merged: Acadia PAL (Personal Audio Link) threads

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[HeatherA]

Latest Update: Basically it comes down to GM engineers saying it's a flaw of the PAL/XM/ONSTAR system and that you can don't do three things at once with the XM module. So I have to suck it up and either have TBT and deal with the problems or choose not to use TBT and have the XM/IPOD working correctly. They say that this affects all TBT/PAL users and that there are two distinct audiences, one that uses IPODS and another that uses TBT/ONSTAR. I think this is crap and said so. I was told to see if I could find anyone that has the PAL working correctly with TBT directions and not having the same issues I am so that my service center can figure this out.

I am so upset right now. This should not be this difficult. Are there any aftermarket solutions that work well with TBT/ONSTAR and the IPOD? Maybe something that doesn't use the XM module? Sosche? I am close to just having this thing uninstalled and going another route... except I don't want to lose the money I've invested.

AUGH! (that's me groaning in frustration)


-Heather
http://twitter.com/HeatherABC

[Blue_2009_SLT2]

I have a 2009 Acadia and the Scosche AXIPGMLAN iPod via XM interface has never worked properly- it does for the 2008. I feel your pain.

The last time I emailed them they were working on it, I've since put the iPod in another car.

[HeatherA]

UPDATE: Final call came in from dealership saying that GM engineers stand by the issues being "by design" and I'm SOL if I want to use both TBT and PAL at same time. Great job GM! Way to spend years designing something for installation in your cars that ALL come with Onstar available and XM available and NOT make it work properly without annoying the heck out of the consumers. The PAL is already clunky at it's best, but better than nothing. I am just so frustrated and pissed off.

If you are a GM car owner that is interested in the Personal Audio Link (PAL) and also want to use Onstar's Turn by Turn directions plan to live with a major annoyance and enjoy paying for the pleasure.

[AA/78U]

UPDATE: Final call came in from dealership saying that GM engineers stand by the issues being "by design" and I'm SOL if I want to use both TBT and PAL at same time. Great job GM! Way to spend years designing something for installation in your cars that ALL come with Onstar available and XM available and NOT make it work properly without annoying the heck out of the consumers. The PAL is already clunky at it's best, but better than nothing. I am just so frustrated and pissed off.

If you are a GM car owner that is interested in the Personal Audio Link (PAL) and also want to use Onstar's Turn by Turn directions plan to live with a major annoyance and enjoy paying for the pleasure.

Well I personally think the TBT is OK; could be better.  Drop the service, buy yourself a portable GPS and that should resolve the issue.  I realize it should work, but you can save some money with dropping the TBT and use that to buy a better system

[Jake_99]

I've owned the AXIPGMLAN for about a year (2008 Acadia).  It has worked great for me.  I've never tried TBT....so ah...I'm part of "that" crowd...But I also have the NAV so TBT is not as important to me.

[AA/78U]

I actually used TBT the other day to go somewhere.  I asked Onstar for the directions and they downloaded it to my non-NAV radio and it told me the directions on the display.  They were spot on and I like the feature, just not sure if I want to pay for it once it runs out.

[Insti08]

Yes it can be, I'm having mine installed on Wednesday of this week, along with my trans, flash!

[bizkit]

I was thinking of getting the PAL for my 2008 SLT-2.  It has the navigation.  I do not use turn by turn navigation, I only use navigation disc for directions.  If I have the PAL installed would I lose any of my stock navigation features?  Also anyone with the PAL I would like to know if you have trouble when you turn vehicle on getting xm to reconize ipod?  I have a ipod intergration now made by smart part the iconnect.  Works well but I have to turn vehicle off and back on at times to get vehicle to reconize it.

[bjbyers]

UPDATE: Final call came in from dealership saying that GM engineers stand by the issues being "by design" and I'm SOL if I want to use both TBT and PAL at same time. Great job GM! Way to spend years designing something for installation in your cars that ALL come with Onstar available and XM available and NOT make it work properly without annoying the heck out of the consumers. The PAL is already clunky at it's best, but better than nothing. I am just so frustrated and pissed off.

If you are a GM car owner that is interested in the Personal Audio Link (PAL) and also want to use Onstar's Turn by Turn directions plan to live with a major annoyance and enjoy paying for the pleasure.

When you say you can' use TBT and PAL at the same time, do you mean literally at the same moment, or just installed at the same time.  So let's say I will rarely use TBT, would the PAL work just fine normally but if I happen to engage onstar for TBT THEN, for THAT specific direction set, the PAL won't work?

[Insti08]

So I finally tried using the TBT and P.A.L. at the same time on a trip up to NY and around the city. Both the TBT and P.A.L. worked fine together. The Ipod cut in and out just like the regular radio or XM would. All control functions still operated properly. I also tried a Nano, a regular Ipod, and Iphone and the all worked fine. Hope this helps those who are interested.

[Drew S]

I read through the long thread, and had some similar experience with my PAL install.  Mid Jul 09, I bought a new 2009 Acadia.  I asked about the PAL unit from the parts guy, as I thought it would be a good feature for my wife's car.  I assumed that it would be a few connections for something "factory".

I have the DVD / CD radio, and the install took over two days.  The shop performing the work said "this is the first Acadia we have done".  Little did I know that apart from pulling apart the dash, they needed to route the unit into the console between the front seats, and then routing a wire all the way to the back of the car would be necessary.  When I got the vehicle back, parts were not snapped back into place, and there was minor damage to the plastic around the radio (looks like where the pulled the silver console out of the center).  Even the steering wheel had some of the leather scraped away, like it was hit by something rough or sharp.  So a my new car with only a few hundred miles on it was damaged.  I did talk to the service department, and he said "they would make it right".  However now I'm worried about the dash itself...as you all know, the entire dash is connected, and I'm worried about additional damage when they fix the problem.

Well -- with all of that said, I have some questions on the operation of the unit itself. My TBT / Onstar / XM / and iPod all seem to work.  What is very odd is the way the XM / iPod swap with one another.  I assumed it would be linked to the Band button only, and I would need to enable the iPod... here's what I found:

Observation on usage of the unit -->  If you are listening to XM, switch to OnStar, and come back to the radio, you will be in the XM iPod mode, rather then returning where you were.  (regardless of having an iPod or not).  Coming back from OnStar 'flips' the XM / iPod mode.
 
For example:
 
Listening to FM, click OnStar, hang up, switches back to FM
Listening to AM, click OnStar, hang up, switches back to AM
Listening to XM, click OnStar, hang up, switches to XM iPod mode (regardless if iPod is connected or not)
Listening to XM iPod, click OnStar, hang up, switches to XM
 
The last two scenarios switch which XM (iPod XM / standard XM) when coming back from OnStar.  What it does with AM, FM, and previously XM, was it brings you back to what you were just listening to.

What I also have found, if I have my stations programmed on the radio, it also 'flips'

Hit an XM tab (XM Radio), then hit a FM Tab (FM Radio), hit the previous XM Tab (Now in iPod mode).


Looking back, if I knew how much had to be installed with what I thought to be, a integrated factory accessory, I would not have done it.  It doesn't work as I would expect, and now my new car is damaged and needs additional repair!

If you have the PAL installed, can you confirm what the dealership is telling me, that all of this is 'working as designed'?

Thanks-

[Insti08]

Drew,
I will print this out and check it at lunch time tomorrow. I will PM you.

[BigTallVandy]

So if I read all 11 pages of this thread correct, a 2009 Outlook XR (such as mine) with the Bose 10 speaker XM enabled/subscribed audio system (*no* navigation, no DVD) will work with PAL and get along fine with my 1st gen Nano and 2nd Gen Nano?  Our OnStar is active but we don't have the Turn-By-Turn service.

I think it's a go based on the info in this thread, but a second pair of eyes as confirmation would be nice before investing in the part and the shop labour.  Is there anyone out there with the same scenario that has PAL?

Regards,
/BTV

[Insti08]

You are good to go!

[BigTallVandy]

You are good to go!

Sweet.  One more thing to add to the to-do list.  The wife will be so happy about that.   

[Zubius]

BigTallVandy -
   I installed my PAL a couple weeks ago without any problems. It took about 2.5 hours total (no navigation, no DVD) and everything works great. However, I just upgraded from a 1st gen Nano to a 5th gen Nano and it will not charge it. Apple decided to change the voltage requirements on the 4th gen and up to 5volts. So if you're going to upgrade you'll need to get a power converter from Scosche - http://www.scosche.com/products/productID/1667
 Or from - http://www.chargeconverter.com/shop/connector.htm?connipod.htm

This is an easy install, just time consuming.... Here's some install instructions for the Enclave -
      http://www.enclaveforum.net/index.php?topic=3992.0
 

[BigTallVandy]

Pictures and all.   I love these forums.   

[gadgets]

Hello I am new to this Forum.  I recently purchased a 2009 Acadia SLT-2 with NAV and Rear Entertainment system.  I have been using the AUX jack to listen to my iPod but I have not used it as much as thought I was going to since I have to remove the iPod and disconnect the wire when I leave the car.  I started looking into PAL for my truck but I when I contacted the dealer they mentioned it will not work with the NAV which does not make sense to me.  I have read a few of the threads but I am getting mixed reviews on the aftermarket PALs being sold.  Does anyone have a 2009 Acadia with an after market PAL?  If so please advise of the quality of the product and satisfaction.  Thanks.

[gameon24]

Yes it can be, I'm having mine installed on Wednesday of this week, along with my trans, flash!

Can you tell me if your (PAL) was installed and working correctly with turn by turn? Mine was installed this past week on my 2009 Acadia w/tbt and the ipod does not work. Please give me some feedback.

[Insti08]

Bring it back to the dealer with your ipod. They will have to reprogram the PAL. Test everything before you leave!