Why does the car navigation screen intermittently go black?
3 Answers
The reasons for intermittent black screens in car navigation systems are as follows: 1. Loose power voltage or cable connections, insufficient power supply. 2. Severely depleted battery: The display automatically turns off and goes black; if the battery is dead, the navigation device won't function, resulting in a black screen. 3. Pirated software: If the car owner uses pirated software for the navigation device, it can cause black screens due to compatibility issues, manifesting as crashes, freezes, or forced shutdowns leading to black screens. 4. Software requires updates: This can affect screen functionality; for example, if the navigation system runs on Android and certain apps are updated, the original system may fail to recognize the new versions, causing functional mismatches that result in black screens.
I encountered an issue where the navigation screen flickers on and off, suspecting it might be due to loose wiring connections. When the car bumps, poor contact in the plugs can cause this problem, especially with aftermarket navigation systems which are more prone to such issues. I also noticed that during hot weather, the screen tends to go black suddenly, possibly due to insufficient heat dissipation in the internal circuits triggering automatic protection. Last time I opened it up for inspection, I found a lot of dust accumulated on the circuit board, and it improved significantly after cleaning. If you're not comfortable with disassembly, it's advisable to have a professional check for any cold solder joints in the wiring and also measure the stability of the power supply voltage. For daily use, avoid keeping it on for too long continuously, and occasionally restarting the system can also help prevent black screens.
If the navigation screen suddenly goes black and then recovers on its own, it's most likely a power supply circuit issue. I've encountered this several times and found that loose battery terminals can cause intermittent power supply to the navigation system. For vehicles with modified audio systems, pay special attention to wiring interference - I once had my dashcam power supply interfering with the navigation module. For older vehicles, also check if capacitors are aged or bulging, as this can cause intermittent power failures. With hot weather now, it's especially important to park in shaded areas to prevent overheating crashes. The simplest solution is to unplug and reconnect the wiring harness behind the navigation unit - this fixed the black screen issue for me last time and it hasn't recurred since. Regular navigation software updates are also crucial, as older versions are prone to conflicts with the vehicle's systems.
