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  1. #1
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    Question A "problem w/my STi Driver/ZR4 setup???

    I'm not sure if anyone else has experienced this...

    Normally I keep my ZR4 in "Shift" mode. For kicks, I tried to set it to "Receive" mode. What happens next is the interesting part. As soon as the programming cycle is completed, the rear shifter alerts! I tapped the mute button, and it stops alerting. The STi then displays "Block Off", which is apparently what I want in "Receive" mode. Other times it performs normally. This morning, when I started my car, my STi displayed "BLK REC" during the start-up cycle, and everything was working normally. I got a false alert at my usual toll booth, and the display showed "F Laser", then "Block Off". Other times it will go through the startup cycle, the immediately start alerting, with NO indication as to where the alert is coming from (I surmise it is the rear shifter however). I tap the mute button, and after a few seconds the alert stops and the STi works normally again. Any thoughts???

  2. #2

    Default Re: A "problem w/my STi Driver/ZR4 setup???

    I had a few wierd issues too with my STi not talking properly to the ZR4's while at the second Atlanta Jammerfest that I attended several months ago. The STi seems to work properly with the ZR4's ever since I had my STi flashed with the ramp-up fix. Hmm...another forum member had a kind of similar issue as you do. I think that the problem was traced down to the interface cord between the STi and ZR4? I recall this because the dude was amazed that I suspected this and that Bel's engineers told him that they suspected the same thing.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: A "problem w/my STi Driver/ZR4 setup???

    Quote Originally Posted by MEM-TEK View Post
    I had a few wierd issues too with my STi not talking properly to the ZR4's while at the second Atlanta Jammerfest that I attended several months ago. The STi seems to work properly with the ZR4's ever since I had my STi flashed with the ramp-up fix. Hmm...another forum member had a kind of similar issue as you do. I think that the problem was traced down to the interface cord between the STi and ZR4? I recall this because the dude was amazed that I suspected this and that Bel's engineers told him that they suspected the same thing.

    Was it me???

  4. #4
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    Default Re: A "problem w/my STi Driver/ZR4 setup???

    I have a STi that has a date code of 1009 which is not really old and it also has issue with the Zr4 that MEM-TEK modified for me. Sometime it won't say front or rear blocking it will only say Laser. I thought this was because maybe the RD itself was seeing something and not the actual shifter.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: A "problem w/my STi Driver/ZR4 setup???

    I received a response from EscortRadar, the official Escort representative on their own forum board, regarding my issue. Here is what he said:

    "Two possible issues going on here. It could be a faulty shifter or there may be a software bug in your STi. Run your ZR4 without the STi plugged in and see you get the laser false at startup. You will need to watch the ZR4 display to see if you are getting the laser falsing at start-up. If this is not the problem then you should send the STi in to have it's software updated.

    You can either call Betronics customer service department or you can PM me your personal information (name, address, or a previous Beltronics/Escort order number) so that I can set up your repair."

    During start-up, without my STi plugged in, the ZR4 had no issues. If I remember correctly, the ZR4 by itself is programmed to "shift" right after startup. The only time it would be in "receive mode" is after you double-tap the mute button. I then plugged my STi back into the interface, set my STi to "Blkr REC" and "Dark", and the rear shifter light on the ZR4 display module was on solid. As long as the STi Driver is set to "Blkr BLK", everything is fine. I turned the display module off, set the brightness to "Auto" on my STi, left it on "Blkr REC", and restarted everything. The STi wet through the startup sequence, then immediately started falsing on laser. It would either show "Highway" and keep falsing, or show "R Laser" and false. Why would it only false when the STi is set to "receive mode"? What do you think?

    I tried it again this evening after dark. When I put the STi into Dark mode and had the ZR4 interface on, the power and sensitivity buttons stayed backlit. I turned it off and on again, then all buttons went dark.

    MEM-TEK: When I sent my baby back to Beltronics in June (just after I got my ZR4), I sent my original interface cable with it. When I received my STi back from them, they had sent me a new interface cable.
    Last edited by Qui-Gon; 08-14-2009 at 07:46 PM.

  6. #6
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    Default Re: A "problem w/my STi Driver/ZR4 setup???

    UPDATE:

    I sent my STi Driver in for repair on 8/31, after I returned from GOL 2009. While at GOL, I was shot in the front and rear by a TruSpeed (courtesy of djrams80) and an Ultralyte TR B (courtesy of thestaton). After my runs, I said that my rear head did not alert at all. They shot me at point blank range, and still no alert. I sent that in for repair as well.

    I should be getting my STi Driver back from Belscort tomorrow, along with a new rear shifter head. Tech support didn't seem to think it was a problem with the STi, nor could they find a problem with the rear shifter head. Steve in Tech Support said that he opened the rear head and could find nothing wrong. As well, Steve stated that they were sending a noise filter for me to install, as he felt that there may have been some kind of interference causing the rear head to false. We'll try it once I get it back!
    Last edited by Qui-Gon; 09-09-2009 at 05:33 PM.

  7. #7
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    Default Re: A "problem w/my STi Driver/ZR4 setup???

    That's hella frustrating when they can't find the problem that you know exists. That's my luck every time I take my car to a mechanic!

    Like I said at GOL, I have seen problems with faulty rear heads on probably more than half of the ZR3 and ZR4 systems I have tested. It's very common. So much so that I find it hard to believe that they don't yet have some kind of clue what it is. Heck, it could be as easy as faulty connectors in the rear head port on the control module. That way, the head would be fine on the bench, but not work in the actual set-up.

    I don't recall if we were in a scenario where sun interference might have been a problem when we tested your set-up. Seems like we shot it from multiple directions though, which means that probably wasn't the deal. Of course, if anyone at the site had their LI on and facing your car at the time, that would probably interfere with your Shifters too. Not sure if we assured that wasn't the problem, since by that time, everyone was parked at the site. Lots of possibilities. Hopefully, it'll work for you when you get it back.

    "Buy the BEST and screw the rest." - fire65

    "im intrested to see how well you do.i never seen a car JTG before would be a first for me.." - radarrob

  8. #8
    Yoda of Radar
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    Default Re: A "problem w/my STi Driver/ZR4 setup???

    That's hella frustrating when they can't find the problem that you know exists. That's my luck every time I take my car to a mechanic!

    Like I said at GOL, I have seen problems with faulty rear heads on probably more than half of the ZR3 and ZR4 systems I have tested. It's very common. So much so that I find it hard to believe that they don't yet have some kind of clue what it is. Heck, it could be as easy as faulty connectors in the rear head port on the control module. That way, the head would be fine on the bench, but not work in the actual set-up.

    I don't recall if we were in a scenario where sun interference might have been a problem when we tested your set-up. Seems like we shot it from multiple directions though, which means that probably wasn't the deal. Of course, if anyone at the site had their LI on and facing your car at the time, that would probably interfere with your Shifters too. Not sure if we assured that wasn't the problem, since by that time, everyone was parked at the site. Lots of possibilities. Hopefully, it'll work for you when you get it back.

    "Buy the BEST and screw the rest." - fire65

    "im intrested to see how well you do.i never seen a car JTG before would be a first for me.." - radarrob

  9. #9
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    Default Re: A "problem w/my STi Driver/ZR4 setup???

    Quote Originally Posted by Stealth Stalker View Post
    Hopefully, it'll work for you when you get it back.
    I hope it does too!

 

 

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