Just turn on Location Services, as it's needed for Google Now (as it says on screen)
Nope. Google now does not need location services running. It doesn't know your location tho, so asking the time or weather....you sometimes need to specify where, like, what's the weather tomorrow in new york city. Or what time is it in wherever. And saying navigate to wherever wont work, since the phone wont know where you are. I just toggle location on to do that. Then off after again.
Otherwise location can be totally off and Google now should still work.
So it may be a rom issue he has....or a corruption with Google now.
Try clearing data and cache for Google now, location services, and Google framework. Only idea I have.
Sent from my cell phone telephone....