Navigation System and GPS

[cklinh]

Just a quick question about the 2004 OEM Navigation System and the GPS. Has anyone had trouble with GPS reception? I don't seem to be getting _any_ no matter where I go. I live in the San Francisco area. The entire Bay Area cannot possibly have no GPS coverage! My Navigation System has been all crossed up even after calibrating it 5 times yesterday. It had me in the middle of the San Francisco Bay! So, I'm thinking there might be wrong with whatever is picking up the GPS signal (antenna?)... anyone know where it is? Or even what the technical terms for it is? This is driving me nuts... Even the direction that it says I'm heading in is wrong (as compared to the compass on the rear view mirror). Any help is greatly appreciated.

[cklinh]

Oh yeah, I forgot to add that I have yet to see the letters "GPS" under the North Symbol (as I am supposed to when there's a GPS signal). Can anyone else that lives in the Bay Area let me know if this is the norm?

[slingshot]

I'm in the NY area and the only time I've ever lost GPS is when driving between a few very tall buildings in Manhattan and driving through a tunnel under the river. Most of the time I get perfectly fine GPS coverage driving in Manhattan by the way. It sure sounds like you've got a bad connection between the GPS antenna in your car and the NAV unit. Did you bring it in to Toyota service and tell them to fix it? It must be a bad wire connection.

[cklinh]

Thanks for the reply. I haven't taken it in yet. I was hoping that it was a simple fix and that I could just do it myself. Anyone know where the GPS antenna is located?

[slingshot]

I don't know where the antenna is but it must be small and hidden under either the dash or rear deck. I would just take the car in since it could be a faulty antenna, faulty cable, or faulty connecter where the cable goes into the back of the NAV unit.

[cklinh]

Thanks for the help, I was gonna give them a call tomorrow. It's just been driving me nuts for the past two days... and I finally recognized that maybe it was the GPS. Boy was I relieved!

[cklinh]

OK, took my car in, and apparently, everything is fine... the navigation system seems to be working a lot better (no more pointing me into the bay!... for now...)

However, I still am not seeing the "GPS" mark right under the North Symbol/Scale as stated on the manual...

Can someone please let me know if they have the letters "GPS" on their screen? I figure all I need is one confirmation to let me know that mine still isn't working entirely correctly...

[seany]

The GPS antenna is under the dashboard right behind your NAV headunit.
First it's not a very good place to place a GPS antenna for a good reception and GPS satelllite signals can be very easily blocked. If you go thru the neighborhood with a lot of big and tall trees, you will loose the signal.

If you go into the Diagnostic mode, you should be able to see the signal strength of all 12 satellites at any given time.

The GPS indicator will appear when you have at least 3 decent strength signals. You will need 4 GPS satellites to get the most accurate location.
You will still see yourself moving without the GPS indicator because the NAV also has the input from the speed sensor and built-int gyro to figure out the direction but once your start making turns, it will throw you off the street.

I have relocated my GPS antenna behind the rear view mirror and I get mostly in mid 20's to mid 40's. When I had the little metal plate still attached to the GPS antenna and placed it on top of the dashboard the signal strength was around 30's to 60's.

If you'd like to know more about what you can do with your Solara Nav. visit our club, www.siennaclub.org.

Now it's my turn to ask questions...
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I have a brand new OEM 2004 Solara Navigation unit ($1575) installed in my 2004 Sienna with 10 speaper JBL surround AMP.
I was just wondering if anyone who has 2004 Solara with NAV can verify the following for me since there are quite a few of us Sienna owners looking for a better solution besides mod/add-on we alreayd did like the voice command mic ($50 OEM toyota part) & plug&play back-up camera (Eclipse BEC103 $185 made by FujitsuTen who also makes Solara NAV unit) & playing DVD on NAV, & XM & looking for a way to integrate BlueTooth.

1. which version does 2004 & 2005 solara MAP dvd?
you can get this in Diag Mode. should say something like Denso 5640.... Map disc v 4.1.14
2. when it gives voice guidance to tell you to make a turn, does it MUTE the whole system or just the left front speaker?
3. In diag. mode, there are 2 options greyed out on mine.
BT voice & Back guide monitor- can someone verify what back guide montior is and if it's enabled if so, what it does?

Thanx much,

[crimson blades]

I have an 05 Solara and the version of the DVD in mine is: Denso 04.02.14

The voice guidance only mutes the front left speaker.

I have no idea about question #3 though.

Thanks for the info on how to get into the diagnostics menu though.

[seany]

Crimbson,

Thanx for the response. Here is the link to siennaclub.org on diag mode and everything about it.
http://www.siennaclub.org/forum/index.p ... =1887&st=0
Below picture is '04 Sienna NAV but Solara NAV ('04 & '05 Solara NAV & '05 Sienna nav are the same) should have 2 more options, BT (bluetooth) voice check & Back Guide Monitor.
I'm not sure the Back guide monitor is supposed to do and how to enable it. I thought it was for the camera but still greyed out.
Can you see if yours does anything?

Thanx,