Nav Software Update

[crimson blades]

Thats what my plan is, they just opened a new 20 mile strecth of freeway here and I want it on my nav system

[online]

Slingshot

We need to ask our dealers if Toyota/dealership will provide the latest version, if one is available, at no additional cost. The version that Toyota is currently offering is a maintenance release (bug fixes, no new features/enhancements). I would be surprised if Toyota offers the latest version for free. I'm sure that Toyota is only a reseller for the software vendor that owns/develops the nav code/software. [/img]

[slingshot]

Slingshot

We need to ask our dealers if Toyota/dealership will provide the latest version, if one is available, at no additional cost. The version that Toyota is currently offering is a maintenance release (bug fixes, no new features/enhancements). I would be surprised if Toyota offers the latest version for free. I'm sure that Toyota is only a reseller for the software vendor that owns/develops the nav code/software. [/img]

Do you really think if I walk into the dealer in 12/05 that they will give me the same DVD as if I went in now? Sounds like a pretty low chance of that.

[junest]

I got my letter for the upgrade about a month ago and I'll wait till the end of the year to the latest update.

[Yanks0114]

Thats what my plan is, they just opened a new 20 mile strecth of freeway here and I want it on my nav system

You're missing something here. Toyota does not update maps. There are two main companies that provide maps, and they are only like once every 2 years.

The upgrade is essentially for the firmware on the unit. IE-how it handles the data that the map is giving the unit.

There is almost no difference in the maps for all the nav units out there (except for some have more detail cd vs dvd). The real difference is in how the unit interprets the data.

Updating map data is a long and expensive process, and no, they will not just do it for one new highway (although i assume you were joking)

...most likely it is a 2 minute upgrade, but they probally get paid by toyota for an hours worth of work and therefore list it as an hour.

[slingshot]

That's news to me. I thought map DVD's were updated every year and costs over $200 to get new ones. If they give me a newer DVD (version 4.2) I thought the mapping data on it would be newer than the older version I had. I'll have to investigate further. Do you know any websites that give the info you said about every 2 years?

[Yanks0114]

I read an excellent article on gps in popular mechanic. I'll try to find the issue.

As for the map updates, in theory its supposed to be every year, but in practice, a lot of times they get skipped. It just gets to be too expensive.

[nsx1164]

I just recieved a letter from Toyota about what they call anomalies in the map details of the nav system. They are offering a one time free upgrade anytime between now and 12-31-05. This is for 2004 through early 2005 models. Does anyone know how often they update the map database software?

Does anyone know which 2005 models are affected ??
I picked up our 05 SLE convertible with NAV in mid December 2004. Do I need the upgrade, or do I already have it ??

[online]

The version that is affected is v 04.1. To find out what version your nav software is do the following

Press the Menu button on the nav system
In the upper right corner press Map DVD
This will bring you to a screen which displays the nav software version

Toyota will automatically send you a notification based on your VIN if you have a version that requires the fix.

I purchased my 05 08/22 and I received a notification about a month ago.

Hope this helps