DIY: All NAV Functions All The Time without Firmware Downgrade!

[chiplee]

Originally Posted by zpaul

Wilee you Da Man!
Just installed your gadget with the switch. Did not have much time to play, but now with the flip of the switch I can Finlay do whatever I want.
Chiplee, thanks for the switch! Looks great, works too
Here is the set up:

NP, Looks great. I'm installing another one for a buddy today.

[MOTAMHAN]

Maybe I missed it, but where did that toggle switch come from Chiplee?

[fasteddiefire]

Just got my pulse generator. I am hopegully gonna get in this weekend. I will post pics after done.

[Jer]

Just to clarify, the phone functions still do not work on this?

Also, I put a nav deck in my Supra and when I installed it I got the wrong wire for speed pulse and the nav was all over the place. It was choppy and would scroll crooked and not scroll straight when you were going straight down a road. Sometimes it would have me driving alongside the actual road for brief periods. Once I fixed the speed pulse wire it operated just fine. My concern with this mod is that I will enable the use of the functions but the nav will suffer. Have you guys noticed this with this mod?

[chiplee]

Originally Posted by Jer

Just to clarify, the phone functions still do not work on this?

Also, I put a nav deck in my Supra and when I installed it I got the wrong wire for speed pulse and the nav was all over the place. It was choppy and would scroll crooked and not scroll straight when you were going straight down a road. Sometimes it would have me driving alongside the actual road for brief periods. Once I fixed the speed pulse wire it operated just fine. My concern with this mod is that I will enable the use of the functions but the nav will suffer. Have you guys noticed this with this mod?

That's why you install it on a toggle switch, so that the factory nav signal is being fed to the nav 99.9% of the time. You toggle to the SPG signal for destination (and phone) inputs when needed.

Which brings me to the next point. I just finished installing one of these on a buddy's 2006 4Runner with blue tooth and he was able to input destinations and phone numbers while moving. Can't speak to any other vehicle but odds are in favor of it working for most toyota navs.

Last thing, the switch is from radio shack. RadioShack.com - Cables, Parts & Connectors: Component parts: Switches: SPDT Paddle Switch

$3 and they had it in stock at my local store. Be careful not to remove too much of the reinforcement plastic material from the blank out plugs. That material makes the plug fit snuggly back into the hole you'll unclip it from to install your switch. If the reinforcement stuff is removed it'll flop around in there vice clipping back in tight.

that's it, enjoy, thanks again to wilee

[MOTAMHAN]

Need some quick help, can't seem to find how to remove the nav unit. When i clicked on WileE's instruction link, it says page not found. Can someone point me in the direction that shows what needs to be removed to get to nav unit removal?

[chiplee]

Originally Posted by MOTAMHAN

Need some quick help, can't seem to find how to remove the nav unit. When i clicked on WileE's instruction link, it says page not found. Can someone point me in the direction that shows what needs to be removed to get to nav unit removal?

man if you had a 4Runner this link would rock http://www.castulucci.com/projects/carpc/oemnaviaccess/

I'd say look more carefully at his instructions though. Maybe follow the link for "other models" but then input Tundra data. You should be able to find a .pdf to download that covers it.

[wileetundra]

Here you go:
http://documents.victorytechnologies...oduct/9472.pdf

[MOTAMHAN]

Man, you guys are the best! This place is as dependable as a Toyota truck itself.

Special thanks to WileE............dude you are first class all the way!

[Jer]

Deleted.

[gkeas]

Originally Posted by Jer

Well, for a slightly more expensive but easier option there's an auction on ebay (Item #110232235345) that is the latest v7.1 map disc AND has the loading file from the old v5.1 map disc injected that allows you to override the factory lockout for both navigation and phone input and control. No wires to cut or switches to install... just eject the old map disc and replace with the new one. Quick and easy plus no worries if you're not big into doing more advanced things yourself.

I saw that, too, but there reading the fine print, there is no guarantee that it will work (at all). You could well end up with a $99 chrome coaster.

I used WileETundra's mod and it works beautifully. I'm still gonna get a copy of the 7.1 disc, as I'm sure the maps are updated for my area. (lots of construction).

[WT]

Last I heard no one ever was able to get the 7.1 data to work with the 5.1 loading file by making a hybird DVD, I know they did get the 5.1 and 6.1 data files to work. I will say I tried it when I first got my Tundra since I got the 7.1 disc with mine but never did get it to work. But I have been sucessfull in making a backup of my 7.1 DVD since I keep the orginal at home safe and sound just in case something happens and I also have the ISO backed up on my computer HD too. I will soon be installing one of these units soon myself so I wont have to deal with the locked down GPS system. Oh and I got to think if your selling these DVD on ebay you could get yourself in some trouble with Toyota if they realy wanted too but I am not saying I agree or disagree with the idea.

[wileetundra]

Originally Posted by Jer

Well, for a slightly more expensive but easier option there's an auction that is the latest v7.1 map disc AND has the loading file from the old v5.1 map disc injected that allows you to override the factory lockout for both navigation and phone input and control. No wires to cut or switches to install... just eject the old map disc and replace with the new one. Quick and easy plus no worries if you're not big into doing more advanced things yourself.

I originally tried the firmware downgrade first before I invented the SPG. It was a real pain to make a modified disc because you have to get the perfect combination of hardware, software, and DVD media in order for it to work. After I burned about 20 coasters (at $1 each for the media) I did finally succeed in making a hybrid disc that would work in my truck, however I tried it for a few weeks and did not like it for the following reasons:

1. The 5.1 firmware requires a multiple-step process to activate the bypass and this isn't something you can do quickly or easily while driving. It also has to be reset every time you turn off the truck so be prepared to do the special dance a lot.
2. You lose a lot of functionality when you downgrade from 7.1 to 5.1, the most important of which is the removal of the "I agree" button at startup, but there are also other features related to the audio functions and maps. This was very annoying.
3. The hybrid disc may read ok in your vehicle for a while and then just quit working out of the blue. Sometimes this happens when you venture into a new area where the map data is stored on a different part of the disc that did not burn so well, and other times it just happens seemingly at random. Also, the disc that worked in my vehicle did not work in a similar vehicle. These problems are due to the lower quality media and burning process - it is pretty hard to duplicate a very full commercial DVD perfectly. I am sure this is why the seller of the modified firmware has a disclaimer that it may not work.
4. Toyota is certain to come out with yet another new version after 7.1, so the downgrade prevents you from taking advantage of future firmware upgrades which hopefully will add even more functionality.

So out of frustration I spent dozens of hours hacking the truck wiring and testing various circuits until I found the right design for the SPG. In my opinion it is the best option out there, and also the cheapest because I don't believe in charging a lot for my device since I am mainly doing it to help people out. So far we have over 100 installs and not a single failure that I am aware of. I just wish Toyota would remove the dang restrictions or at least make the lockouts an option which you could turn off. Until then I will keep making SPGs and selling them to forum members. I am working on a another batch right now so just PM me if you need one.

[WT]

Originally Posted by wileetundra

I originally tried the firmware downgrade first before I invented the SPG. It was a real pain to make a modified disc because you have to get the perfect combination of hardware, software, and DVD media in order for it to work. After I burned about 20 coasters (at $1 each for the media) I did finally succeed in making a hybrid disc that would work in my truck, however I tried it for a few weeks and did not like it for the following reasons:

1. The 5.1 firmware requires a multiple-step process to activate the bypass and this isn't something you can do quickly or easily while driving. It also has to be reset every time you turn off the truck so be prepared to do the special dance a lot.
2. You lose a lot of functionality when you downgrade from 7.1 to 5.1, the most important of which is the removal of the "I agree" button at startup, but there are also other features related to the audio functions and maps. This was very annoying.
3. The hybrid disc may read ok in your vehicle for a while and then just quit working out of the blue. Sometimes this happens when you venture into a new area where the map data is stored on a different part of the disc that did not burn so well, and other times it just happens seemingly at random. Also, the disc that worked in my vehicle did not work in a similar vehicle. These problems are due to the lower quality media and burning process - it is pretty hard to duplicate a very full commercial DVD perfectly. I am sure this is why the seller of the modified firmware has a disclaimer that it may not work.
4. Toyota is certain to come out with yet another new version after 7.1, so the downgrade prevents you from taking advantage of future firmware upgrades which hopefully will add even more functionality.

So out of frustration I spent dozens of hours hacking the truck wiring and testing various circuits until I found the right design for the SPG. In my opinion it is the best option out there, and also the cheapest because I don't believe in charging a lot for my device since I am mainly doing it to help people out. So far we have over 100 installs and not a single failure that I am aware of. I just wish Toyota would remove the dang restrictions or at least make the lockouts an option which you could turn off. Until then I will keep making SPGs and selling them to forum members. I am working on a another batch right now so just PM me if you need one.

+1
All good points and another thing is, it cost half of what the ebay guys selling you a hybird DVD and no garantees it work. Last is that the SPG should work for any future updated DVD toyota releases too since this is a hardware bypass.
Just my .02

[Jer]

Originally Posted by gkeas

I saw that, too, but there reading the fine print, there is no guarantee that it will work (at all). You could well end up with a $99 chrome coaster.

I used WileETundra's mod and it works beautifully. I'm still gonna get a copy of the 7.1 disc, as I'm sure the maps are updated for my area. (lots of construction).

Trust me... it works.