How much does it cost to update the map?

It costs between $200 and $300 to update the maps. It's now done with a thumbdrive. The difficulty appears to be trying to find out exactly -which- nav. unit the car came with. A local dealer told one of my friends with a "C" they would have to remove the nav. unit from the dash to determine which one it was. Total cost quoted was around $500 for the removal and map update. He passed. I was quoted $250ish for Pearl S. I also passed.

Google maps can be run "offline". When connected to the internet select "use offline" in the menus, then select the area you want to operate in when it asks. It will warn you of how much storage it will require, then download the map data for that area. As mentioned, the program "expires" the data after 30 days, but will warn you and ask if you want to renew that data. You also won't get traffic or construction warnings that are "up to the minute". If you purchase a short term data plan for the area you plan to navigate in it would work better.

Now, for those crazy mad about all these posts about Google maps, they appear here because the Toyota system is stupid, unreliable, out of date, and way too expensive! Get over it. We adapt. Perhaps you should too!

 

I could easily get over it if either Verizon, AT&T, or any other cell company would provide service where I live! Fortunately, I don't depend on the navigation system much. This is the first car that I've had maps like this. I had OnStar turn by turn when I bought my 2009 Chevy. I only used it twice while I had that service. So I canceled it and drove the car for another 7 years. I have had the car for three weeks and I have used the nav system once. It's the first time I've ever been disoriented. I got on a city street that I remembered ran north and south. Not true... east and west. I would have figured it out within a few minutes. But it was a nice test of the system.

 

The Struggle is real when a thread goes off topic, not much you can do once off topic I think the OP is OK with it as we just having a conversation of what ever flows I guess.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Well, -I- believe Google Maps IS the update to the Toyota system.
Because you can use it "offline" as I explained above, you don't need an internet connection.

 

Thanks David. I'll have to take a look at that off line feature of google maps.

David, you said what I was feeling as I read these posts. Guys chill out it's a friendly discussion. We're here to learn and contribute information on subject. The 3rd post answered the question. Very few of us never did it and never will. So moving on to what you do in terms of navigation is not a stretch. That said I do understand the term "hijacking a thread".

 

It definitely gets some kind of traffic data. I have at least twice gotten a notification from the NAV that a new route has been found to go around traffic. But, I also don't think it gets map data as in updates to roads.

 

I was told that the traffic data was free and did not have any experation

 

Google maps is not an update to the OEM nav. You can't make google maps run on OEM nav headunit so stop saying it's an update. It's an excellent alternative to OEM nav. But then again everything else is too. OP is not asking for alternatives to OEM nav. If you want Google Maps, Android 5.1 headunit is better way to go than any phones LG, Samsung or Apple can come up with.

Alternative map apps and devices are better implemented than OEM nav but I don't see much advantages to A, buy a dedicated nav unit (unless your car doesn't already come with one) or B, render your phone useless when google maps is running. Yeah you can toggle back and forth to other apps but you're creating an unsafe environment for you, your passengers and other drivers around you by using your phone while driving.

Google maps use alot of power. Many phones can't handle running google maps for long periods of time. They either drain the battery quickly or overheat while charging.

Google maps offline requires maintenance too. Map data expires in 30 days so you have to redownload the maps every 30 days. No traffic or street view while offline. No satellite view while offline either I think. This is a deal breaker for me as I only use Google Maps strickly for traffic.

Google maps can't do automatic heads up or auto reroute unless your in turn by turn navigation mode. Google Maps by itself can't do split screen unless you mod your device to run multi-window duplicate apps at the same time.

 

That sounds like goldbricking if I ever heard it.

If the dealer needs any help, there's a Quick Technical Guide, QT616A, right there under the QTG tab on techinfo, with the lowdown on the different Entune headunits, with pictures, and what vehicle models/years they appeared in, and what the distinguishing features are.

I'm not sure how many different variations on the update procedure there are, but in at least one flavor, they have their USB drive (comes out each year in October or November, should be kept in their Special Service Tools cabinet). They find an information screen on your headunit that shows an ID number that's unique to that unit. They go online and enter that number to get a license code that is good for your headunit and the USB drive that they have. Then they plug the drive into your unit. Following the prompts, many things may get updated:

The Gracenote database (what allows the headunit to identify CDs and show album art)

The system software of the headunit itself

The map data.

All of that together may take about an hour. Most of the hour is just unattended software copying once the tech starts it off, so the tech can be working on other cars. But your car is still probably occupying a bay, with a 12 volt charger hooked up to make sure the battery doesn't drain mid-update. So probably you don't easily get out of paying for an hour of service bay time.

-Chap

 

Woops—this post has more to do with the USB-updatable navs (such as Gen 3 post-2011) than with 2016. It looks like the thread had started to drift a little OT in an earlier post with what a dealer said about a c, and I just added to that without actually noticing this thread's in the Gen 4 forum. Sorry!

I see in tech tip T-TT-0385-16 (came out in February 2016) that there's a new place to look for the document that lists "all current and previous USB drive Firmware/Entune/NAV/Map upgrades/updates."


I see that it's under the 'Diagnostics' tab, which a cheapskate like me doesn't get with the $15 'standard' techinfo subscription. But it should show up for anybody who pops for the 'professional' level subscription, where the two-day option is $55.

Or, if you ask at a dealer and get someone who is so seldom asked about updates that they're not sure where to look, you can point them there. Diagnostics -> Telematics (oddly enough) -> Reference Documents.

-Chap

 

well if I remember my facts correctly the data is provided by NavaTech (and is usely 2 years behind). My data in the 2016 4 is contained on a 16Gb Micro SD card. I would think the data and firmware would be updated by replacing that chip... not the USB way and not as on a lot of other Toyota cars through the toyota entune update which I remember is free. To get the update one would go through the parts Dept. AND, yes cost more than I think it should.

Yes, I have had that SD mico card out and made a backup.

 

You caught me, I've edited my post above. Sorry for the noise.

-Chap

 

God i agree. This thread is just full of people thinking they have better ideas who ignore your question.

 

It does not include maps. HD Radio provides weather and traffic, that's about it. Some other stuff can be obtained via a bluetooth connection Entune app on your phone. If I am going to go that far, I'm better off searching for the address through Chrome on my phone, then entering in the address into the NAV.

The part number of the SD card in my Prius is 86271-35013, I've seen that series listed as high as 35015 on EBay. However I also encountered 86271-0E185 on EBay supposedly for the Prius. So which is the correct series? If they both work in the 2016 Prius, is there some difference in the PN such as additional updates or something?

 

well when my map data was 2 years old (2016 with 2015 map data) I found the Toyota part number and found the Micro SD on ebay for $60. I got it, pulled out my old one... inserted the new one... started the car... it updated some firmware and I have new maps....

I would note that the map data might be as much as 3/4/5 years old... all depends when Denso gets new data and releases it ..

I wish we had a system that we could pull the SD card > place into a reader > run the Garmin Update solution from your home computer > and get updates 4 times a year.

SO around Nov/Dec it is rinse / repeat and move up to the 2018 / 2019 version.

I found out that the SD serial number is embedded in the code. Found that out in trying to make a backup of the new data on the old SD card .. Unless I was doing something out of order

so the cheapest way is to get the correct Toyota Part number (the one in the Prius is the same as many other Toyota's) and search that part number on ebay: 86271 OE184 is what I got off ebay.

Update: Pull the SD card out > flip over > take that part number and search the web > find the Replaces... I have a Toyota parts dept that seems to sell at a GOOD price ... I think the one for my car is listed at $152

 

Ok, what does this do? Is this a free update link?? Sort of looks like it.

Toyota Downloads

 

For fourth-generation Prius and Prius Prime cars, navigation updates are delivered as a replacement microSD card, and the latest edition is from 2017:

• For the Panasonic system with the 7-inch display: part number 86271-0E185, list price $169.
• For the Denso system with the 11.6-inch display: part number 86271-GN8PR-17, list price $210.

These parts are available at Toyota dealers. A new release is typically made each fall.

My source for this information is the document “Navigation Map Update: Part Number Table for Version 17.1 (2017 release),” T-TR-0074-D, available by subscription to techinfo.toyota.com.

That site sometimes contains updates for the system software, but not for the navigation databases.

 

You can negotiate a lower price. You ask the parts guy why the map the car was delivered with two year old map data and they will give you a discount. Even if you get the map in December it will still be year old data. Unlike the stand alone or phone app based mapping systems. Hacks me off considering there are only a few map data providers and others have more recent and reasonably priced versions.

 

I drove my gen 2 for 11 years and never updated the nav which I used all the time. They're just not building new destinations like they used to. Roads can change from two way to one way, but your brain can easily compensate for this. Just drive the car, you'll get there.

 

I can't get pass the poor navigation interface on my 2005. It's so hard to put in a destination. I rarely use this

Unlike Google or waze app, just speak the destination and boom, it's set.