Is it possible to install the factory GPS system on a 08?

I don't see why you would want to. Compared to portable GPS systems like the Garmin and TomTom, the Toyota is horrible. Also, it will cost you upwards of $250 to update the software.

 

Can you get a TomTom to put its video out to the MFD and accept touch screen input from it? I doubt it but it would be cool.

 

I believe the GPS unit is located under the driver's seat on cars that have it.

 

It's not nearly as simple as you seem to imagine it. And the cost would be Thousands.
You'd need the dvd unit that fits under the drivers seat, the brackets and wiring harnessess to go along with it. The speed sensors, accelerometers, and antenna. New MFD with bezel and associated nav buttons. You'd need the JBL amp and sound system to process the audio. And everything associated with that. Forget it. Pkg 3...you got JBL, anyway...
If you wanted factory nav you should have shopped around for the car you really wanted, and not settle for one that didn't have it.
Buy a Garmin and be happy. It's much better.
Plus a portable nav unit will allow you to look at the energy screen and nav info at the same time. Something you can't do with factory nav. And if getting the most MPG becomes your goal, you need that energy screen up.

 

I was told no to your same question from a dealer.

 

Get a garmin. I find the factory nav system features just above useless. You cant get detail until 700ft level. I was on a mountain road and had to zoom to 700ft to make the road show up. You cant zoom out to get a global picture with out all roads magically disappearing. After using Garmin for 6 years the toyota nav system leaves you "wanting" something far better. Heck my pda is better then the toyota nav system.

 

Even if you could do this, you wouldn't be that happy with the NAV system. I have a Garmin Nuvi 360 in my Honda and it's much easier to use. I have it on a beanbag mount and put it the trunk when I don't need it. It calls out street names, which the Prius NAV unit can't do, except for interstates and some major highways.

Further, at least where I live, the Prius NAV is not good in giving directions. Add to that an inability to program it while moving and deep layers of confusing menus and you've got a real mess.

As cool as it might seem, it's not. Get a Garmin (or similar) and be happy.

(note my signature, which I signed on with six months ago -- I've found no reason to change it)

 

Not really. It IS possible to send the video signal to the MFD but you wouldn't be able to use the touchscreen. Actually, you could still touch the touchscreen and the control unit would take it as input to something unrelated to the GPS. The GPS has to integrated with the IEBus to properly capture resources from the MFD. If you want in-dash navigation then you probably want to install a car pc which has software ready to accept touchscreen input from another touchscreen. There are nice touchscreens that fit into the map space below the radio and roll out automatically or manually.

 

With the comments on the Nav system - maybe you can find some one who will sell you the DVD system they have (under the drivers seat) real cheap along with the antenna - then it would be just a matter of wiring it up. It is nice to have an integrated system. I have been using Mapolis on my PDA but like the Prius system better. Have the system on my PDA is an old system and does not provide the 3 dim. maps that the newer systems provide. Good luck.

 

I think it has been tried before without success. Does, the NAV system need the extra buttons next to the MFD or will the controller recognize the NAV system and send/receive the correct data to/from the MFD? I'm curious if the different packages have different controller chips. I'll be interested to see if Patrick Wong or Galaxee knows the answer to whether different controller chips are required.

 

Aside from which type of system, handheld or integrated, fits your needs better, it is kind of interesting that Toyota produces two types of navigation systems.

One is well integrated into the car with many separate components like the underseat mounted GPS CPU/DVD, wheel sensors, etc found in the Prius, Avalon, and all Lexus models except the older ES330. The other is a completely self-contained unit that is only the Toyota nav head-unit and the antenna found in just about every other Toyota model. If your car didn't have one, just buy a complete unit off of eBay, mount the antenna and you're all set. I've seen many tutorials on other forums (like this)on installing the self-contained unit into non-nav cars and it looks as easy as installing any other type of head unit. The interfaces are almost identical as is the functionality.

My question is, why are there two types? Is one actually better than the other? I would imagine it would have been much cheaper for both the manufacturer and consumer if they integrated everything into the MFD/Stereo.

 

I wonder if one is set to be a slave on the IEBus and one is set to be a master. The OEMvalue item seems to be a master while the Prius type is a slave.

 

Personally, I have the In-dash GPS and find it a joy to use -- with the Lockpick installed. Without that, it's a nightmare because you have to stop the car to do much of anything.

My other GPS is an older Magellan Roadmate, which I find rather horrible -- You have to copy little areas to the SD card in advance of any road trip.

The newer GPS units, as I understand them, don't require that sort of pre-planning. But, I'd get the built-in GPS again. There's certain advantages to a built-in system:

- It mutes the stereo when it wants to tell you something. I've missed turns with the Magellan because I couldn't hear it over the car's stereo.

- It's near impossible to steal. So, I don't have to hide it. Because, realistically, you need to remove the GPS from the windshield before you get to your destination so it's not plainly obvious that you're hiding your GPS.

- I never forget it.

Biggest disadvantage is that the in-dash DVD pricey to update.

 

I am currently attempting this on my base 2006 Prius (despite the hundreds of warnings saying it cannot be done). The MFD on my 2006 is the older (analog) MFD unit, so I looked for a 2004-2005 nav unit. I was able to hook up the nav unit to an old monitor and verified that it does give some output.

I have fabricated a homemade connector with shells from DB9 plugs and some epoxy. This I hooked up to some wires. I just initially made enough connections to get to the video output and power.

The forum won't let me post links until I have posted more. I will update this as I go.