Houston...we've got a problem

innov8v,

I wouldn't jump too soon at ripping the tint off your windshield just yet. The symptom you describe is somewhat strange. I see another member here posted that HuperOptik didn't affect his NAV. Heres a copy of that post.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(silly\";p=\"99442)</div>

I suggest you give the NAV another check, to see if it's just not a quirk.

 

I’m not an expert on GPS but I believe it evolves a time stamp from the satellites and the length of time the signal takes to reach the receiver.

http://www.garmin.com/aboutGPS/
See Sources of GPS signal errors

If the tinting slowed down the signal it would show this type of inaccuracy. Maybe you could remove the tint above the antenna only?
-Lee

 

This is from Cruchfield:
GPS Antenna
The navigation computer determines its position by communicating with the Global Positioning Satellite through its GPS antenna. The waterproof antenna may be mounted inside or outside of the vehicle, but best results are usually obtained by mounting it outside on the roof.

If you opt for interior mounting, keep in mind that the GPS antenna cannot "see" through metal. Do not place the antenna on the rear deck if:
you have a wired rear defroster
you have any metallic window tint anywhere in the vehicle
you have a solar reflective windshield
you have a windshield mounted radio antenna

http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-rgb...on_install.html



Garmin sells this.

GARMIN Remote BOOSTER Antenna (active)
'active' antenna takes power from GPS and increases reception by 25-30% essential for professional mapping and recording reliable tracklogs
necessary for cars with metallized window tint
includes magnetic mount (holds great at freeway speeds!)
includes windshield suction-cup mount
has 8 foot cable

I'm not sure there is a way to fix this to the Toyota model but it might be an option.

 

According to the repair manual, and those that have first handedly observed and/or worked with the navigation system, the antenna is under the dash top, behind the display. Toyota tech should be directed to the part of the repair manual dealing with the NAV. Specifically, they should look at page 67-3. (we can't trust Toyota headquarters now? No wonder the dealers are messed up)

If you want to check the satelite signals received, go into the diagnostic screen.

 

Is it possible that they didn't really install the Huper Optic tint and instead, installed a cheaper metallic tint? When I got one of my previous cars tinted, I paid for the extra expensive tint and they pulled it right out of the same box that they used on my buddies cheaper tint job. My buddy, of course, waited to tell me this until several days later...

 

I used the huper 60 on my windshield and have not experienced any problems with my nav system. This would be the first time I have heard of it causing a problem. Wait a while before removing it. Check to confirm the tint.

 

Before you start scraping off window tint, try opening all the windows in your car and see if that makes a difference (I assume you didn't tint your windshield, so with all windows down, it should just be the rear window that has tint (if you're parked, you can also open up the hatch to get rid of the influence of that window). Check the diagnostic screen to see if you get a GPS satellite lock with the windows open- if you don't, it's probably *not* the tint, but perhaps something wrong with the GPS unit itself.. If you do get a lock with the windows open, try closing the windows and see if the signal disappears. If it does, then the tint definitely is at fault and you'll either have to 1) remove the tint (get the shop to pay for it as it is pretty clear that they didn't use the expensive Huper film but likely substituted some cheaper metallic film), 2) purchase a signal booster 3) get an external antenna and adapt it for the Prius nav unit or 4) drive with your windows down any time you want the GPS to work..

 

Huper Optik's ceramic does not come in 78. It should not affect the GPS. I think they might have gotten it mixed up with another box. I think Huber Optik sells non-ceramic tints which is what might have been used.

 

I had the problem that the nav lost ANT... I just had some work done... The tech said that he was no where near that area of the dash...

Here is what I found. There is the ant cable that comes off the back of the DVD/NAV unit.. this cable then is routed to a location best described at mid-way up just in front of the steering wheel. There it meets a coupler that is on a post to anchor it to the frame. Then the other cable is what is connected to the Ant (it might be the ant but did not check).. so it is not one long cable all the way to the ant.

Mine had come loose... when I pressed the NAV side back in there was a loud "click" so I know it did not get it fully inserted correctly, and finely came loose.

The bad news is that half of the dash has to come off to get to that area...

Hope the above helps..

 

First off, as others have noted, there is some mix up as Huper does not make a 78% visibility film (wish they did though). There are several people on this list with Huper 60 and 50 ceramic on their windshields with no ill effects n the NAV. Did you watch the install? It involves a lot of water and that water gets into the dash. It is possible that water got into the NAV electronics. You might give it a week to dry out in the sun and try again before ripping it off. If you do rip it off and the NAV stays poor, you know there is another problem.
Cheers,
Mike
===
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(innov8v\";p=\"102413)</div>

 

The NAV electronics themselves are under the driver seat. Only the antenna (and of course the MFD) is in the dash. Though I suppose water entering the antenna system could knock out GPS reception.

But has it been determined, via diagnostics, that it is not receiving GPS?

 

Method 1
(a) Start the HV system.
(B) While pressing and holding â€INFO†switch, operate light
control switch, OFF " TAIL " OFF " TAIL " OFF "
TAIL " OFF.
© The diagnostic mode starts and the service check screen
(â€System Check Modeâ€) will be displayed. Service inspection
starts automatically and the result will be displayed.

Method 2
(a) Start the HV system.
(B) Switch to the â€Display Check†screen.
© From the display adjustment screen, touch the corners of
the screen in the following order: upper left " lower left
"upper left " lower left " upper left " lower left.
(d) The diagnostic mode starts and â€Service Check†screen
will be displayed. Service inspection starts automatically
and the result will be displayed.

 

innov8v.

I was able to find two dealers on tintdude.com forum who mentioned Huper Optik "ACHT" film. Here are those messages.

Strange all of the searches I've done on tintude, and I missed these. Although the one from Rama was somewhat after most of my research for my tint choices.

So now we know that there is a NEW Huper Optik film choice for the front windows. I do not know what the properties of this "ACHT" film is, and it might not even be ceramic at all. Both dealers/installers here have a very different report of the VLT. One has it at 75% and the other at 80%.

I wish that Huper Optik would list this film with it's composition on their website.

I learn something new every day!