1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Houston...we've got a problem

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by innov8v, Jun 29, 2005.

  1. innov8v

    innov8v New Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2005
    36
    0
    0
    Location:
    Thousand Oaks CA
    Got my windows tinted a few days ago, including the windshield with a very light Huper Optik. I mentioned to my installer that several on this board had warned about possible interference problems, given that, according to my recollection, the GPS antenna is somewhere in the dashboard/windshield area. Since I was a little fuzzy on the details, he suggested we check with Toyota about where exactly the antenna is located. After several minutes of being shuffled from one person to the next, he finally reached someone at Toyota Technical Support (that may not have been the exact title, but it was something like that) who claimed to know the location of the antenna. According to this person, it's embedded in the rear window. Hearing that, and assuming it was accurate, the installer felt we could be confident in going ahead, even though the light Huper Optik has more metal than most ceramic films (including the darker shades of Huper). Tried the NAV system for the first time today, and it's way, way off. I mean like many miles. I assume I can have the tint removed from the windshield and the NAV system will return to normal (it definitely worked prior to the tinting), but it's a painful lesson. And one that will end up having cost me quite a few wasted dollars. Word to the wise: better to trust your fellow Prius Chat members than a bunch of so-called professionals who don't know what the blank they're talking about.
     
  2. RadMarv

    RadMarv Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2004
    107
    3
    0
    Location:
    Pittsburg, CA
    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.
     
  3. leeskarha

    leeskarha New Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2005
    79
    1
    0
    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
     
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,193
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Turn the NAV on and then go drive around for a while and see if it doesn't pick up more accurately. I think it highly unlikely the tint would affect it much if any.
     
  5. leeskarha

    leeskarha New Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2005
    79
    1
    0
    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.
     
  6. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2004
    3,799
    27
    0
    Location:
    Tampa Bay, FL
    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.
     
  7. innov8v

    innov8v New Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2005
    36
    0
    0
    Location:
    Thousand Oaks CA
    Thanks for the quick feedback. You guys rock! That's the good news. Bad news is that GPS still can't follow me, even after I re-calibrate my location. Have tried for the last two days--no luck. I'm off with the family for a little r&r for a few days, then I'll start to dig further when I get back. Before I start maniacally ripping out the windshield tint (I know it's Huper, RadMarv, but Huper 78--which is what I've got on my windshield--has more metal than normal, which from what I've heard can be problematic for GPS), anybody have any theories as to what else besides the film could be causing a GPS problem? Thanks all. Happy 4th.
     
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,193
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Oh man, somehow I missed the "including the windshield" part of your post. I'm sure that's the culprit here. Rip and tear brother. Did you check the diagnostic screen to see how many, if any, satellites you're detecting?
     
  9. Erick

    Erick Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2005
    125
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    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...
     
  10. RadMarv

    RadMarv Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2004
    107
    3
    0
    Location:
    Pittsburg, CA
     
  11. Ray Moore

    Ray Moore Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2004
    857
    52
    0
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    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.
     
  12. c4

    c4 Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2005
    607
    51
    0
    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..
     
  13. Tadashi

    Tadashi Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2005
    796
    4
    0
    Location:
    Fort Hood, TX
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    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.
     
  14. pjm877

    pjm877 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2003
    340
    84
    0
    Location:
    austin, tx
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    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..
     
  15. mrichman

    mrichman New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2005
    20
    0
    0
    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>
     
  16. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2004
    3,799
    27
    0
    Location:
    Tampa Bay, FL
    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?
     
  17. innov8v

    innov8v New Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2005
    36
    0
    0
    Location:
    Thousand Oaks CA
    After several frustrating days with no GPS tracking, I was finally able to get the GPS antenna to track accurately yesterday. I'd tried to re-calibrate three or four times previously, without success, but for some reason it worked yesterday and has been fine ever since. Obviously the film itself was not the problem. Thanks to all who said not to just blindly rip off the tinting. Maybe the problem WAS moisture from the tinting process getting behind/under the dash, and needing to dry. By the way, as far as the Huper 78 goes, the installer said it was different from the regular ceramic film they use. He wrote it up in the warranty card that got mailed to Huper as "ACHT." When I asked him about that, he said it was a higher grade of film than their usual ceramic material. Why it doesn't show up on any of the websites is a mystery to me. In any case, that's what I've supposedly got on the windshield and front windows. The rest is standard Huper 40. Oh, one more thing. In case I have any more problems with the GPS--how do I get into the NAV diagnostic mode? I looked for that in the manual's table of contents, but couldn't find it. Thanks again one and all for all your ideas and suggestions.
     
  18. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2004
    3,799
    27
    0
    Location:
    Tampa Bay, FL
    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.
     
  19. innov8v

    innov8v New Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2005
    36
    0
    0
    Location:
    Thousand Oaks CA
    Thanks, DanMan. Your grasp of the intricacies of the Prius never ceases to amaze me and, I suspect, many others who frequent PriusChat. In thinking back to the original erroneous information my tint installer got from Toyota tech support about the location of the GPS antenna, I can't help but wonder why it is that you and a number of others on this board seem to know theses intricacies far better than at least some of Toyota's own tech people do. Or maybe that shouldn't surprise me, given how little many doing tech support for most computer companies seem to know.

    Sorry about my mini rant. Thanks again.
     
  20. RadMarv

    RadMarv Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2004
    107
    3
    0
    Location:
    Pittsburg, CA
    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! :D