The quality of built-in navigation systems has increased recently, and they now provide more functionality for a lower price. (Nowadays, some systems just cost $500.) Factory-installed systems are better integrated into your car’s functioning and controls than portable GPS units are. They effortlessly integrate with the entertainment system, respond to voice commands, and have easy access to the contact list on your smartphone. However, maintaining those maps might be more expensive and time-consuming than updating a portable device or a smartphone.
Most built-in systems don’t automatically update themselves over the air with new roads, lanes, interchanges, businesses, or even traffic laws, such speed limits and left-turn prohibitions, unlike Google Maps on your phone. They also don’t provide regular one-click updates like the best navigation applications do.
Updates must instead be bought for a price ranging from $129 to $299 from the automaker, the dealership, or online. Additionally, there can be an additional installation fee. You could purchase a very fine portable GPS device with lifetime traffic and map updates for that amount of money. (See, for instance, the Garmin Nuvi 58LMT.)
For our recommendations for the best presents, information on the newest discounts, time-saving advice, and much more, check out Consumer Reports’ 2015 Holiday Guide. And for the best gift suggestions for everyone on your list, check out our countdown calendar.
In-car upgrades are becoming obsolete because to the integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on smartphones.
TomTom, a manufacturer of navigation systems, estimates that 18% of the roads on maps require upgrading each year. You can be using really outdated maps if you haven’t updated them recently. How can I find my way to a certain location, such a restaurant? Prepare yourself to improvise. According to Navteq, their database might receive more than 230,000 new points of interest each year. Therefore, having the most recent maps on your car is beneficial, and the holidays are a good time to consider getting an upgrade.
We advise visiting Navteq’s website first because it provides links to updates for more than 30 different auto brands. Direct downloads from Navteq can be used to install some updates. Others need you to enter your vehicle’s year and model and may direct you to your car manufacturer’s website, where you may download the necessary software or schedule a map update appointment at a nearby dealer. Depending on what your automobile needs, the updated map software is available on either a DVD or an SD card. Of course, hiring a pro to conduct the installation will increase the cost.
Every 12 to 18 months, according to a Navteq spokeswoman, maps are updated for each automaker. Most drivers find it difficult to justify upgrading maps so frequently when they cost more than $100 each. But it’s wise to budget for at least one, if not two map upgrades during your ownership period if you frequently use a built-in navigator and/or depend on it for occasional trips. We have observed specials being offered on maps from several brands during the holiday season.
You probably don’t want to take a chance by traveling by car for the holidays this year if your map is more than a few years old. Additionally, upgrading maps for a family member can be a thoughtful gift because they might not know how to do it. And if your vehicle’s system cannot be easily updated because it is outdated, you may still suction-cup-mount a new portable GPS device to the touch screen.
In This Article...
How can I get a free upgrade for my auto navigation system?
A navigation system update is frequently not free of charge. Most of the time, you have to pay for the update or sign up for a yearly subscription. However, it is not always simple to methodically put your hand back in your pocket once you have already invested in a GPS that costs a particular amount. Thankfully, there are free options to updating your smartphone GPS.
OpenSource maps: free update on TomTom and Garmin
The OpenStreetMap project lets you get maps and upload them to your system without spending any money, so you can update your GPS for nothing. A database of free maps that is updated by volunteers makes up this Open Source software. Different navigation systems are compatible with the downloaded maps. For instance, you can install the suggested formats right on your Garmin GPS. OpenStreetMap files can be converted for your TomTom assistant so that your GPS can play them. However, because a plug-in installation is necessary, the process takes longer. Discover the procedures that must be taken to accomplish this in the following two paragraphs.
Steps for a Garmin GPS
Good news if you own a GPS made by the Garmin company: you can avoid the paid updates provided via their official website. You can access any map you want for free thanks to the OpenStreetMap project. It should be emphasized that installation is very quick and simple. There are no precise computer requirements needed for it. However, you should make sure that your internal memory is adequate before you begin and, if necessary, add a larger card.
Toyota navigation is it free?
The advantages of systems like Toyota’s in-car voice navigation system for the best hands-free driving experience are numerous.
You can find places without ever taking your eyes off the road thanks to built-in navigation systems that offer a voice recognition capability when you’re on the road. Additionally, you can use this approach to navigate beyond the fundamentals. You can look for interesting places to stop along the way. When you arrive at your desired location, you might discover other things of interest.
There may be certain additional safety safeguards built into the functionality of the system, depending on what it is. To keep you concentrated on the road, some Toyota GPS car systems may offer features that cannot be utilized while driving.
For instance, while you are driving, the lights on various navigational functions, such as the screen buttons, may be darkened. This built-in feature helps you avoid being distracted by a screen that is too bright, making using technology while driving safe. To help reduce distractions, certain other navigational features are designed to be fully unusable while driving.
Is it worthwhile to update your car’s navigation system?
My 2015 Ford Explorer’s factory GPS can now be updated, according to a letter I got. I thought that a factory-installed GPS would update itself automatically. Is it a scam or should I pay the $150 for the update? Thom
You are being conned, and you should probably update it. The majority of factory-installed GPS systems do not automatically update. Over-the-air updates are becoming more prevalent now, but they weren’t available when you purchased your 2015 Explorer.
And considering that the GPS system likely cost you $1,000, you’d assume that updates would be provided without charge.
Roads haven’t changed all that much since then. They usually remain put. But over time, things do shift gradually. Streets are renamed, bridges are replaced, and traffic patterns are altered as a result of road rerouting or other safety-related changes.
So, if you frequently use the navigation system and frequently drive in strange cities, it’s probably worth updating it every four to five years.
It’s time for an upgrade if, while following your navigational instructions, you find yourself unexpectedly being passed by a sailboat.
Making the update by yourself might be a pain. It’s not always easy to utilize. That’s not a bad price if your Ford dealer will install the upgrade for you for $150. We’ve witnessed far worse.
You have the choice to switch to a superior mapping system if you’re not committed to the built-in GPS; it is cost-free, unless you regard them knowing everything about your movements as money.
We’re referring to Google Maps, which is accessible and updated frequently on any smartphone. If your car has Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which displays your phone’s screen on the dashboard, it is the simplest to operate.
Even without this technology, you may still avoid taking your eyes off the road to look down at your phone by using a good phone holder that raises the phone into your line of sight while you’re driving. With a long gooseneck to raise the phone to eye level, there are some really good phone holders that clip to your air vents and others whose base rests in your cup holder.
According to our observations, Google Maps is current, simple to use, and incorporates the most precise traffic information into its navigational instructions.
You get to decide, Thom. However, it might be due for an update any way.
Hello, Car Talk!
It began to smell like gas when the engine was started about six months ago. It would fade away in ten to fifteen minutes. Although it wasn’t common, when I mentioned it to my mechanic, he claimed to have never heard of it.
It started happening again about two months ago, and it now occurs more regularly. It occurs whether or not the petrol tank is full, and the air conditioner vent is where the fumes are coming from.
There are moments when the scent is intense both inside and outside the car, as if someone is pouring gas inside. Actually, I’m worried that the car might catch fire. Naturally, the scent is gone when I return it to the mechanic, and even leaving it with them for days does not disclose anything. Can you assist? Donna
RAY: Given that it is a 2004 Trailblazer, Donna, I would probably start by lighting a match. However, if you want a less clumsy fix, you must locate a mechanic who has an antiquated emissions testing tool.
Before automobiles could test themselves and we could just hook into their computers to obtain the results, we had to shove a wand up the tailpipe of a car to measure its pollutants. Unburned hydrocarbons (such as gasoline) would be found by the wand in the exhaust, which would indicate whether or not the emissions system was functioning properly.
We continue to utilize that wand to sniff out gas leaks whenever we have a customer. It is extremely sensitive and can locate the source of a gas leak by detecting gasoline in concentrations as low as parts per million.
Because it doesn’t take much gasoline to produce a strong scent, the leak appears to be very large. It’s very doubtful that your mechanic can spot it with his naked eye if it’s just a drop or two of gas that is leaking onto the engine, evaporating immediately, and wafting in through the ventilation system. Or his bare nose, especially after that nose has been subjected to years of exposure to car-dog stink and exhaust fumes.
To get your fuel injectors and fuel rail inspected, locate a shop with an emissions wand, leave the car there overnight, and have them use the wand to sniff around. You most likely have a leaky injector or seal in that area.
Even if it’s not impossible, if the leak is that little, it is unlikely to catch fire. But if I were you, Donna, I’d drive wearing sneakers just in case.
How often are the maps updated by Toyota?
NOTE: Every year in the fall, the software is routinely updated. The improvements may not be substantial in your driving region, therefore we advise you to speak with your nearby Toyota shop before making your purchase. Please also be aware that places with precise mapping are mainly found in and around major population centers.
How can I get a free update for my Toyota Entune navigation?
Receive the most recent Toyota EntuneTM updates:
- Open the EntuneTM app, then establish a Bluetooth or USB connection with your car.
- You will be given the option to update “NOW” or “LATER” in a menu that will display on the screen.
- By choosing now, all of your updates will be handled instantly and automatically.
What GPS system does Toyota employ?
The Entune app suite, offered by Toyota, includes the navigation system as one of its features. These steps can be used to install the navigation app on a Toyota:
- On your phone, download the Entune app.
- On your phone, configure your account. For this stage, you’ll need to enter your VIN and a working email address.
- Turn your phone’s Bluetooth feature on.
- Once your car is running, choose Bluetooth from the menu.
- To pair the two, choose your car from the list of Bluetooth devices on your phone.
- Open the Entune app after your phone and car are connected.
- On your car’s display, click Apps.
- The Entune app should be mentioned in a prompt. After choosing OK, choose NOW to begin installing Entune.
- To view the installed apps, including the Toyota navigation app, on your car’s screen, select OK once again.
Why not use the Jerry app to discover more about your insurance options while you’re taking a moment to learn more about your new car? It is quick and simple. To receive competitive vehicle insurance rates that are tailored to you, simply download the app and respond to a few short questions. Every year, the typical Jerry user saves $879.
How can I upgrade my Toyota’s SD card for navigation?
Update your maps
- Connect your computer to the SD card that came with your car.
- Open your Applications folder and select the Map Update Toolbox.
- A button asking the user to download the most recent content will appear if an update is available.
- To get started, select Download Latest Content.
Are software upgrades for cars free?
In general, software upgrades for cars are free. This holds true whether they address a warranty-covered condition, address emissions-related issues, or address safety recalls.
You must bring your vehicle to your nearby dealership if it is not equipped with OTA update capabilities. Your car’s software updates are easily installed through a basic method. You shouldn’t have to pay more for it since it’s covered under the guarantee.
But don’t wait to install these updates on your vehicle until the manufacturer’s warranty has run out. Some of these software upgrades may fall under your responsibility.
Toyota charges for navigation, right?
Toyota’s Entune audio display system had a three-year grace period before owners had to start paying a membership fee when it was first introduced. So what is the price of Entune? As of right now, Entune is free to use unless you want to add a satellite radio plan.
The fact that Entune is free and useful in so many circumstances increases the value of all Toyota automobiles that make use of the program. Here are some of the highlights of Toyota’s Entune system for people who are not yet familiar.