Factory Navigation Unit Install ?

[ab7ji]

My pkg #7 2004 Prius now has a little over 57,000 miles on it and I truly regret not getting the NAV unit. I have almost wrecked my car 3 times, not to mention near misses of pedestrians while trying to read MapQuest... Spending $700+ on little portable GPS units just doesn't get me going. I know that back in the day, I could not upgrade to the NAV in my PKG 7, but I'm wondering if this has changed? I know about Coastaletech.com amongst other, but I just don't want to be bothered installing after market equipment.

Thanks for any input you folks may have:-)
Stephan

[Charles Suitt]

<_< IMHO: The short answer is NO since the NAV system in deeply integrated into the Prius structure. It might be "possible" (In the ultimate sense) but the cost would be staggering to the point of being impractical. A TomTom or Garmin unit would be more cost effective and do an acceptable job.

[ab7ji]

Good point... I just found some documentation online that discusses the integration of just the NAV unit itself and how complex it really is. There's even a gyro housing unit installed in the rear, right back panel of the vehicle to calculate kinetic energy of turning direction of the car for convenience of turning response on the screen! Awesome stuff...


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Oct 6 2006, 03:53 PM) [snapback]329196[/snapback]</div>

<_< IMHO: The short answer is NO since the NAV system in deeply integrated into the Prius structure. It might be "possible" (In the ultimate sense) but the cost would be staggering to the point of being impractical. A TomTom or Garmin unit would be more cost effective and do an acceptable job.
[/b]

[tds]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ab7ji @ Oct 6 2006, 04:04 PM) [snapback]329203[/snapback]</div>

Good point... I just found some documentation online that discusses the integration of just the NAV unit itself and how complex it really is. There's even a gyro housing unit installed in the rear, right back panel of the vehicle to calculate kinetic energy of turning direction of the car for convenience of turning response on the screen! Awesome stuff...
[/b]

care to provide a link?

[BobZ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ab7ji @ Oct 6 2006, 06:46 PM) [snapback]329192[/snapback]</div>

My pkg #7 2004 Prius now has a little over 57,000 miles on it and I truly regret not getting the NAV unit. I have almost wrecked my car 3 times, not to mention near misses of pedestrians while trying to read MapQuest... Spending $700+ on little portable GPS units just doesn't get me going. I know that back in the day, I could not upgrade to the NAV in my PKG 7, but I'm wondering if this has changed? I know about Coastaletech.com amongst other, but I just don't want to be bothered installing after market equipment.

Thanks for any input you folks may have:-)
Stephan
[/b]

I threw this question out myself to Steve Woodruff (The Prius Parts Guy) www.autobeyours.com He rebuilds and sells and salvages 2004-06 Prius and is INCREDIBLE when it come to knowing these cars and in short Charles is right. Even if you aquired all the piece if the car does have the option then it's not wired for it.

[katherinemeade]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ab7ji @ Oct 6 2006, 05:46 PM) [snapback]329192[/snapback]</div>

My pkg #7 2004 Prius now has a little over 57,000 miles on it and I truly regret not getting the NAV unit. I have almost wrecked my car 3 times, not to mention near misses of pedestrians while trying to read MapQuest... Spending $700+ on little portable GPS units just doesn't get me going. I know that back in the day, I could not upgrade to the NAV in my PKG 7, but I'm wondering if this has changed? I know about Coastaletech.com amongst other, but I just don't want to be bothered installing after market equipment.

Thanks for any input you folks may have:-)
Stephan
[/b]

[galaxee]

well you could always buy the wiring harnesses, bob... but that's a pretty penny!

[BobZ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Oct 7 2006, 10:41 AM) [snapback]329403[/snapback]</div>

well you could always buy the wiring harnesses, bob... but that's a pretty penny!
[/b]

No you can't. When I say it's not wired that is exactly what I mean. There is no seperater purchase-able wire harness for this. It part of the main wiring of the car.

[Tideland Prius]

you're probably better off buying a 3rd party unit from Garmin, Tom Tom or Magellan.

[galaxee]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobZ @ Oct 7 2006, 01:42 PM) [snapback]329458[/snapback]</div>

No you can't. When I say it's not wired that is exactly what I mean. There is no seperater purchase-able wire harness for this. It part of the main wiring of the car. [/b]

you're right that there is no simple add-on harness... but if you're really fanatic you can strip the car down to the frame and replace any wiring harness that makes a connection to anything in the nav system. the "main wiring" of the car is replaceable ya know.

couple major harnesses at well over a grand a pop... plus new mfd at a few grand... plus $4500 nav ecu... plus however long to strip your car down and hope you don't screw up... plus however long to find where all the extra bolts go... plus probably some dash rattles and such afterward...

so in theory it is possible. that said, you'd have to be out of your mind to try it!