Lexus / Toyota Navigation Trouble
In case the picture doesn't show up for you, the screen is in Japanese and has some English text that reads:
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CAUTION
Error; System unable to access the program.
Incorrect program disk.
Please insert proper disk.
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This is a GEN 2 / 3 NAV unit for a 2003 Lexus (also used in Toyota's) made by DENSO. It no longer reads the original US disc and is looking for the Japanese disk.
The disk has the following information:
86271-33031
464210-0270
DATA ver.02.1
Things I've tried so far:
Contacted DESNO - They say they don't help end users - no luck
Contacted Lexus - I'm out of warranty so - no luck
Inserted a disc with the LOADING.KWI file from a 4.1 upgrade DVD - no luck.
Disconnected the battery for a few minutes and reconnected the battery with the car outside so the GPS had a clear view of the sky. - no luck.
Hopefully giving it a Japanese disc will allow me to enter the sequence and get back into US mode.
A fix for this involves opening the ECU and pressing a momentary switch. The switch is present in the ECU's that have a two piece board. I don't know what generation this is. (if you know, please let me know and I'll update this)
The Gen 3 ECU only has one board. (below)
Background of this issue:
Lexus and Toyota Navigation systems are made by DENSO.
They disable the majority of controls while the vehicle is moving (they say for safety reasons) so even the passenger cannot enter an address to find while on the move.
A secret menu was leaked (which gives the ability to enable the override and gives you full functionality of your unit) to the public and in some cases dealers were telling about this override.
Menu to enable Override
Toyota and DENSO are aware that the override has made it's way to the public and they have disabled the override in the latest version of the navigation DVD.
The problem with the override is that in order to get there, you have to enter a screen with other options which can disable the entire unit. When you get to these screens, there are no warnings mentioning the implications of messing with any of the buttons.
When asked about this issue, both parties say that you should not be using those menus and if the unit gets messed up you need to buy a new unit costing around $1500
Looking for help:
I'm not looking for the full DVD, just the LOADING.KWI file so I can get into my system and restore it back to the point that it recognizes my US NAV DVD.
If anyone has access to the LOADING.KWI file for JAPAN or knows how to fix this issue, please let me know at tvstj at yahoo dot com
The problem with the override is that in order to get there, you have to enter a screen with other options which can disable the entire unit. When you get to these screens, there are no warnings mentioning the implications of messing with any of the buttons.
When asked about this issue, both parties say that you should not be using those menus and if the unit gets messed up you need to buy a new unit costing around $1500
Looking for help:
I'm not looking for the full DVD, just the LOADING.KWI file so I can get into my system and restore it back to the point that it recognizes my US NAV DVD.
If anyone has access to the LOADING.KWI file for JAPAN or knows how to fix this issue, please let me know at tvstj at yahoo dot com
UPDATE:
In November 2007 we purchased a 2008 RX400h so I was able to use this to help me resolve my issue.
I called Lexus Customer Service and mentioned my issue and the fact that I was in the process of purchasing the 400h. I'm sure it was because of this, Lexus offered to replace the unit as a sign of good will and I would simply pay the installation cost of the new unit which was about $125.
I believe the sign of good will wouldn't have been offered had I not been in the middle of purchasing the 400h, so I guess it's pretty good timing.
