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Comments
installation of the NAV. I usually install all of
my car audio components and was wondering...
How does the Alpine compare with the Toyota NAV in
terms of compatibility/practicability with
Nintendo & playstation (I have kids too). Does the
Alpine have multiple configurations (i.e. placement of the screen(s)) or the ability to play DVD when the vehicle ISN'T in park?
I am looking at purchasing a LC 2001 or 2002 next
year and was inspired with nota4re photos yet
cautioned by dianne4toyota's comments about cost.
Any responses are greatly appreciated.
O:>
Ah, then I concur with Joeblow1.
Regarding the Alpine unit, it will ALWAYS give a video signal to the "aux out" monitor. With this, any video source can be seen with an aux screen - even if the vehicle is in motion. The front screen simply displays the message, "Picture off for your safety."
To get a video source to the front screen (other than NAV which will always display), the Alpine needs to "see" a sequence of foot brake, parking brake on, momentarily off, then back on again while releasing the foot brake. (It's more natural to perform than it sounds.)
In my pictures of the back of the console, you'll notice an extra switch on the right side. I've rigged this switch to mimic the parking brake (just giving a ground signal) and it effectively bypasses the Alpine safeguards and lets the video play while you are driving.
The NAV unit is, unfortunaltely, a little smarter. The NAV unit will not let you access the menu (to set a new destination, for example) unless the vehicle is stopped with the parking brake on. Using the switch above, I can fool it on the parking brake, but it still "knows" the vehicle is moving because of the input it is getting from the satellites as well as the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS). I haven't tried to work a bypass.... yet.
Please, if you could, post the methods if you decide to bypass the (GPS)-linked computer and speed pulse input sensors!
It now appears that when I have the start problem, when I put the gear into reverse and try to start, the reverse lights don't come on. This indicates perhaps that its not a neutral safety switch problem. I am alsmost sure its a starter motor/solenoid issue. Thoughts.
My 95 is a great truck but will the inline 6 last (150,000+)?
I can lock all the diffs on my truck and even though it has a more traditional off-road suspension. I've yet to ever go off road.
It's a bouleveard cruiser with a nice high perch.
But it begs the question, if you are out all the time in the same areas, don't you become familiar enough with geography not to need it?
Where I've found nav systems very appealing is in rental cars in towns I'm not familiar with. Especially, if you arrive at night and have to go some distance.
But at home (LA) I plan out my days travels on Map Quest or MS streets. You can even rig a Delorme to your lap top (buy a lap top) and have change out of $2500. Another concern is that the TLC will most likely outlast the factory nav system.
I like this "toy" but I'd need a lot of help with the rationalization, so if anyone wants to give me a teeny bit of prompting?
Second, go to a dealer who has the nav system in stock. Ask for a demonstration. in about 10 minutes, you will wonder why you never had one before. It is downright fun. Try inputting an address. You start with the number and go to the street. It will narrow down your search to only those cities that have the street and number combination you input. For instance, you may put in 6570 Roscoe Blvd. By the time you typed the "c" it would have narrowed the possible locations to two or three in the country. You would then select the one that was in the city you wanted. Then, you hit navigate and the system takes over and plots a route. If you deviate from the route (missing a turn), it recalculates the route to bring you to your destination.
Very slick stuff. The only thing I would change is to make the voice commands more sultry.
Living in Chicago, traffic updates on the highways are always useful, and a NAV unit's ability to display this information will probably "reel" me in.
Other than that, we like to travel, so the NAV and DVD are essential (kids)...but if one stayed locally, then a NAV might only be more of a "toy."
ixixvi, did the shop happen to mention the method to bypass the NAV dashboard screen by any chance? Nota4re was very helpful in suggesting a ground switch to bypass the rear DVD screens.
Any thoughts or pictures of FJ100's with larger tires would be appreciated.
FJ100
Thanks for your comments on the Nav system. I think it could become indispensable in the likes of Boston, NY, DC etc., where the topography and freeway layouts are a lot more challenging than LA.
Its just that my line of work has forced me to become aware of various locales and the internet makes planning trips very easy.
An alternative is to buy a lap top computer and hook up a Delorme GPS. You would have a lot of change from $2500 and could take it into the house. Also, that type of set up would be more useful if you were to go into the "middle of nowhere".
Aside from the various comments here about vibration, stereo etc., has the 100 series been as reliable as previous models?
Thanks.
FJ100: I'm in the same boat. Have 27,000 miles on the 275 LTX's. Tread depth is right at the 1/2 mark now. Expect I will go to 285/75's when 4/5 of tread is gone on the LTX's.
How'd you like the Duelers in 285?
HiC
Sorry for the rambling but I am ready to switch.
My only complaint about the Nav system thus far is the fact that they made everything else overly Nav dependent. I have this big thing about changing the between my six preset radio stations randomly. In a regular radio you have your six big buttons that you can reach over and push without looking down, in the Nav you have to hit a audio button which will display the six buttons on the Nav screen, at which point you have to look down for just a moment to see what is where then hit that button.
Oh, and I agree with Cliffy about the sultry voice thing, right now she reminds me a bit of the automated lady voice from Bank of America's customer service hotline.
If you want more power, you could consider a TRD supercharger. It's about $2500 to $3000. I'm very happy with my 80, but I would probably be as happy with a 100. I would rather have a traditional differential set up for offroad than the new 100's system.
The MTR seems to be popular, but it's a very new tire. The yokohama geolandar does very well, but its soft compound makes for a short tread life.
If “Armageddon” were to strike tomorrow, the FJ80 with 130,000 miles would be my vehicle of choice, not the FJ100.
Good option to own 2 trucks, except that poses another possibility. Keep the 80 and for several thou more than a new 100, drive the new LS 430.
A true boulevard cruiser and off-roader side by side.
TRD supercharger is an intiguing option with, as I understand it, major torque and horsepower increases.
Does this type of installation dramatically shorten engine life, and, is it suitable for a truck with 80K?
I think your plan of a Lexus car is very good. I would love to have one.
I was not told how the installation was accomplished. I was also told that they were working on some other modifications but the owner needed the vehicle back and they would continue at a later date.
This shop is not the kind of shop [unfortunately] that would do a bypass of the front screen. They have been around a long time and have a lot to protect.
Regards.
Knowing how compassionate and demanding audiophiles can be, I was hoping that the discussions here about the "booming" stereo might have been a little exaggerated...but wow, that thing is not only bad, it is clearly flawed in some way. It's absolutely intolerable and fatiguing particularly at low levels when the bass doesn't seem to decrease in volume linearly with the rest of the sound. Apparently it's that way even in the upgraded NAV/stereo combo?
If anybody is making any progress with regard to getting a dealer/Toyota to do something about this I would love to hear about it. It's either that or spend the big cash on an aftermarket system.
Otherwise....spectacular vehicle so far!
Towing question: Is it better to use the ECT Power or the O/D Off to achieve extra power/acceleration when towing (a 2-horse trailer)? People who've done a lot of towing seem to say O/D Off (but they may not have had the choice of ECT Power), while the Toyota 800 number rep said ECT Power, but she didn't really seem to be too knowledgeable.
Cliffy (or anyone else, for that matter): for the upcoming ice/snow conditions in the DC area this winter, is there any reason not to keep the 4WD settings in their normal position (i.e., HNL set at H, center differential unlocked)? (Be glad I didn't ask this on the Sequoia board)
As for the 4WD settings, leave it in the high and unlocked condition unless you get really extreme. Even then, I'm not sure how much better off you would be since you have the TRACS/VSC based system.
Also, where in the DC area do you live? I live in Manassas and sell in Springfield.
Anyhow, please send me your email address and phone number. In fact, anyone who has the stereo problem please contact me. I think we might be better off in getting this situation resolved if we band together. At any rate I would like to start and email group so that we may share information regarding our experiences with Toyota. At some point it might be wise to gather affidavits and present them in mass to Toyota.
I am willing to be the focal point of any concerted effort. Certainly, as both an engineer and attorney, I am uniquely qualified to deal with both Toyota legal and their engineering staff.
Please email me at kleyendecker@usa.net
Thanx
Cliffy -- I think I once tried to use both the ECT Power and the O/D Off at the same time, but couldn't. If I started with Power, then hit OD, the Power light would go off, and vice versa. Is one preferable to the other as the "default" setting when towing? BTW, I'm in Silver Spring.
Did you buy yours at DarCars?
I've been driving and enjoying the 2001 TLC very much. However, since I did not receive a navigation system manual (non were apparently available when I picked-up my vehicle), neither I nor the sales persons were familiar with its use and operation.
I like to consider myself computer literate and the use of this system is not all that difficult. I would rather read about the proper operating procedures than field test the unit. Thus far I cannot attest to the actual accuracy of the unit. When searching for an address and location, the navigation system gets me to within one block of my destination and proceeeds to state "you are at your destination". Perhaps I'm a stickler for accuracy; but for $3,000.00 I thought "being there" was right in front of your destination. The Lexus salesperson (I did test the LX470 before deciding on the TLC) claimed the nav suystem to be accurate to within 12".
Perhaps my system is not calibrated correctly. Does anyone know if there is a calibration procedure? Or am I expecting too much? How close to your designated destination is this navigation system supposed to guide you? I supposedly will receive my navigation operation manual this tuesday.
LBN
If I could buy this truck for $16K, I would.
Still like the 100 series and am looking at the possibility of having both, especially if the value of the 95 has declined so much.
Thanks for all the comments and input.
Does anyone know of a source that sells 6 disc cartridges for a 2001 TLC with the Nav system for less than the $50 that my dealer is charging?
I called JBL and they said that I could get them from JS International in MO for $25 but it turns out that they are slightly different and won't work.
So I'm back to square one. I'd like to buy around four of them.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
David
That is not the case with my nav system. If an audio source is on and the nav system is searching and giving directions, the stereo audio does NOT default and you cannot hear the navigational directions.
Is this again a setting problem with the navigation system? If not, I'm not impressed with this design.
LBN
The worst this thing has ever done for me is about half a block off, but because she warns you before you get there whether your destination is to the left or right, it still gets me places.
Regarding the help volume, it's designed to lower the sound of your stereo whenever she speaks. Although I must say I've never been able to set her volume lower than 6...usually I leave it at the max, 7, in order to hear her.
Now if Toyota will fix the stereo thing, I will not have to set audio to play only from the back speakers, so things may change.
The problem and the opportunity with TLC's is that they depreciate. Having said that, if you look at 5/6 year cycles, the Landcruiser proves its worth in the long haul, i.e., 2nd and 3rd cycles. In 1986 I bought a TLC for 16k. I have put app 250k miles on it with about 2.2k of unscheduled maintenance to it. I see them advertized in the local rag for between 9-13k.
It used to be that units had to average its position because the clocks were broadcasting slightly incorrect times. By averaging the positions, you got pretty close. Now, there is no need for position averaging unless we ever go to war and the military reimplements the error.
The reason you are probably getting within only a block is becuase the software can't narrow down a street address. I have not used one of these very extensively, but try marking a waypoint at your front door. Go to work and then navigate to the waypoint. I bet you end up parked right on top of it.
My marine unit tracks 12 and locks on to 4 to 8 at a time and is extremely accurate.
Nota4re, that after-market alpine NAV/DVD system is looking more and more like a steal, all things considered. Thanks again for your posts.
Topic#2703 Lexus LX470-II
Msg#281:
I have been experiencing what seems to be lifter
noise right after starting my 2000 LX 470 the last
couple of very cold mornings. It is a slight
noise(tack-tack-tack) that I don't hear once the
car has been on for about a minute. Has anyone
else experienced this on cold mornings? Thanks for your help.
Msg#283:
tmorales: I have 8k on my 00 TLC. Since last 3 week or so I also experienced a similar noise when
engine cold start in the morning or late night. It
has a short "puu" sound and occurs only once or
twice in the first minute. I went to see the
service manager, and was told he has never heard
about this kind of compliant. Please post if you
found out what the problem is.
Well, other than this everything is fine. It runs
18 on highway. I measured at least 6 times. 363
miles to Boston, and filled to top with 20 gal. 20
gal is when the fuel light flashing and needle
pointing to E. I don't know the reason behind the 5 gal reserve, but I don't mind it as long as I know I still can drive for a while until I found the gas station.
In hindsight, as much as I've enjoyed the Nav system maybe I should have gotten a standard system that I can easily swap out with an aftermarket thing and not worry about breaking the three thousand dollars system. Oh well, live and learn. I was hoping Steve's case would be the first of the many fixed stereos to come.
Cliffy: No the Nav does not show you have many satellite you have locked on. I live in Seattle...not too sure if that's a overlapping satellite region.
Post # 215 - I have a '99 LC and I do not have the noise you are speaking when starting the vehicle.
Post # 215 - What speed were you maintaining when you acheived 18 mpg? The best I have done is 16 mpg but I run 80 mph all the time when I am on the highway.
Thanks!