Navigation Module

stern2

Anyone added Navigation to a 2013 or 2014 CX-9 by adding the navigation module located on the lower left side of the dash below the TSC switch? If anyone is planning on doing it maybe you could do a tutorial video and put it up on You Tube? I think it is a relatively easy job just a little expensive with the module running $4-500.00 .

stever

Is that module a dealer only item?

stern2

Stock dealer item TKY2-79-EZX

stever

The instructions here seem pretty straightforward. (pdf file)

Would be nice to find someone who's already done it though.

awindyhill

I just had one put in. For some reason they received the unit but without the 'door' cover to access the unit and I'm going back next week to get that in. It's not clear to me whether it was all supposed to come with the one ordered part or if it is two parts you need to order, so check that with the dealer. So there are possibly two initial pieces to order: the module and the 'door' cover that I think is see through and allows you to open easily for access to the unit for popping in and out the sd card which can be bought later, not sure that it has come with...). The sd card adds all of your route changes you want to update because of the lag between the map database and actual construction on new roads. The idea is that you turn on you want to use updates in your options, and you mark yours, other people mark theirs, and it goes into a main add-on database that can be used by all users until the next release of map software. In the meantime, you have easy access to pop out the SD card from the car by sliding open the door, bring it to your laptop in the house and pop it in where it grabs your updates and uploads them to the main, and downloads everyone elses on your card. When you reinstall back to the car you have updated maps until the next release.

So you'll need the two parts, plus the SD card (if it doesn't come with). It does go behind the grey solid door at the lower left side of dash, the 'pocket assy' in step 4. Initially the salesman showed me the empty space and I could see the connections sitting in there ready to hook up. Looks easy. but I didn't do it myself and looking at the directions you're going to have to unplug the negative battery cable after taking down all of the system entries that will erase for re-entry later when you reconnect the battery. No idea how that re-inputting of the car data is done but it may be in the car manual or you might have to talk to a service guy.

Once the GPS was installed they left it to me to enter my home address in the system, and I sat there with the manual (the pdf link in comment above is the proper manual) programming it. They gave me the whole thing so I started at the Operation Check (5. in manual). Note that when it says 'press the power/volume' dial there is an outside ring on the dial and I think I had to press that, not just the inside button on the knob, when doing the #4 step with the SEEK UP button to get the AUDIO system screen. By following the directions the rest of the programming went smoothly for the GPS as per the instructions. If you happen to come out of the programming and not be able to get back to that Welcome! screen where it asks you to set your HOME address you can go back into the GPS and RESET to FACTORY SETTINGS and go through the procedure again. You can see in the directions on page 7 it also asks you to opt in to MAP SHARE and that is what the SD card is for. After I went through these settings I started using the GPS right away and it is a good one. It is a TomTom based system fyi. The only thing that I can't find is an easy way to get night colors on. I have found an area where you can choose color themes for the maps and there is a dark one (I think called Japan?), but it's not easy to flip to and doesn't do it automatically with a light sensor detector. My only disappointment with it; otherwise, it is detailed and works well.

It seems like an easy enough procedure as long as you're comfortable with the disconnecting of the car's electrical and bringing the system back up; I think that will be the biggest challenge.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

dr_was

Before you spend time and money on Mazda's system, which is really a very cheap TomTom, please test one out at a dealership. I am so disappointed at the extremely slow response to pressing buttons, the abismal lack of street names as well as the counter-intuitive method of entering destinations that I've installed a Garmin with lifetime maps and traffic alerts. With the TomTom unit, you also get the privilege of paying for all map updates - Good Luck!

robertrocket

I have the factory-installed TomTom Nav system in my 2015 cx 9 and it's only usable with manual, pre-departure destination input. The voice recognition system is a joke.... a cruel, sadistic, very expensive, useless joke... and it's safety-interlocked so you can not make manual entries while the car is moving.. It's been back into the dealer 5 times & has had two mazda-USA problem reports processed before the warranty expired, and it is still useless. A service desk guy whispered to me that Mazda is swamped by complaints. My 2016 mx5 voice command system is usable, but still not good. If Mazda doesn't get rid of Tom Tom, these will be my last Mazdas.