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Updating Gps system in the 2012 300

142K views 333 replies 58 participants last post by  JaySQ4 
#1 ·
#2 ·
Only one way to find out...

My gut feeling is no. I'm sure that you will have to link it to a Nuvi to activate the subscription, and I think it's a strong bet that the Device ID of the Nav system wouldn't be supported.

Of course, I could be wrong and it would work fine.
 
#3 ·
FYI, just today my nav popped up with a message that my maps are out of date and that I can go to www.garmin.com/chrysler

My guess is that your Target purchase would not work.
 
#9 · (Edited)
just a quick question, if I order the CD and try to do the update by myself is it going to be ok?

I have seen some comments that while updating the nav, system goes down and some people had to go to the dealer. I certainly dont want that. But if its safe I will order the new update..

Thanks.
 
#10 ·
just a quick question, if I order the CD and try to do the update by myself is it going to be ok?

I have seen some comments that while updating the nav, system goes down and some people had to go to the dealer. I certainly dont want that. But if its safe I will order the new update..

Thanks.
I'm always leery of doing something like this as well, after I once bricked my Sony Blu-Ray player trying to update it.

It pisses me off that this is possible in modern electronics; IMHO, the original factory instruction set should always be kept in backup ROM, and any patches should always update a separate area. On startup, if an error occurs, reflash the original factory settings to allow the machine to work properly instead of leaving it in an unrepairable state.
 
#14 ·
If you want to go that route, I'm sure it'll be fine. It's probably better than what you've got now!

I just updated my maps to 2014.40 a few days ago, and this update finally became current with the road changes around my house.

I'm not sure how current the "2014" maps are, but it's the best that you're going to get through official channels.
 
#17 ·
#18 · (Edited)
Update: Some 2013+ radios seem to need unlocked maps. Since you cannot manually enter an unlock key like the 2011-12 radios, I suggest unlocking the maps (gmapprom.img & gmap3D.img) using FastImg Unlock or similar before installing. It only takes a few minutes to unlock a map, but it sucks to spend an hour or more babysitting an install only to get a "Maps Cannot Be Unlocked" error at the end.

There are also some folks who have reported troubles updating. I cannot stress enough how difficult it can be to find a compatible USB stick. For some reason, it is very difficult to find one that is 100% successful. This method DOES work, but you may waste a lot of time finding that magic USB stick. Just because it can copy 50% of the update does NOT mean it will be able to finish and it's best to just try another one.

And, really important now, do NOT let your car turn off when performing the update!!!

I'm posting this method, even though it is technically probably against the Terms of Service for the Garmin maps. I personally feel that it's a gray issue, since I don't actually use my nuvi for anything but map harvesting, and also because the maps that we're provided with via the official channel are not current. The update disk just released is already 6 months old, and the version that comes in the new cars is more than 1.5 years old.

If we were able to purchase a lifetime subscription for the maps, I'd jump on it.


Install Garmin Express and let the program update your nuvi to the latest version for everything, including maps. Just skip the registration for now.

After it's done, go into the nuvi and enable the USB Mass storage mode by:
-------------------------------------------------------
* This is on the nuvi, not the car *
1) Go to the main screen with the "Where To?" icon and tap the "Volume" icon.
2) Press the upper-right corner for about 7 seconds, and the "Diagnostics Page" will open.
3) Scroll down to the "MTP Settings" and select the "Mass Storage" bubble, then tap the "Save" button.
4) After this is done, the nuvi will show up on your computer like a USB drive, and you can select all of the files and back them up to your computer. Otherwise, it will function exactly like normal. You will not have to go into this menu again. For good measure, select everything and copy it all to someplace safe on your computer.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Installing maps to the USB stick:
1) Get a blank USB stick that is at least 8GB, and create a folder on it named "Garmin".
2) Go into the "Garmin" folder on the nuvi or on your computer (if you've backed them up) and copy the "GarminDevice.xml" file, then paste it into the "Garmin" folder that you created in step 1.
3) Disconnect your nuvi - you're done with it. Use it, or put it in a drawer until the next map update.
3) Make sure that Garmin Express is closed. There may be an icon in your Notification Area by the clock on the bottom-right of your PC screen. Right-click the icon and select "Exit".
4) Remove the USB stick.
5) Open Garmin Express, then plug your USB stick back in.
6) Garmin Express should recognize the USB stick and treat it as if it were a nuvi, which will allow you to reinstall the maps. This will not take as long as the first time, since the files were already downloaded onto your computer. This time, the maps will be installed directly onto the USB stick.
7) Make sure you have "Show Hidden Files" and "Show System Files" enabled on your computer.
8) After Garmin Express has finished installing the maps onto the USB stick, delete the "GarminDevice.xml" file from the "Garmin" folder.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Preparation for loading the maps into your car:
*2011-2012 method*
1) Make sure that the "Garmin" folder on the USB stick is empty.
2) Browse to the ".System" folder on the USB stick and move the following files to the empty "Garmin" folder:
gmapprom.img
gmaptz.img
ASR folder (should contain 4 .asr files and 1 .srx file.)
JCV folder (if you want JunctionView added) (should be 1 .jcv file)
Do NOT add any other files to the Garmin folder!!!

*2013+ method*
1) Make sure that the "Garmin" folder on the USB stick is empty.
2) Browse to the ".System" folder on the USB stick and move the following files to the empty "Garmin" folder:
gmapprom.img
gmaptz.img
gmap3d.img
ASR folder (should contain 4 .asr files and 1 .srx file.)
JCV folder (should be 1 .jcv file)
SID folder (should contain 4 .sid files)
SQLite folder (should contain 1 .db file)
Do NOT add any other files to the Garmin folder!!!

3) Delete the ".System" folder along with any extra files that it contains.
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
Loading maps onto your car:
*2011-2012 Method*
1) In the Navigation settings in the car, find the Device ID for the Garmin module. It's probably in the "About" screen somewhere. It will be a 10-digit code - write it down.
2) Install a program called "GMapTool" onto your computer - easily found via Google.
3) Open GMapTool, then drag the "gmapprom.img" file in the "Garmin" folder on the USB stick into the empty box in GMapTool under the "File name" header.
4) Click the "Info" button in GMapTool.
5) Just above the "End." line at the bottom of the information window, there is another line that starts with "F:" in that line, there is a 4-digit number after "FID". Write it down.

*This number is unique to each new map update. For simplicity sake, I'll just tell you what it is for 2014.40 North America maps - "3187".

6) Via Google, find a program called "Garmin Keygen v1.5 + CF" by Jetmouse.
7) Run that program, then enter your 10-digit Unit ID in the top box.
8) Under the "Select Map Product:" pull-down menu, select "<custom mapset>"
9) In the new window that pops up, enter the 4-digit FID number that you wrote down, then click "OK".
10) Click the "Generate" button in the bottom-right corner. This will generate the 25-digit unlock code that you will need to key into your car. Write it down.

*2013+ Method*
No unlock code necessary.

11) Turn the car on. The engine does not have to be running; you can install the update in the "ACC" or "RUN" position. Note that you cannot simply start the update and walk away. It may take up to an hour, and your car will turn itself off after a period of time. Cycling the start button around the different modes is fine, but make sure that your doors are closed so that the radio doesn't turn off!
12) Select the Navigation screen, then plug in the USB stick into the jack in the center console.
13) The validation process will begin. The files on the USB stick can take up to 20 minutes to validate.

*At this point, it is common to get an error the first time you do this. It is almost always due to an incompatible USB stick. It sounds bad, but the system is VERY picky regarding USB sticks for the updates. It might take you a few tries to find one that works. When you find one, put it somewhere safe and just use if for map updates.

14) After validation is completed and everything checks out, a window will pop up to notify you that it has detected new maps. Choose to install the update.
15) *2011-2012 systems only: Another window will pop up and display the Device ID button and prompt you to enter some codes online to get your unlock key. You've already generated it, so continue to the next step.
16) *2011-2012 systems only: Enter the 25-digit code that you wrote down earlier, then continue
17) You will be notified that it may take up to two hours to install the update. Proceed with the update.
18) The system will reboot, then the map update will start copying over onto the system. Make sure that the car does not turn off, or you will have to start over!

***Occasionally, the system will not complete the reboot process. If it does not reboot within a couple of minutes, you will need to pull the radio fuse in the trunk to turn it off. It rarely happens, and after you put the fuse back in, you can simply start over.***

19) Allow the system to complete the update. When the progress bar reaches 100%, it will remain there for a few minutes. After that, the radio will reboot again.
20) On 2011-2012 systems, you may get a prompt that tells you that the maps were installed successfully. On 2013+ systems, I've ALWAYS terminated with a "30A1" error. Do not worry, the maps were successfully installed regardless of what the system tells you.
20a) It is common that you will get a screen that says that the maps were not updated successfully and go to a dealership. It shows up on some radios and does not on others. I blame the uConnect software. Do not worry, if you've gotten this far, your update was indeed successful.
21) When the system reboots, the Nav screen may be black. Simply tap another icon on the bottom of the screen, then return to the Nav. It will then display properly, and you can check your map version in the settings to verify that it was updated.
-----------------------------------------------------

Troubleshooting tips:

*If you're having trouble finding a USB stick that works, you can install an abbreviated mapset to speed the process up until you find a good match. You can update just the map by itself by only having the "gmapprom.img" file in the "Garmin" folder. This will make the validation process and map loading much faster. Once you can successfully load that file by itself, copy the rest of the files over and start over with the full set.

*An alternate method of putting the maps on the USB stick is to simply copy them from the updated nuvi's ".System" folder. This may be easier than letting Garmin Express install the maps to the USB stick. Use the method that you prefer.
 
#25 ·
Dammit, I just shelled out for the map updates, (sitting in the car babysitting the install as I type this).
I have a 3790LMT, for my other car, and always suspected I could use those maps if i knew how to hack them.

Have you noticed ANY difference using Nuvi maps?

Also this year they said they shipped Canada, Mexico, and Alaska on this update, and I don't recall if that was in the Nuvi. Anybody know?

Thanks Tanbam for This great post.

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App
 
#26 ·
There's really not anything to "hack", just manage to generate an unlock code.

The maps (assuming which nuvi you have) are exactly identical to the ones in the car, with just a slightly different name.

The radio checks to make sure that they're compatible, and won't install anything that won't work.
 
#27 ·
Folks, before shelling out for the 2014 OEM update disk, be aware that the maps on it are version 2013.40 - exactly 1 year behind the current version that is on the nuvi's. I had assumed that they were at least 2014.20, but it's worse than I though!

This might be something to think about, considering that a compatible nuvi with lifetime maps can be had for $140...
 
#30 · (Edited)
And BOY am I on the warpath about this!!!
The Bastards took my money, I'm either going to get 2014 maps or file a fraud complaint!

Chrysler site sends you to Navigation.com
Navigation.com appears to be Navteq in disguise
Navigation.com seems to do business as a company Called Hear LLC
HEAR says they get these disks for direct from Chrysler (liar!)
The disk came with a tech support number and email for Garmin
Garmin says call HEAR...
Loop, repeat ad Infinitum

More on this as I get to the bottom of this.

Ok Called that HERE guy back (they used to be called Navteq) and interrogated him some more.

He insists the disks come straight from Chrysler,
his company, HERE, supplies the actual maps to Chrysler,
They build a disk, somehow (they are all too clueless, so I imagine they contract that to Garmin)
and ship the disks back to HERE for resale.

The packaging all says Garmin.

Since I'm something of a packrat, I still have the 2013 update disk, and all the dates
on that are Early 2012.

The 2014 update has data files dated early 2013.

So this seems normal, (For Chrysler) that the map files are a year old.
The newest thing on the disk was the Dealer POI file.
 

Attachments

#29 ·
I had 3790 originally, and while base map (.img files) from it is compatible, the rest of the files are not. Namely, you will be missing SID directory (G2S on 3790) and ASR/SRX files are of different version format. In short, if you provide just IMG files you will get navigation and 3D to work but speech recognition and traffic trends will not work. Nuvi 34xx/35xx are fully compatible, and 24xx/25xx too but without 3D support (I already mentioned 3D is pretty useless).
 
#129 ·
In Australia, in our Chryslers, we don't get speech recognition in Nav mode. We do for audio etc but nothing happens when you give a voice command related to Navigation. You do however get the green tick as if it accepts the command but nothing actually happens. I'm wondering if we're just missing some files?
 
#31 ·
The map is indeed titled (via GMapTool) 2014 US Maps, but the data itself is the Garmin 2013.40 release. That particular version was released by Garmin in early 2013.

Chrysler is free to call the maps whatever they'd like, so if they want to call these "2014" maps, it's their call. They're indeed newer than their "2013" maps, and they started selling them in 2014 - but I wouldn't call them current by any means. When they'yre still selling the exact same DVD 11 months from now, the map data will be over 2 years behind Garmin's maps.

They did some roadwork around my home over the last couple of years, and all of it was finally updated in the 2014.40 maps. I'd be perturbed if I had to wait another year to get the new roads because of the year lag by Chrysler.

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, don't put up with this crap. Just spend the $140 on a 3490LMT and get the maps yourself.
 
#34 · (Edited)
If you don't join 300c forums, how would you know of that workaround? 8.4N owners would be stuck wasting (how much from Chrysler?) their hard earned money on a woefully outdated map. Given the propensity of drivers to follow GPS instructions and fail to observe signs, an outdated map could get dangerous.
 
#35 ·
Honestly, it's not something that isn't going on at every other car manufacturer. Sadly, this is just par for the course for OEM navigation.

If anything, I'd call the system a "Win", because it's much easier to roll your own updates than it is for other vehicles.
 
#37 ·
tanbam I have a question, I am following the steps that u posted.

I am in this step,

Preparation for loading the maps into your car:
*2011-2012 method*
1) Make sure that the "Garmin" folder on the USB stick is empty.
2) Browse to the ".System" folder on the USB stick and move the following files to the empty "Garmin" folder:
gmapprom.img
gmaptz.img

but I don't have gmaptz.img file in the folder.

here is my .system folder in my usb after the map installation



What should I do?
 
#36 ·
OK then; we'll leave it off.

Are there any other functions (climate control, headlights, etc.) whose logic is actually in the radio? What processor puts out the info on the EVIC? Where's the computer that scans all of the controls on dash and steering wheel? I presume such things as windshield wipers and lights would work without a radio...
 
#38 ·
The gmaptz.img file is for automatic time zone changes. If you don't put a new one in, the old one will will be used, which isn't any problem. This file may not always be part of the update, so don't worry if it's missing sometimes.

For your 2012 system, you won't need most of those files since your system doesn't support them. You need gmapprom.img, plus the ASR and JCV folders. Don't use any of the other files - especially the .unl files.

Move those three items into a folder named "Garmin" on the USB stick and you should be ready to go.
 
#41 ·
Tanbam, everything were going well, at 95 percent everything in the car went off and i thought it was rebooting but it wasnt. I push the ignition and system turned on again.

Now my map is gone no map is inside the nav update erased it. I am trying to redo it but in the validating update step now it says error on reflashing errorcode 31A0 and it saysmap update was not installed succesfully please retry or go to dealer.

What should I do now?
 
#39 ·
I'm trying to make sense of this. The maps you pay for and download for the hand held devices can be used on the uconnect? With if course on the condition that the maps are from Garmin
 
#44 ·
By the way, you can always just install gmapprom.img by itself.

For two map updates, I never even knew I was missing anything.

If you never tell the Nav to find a particular place by name by following the "Where To?" -> "Points of Interest" -> "Place Name" voice commands, you would never even miss the ASR files. Some folks don't like the JCV feature on the pre-2013 models because it takes up the whole screen, so they don't add that file on purpose.
 
#45 ·
Actually I plugged usb to my comp and there were some hidden files created by uconnect. I deleted them and kept the asr and jcv in garmin folder .Then i plugged into the car again and It started the update and still doing it. so I guess it is not about the space but it is about the hidden junk files which system puts it on the usb which gives the error.
 
#46 ·
I got the 31A0 error today also, but it came up for me only a couple of minutes into the update. My maps are fine and it didn't seem to hurt anything. Guess I'll try loading just the map update for now.
 
#47 ·
Around 70% while everything and ignition were on. It just aborted the installation . This started to get really annoying,trying for 3rd time now.
 
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