2015 Encore Navigation disabled due to SD reader

I am new to this forum and am having an issue with my Navigation. The memory card was removed from the sd reader and when it was inserted back the pins in the reader became bent. Now the Navigation system cannot load the map. This disables the navigation functionality. I have been unable to find anyone at toyota that can give me a reasonable solution to fix the sd reader. I have been told I have 2 options:
1) Purchase a new Encore system and have the existing one replaced.
2) Have the unit sent to the mfg to be repaired and pay whatever they bill me as the mfg is unable to give an estimate of time or cost.
I have only had this truck since Jan 2015, everything is still under warranty. I have opened a customer complaint. I seem to be getting no where slowly. Any suggestions?

 

?? if it's removable you should be able to put a card in and take it out without breaking the system...maybe a case for warranty??
Or did you break it putting it in wrong?

It's like the CD drive, if it breaks putting a CD in (the right way) I would make it a claim...

 

Just curious why the SD card was removed initially. Does the SD slot serve any other purpose other than navigation?

 

I put it in backwards. It is a very tiny memory card and it took me a minute to figure out which direction the pins needed to face. I presume this is waht bent the pins. I jut need to be able to replace the reader. A usb version of this part is about $8.00. I tried to override the sd reader in the encore system, using a the USB port. I was not able to redirect the software to load from a source.

 

In the owners manual there is an entire page saying not to remove it that nav might be disabled and at the same time saying to put the card in it's storage case when not in use. If it is that fragile why is it so accessible?

 

The sd card was removed by my grandson. He just wanted to look at It. Its only purpose is to reaf the map data from the memory card.

 

When I bought the truck, the salesman sold it as a feature. He said you could load different maps by switching out the memory card. I was under the impression that it would be normal to pull out one card and replace it with another. I read the warning after the incident. I agree, it should not be so fragile. If it is fragile, it should be easily replaceable. Buying an entire new system for $3700 is a ridiculous solution to replace an $8.00 part.

 

Just as a note, there are dozens of us on the forum, if not hundreds, that have purchased the Navi system complete...shipped to your door for $450. This includes the mounting brackets, face plate, head unit (Navi and Entune Plus, HD) and a GPS antenna in case you don't have the shark fin. FLTrucks sells them on the 2nd Gen Parts sales forum.

I am letting you know this so you don't get in too deep on repair charges. It's likely going to be a warranty issue....if you can get a service manager to write it up correctly.

 

thanks for the tip $450.00 is a lot easier to swallow than $3700 which is what I was quoted at the dealership. Even then it seems like it should be an $50.00 fix at most.

 

It looks like FLTrucks has sold out of the Navi systems. Perhaps I was looking in the wrong place. Do they tend to have ongoing stock? Just out of curiosity, what would the correct way be for the service manager to write it up so that it will be supported under warranty?

 

You'll have to PM him with your PayPal info and be patient. He'll send you an invoice and ship as soon as you pay. The shipping tracking number will be in your PayPal account once it ships. This is a part time gig for him, he is not a full time dealer. He packs and ships as he can. Last person received theirs 2/28 or so. Swapping the head unit takes about 30 mins.

If I were in your place, and I could not talk the dealer into covering it as a warranty, I'd pull the head unit and either fix it myself or take it to an electronics repair shop. It can't possibly be too difficult to replace just the card reader. And I assume you are sure that it is not just the card that is damaged? Can you read in on your computer through a universal reader? All it does is hold the map info.

 

Thanks - I agree it should be easy to fix. I was just looking for ways I might get it fixed without voiding warranty. It looks like I may need to take a chance on the charge from mfg if I want to keep warranty. Do you know where I could get a new memory card with the map data if the memory card is also damaged?