Can I reprogram my head unit with someone else's SD card? - Page 2 - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Dadhawk · 10-15-2015, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P3tras

FRS and BRZ uses totally different head-units. As I remember FRS does not have SD card, but I am not sure.

The Pioneer used by Scion at least for 2014 does not require an SD card. (my '13 has the '14 headunit and GPS nav in it)

Nickosport · 10-15-2015, 10:33 AM

I know that the headunit will function with other SD cards, I used a different one to customize the startup on my BRZ. Navigation functionality is probably gone without the original SD. I'm sure the dealer can come up with a new SD card and load the right Map update onto it, they just don't want to do it for free. The map file is licensed to your particular head unit. The license is what keeps people from pirating the map updates, and forces you to go to the dealer and pay outrageous prices for the latest maps.

radroach · 10-15-2015, 11:43 AM

Ok so why didn't it work for me? What are you supposed to do in order to reprogram the nav unit?

Again, I put the SD card in, screen goes blank, nothing happens. Tried restarting the car, popping it in, waiting a minute, nothing.

Nickosport · 10-15-2015, 03:04 PM

Make sure you have the right size and speed SD card , I think 16gb is the biggest that the HU is compatible with. Other than that, maybe try a different dealer? You'd be stuck with the cost, but i'm sure it can be fixed. IMO its not worth paying for the map updates. The map update for my father in law's accord was over $300 from the dealer. I'm not sure what Subaru charges, but I can guarantee you its too much. I'd do an aftermarket head unit, it would cost more, but it would seriously blow the OE head out of the water. Hope you get it sorted.

radroach · 10-15-2015, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickosport

The map update for my father in law's accord was over $300 from the dealer.

How do car companies get away with this? Insane. And yes, a subaru SD card costs between $400-500 wholesale.

P3tras · 10-15-2015, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radroach

Ok so why didn't it work for me? What are you supposed to do in order to reprogram the nav unit?

Again, I put the SD card in, screen goes blank, nothing happens. Tried restarting the car, popping it in, waiting a minute, nothing.

It is original SD card from other BRZ, correct (not just image)? Insert SD card, disconnect car battery. Wait couple minutes and try again

radroach · 10-15-2015, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P3tras

It is original SD card from other BRZ, correct (not just image)? Insert SD card, disconnect car battery. Wait couple minutes and try again

So is that the actual procedure, or are you just guessing?

stugray · 10-15-2015, 08:59 PM

If you bought the car new, it should have come with one - period.
If you have documentation that you have already asked twice, then take that documentation in again and ask the third time (make it clear this is the third time you have asked them to fix a dealer problem).

If they say no, then thank them profusely, and notify them that you will be filing a lemon law claim and they can have the car back and you will get every penny you spent.

I dont know about TN, but in CO I have personally witnessed a relative return a car with over 50k miles, and he got every penny back.

"According to Tennessee, a "lemon" is a motor vehicle that falls into each of these categories:

Sold or leased after January 1, 1987.
Has a problem that impairs safe use of the vehicle, or reduces resale market value.
Can't be repaired (by the dealer or manufacturer) after 3 attempts, or is unable to be used for a cumulative period of 30 days or more while under warranty."

radroach · 10-16-2015, 03:02 AM

I'm not that pushy of a person, but I did lean on the dealership the other day about the issue, they have yet to call me back.

There is no documentation about me asking about it though, since I only made a quick call about it or mentioned it during a service interval, none of the employees took any action except lied through their teeth and told me that I'd have to pay out of pocket for it. So no, there is nothing in writing about it.

They claim they have no obligation since it has been nearly three years, I cant prove that this is indeed what happened; instead the sales manager said that I could have lost it myself and put the blame on them; so the burden of proof lies with me.

It's a shitty situation. And yes while I'm blaming the dealership for not fulfilling their obligations, this is really Subaru's fault for having this kind of malfunction and not giving dealerships any power to correct it. It's Subaru's fault for charging $500 for a fucking SD card that can be easily lost or stolen. Their fault for supplying a radio that won't work without it. I cant wait for the shitstorm that happens when all the other model year Subarus go in for service, and come back with radios that dont work.

ryoma · 10-16-2015, 04:39 AM

oh, it's been 3 years... that might be the reason why the dealership isn't working with you lol. just curious though, did you just notice that you were missing your SD card? or did you always know but just didn't bother with it?

Dadhawk · 10-16-2015, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radroach

How do car companies get away with this? Insane. And yes, a subaru SD card costs between $400-500 wholesale.

You should try updating an aviation GPS sometime where it is mandated to be "legal". Annual subscriptions for general aviation aircraft run from $600 to $10,000 a year depending on the capability of the GPS and the size of the plane (they charge more for the exact same update for the exact same device as the planes become more expensive)

radroach · 10-16-2015, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryoma

oh, it's been 3 years... that might be the reason why the dealership isn't working with you lol. just curious though, did you just notice that you were missing your SD card? or did you always know but just didn't bother with it?

Yes I knew, and I did try and talk to them about it during the first few months of ownership.

GeorgeJFrick · 10-16-2015, 01:27 PM

You should have called Subaru directly and given them the dealer name/address/etc.

When my we got my wife's Subaru, we had the worst car buying experience ever. We drove for three hours to the dealership because they had the WRX she wanted. We had some serious issues they wouldn't resolve after 6+ attempts. I got pissed off and called Subaru directly; explained everything calmly. They called the dealership, then called me back. The dealership resolved the problem within 24 hours.

Anyways, the answer is to call Subaru directly in these cases. They'll call the dealership and the dealership will always cooperate with them.

That said, hit up the for sale section and buy someone's stock radio.

radroach · 10-16-2015, 02:41 PM

I emailed SoA yesterday, they've replied and are looking into working this out.

10-15-2015, 10:33 AM	#16
Nickosport Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2015 WRB BRZ Premium Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 114 Thanks: 37 Thanked 58 Times in 39 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I know that the headunit will function with other SD cards, I used a different one to customize the startup on my BRZ. Navigation functionality is probably gone without the original SD. I'm sure the dealer can come up with a new SD card and load the right Map update onto it, they just don't want to do it for free. The map file is licensed to your particular head unit. The license is what keeps people from pirating the map updates, and forces you to go to the dealer and pay outrageous prices for the latest maps. __________________ 2015 WRB BRZ - Nameless - Raceseng - Eibach - Whiteline - Cusco - Perrin

10-15-2015, 03:04 PM	#18
Nickosport Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2015 WRB BRZ Premium Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 114 Thanks: 37 Thanked 58 Times in 39 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Make sure you have the right size and speed SD card , I think 16gb is the biggest that the HU is compatible with. Other than that, maybe try a different dealer? You'd be stuck with the cost, but i'm sure it can be fixed. IMO its not worth paying for the map updates. The map update for my father in law's accord was over $300 from the dealer. I'm not sure what Subaru charges, but I can guarantee you its too much. I'd do an aftermarket head unit, it would cost more, but it would seriously blow the OE head out of the water. Hope you get it sorted. __________________ 2015 WRB BRZ - Nameless - Raceseng - Eibach - Whiteline - Cusco - Perrin

10-16-2015, 04:39 AM	#24
ryoma Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Drives: 2015 Subaru BRZ Limited CWP Location: SoCal Posts: 1,561 Thanks: 34 Thanked 669 Times in 469 Posts Mentioned: 13 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	oh, it's been 3 years... that might be the reason why the dealership isn't working with you lol. just curious though, did you just notice that you were missing your SD card? or did you always know but just didn't bother with it? __________________ My 2015 CWP BRZ Build

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10-15-2015, 11:43 AM	#17
radroach Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: car Location: usa Posts: 2,162 Thanks: 1,028 Thanked 867 Times in 530 Posts Mentioned: 35 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Ok so why didn't it work for me? What are you supposed to do in order to reprogram the nav unit? Again, I put the SD card in, screen goes blank, nothing happens. Tried restarting the car, popping it in, waiting a minute, nothing.

10-15-2015, 08:59 PM	#22
stugray Banned Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: 2013 GBS BRZ Limited Location: Colorado Posts: 1,925 Thanks: 627 Thanked 1,445 Times in 711 Posts Mentioned: 41 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If you bought the car new, it should have come with one - period. If you have documentation that you have already asked twice, then take that documentation in again and ask the third time (make it clear this is the third time you have asked them to fix a dealer problem). If they say no, then thank them profusely, and notify them that you will be filing a lemon law claim and they can have the car back and you will get every penny you spent. I dont know about TN, but in CO I have personally witnessed a relative return a car with over 50k miles, and he got every penny back. "According to Tennessee, a "lemon" is a motor vehicle that falls into each of these categories: Sold or leased after January 1, 1987. Has a problem that impairs safe use of the vehicle, or reduces resale market value. Can't be repaired (by the dealer or manufacturer) after 3 attempts, or is unable to be used for a cumulative period of 30 days or more while under warranty."

10-16-2015, 03:02 AM	#23
radroach Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: car Location: usa Posts: 2,162 Thanks: 1,028 Thanked 867 Times in 530 Posts Mentioned: 35 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I'm not that pushy of a person, but I did lean on the dealership the other day about the issue, they have yet to call me back. There is no documentation about me asking about it though, since I only made a quick call about it or mentioned it during a service interval, none of the employees took any action except lied through their teeth and told me that I'd have to pay out of pocket for it. So no, there is nothing in writing about it. They claim they have no obligation since it has been nearly three years, I cant prove that this is indeed what happened; instead the sales manager said that I could have lost it myself and put the blame on them; so the burden of proof lies with me. It's a shitty situation. And yes while I'm blaming the dealership for not fulfilling their obligations, this is really Subaru's fault for having this kind of malfunction and not giving dealerships any power to correct it. It's Subaru's fault for charging $500 for a fucking SD card that can be easily lost or stolen. Their fault for supplying a radio that won't work without it. I cant wait for the shitstorm that happens when all the other model year Subarus go in for service, and come back with radios that dont work.

10-16-2015, 01:27 PM	#27
GeorgeJFrick Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited LR Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 362 Thanks: 231 Thanked 205 Times in 138 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	You should have called Subaru directly and given them the dealer name/address/etc. When my we got my wife's Subaru, we had the worst car buying experience ever. We drove for three hours to the dealership because they had the WRX she wanted. We had some serious issues they wouldn't resolve after 6+ attempts. I got pissed off and called Subaru directly; explained everything calmly. They called the dealership, then called me back. The dealership resolved the problem within 24 hours. Anyways, the answer is to call Subaru directly in these cases. They'll call the dealership and the dealership will always cooperate with them. That said, hit up the for sale section and buy someone's stock radio.

10-16-2015, 02:41 PM	#28
radroach Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: car Location: usa Posts: 2,162 Thanks: 1,028 Thanked 867 Times in 530 Posts Mentioned: 35 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I emailed SoA yesterday, they've replied and are looking into working this out.

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