Adding Nav
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 374
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Adding Nav
Just picked up a '15 XLT yesterday, what a great truck so far! The display screen is large and I asked if it had nav prior to purchase. Was told no but it could be added via computer swap for around $1500. I then read that a simple sd card from Ford would add nav as it is already setup for it. What is the truth here?
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,775
Likes: 7
From: Lewisberry, Penn
Probably neither. You would need to replace quite a bit of the cars entertainment system and I doubt you can get that all done for $1500. The SD card will NOT add navigation. There are some fairly nice aftermarket mirror replacements that have nav. If you use your phone often for music, you can also run nav on the phone and it will give voice turn by turn over the entertainment system. Thats what I do.
New User
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I just joined so sorry if the reply is a little to late but if you go to 4D Tech, Inc. | Ford Navigation Upgrade Kits and Accessories they have what your looking for with the map card included for $1200
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Fredericksburg, VA
Save your money. I have the Ford Nav package and I wouldn't pay $5 for it. In fact, if they offered to pay me to use it, I would turn them down.
There is no way to save a trip that you have programmed in. So if you are going on a long trip, you will need to recreate the trip every time you shut the truck off. Yes, you can save waypoints, but it is still a pain in the butt. And the logistics of entering addresses are much harder than on a Garmin. For $200-300 you can buy a Garmin that vastly out-performs the Ford Sync system, and it has lifetime free map and POI updates. Ford wants $200 for each update!
I selected the Platinum trim level and the Nav system came standard. I just completed a trip to Canada and took my Garmin with me. I have no connection with Garmin, other than being a satisfied customer. I also was a computer programmer and system analyst, so it's not that I can't understand the Sync system. Every review I have read on Ford vehicles has slammed their Nav setup. In fact Ford has announced a major reword of the system and Sync Version 3 is due out with the 2016 models.
There is no way to save a trip that you have programmed in. So if you are going on a long trip, you will need to recreate the trip every time you shut the truck off. Yes, you can save waypoints, but it is still a pain in the butt. And the logistics of entering addresses are much harder than on a Garmin. For $200-300 you can buy a Garmin that vastly out-performs the Ford Sync system, and it has lifetime free map and POI updates. Ford wants $200 for each update!
I selected the Platinum trim level and the Nav system came standard. I just completed a trip to Canada and took my Garmin with me. I have no connection with Garmin, other than being a satisfied customer. I also was a computer programmer and system analyst, so it's not that I can't understand the Sync system. Every review I have read on Ford vehicles has slammed their Nav setup. In fact Ford has announced a major reword of the system and Sync Version 3 is due out with the 2016 models.
New User
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
hmm that's food for thought. because I just purchased my 2015 a week ago and was thinking about doing a nav upgrade. the other option I was thinking of going was advent has a system as well that uses the touch screen to display its nav setup and as an added bonus you can have more audio control on anything hooked up via aux cable and has hdmi input for the screen for about the same price so depending on how their nav works this might be the best bang for the buck
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,871
Likes: 357
From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
I will add to what WhiteEx says. I just use the nav built in to my phone (Android RAZR MAXX HD), and it works very very well. I would not spend the extra money for the one in the vehicle.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: Waukesha, WI
I was considering going to this guy:
Add OEM Navigation to 8" MyFord Touch Vehicles
But after reading the reply from WhiteEx I'm considering it less.
The whole Sync/My Ford Touch seems to be lacking, IMO. I'll probably go with an aftermarket media player/nav unit in a year, like a Pioneer or similar.
Add OEM Navigation to 8" MyFord Touch Vehicles
But after reading the reply from WhiteEx I'm considering it less.
The whole Sync/My Ford Touch seems to be lacking, IMO. I'll probably go with an aftermarket media player/nav unit in a year, like a Pioneer or similar.
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New User
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
I requested no nav on mine because they never work as well as the Garmin or Phone Apps like Waze. You also need satellite subscription for aged traffic reports. I have nav in my other 2 cars and never use it.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Central IL
Have to agree with everyone saying it is a waste. I didn't want the nav, but couldn't find the truck I wanted without it. I have to say, I have used it in my truck and a couple loaners I have and the routes have been terrible. I plugged in a destination knowing the route I was going to take and it wanted to send me 40+ miles out of my way. And yes I have played with the preferences for shortest, fastest, etc routing.
Long story short, use your phone and BT as Frantz suggested.
Long story short, use your phone and BT as Frantz suggested.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
I know I'm late to the party, but I have to agree - the nav is poor. I use mine, but I sure wouldn't pay for it if I didn't have it. I've had nav on two other vehicles and both were far superior to this one.
In fact, the whole audio/nav system is poor. Consumer Reports highly recommends waiting until the 2016's come out before buying with the hope that they will have the new system, and that it will be better. One reason they don't like the current system is the glitches, or re-boots. Like the one I had last week where the volume for the radio and nav was locked at a level too low to hear unless you stopped the truck. So I couldn't hear the gal saying to turn unless I stopped, at which point she didn't say anything. I finally had to shut the truck off and re-start it to get audio back.
In fact, the whole audio/nav system is poor. Consumer Reports highly recommends waiting until the 2016's come out before buying with the hope that they will have the new system, and that it will be better. One reason they don't like the current system is the glitches, or re-boots. Like the one I had last week where the volume for the radio and nav was locked at a level too low to hear unless you stopped the truck. So I couldn't hear the gal saying to turn unless I stopped, at which point she didn't say anything. I finally had to shut the truck off and re-start it to get audio back.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Fredericksburg, VA
I haven't found any way to adjust the volume of the gal inside my Nav unit. She seems like a very nice young lady, and I would enjoy getting to know her better, but with the window down, I can't hear her.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: Yonkers, NY
I bought an XL because I didn't want the sync system at all (among other reasons). Makes it easier to upgrade the free standing radio in the dash to an aftermarket nav system. The Kenwood units are actually using Garmin for Navigation now and get great reviews.