Not sure what you're looking at? I recently discovered the trick to unlocking all of the navigation system menus while our 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI is moving.
I find it extremely frustrating that some navigation systems, like the one found in our Subaru, will lock out 90% of the menu functions once the vehicle is in motion. Want to program in a new destination? Pull over and stop. Want to change the route from "quickest" to something more scenic? Pull over and stop. What if you're mired in traffic, late, on a highway with no shoulder, or simply want to keep going? Tough.
And this remains the case whether you have a perfectly capable passenger riding shotgun next to you to press the buttons or not. A passenger can read regular maps while underway, and AAA gives them away to members for free. Tell me why I should pay one or two grand for one of these, again?
The most frustrating part of this is that disabling navigation system functions while moving isn't a legal requirement; it's only the internal policy of some car manufacturers. Some. Many other automakers provide full access while underway. A lot of hapless car buyers don't figure it our until they sign the papers and get the car home.
I had forgotten the old DRL-defeating trick (daytime running lights) that worked on some older GM vehicles--engage the parking brake one click. But this is dangerous with a foot brake, and I'm a supporter of DRLs, anyway. One click isn't usually enough to drag the rear brakes, but the pads or shoes are moved away from their at-rest position. Worst of all, one click on a foot brake is easy to overshoot into two or three, which can be very dangerous. Not a good idea.
But our 2008 Subaru WRX STI has a hand-operated parking brake handle, a type that is much easier to control. While doing a hand-brake turn while horsing-around on the safe confines of a dry lake, I inadvertently found that pulling up on it doesn't simply illuminate the brake lamp. Doing so also energizes all of the navigation system menus.
One click (the first detent) represents, in this car, more than an inch of stroke and probably wouldn't cause any engagement because our parking brake doesn't do anything until the fourth click--well over two inches of pull on the handle. But the "brake" warning light on the dash goes on and the navigation system gets full function with the handle up less than a quarter-inch. Much less. Heck, there's still some slack in the parking brake cables at this point.
With no detent in sight, how could I hold it there? Answer: use my iPod Nano as a wedge. We're back in business. And I bet it'll work just the same with any Subaru that has a navigation system and a hand brake, too. As an added bonus, my iPod is held firmly in place, preventing it from flopping around in corners.
Now my passenger can manipulate all of the features of the navigation system while we're on the move, a capability that I see as a MUST before I consider plunking-down the considerable amount of cash they get for these systems.
But I wouldn't have to do this if the passenger detection system (required on all vehicles for the passenger airbags) had been wired-in to allow in-motion passenger use of the navigation screens. No carmaker does this yet, but there isn't a technical reason why they couldn't.
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing @ 3,333 miles.
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Good job...too bad I'm not sure if this will work for my Altima. On my other forum, we have all been trying to find ways to removing the in-motion limitations and some have gone as far as installing a switch for the speed sensor wire.
I really hate that I can't use my navi when I'm driving for the same exact reasons you stated! My girlfriend is in the passenger seat! How come a $2000 system can't detect that someone else can program the nav!!!!
Excellent job Dan! This information will come in handy. As for enabling the menus due to the "passenger detection system", I'm surprised that hasn't been installed yet but, I'm sure they suspect that the driver will be tempted to play with the nav. system and so they disable it. There are always workarounds...
People keep talking about how dangerous it is talk on a cell phone while driving.
Hah, that's nothing...
At least the cell phone drivers are looking out the window. The last thing we need is more bad drivers staring at their dash trying to program something into a navi while they should be driving.
I'm sure most people will say they only use it when it's safe or their passenger will use it but I doubt that will be the case.
Face it, anything that requires you to take your eyes off the road is a bad idea.
I kind of agree with firstwagon...
I can see how some options could be unlocked.
Route switching is probably one of them.
inputing an address as a driver without voice controls... better pull over.
+1 firstwagon.
Subaru (SOA!) is a very conservative company, which at times can be very frustrating. Obviously they (and other car companies) are claiming safety as being the reason.
Another example of this is SOA's refusal to offer an auto-up driver's window function. I've complained to SOA many times about this, and they always respond that it's a safety issue. It's even more frustrating as Subarus in Japan do have an auto-up driver's window—with anti-pinch capability.
-1 Firstwagon
I guess you guys don't have factory navigations in your cars so that is why you are complaining about the nav's.
What's the difference between someone with a magellan, garmin, or tom tom who is programming that while driving? If it's a law, then fine, but since it's not, there should not be limitations
I agree about the driver and the distraction issues. But just about all of the times I've ever needed or wanted to use navigation, my wife and I are riding together. It is possible to allow the gray-outs to be lifted with a passenger in the front seat.
If the prevailing attitude is that the driver can't be trusted, then I'm back to my Thomas Brothers and AAA maps.
langjie, first of all, I refuse to buy factory navigation unless they drop the price to a more reasonable level. I am not going to pay $2k to $3k for it when the $250 portable systems can get the same job done (which is get me to my destination...).
Second, if we all live just by the law without common senses I don't want to imagine what an awful place the world would be. I got no problem with people talking on the phone or playing with navigation while driving, hit a tree and died. They made a poor choice and they deserve the consequences. However, I do have a problem if they hit other fellow drives and take innocent lives with them.
Yes, I know people also disable the feature that prevents people from watching movies while driving.Along with peoplw who insist on text messaging while driving, it seem like the death toll should be arising. The only good point is this ought to scare some of those pesky fools on bikes of the road, or put them six feet under.I used to be one of those fools.
louiswei
that's fine that you won't pay $2k for a factory navi, but you do have a portable system then? aren't there times when you are rolling at 2 mph in traffic (you live in LA, I'm sure you're in some) and are trying to enter an address?
don't you think that if there is a passenger, the limitations should be lifted?
Darn tootin!
Get rid of those distractions that take your eyes off the road. Radio, HVAC, speedo, tach, clock, warning lights, etc. We sure can't trust people to use their vehicles responsibly so let's make sure they can't misuse them. Heck, let's not stop there, let's mandate by law that manufacturers make it so drivers don't have to take responsibility for their own actions anymore. Yeah, that'll work. "Yeah, that's the ticket"
Yup, get rid of them for everyone except me. I just can't give up all my distractions. My supermodel wife being the number one distraction in my car.
Anyway, rather than prop it up with delicate electronics, why not pop that console cover off and find the switch. It should be adjustable since they tend to come out of adjustment every once in a blue moon. Give it a little tweak and you're good to go.
They could make the airbag switch work for the navi.. if someone is sensed in the front passenger seat, the navi could be unlocked.
cx7, nice solution. :)
cx7...if only...
I wouldn't have a problem with that since I'm usually with my gf when I do need to use the navi
It's funny, my wife and I just got a garmin nuvi 200w. It is terribly distracting...
But then again, so are stereo systems. How about aux input jacks? they typically don't integrate perfectly with your mp3 player, requiring you to fiddle with it when changing songs?
Baby in the back seat?
The Nav system should be capable of being adjusted on the fly. To do less is to go back to the philosophy that a seat should be uncomfortable to help the driver remain aware, and that cupholders should be banned.
It'd be more effective to provide a much more rigorous driver licensing system and driving code.
Joe
"It'd be more effective to provide a much more rigorous driver licensing system and driving code.
Joe"
I think you nailed the real problem. Getting a licence can be so simple in some places, and of course it's going to show in the quality of the average drivers, some of which think they are better than they are, and there is nothing more dangerous than a fool who thinks he isn't one.
If it wasn't for that, and lawsuit happy people, such "features" wouldn't be needed. There are always going to be distractions on the road, and a properly trained driver has a better chance of dealing with them.
<<They could make the airbag switch work for the navi.. if someone is sensed in the front passenger seat, the navi could be unlocked.>>
Seems like the easiest way to do that would be to connect the nav to the passenger airbag sensor. Yesterday, however, my 5'4", 112 lb self would NOT activate the passenger airbag in this car. The light would come on for a moment and then go off and stay off. Never had that happen in any other car. Could it be a glitch?
f1mom...solution = cheeseburgers
f1mom, ignore crowb...the US doesn't need anymore um.... gerthy people.
when my girlfriend sits in my car, sometimes she doesn't deactivate the light when she crosses her legs or isn't sitting in the center...she's about your weight as well
That's weird. When I have my 34lb Benji dog look-a-like sitting in the front seat, my BMW tells me the passenger seat belt is not fastened...
My way: Tape down the parking brake switch and remove the bulb in the dash.
The reason the manufacturers who lock out navi functions don't tie it in to the passenger a-bag switch is because the passenger sensor is easily overcome by placing a heavy object in the seat (or a Benji dog, but apparently not an f1mom).
"That's weird. When I have my 34lb Benji dog look-a-like sitting in the front seat, my BMW tells me the passenger seat belt is not fastened..."
My mini seat sensor is tripped by a 4L jug of milk. Its really annoying.
People should take responsibility for their own actions. You want to be able to enter an address in your navigation system, while simultaneously talking on your cell phone, putting on makeup, adjusting the radio/HVAC, and weaving through traffic at 80 mph? Hey, if you can pull it off, great. But if I imagine an average person, someone with a fair amount of common sense, I see them only playing with the nav system when they believe it is safe. Say, when you're alone cruising down the interstate at 65 mph, or stopped at a stoplight, or when you have someone else to enter the navigation info for you. Fearing the handful of drivers out there who don't understand the risks or don't care is not the answer. Let people evaluate their own risks and take responsibility for their own actions.
Besides, like someone said, with a nav system that locks you out while the car thinks you are in motion, it's hard to justify the significant additional cost over even a high-end portable unit -- one that doesn't care if you're in motion.
That was a really long post for a very simple topic.
Dan, I'm by far not a NAV expert, but don't most in-dash NAV units work much like like Subaru NAV unit? By that I mean that they lock out most functions while the car is in motion?
Off hand the only things that I'm likely to want while driving is the ability to zoom in or out, and the ability to switch to finding fuel, food or points of interest? Are those capabilities also not available while moving?
There are some notable mainstrean navigation systems that are fully unlocked when moving: Honda/Acura (I ust drove an new TSX last weekend)and Benz, come to mind (or is it BMW?) Audi might be on the list, too. Any owners care to chime in?
Dan, I see that you mentioned the possibility of turning off the daytime running lights by raising the e-brake 1 notch.
That's the way it works on my '06 WRX, so more than likely you also did that on the STI.
Great work around, much cheaper than having a tweaker do it for $300.00. Now if only there was a work around for the blue tooth module not working, and the static in my front left speaker..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KC5ePoBsNM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxtly0YhVd4