Sat Nav maps update

1106 Views 19 Replies 8 Participants Last post by vanman55, 19 d ago

paddyrobbie2

Discussion Starter · 6 mo ago

Is there an easy way of up-dating the maps on the RNS 850 sat nav in my 2014 Touareg ?

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Black Grouse

· #2 · 6 mo ago

Yes - contact Julian at VAG-technik-uk BRAND NEW VW TOUAREG RNS 850 NAVI UPDATE SET 2022 V17 EUROPA NEWEST VERSION | eBay you'll need to provide your present version numbers as the firmware may need updating as well.

When you do it, make sure you have a battery charger hooked up the the battery posts under the bonnet as the update takes an hour or two with the ignition on.

Baron

· #3 · 6 mo ago

Black Grouse said:
Yes - contact Julian at VAG-technik-uk BRAND NEW VW TOUAREG RNS 850 NAVI UPDATE SET 2022 V17 EUROPA NEWEST VERSION | eBay you'll need to provide your present version numbers as the firmware may need updating as well.

When you do it, make sure you have a battery charger hooked up the the battery posts under the bonnet as the update takes an hour or two with the ignition on.

I installed the very same last weekend. Julian was very helpful and the firmware and maps work perfectly. Great price too 👍

Reactions: 2

Cass

· #4 · 6 mo ago

Good to hear that the updates are still available at a reasonable cost because the official VW maps from dealers are significantly more expensive 👍

Martin N

· #5 · 5 mo ago

I was quoted £75 for a map upgrade. (Summer 22)

Black Grouse

· #6 · 5 mo ago

Martin N said:
I was quoted £75 for a map upgrade. (Summer 22)

By whom?

vanman55

· #7 · 2 mo ago

Hi all,
Sorry to tag on to this post, but I thought it appropriate as I've just bought an updating pack from VAG-Technik-UK (about £94 as I had to buy an additional firmware updating SD card, because my Sat Nav has not been updated since the car was new in 2012 (it's a T3 SE 245); I now have the latest maps version V18 2023). Before installing it, I have a few basic questions which don't seem to be clarified in the supplied instructions:
1. Does the car's ignition position have be 'on' during the updating process, or is it OK just to switch on the RNS system with the on/off volume button? The instructions imply the latter approach, but I've seen mention of the need for the ignition to be on in previous posts. Clearly a battery charger has be hooked up to the under-bonnet terminals throughout.
2. The instructions say to use SD slot no.1 for all the updating process. At the end of each updating step (firmware/maps/activation) do you simply remove remove the SD card from slot 1, and insert the next card in the sequence into that slot, and not use slot 2 at all? (after waiting for on-screen clarification of each step).
3. VAG-Technik suggests the need to stay in the car throughout the updating process. As this can take around 2 hours or more, is it not possible to hop out now and again for a tea and pee break? Can the radio be left on in the car for a bit of entertainment, of would that compromise the updating process?
Sorry to be so obtuse about these matters, but I don't want to brick my RNS unit for the sake of simple mistakes on my part. Answers on a postcard please........

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Cass

· #8 · 2 mo ago

vanman55 said:
Hi all,
Sorry to tag on to this post, but I thought it appropriate as I've just bought an updating pack from VAG-Technik-UK (about £94 as I had to buy an additional firmware updating SD card, because my Sat Nav has not been updated since the car was new in 2012 (it's a T3 SE 245); I now have the latest maps version V18 2023). Before installing it, I have a few basic questions which don't seem to be clarified in the supplied instructions:
1. Does the car's ignition position have be 'on' during the updating process, or is it OK just to switch on the RNS system with the on/off volume button? The instructions imply the latter approach, but I've seen mention of the need for the ignition to be on in previous posts. Clearly a battery charger has be hooked up to the under-bonnet terminals throughout.
2. The instructions say to use SD slot no.1 for all the updating process. At the end of each updating step (firmware/maps/activation) do you simply remove remove the SD card from slot 1, and insert the next card in the sequence into that slot, and not use slot 2 at all? (after waiting for on-screen clarification of each step).
3. VAG-Technik suggests the need to stay in the car throughout the updating process. As this can take around 2 hours or more, is it not possible to hop out now and again for a tea and pee break? Can the radio be left on in the car for a bit of entertainment, of would that compromise the updating process?
Sorry to be so obtuse about these matters, but I don't want to brick my RNS unit for the sake of simple mistakes on my part. Answers on a postcard please........

I’d simply ask these questions of the seller as instructions do get updated from time to time and you may get conflicting advice which may compromise the installation 🤔

vanman55

· #9 · 2 mo ago

Thanks for your words of warning, Cass, as I went ahead with the installation process as per Julian's instructions, but encountered some problems along the way. The worst of them was when the updating process froze midway, due to my battery charger going into maintenance mode, and insufficient current being the cause (I did what the instructions said and left the engine off, and the ignition off). I really thought I had destroyed my MMI system when successive red and green screens appeared! Luckily a few frantic emails and Whatsapp photos to Julian at VAG-Technik-UK solved the problem; he advised me to switch the engine on, and reload the second of the two firmware update SD cards. Because my Sat Nav had not been updated since the car was new in 2012, I needed 2 firmware updates to bridge the gap; the first brought it to media version K0775, and the second to the more recent K0821. In loading the maps update, though, I found the 'standard' process didn't work, but the more long-winded 'user-defined' procedure did finally bring me the latest maps update (v18, ece 6.35.1). The Activation SD card worked OK, thankfully.
The moral of this tale is:
If you're not sure that your battery charger can maintain a constant output of around 14 volts + throughout the updating process (mine took over 3 hours, allowing for the extra firmware update needed), then you must leave the engine on tickover all the time, as the updating clearly puts a considerable drain on the car battery.
Having heard the cost of dealer quotes of around £350 to carry out Sat Nav upgrades, I can now possibly understand why. Unless dealers can do it quicker using ODIS, they have to commit a technician to sit with the car the whole time, if only to press the right buttons now and then. I found that the updating times for most of the apps did give me the chance to pop out of the car and into the house for a pee, though!

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Cass

· #10 · 2 mo ago

I’ve just checked my old emails from Julian and having used his services in 09/2017 to update the maps in my 2013 R-Line, I followed the process exactly as per his instructions but the process seemed to freeze after the map install - I didn’t get a map ‘blocked’ screen despite waiting up to 30 mins.

I then used the activation SD card and again nothing appeared to indicate the update was successful. After contacting Julian, I went back to the maps and checked the version and the update/activation had been successful.

Throughout the process I used my CTEK smart charger and it took about 1 1/4 hrs to complete but I didn’t need a firmware update as I was already running K0821 👍

vanman55

· #11 · 2 mo ago

Thanks for the benefit of your experiences with this process, Cass. Can you or anyone else please explain why my CTEK CT5 (Start/Stop model) failed to keep my car's battery up to the required level during the Sat Nav updating? According to it's tech spec, it can output 14.55v, at a rate of 3.8 amps, and charge batteries up to 110ah (my car's Varta battery is 105ah, and I fitted a new last year - the original lasted 10 years!). Can it remain in its full voltage output state when current draw is high, or will it tend to go into 'care' mode even in such conditions? I've been happy with my CTEK charger to date, but now I'm worried that it's not performing properly. Still, it's likely to be 2 or 3 years at least before I think about doing another maps update, and I can always stick with the 'engine on' approach.

Klewy

· #12 · 2 mo ago

vanman55 said:
Thanks for the benefit of your experiences with this process, Cass. Can you or anyone else please explain why my CTEK CT5 (Start/Stop model) failed to keep my car's battery up to the required level during the Sat Nav updating? According to it's tech spec, it can output 14.55v, at a rate of 3.8 amps, and charge batteries up to 110ah (my car's Varta battery is 105ah, and I fitted a new last year - the original lasted 10 years!). Can it remain in its full voltage output state when current draw is high, or will it tend to go into 'care' mode even in such conditions? I've been happy with my CTEK charger to date, but now I'm worried that it's not performing properly. Still, it's likely to be 2 or 3 years at least before I think about doing another maps update, and I can always stick with the 'engine on' approach.

I’ve got a CTEK MXS10 which I used to do my update, set it to power supply mode and no problems. Do you have a power supply mode on the CT5?

Black Grouse

· #13 · 2 mo ago

Your CTEK, like any CTEK, goes into float mode once the battery is almost fully charged and the voltage will drop to about 13.5V - but that shouldn't have caused your problem - my update, from Julian, went fine with my CTEK mXS 3.6 attached.

vanman55

· #14 · 2 mo ago

Klewy: Your MXS10 is certainly a more powerful CTEK model, which as you say has a permanent supply mode, which my CT5 does not. The CT5 is fully automatic, which leads me to think it's not supplying enough current when in care (maintenance mode), or it could have a fault - I'm on my second version of this CTEK; the first was replaced under warranty a few years ago when it failed to light up at all, but my present one is now out of warranty. I will do a test to read what voltage is shown at the under-bonnet battery terminals when the charger is in both charge and care modes, but presumably that won't replicate the additional load caused by the sat nav updating process?
BG: Your smaller CTEK model clearly performed OK for you during the updating, but mine showed around 12.7 volts in float mode after the update process 'crashed', so that suggests my charger may have a problem, with insufficient output to keep the RNS unit 'alive'.
Thanks all for your helpful advice anyway.

Black Grouse

· #15 · 2 mo ago

vanman55 said:
BG: Your smaller CTEK model clearly performed OK for you during the updating, but mine showed around 12.7 volts in float mode after the update process 'crashed', so that suggests my charger may have a problem, with insufficient output to keep the RNS unit 'alive'.
Thanks all for your helpful advice anyway.

12.7V isn't really float mode - that's just the voltage of a charged battery, I agree your CTEK may have an issue - may be worth contacting CTEK themselves

Cass

· #16 · 2 mo ago

The CTEK I used was the MXS 5.0 which is rated at 5a max charging current.

This worked fine for me on the day and my battery was/is in very good state of charge. Before undertaking the update, I had my battery on the CTEK for 48 hours and as stated, my update didn’t take much more than an hour.

I’ve no idea what the power usage of the head unit is during the update but it’s highly likely that your charger wasn’t maintaining the battery during the update.

For what it’s worth, I contacted CTEK customer services when buying this charger and they recommended the MXS 5.0 for my car. They also recommended the MXS 7.0 for my motorhome, so I subsequently bought one of those to maintain the starter battery on that as the charging current of 7a max is better suited to that vehicle.

That said, my MXS 7.0 showed signs of failure over the winter period, so I’m using my 5.0 as a stop gap on my motorhome (it was out of the 5 years warranty as well, so I’ll probably have to buy another).

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vanman55

· #17 · 2 mo ago

Hi again all,
Well, I've just tested the volts with the charger on at the battery posts (engine off), using my basic Gunsons multimeter. In charge mode, my CTEK CT5 is only putting out 13.3v maximum, and when it goes into care mode (about 1/2 hour after connecting charger to the mains), it's only showing 12.8 volts max. VAG-Technik's advice is to ensure that voltage doesn't drop below 13.5 volts during the updating procedure. So, does it look like my charger is not performing to its stated specification? If so, that's liable to be the cause of my updating process failing part-way through. Thankfully no harm done in the end, but without Julian's prompt response in talking me through the issue, I may have been looking at a kaput RNS unit, and massive cost to replace it.
I'm now reluctant to buy another CTEK charger, but it looks like one with a permanent supply mode would be a better choice if and when I do.

NoobyT

· #18 · 2 mo ago

£350 at the dealer or £100 DIY with the risk of bricking a £5,000 component....

That's a total no-brainer in my book!

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Reactions: 1

vanman55

· #19 · 2 mo ago

Hello Nooby!

Well, I suppose that's the sensible way of looking at things. Sometimes folks are just prepared to take risks in life, especially when they feel they can get one over on the greedy, dopey dealers. As my Touareg is now 11 years old and not worth too much, if I had actually bricked my RNS850 in the updating process, I would go to a car audio specialists, and get them to fit a quality aftermarket head unit (Pioneer etc), maybe with phone/Apple Car Play/Android Auto connectivity. It's bound to cost much less than a VW original unit and these are frankly outdated now anyway.

It's good to know there are lots of independent businesses like Julian at VAG-Technik-UK around, who have specialist knowledge in specific fields, and are keen to get things right for their customers. You may recall on another thread about the topic of gearbox software that I was the bod who had a long-running battle with a dealer and VW Customer Services when the dealer 'imposed' a gearbox software update on my car as part of a safety recall for another issue. In the end a specialist tuning firm re-coded the gearbox so that the car now runs as it originally did, and I even managed to shame VW into refunding the cost of the independent company's work. That was 'no-brainer' for me anyway.

Happy Tregging!

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vanman55

· #20 · 19 d ago

A final postscript on this topic:
Further to some of the earlier posts about keeping the battery on charge during the updating process, I contacted the CTEK Support team by email. They're based in Sweden but they speak very good English. I asked why my CTEK CT5 charger had caused the updating to be paused in mid-process, almost destroying my RNS850 infotainment system.
Their answer was very clear; as firmware updates of any type can place a heavy current draw on a car's battery, they suggest a charger able to put out at least 25-40 amps should ideally be used, and certainly one with a constant 'supply mode' (i.e one that doesn't go into 'maintenance mode' automatically when it reaches a fully-charged state). With a specified charge rate of only 3.8amps, and no fixed supply mode, they said that the CTEK CT5 would not be able to cope in this respect, but they emphasised that it is fine for everyday and/or long-term maintenance charging, as I have found it to be in regular usage.
They stated that any currently-available CTEK charger with a charging capacity of 7 amps and above is equipped with a supply mode, but did not categorically say that such models would be suitable for carrying out firmware updates.
My final take on this is that unless you're sure your charger can cope in this respect, just leave the engine idling during any sat nav updating. If doing so, it goes without saying that this should be done in the open-air (not in an enclosed garage), and preferably on private land, so as not to infringe any laws about car maintenance on the public highway.

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