First off, apologies if this has been covered before, but I've searched and am not finding anything like the problem I'm having.

One day the navigation system in our 2002 RX300 stopped working, instead displaying a disc read error and directing us to check the disc. I did, it looks fine, but none of my computers can read the disc either. I always get a read error part way through the main data file.

So, thinking it odd that the disc would just go bad, but hoping that was all that happened, I snagged an upgrade DVD off eBay. It is an upgrade disc, includes the little warning at the bottom about DATA 2000 ver.1, which our old disc was. When I put in the "new" disc, a tan box appears in the display that say "Program disk is inserted."

That's it, nothing else ever happens, no matter how long you wait. Does anyone know what the problem is? Any help appreciated.

 

Wow, I've posted this message on 3 different sites and so far have received basically no response. Is this really something no one knows about or is there perhaps a better place for me to have posted this? Thanks.

 

There probably aren't many people that know the answer.
Lexus is pretty strict about what DVD's you can and can't put in. When you buy a Lexus Navigation DVD, you need to stick with the same generation that came with the car. You can't do a major firmware upgrade, only minor changes. 2001-2003 RX 300 and 2004 RX 330 use Gen 2 or Gen 3. That means you can use a Gen 3 map update in any RX from 2001-2004. (Gen 2 and Gen 3 are the same update disc, same part number.) I believe there's also a difference between an upgrade DVD and an original DVD. One tries to update the nav software along with the map data, and the other just contains map data. I couldn't even tell you if a PC is supposed to be able to read Lexus discs.
Because of these strict rules and the cost of the nav system if you mess it up, many people just don't experiment to find out what you can and can't do. I know that it's completely different with Honda/Acura - people are actually trying to replace files and burn their own discs with Honda systems because the software is a little more flexible. For example, you can read Honda forums to find out how to get rid of "I Agree", and also to make the boot logo a pic of your car instead of the brand logo. They've even tried to move features from one car model to another!
You might be able to get some info from the parts guy at your dealership. He'll at least be able to tell you if the disc you got from eBay is supposed to work or not.
The latest update disc for Gen 3 is part number 00230-DVD04-CY.

 

I have exactly the same problem!
The dealer couldn't fix it for about a year...
I 'll take it to the Lexus head office!

 

Good luck, It can be as simple as a bad disc (ebay) or more likely it's either the DVD laser eye or the little motor that drives the eye back and fourth. I ended up getting a Gen 3 ECU from a crashed Prius for cheap and everything has worked fine since.

If you really want a dose of information overload, check out this thread: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...-detected.html

 

i know this is a old old post but i didnt dig it up
actually its fairly simple, the nav ecu is out. even though its 3 different model lexus in all these posts (the rx,sc430,and my gs) we all were using the same junky gen 2 nav units. the gen 3 wasnt much better but the gen 4 is much better

here check this post i made out

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...direction.html

 

i upgraded mine to a gen 4...you should be able to find one on ebay...then just swap it out it has 3 wires in the back.

 

I ran into the same problem. Thought I could "upgrade" my maps with a Ver3.1 on ebay... disk could not be read. My nav system apparently ONLY reads the same version disk that originally came with my 02 RX300 which was Ver 2.1 -- $20 lesson learned.

 

i just replaced my gen 3 with a gen 4 and it much better. now i need to figure out how to delete the addresses left in the gen 4. purchased for $400 off ebay.