NAV/HDD Hard Drive failing, looking at replacement avenues (1 Viewer)

[truthworldwide]

Hi all,

The hard drive in my 2008 LX seems to be on its last legs. Started off that the maps would not load when it was around or below the freezing mark. A placeholder screen would pop up, stating "a program could not be read, please consult your dealer." It started becoming more commonplace, happening with increasingly less-frigid temps. Now, it's 50/50 on if I'll have the map function on start up. (Note that once the vehicle is warm on the interior, the issue goes away). None of the other functions, like the climate or info screens, are affected.

So, I'm debating buying either an "ebay-new" HDD, or wondering if buying the exact part number for the hard drive from New Egg, would be worthwhile.

Based on research here, the hard drive is a Hitachi Endurastar "hej425040f9at00". Here are the specs:

Hard Disk Sentinel - Technical details for disk HITACHI HEJ425040F9AT00

Hard disk specification and storage device technical details for disk HITACHI HEJ425040F9AT00

www.hdsentinel.com

Here is the one on ebay, it's $500.
View attachment 3902469

Here is the exact part number, that's available all over the net, brand new, for between $125 to $225:

View attachment 3902470

My question is - does the HDD need to be "loaded" with maps and software? If so, how is that done?
Would a new HDD from an LS460 work, or does it have sedan-specific functionality?
Or should I bite the bullet (and pay more than double) for the same part with the software already loaded on?

TIA!

 

[TheIcemanCometh]

The disk drive is going out. Which means unless there is a backup the data would need to be reloaded on the new disk.

Here is a Lexus thread that discusses some of the issues.

 

[truthworldwide]

Thanks for the link. I read through that and some of the other links mentioned. Sounds like it's still a $200 "ruggedized" HDD. There's a list of how to clone your own existing HDD but most of this is above my level of skill. What I found was here Replace factory Nav Hard Drive with an SSD - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion - https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-4th-gen-2013-2020/852402-replace-factory-nav-hard-drive-with-an-ssd-4.html#post9954304

So...I have discovered a method to mount and back up the data on your radio's hard drive.
It isn't easy, and it isn't pretty, but it is possible.

Here's the logic:
The radio knows the passcode to unlock the drive. It must send this to the drive every time the drive powers up; that's how ATA Lock works.
Hypothesis: Leaving the drive powered on while you disconnect it from the radio and connect it to a computer should allow the drive to be mounted and read.
Hypothesis test results: SUCCESS!!

Need:
2x SATA Extension cables (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O077B4W worked great)
1x usb3 sata drive adapter
Computer running drive imaging software (AOMEI Backupper Standard works great on Windows to create a whole drive image)

How:
Remove Radio
Remove bracket covering Drive
Remove Drive
Install sata extension cable 1 inside Radio
Install sata extension cable 2 on usb3 sata adapter
Connect power cable from sata extension 2 to drive
Connect sata cable from sata extension 1 to drive
Turn on usb3 sata adapter to supply power to the drive
Turn on car to acc mode
Wait ten seconds for Radio to boot fully
Remove sata cable from drive (leave power connected)
Connect sata cable from usb3 sata adapter to drive
Connect usb3 sata adapter usb cable to computer
Drive partitions should be seen by Windows
Optional: turn off car
Use drive imaging software to back up drive image
Use that image file and the imaging software to restore backup, perhaps to SSD (not yet tested)

Drive Info: Toshiba MK1060GSC
Layout
Pri 25GB FAT32 MAP (navigation map files)
Pri 25GB FAT32 WORK (for map update staging?)
Pri 8MB RAW
Extended Partition
Log 8MB RAW
Log 8MB RAW
Log 8MB RAW
Log 8MB RAW
Log 8MB RAW
Log 2.1GB FAT32 RFDBMNG (metadata for usb drives?)
Log 3.58GB FAT32 HD9 (Nav history, fuel finder, phonebook, ringtones, screen interfaces, enform apps)
Log 8MB RAW
Log 1GB FAT32 HD11 (Gracenote CDDB)
Log 3.51GB FAT32 HD12 (logs, diagnostics)
Log 1.62 FAT32 104137-8211 (custom images)
Log 8MB RAW



Sadly, the apps and interfaces are compiled and monolithic. I was hoping to find interfaces using some modern interface markup framework that would be customizable, but it's not so.

Things seem messy in general. For example:
Message tones are in HD9/RING_TONE/MESSAGE encoded as .pcm.
Ring tones are in HD9/RING_TONE/PHONE encoded as .mp3.

Hopefully that helps someone.

 

[truthworldwide]

Has anyone pulled a partsyard nav unit and plugged it in? I read where a few guys went several model years newer.

Replace factory Nav Hard Drive with an SSD - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion

GS - 4th Gen (2013-2020) - Replace factory Nav Hard Drive with an SSD - I recently fixed a problem with a defective fan in my factory stereo and upon dissemble realized we have a 100GB 4200 rpm 2.5 hard drive that stores all the software and factory nav. I think my old windows 98 computer had a...

www.clublexus.com