How to Use My Toyota Navigation System
by Suzette Barnard
Nearly all new Toyotas sold today, from the Matrix to the Prius, have a built-in navigation system available. The GPS is built into the vehicle's stereo system and uses a navigation CD, a connection to global-positioning satellites and a sensor that monitors your vehicle's speed to display maps of where you are and calculate driving directions.
Toyota's navigation system works like any other GPS device: You specify where you want to go, whether it's a specific address or a point of interest, and the unit will give you turn-by-turn directions and an estimated time of arrival.
In addition, Toyota's unit has a voice recognition system that allows you to input information by speaking instead of typing into an on-screen keyboard.
Step 1
Turn on your stereo/navigation system unit and press the "Dest" button on the left side.
Step 2
Make sure the search area is set correctly. On the small map of the United States in the upper right corner of the display, highlight the correct region for your chosen destination.
Step 3
Choose the type of destination you want to map. Your options include: a specific address, a point of interest ("POI") by name or subject or an "Emergency" location, such as a police station or hospital.
Step 4
Follow the prompts to enter specifics about your destination. If you need to navigate to a specific address, for example, you will enter the street number and then the street name. When finished, touch "Enter" and the system will formulate three routes.
Step 5
Choose one of the three options: The quickest route, an optional quick route or the shortest-distance route.
Step 6
Follow the turn-by-turn directions provided.
Step 7
Use the "Voice" button on the right side of your steering wheel to access the voice-recognition system. In addition to allowing you to orally enter data, this will allow you to make any needed changes to your route while driving.
Step 8
Use the "Menu" button to change the navigational system's volume or other settings.
Tips
- To enter navigation data using the on-screen keyboard, your vehicle must be stopped. You cannot access that keyboard while driving. To make route changes while driving, you must use the voice-recognition system.
Writer Bio
Suzette Barnard has been writing for newspapers since 1990. Her work has appeared in publications like "The Columbia Missourian" and "The Edwardsville Intelligencer" in southern Illinois. Barnard holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia.
