How to install a car navigation system cheaply? Compare the wages of each car supply store & recommended kit for DIY

As a way to install a car navigation system cheaply, I will introduce how to ask a car supply store where the installation fee is cheap and how to install it by DIY. Compare car navigation installation fees from 4 car supply stores & introduce DIY installation methods and recommended kits. If you are a beginner and want to install it yourself, we recommend a portable navigation system.

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How to keep the cost of installing a car navigation system low?

A car navigation system is now an essential item for driving. Although it is convenient to install a car navigation system in a car, many people think that at least the installation cost can be reduced. There are two main ways to save on car navigation installation costs.

First of all, I want advice when purchasing a car navigation system! If so, please refer to this article.

Lecture by Yumi Yoshida! How to choose a car navigation system and drive recorder wisely?

1. Compare car navigation installation fees from 4 car supply stores! where is the cheapest?

Let's compare the car navigation installation wages of a total of four companies, including three nationwide car supply stores and one major car maintenance shop. If you can find a shop with low labor costs, it should help you save on the cost of installing a car navigation system.

In addition, the wages compared here are basically the standard rates listed on the official websites of each company. Please note that wages may vary depending on the store.

Autobacs is the long-established car parts store in Japan. At AUTOBACS, installation fees for car navigation systems are set as follows.

All of the above are minimum work prices, and may vary depending on conditions such as the type of vehicle and car navigation system to be installed.

Popular ranking of drive recorders you can buy at AUTOBACS

Yellow Hat is a major car supply store that stands shoulder to shoulder with AUTOBACS. At Yellow Hat, the installation fees for car navigation systems are as follows.

I could not confirm the installation fee of the portable navigation system on the official website. According to blogs and Twitter posts, the installation fee for a portable navigation system at Yellow Hat seems to be within 2,000 to 5,000 yen.

James is a car goods store operated by a Toyota-affiliated company. James does not publish the cost of installing car navigation systems on its website. After checking some user blogs, it seems that the market price for installing a normal car navigation system at James is 15,000 yen.

[A new option for purchasing a car! ? ] James's "delivery discount" is a new service that you will lose if you don't know!

"Car Convenience Club", a car maintenance shop that operates nationwide. Car Convenience Club's car navigation installation fee is as follows.

The above prices are just a guideline, but it seems that the installation fee for car navigation systems at Car Convenience Club is more expensive than at other stores. I couldn't find any information on the official website about the installation fee of the portable navigation system.

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The wages introduced so far are basically for when the car navigation unit is purchased at the relevant store. Of course, the selling price of car navigation systems varies from one car parts store to another.

When purchasing a car navigation system at a car accessory store, be sure to compare not only the labor cost but also the price of the car navigation system itself.

[The strongest car navigation system] Recommended popularity ranking and how to choose | Latest information in 2020

Can a car parts store install a car navigation system that I purchased elsewhere?

By using an online shop, you may be able to purchase a car navigation system at a lower price than in a physical store. If you buy a car navigation system cheaply online and have it installed at a cheap car parts store, you can save a lot of money.

However, it doesn't really work that way. The handling of bringing in a car navigation system varies from car accessory store to car accessory store, and major chain stores may not accept it.

In addition, although it is possible to bring in a car navigation system, there are cases where there are conditions for the equipment to be brought in, and there are cases where the labor cost is expensive, so be careful.

Let me give you an example of the conditions for bringing in a car navigation system. At some AUTOBACS stores, the conditions for bringing in a car navigation system are set as follows.

・Car navigation systems brought in are limited to new products sold by Amazon (excluding marketplaces)・Installation target vehicles are limited to domestic passenger cars・Car navigation system installation wages start at 22,000 yen・Portable navigation system installation wages are 6,500 yen Than

As mentioned above, AUTOBACS' conditions for bringing in a car navigation system are somewhat strict, and the wages are relatively high. When purchasing a car navigation system online, be sure to check these conditions for installation.

Is it a good deal to install at a car navigation store?

Although the number is small, in recent years there have been several shops that claim to be car navigation specialists. There are shops that carry out on-site installation for wide areas, so there is no loss if you check it as a request destination for car navigation installation.

However, the market price for installing a car navigation system at a car navigation specialty store is 15,000 to 20,000 yen. Also, if you request a business trip, a separate fee of around 4,000 yen will be charged.

Compared to major car parts stores, car navigation specialty stores are not particularly cheap. Before deciding whether or not to use a car navigation specialty store, compare the wages with those of other car supply stores.

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2. How to install a car navigation system by DIY

If you install the car navigation system you purchased DIY (= yourself), you can save labor costs. Installing a car navigation system is not a difficult task, although it takes time. This section describes how to install a general car navigation system.

When installing a car navigation system with DIY, please prepare the following items in advance.

The tools necessary for installing a car navigation system are easily available at home centers and online stores.

Nichiban film cloth tape 2 rolls for light packaging 50mm x 25m 18550-2P white

1,116 yen (as of 03/19 14:08)

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Information on Amazon is posted

KTC Handy Remover AP201-10A

681 yen (as of 03/19 14:08)

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Amazon information is posted

Cable Clip, 35pack, Cord Clip, Cable Holder, Cord Hook, Wiring, Storage, Adhesive Wire Cord,…

829 yen (as of 03/19 14:08)

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Vinyl tape, HoryKu 6 colors electrical insulation tape Harness tape Heat resistant tape 17mm x 9m …

999 yen (as of 03/19 14:08)

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Here is information from Amazon

It is safe and reliable to install the car navigation system by DIY by following the steps below.

To safely install the car navigation system, disconnect the negative terminal of the car battery before starting work. We recommend that you finish pasting the film antenna before the inside of the car is cluttered with parts.

I will briefly introduce the point of installing a car navigation system.

Carefully remove the panel that secures the car audio. Be careful not to use force to remove the panel as it may break.

In addition, the hazard switch wiring is connected to the car audio panel. When removing the panel, be careful not to disconnect the wiring.

The wiring connection work of the car navigation system is not as difficult as you might think. The harness (bundle of wiring) that comes with a typical car navigation system has bullet terminals at the tip. On the other hand, the tip of the harness extending from the car body is generally a coupler (square connector).

The following products are examples.

Amon Y type connection terminal M259 for bullet terminal

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Navik (NAVC) power distribution cord for Mitsubishi vehicles NBC-1531M

1,322 yen (as of 03/19 14:08)

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Here is information from Amazon

Since the terminals on the car side and the navigation side are different in shape, it is necessary to connect the two using the harness that comes with the installation kit. It's easy to do though.

The color of each cord of the harness attached to the car navigation system and the harness of the installation kit are standardized. If you match the color of the cord and connect the bullet terminals together, there will be no wiring mistakes.

Once you have connected the bullet terminals, all you have to do is connect the coupler on the vehicle body and the coupler on the installation kit to complete the basic wiring.

The antenna for GPS reception of the car navigation system is generally pasted on the back of the dashboard. Route the wiring for the GPS antenna and the wiring for the film antenna behind the glove box. Each antenna cord has extra length, so wrap it up with tie wraps or vinyl tape.

Portable navigation recommended for beginners

Panasonic portable car navigation system Gorilla CN-G530D 5-inch 1Seg SSD16GB battery built-in PND 2019 model…

35,145 yen (as of 03/19 14:08)

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Here is information from Amazon

A portable navigation device is a small car navigation system that can be detached and carried around, and is sometimes called a PND (portable navigation device or personal navigation device).

Because it is "portable", you can share it with multiple vehicles, or consider your driving route slowly at home.

In car navigation systems that are fixed to the console, the in-vehicle wiring such as the antenna and power supply is complicated, so it is common to ask a store or dealer to install it, but in the case of a portable navigation system, you can simply connect it to the cigarette lighter socket. There are products that can be used immediately, and it is also characterized by being easy to install even for beginners.

What are the differences between a portable navigation system and a stationary car navigation system, other than the installation method?

You probably know that GPS is used to determine the position of your car in your car navigation system. Both use GPS, but in stationary car navigation systems, in addition to GPS, the position is measured by multiple methods such as the vehicle's speed pulse and gyro sensor, so the measurement error is smaller than that of portable navigation systems. increase.

Portable navigation systems that can be removed and carried around usually have 5- to 7-inch screens. Stationary car navigation systems usually have a screen size of 7 inches or more, making it easier to see.

The price range of portable navigation systems is around 20,000 yen to 60,000 yen, and some of the cheaper ones are sold for less than 10,000 yen. On the other hand, a stationary car navigation system costs 100,000 to 300,000 yen, which is a big difference. Stationary car navigation systems have many useful functions such as high-quality audio, ETC, and linkage with a back camera, but the drawback is that they tend to be more expensive.

There are differences above, but if you want to use a car navigation system with minimal functionality, portable navigation systems are an attractive candidate.

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Is there a set position for the portable navigation system?

There are no special rules for the installation position of the portable navigation system. Because it is small and can be removed, it can be said that the degree of freedom in the installation location is high.

However, it must be installed so as not to block the driver's view according to the visibility standards for the driver's seat stipulated in the safety standards for road vehicles. Considering the location where the driver can easily check the screen while driving and does not get in the way of operating other devices, it is often installed near the center of the dashboard.

Sometimes we see people using suction cups to attach portable navigation systems to their windshields.

However, according to the safety standards for road transportation vehicles, the devices that can be attached to the window glass are limited to ETC and drive recorders, and unfortunately portable navigation systems are not included, so it is a violation.

Since the portable navigation system is surprisingly heavy, it is possible that the suction cup may come off due to sudden braking. In addition, many of the suction cups for fixing the base are transparent, and when attached to the window glass, the suction cups act as a magnifying glass and may cause a fire in the car.

Avoid attaching the portable navigation system to the windshield and make sure it is firmly fixed.

Does driving while driving include car navigation, hands-free, and smartphone holder operations?

How to install a portable navigation system is easy

Even if you purchase a portable navigation system, many people may be unsure if they can do it themselves when it comes to installation. Here, we will explain how to attach a portable navigation system to the dashboard as an example.

Portable navigators typically come with a base for attaching to the dashboard. Temporarily place the portable navigation system and base on the dashboard and find a position that is as level and easy to see as possible.

Once you have determined the mounting position, remove dirt and oil from the surrounding area. Degrease the dashboard with parts cleaner or a cloth soaked in diluted neutral detergent. Especially when using parts cleaner, if you apply it directly, it may damage the dashboard, so spray it on a waste cloth before using it.

Once the base is fully degreased, attach the base to the dashboard using the included double-sided tape or suction cup.

Once the base is firmly fixed, place the portable navigation at a comfortable viewing angle.

At this time, if the vertical or horizontal angle is too large, the GPS error may increase, so it is better not to set the angle too much.

For safety reasons, some portable navigation systems can only be operated with the parking brake applied. In such a case, navigation cannot be used unless it is connected to the parking brake line. Connect to the parking brake line using the included electrotap.

If you do not know the location of the parking brake wire or the color of the wire, contact the manufacturer or dealer for help.

After inserting the power cable of the portable navigation system into the cigarette lighter socket, connect the power supply to the main unit and check if it works properly.

Installation of a portable navigation system requires unexpected ingenuity

A disadvantage of portable navigation systems is that the power supply and parking wiring tend to be exposed.

Although it takes a little more work, you can run this wiring through the opening in the dashboard or scrape a part of the panel and pass it through to make it look neater. You can add a cigar socket at your feet or process it so that it can be connected to the vehicle's accessory power supply.

Always remove the battery when handling power wires to prevent short circuits.

Tsuchiya Yak Portable Navi Visor VP-72

991 yen (as of 03/19 14:08)

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Amazon information is posted

Portable navigation systems, which are often installed on the dashboard, are often exposed to direct sunlight, making it difficult to see the screen. The sun visor for portable navigation makes it easier to see the screen by blocking the sunlight.

Depending on the car model, there may be a place (DIN space) for installing car navigation and audio.

If there is a DIN space that is not being used, there are boxes and arms that can be used to secure portable navigation systems and tablets to car parts stores.

[Summary] If you buy the main unit at a car supply store, have it installed. However, it doesn't matter if it's cheap or bad. Regardless of whether you install a car navigation system at a car parts store or DIY, don't be too particular about the price. For safe use, it is important to perform reliable installation.

Especially if you buy a cheap car navigation system at a car supply store, we recommend that you leave the installation together. On the other hand, if you buy a cheap main unit by mail order and bring it in, the wage tends to be expensive, so be careful.

[The strongest car navigation system] Recommended popularity ranking and how to choose | Latest information in 2020