I have a 2016 Nissan Maxima Platinum built in May 2015 that came with map version 13-14YEAR. So when I got an offer for $20 off the new maps from Nissan a couple of weeks ago and since we are planning a road trip this summer through some states we’ve never traveled through, I ordered them. I got them installed this afternoon in 25 to 30 minutes.

First, save the packing slip. It has the 16 digit “Active Code” that you will need.

Second, the instructions are pretty good and the on screen displays walk you through the entire process with a couple of exceptions.

Step 1 says “Turn the power switch to the [off] position”. This is the engine start/stop button, not the power button on the radio/navigation unit.


Step 4 says “Turn the power switch to the [on] position”. Start the car engine. Don’t just turn on the accessories. Let the engine run through the entire process.

Step 9 says to enter the Active Code when the below screen appears. It takes a while for that screen to appear. First I got the Nissan emblem displayed and then the Nissan Connect logo. I got worried because I never got Nissan Connect to work and I didn’t have my phone with me either. Then I got a blank screen. Now I was really worried. I waited and waited, staring at the blank screen thinking now what do I do? Well, after two or three full minutes I got the screen to enter my active code.

Still step 9. After entering my number and pressing OK, it says to “make sure that the system starts automatically and the map appears”. After another two to three minutes of worrying and staring at a blank screen, it finally started and displayed the map. Success!!!

The good news. They are the 17-18YEAR version.

 

Very good instructions. The part about letting the engine run through the entire process is very important. Any interruption of power during the installation process can result in a real mess.

Nissan is gradually making improvements in this navi map update process. My dealer worked for over an hour on each of on two consecutive days and never was able to update the navi maps on my 2009 Premium Maxima. And it took him an hour and a half (granted, with interruptions) on my 2016 Platinum. Max8 makes it seem like a reasonable process, if one is willing to stare at a blank screen for worrisome lengths of time.

 

Yes, thank you very much Max8. Nice write up. I suggest the moderator make this a sticky.

 

Thanks, Light and compyelc4! Another thing, my address book remained in tact. I was a little worried about that.

 

This write up is much appreciated. Did you notice any other sytem "updates" besides the map database? One thing I get is that patience seems to be the best quality to have here.

 

Yes, patience is the key. And yes, several things were updated. I don't remember the names, but during the update the screen showed many different items being updated. Firmware was one of them. By the way you start with the new map chip, the switch to the old map chip, then back to the new, then the old and finally back to the new map chip before the update is done.

 

Was this done via CD's of SD card?

 

The maps are on the SD card above the CD slot.

 

Has anyone dumped the content of the SD cards anywhere? I have the SD card for the 2016 but I would like to compare it to the 2017 and 2018 models. I know they are set per SN but I would like to still compare them. If some one has a 2017 with Apple CarPlay or 2018 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto then I can set up a place to publicly dump the files that are on the SD cards if you are willing to copy them for us.

Also if anyone is looking for map updates for your Nissan here is where you can get them.
http://nissan.navigation.com/home/en_US/NissanNA/USD

 

Bump. this may have been asked already but is there DRM in the SD cards that load up maps and updates the maps? like would someone be able to make a copy and reinstall simply by putting a copy of the SD card onto a different SD card?

 

This is a great question. I didn't run into one when I was looking at the SD card that I have. I will go look again. If it does there are ways around that.

 

I checked the 2016 Maxima I purchased in January 2018, the map version was 14-15. The car was manufactured 01/16.

So, just like that, I went online and ordered a new update. I'm glad @Max8 posted this information.

Thanks @Max8!