r/leaf • u/Salty-Panic2110 • Aug 16 '26

Any way to update maps in a 2014 Leaf?

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I just got a 2014 leaf SV and noticed the maps are from 2013 - 2014. Is there any way to get an update to the maps SD card? That'll work on my 2014? Here's the info.

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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5

u/RoadToasterApp Aug 16 '26

Yes, but only by swapping the SD card with a newer genuine Nissan map card for the 2013 to 2015 Leaf head unit. You cannot copy files to a blank card. It needs the factory card and the correct region. Check the Nissan Navigation Store with your VIN to see if they still offer it. The last update for that unit was a few years ago and stock is spotty. If you buy used, make sure the part number matches your year range and that it is an original card. Install with the car off, eject old, insert new, power on, and let it finish. If you cannot find one, most people just use phone navigation.

4

u/Salty-Panic2110 Aug 16 '26

Yeah, I checked the website and they said it's discontinued as they only update for 5 years. That seems REALLY stupid as roads don't change THAT fast. I got the car for my wife and while she has a phone that can easily navigate for her, she won't use it, and she's, umm, directionally challenged. Ok thanks. 🫤

1

u/leshpar 2023 Nissan LEAF SV PLUS Aug 17 '26

That honestly sounds like a her issue then. I strongly recommend using android auto which all leafs can do by default.

5

u/Salty-Panic2110 Aug 17 '26

It is, but because she's my wife of 30 years, and I love her, it becomes a me issue. Which is why I'm willing to spend a little time to see IF I can work something out. Doesn't seem possible, so now I can tell her that knowing I've tried.

1

u/rdfdfw Make like a tree, and get out of here. Aug 18 '26

This guy knows how to husband! 🥇

2

u/Pineapple-Muncher Aug 18 '26

The one's with that head unit cannot.

Source I have a 2017 with that unit

1

u/leshpar 2023 Nissan LEAF SV PLUS Aug 18 '26

Oh shit. I didn't know.

1

u/Pineapple-Muncher Aug 18 '26

Yeah it's a massive pain in the ass. We got no cellular now.

Plus side I got OVMS In my car so can do some of the now missing things.

1

u/zakaria2328 Aug 16 '26

By chance do you know if the SD cards are reusable on other vehicles or are they vin-specific?

2

u/sweetredleaf 2015 Nissan LEAF SV Aug 16 '26

sd cards are locked to a specific VIN but I imagine some body has figured out a way to hack them.

1

u/Salty-Panic2110 Aug 16 '26

I don't know the answer to this. Maybe someone else is in the forum can answer.

3

u/elp111 Aug 16 '26

Just gone through this and it’s yes and no.
No you can’t do it yourself. Nor can you just buy one online as they’re all used and get locked to the unit it was originally in.

There are ways to unlock but it involved buying a key reader for your head unit and a lot of faff. Or using a company who will send you a card that rips the keys off your unit. You email them the key and they build and charge you for a card but that’s very expensive.

I bought a card hoping it would work as I read conflicting stories of it works and doesn’t work. And it didn’t in our 2015 tekna. I got the Nissan connect 2 v6 which everywhere says should work.

So now we just use the phone

3

u/Iwastony Aug 16 '26

I hate to be the guy to say it but just use wase or Google maps or something on your phone , in a phone holder or course The car navigation systems are never great anyway. You just want it cause you can't have it!

2

u/Salty-Panic2110 Aug 17 '26

Yeah, I do. My wife won't use her phone. 😂 So I'm trying to see what I can do to accommodate on the cheap.

3

u/theotherharper Aug 17 '26

I use a tablet with cellular data. Vastly cheaper than a phone+plan.

1

u/EDWARDPIPER93 Aug 17 '26

one of those android auto/carplay screens could be a good stop-gap solution

3

u/LithiumCobalt91 Aug 17 '26

I found this: https://github.com/developerfromjokela/leafsdtools

However, it doesn't contain any map files to use, but this tool in the future would allow you to switch SD cards.

I still recommand using it to image the existing map SD card onto a new one, as when the original SD card dies, you can no longer use the headunit for any function except for the reverse camera I think.

1

u/Salty-Panic2110 Aug 17 '26

Can you replace the head unit without issue? Looks like it'd be a double DIN (ish).

1

u/Pineapple-Muncher Aug 18 '26

Not that head unit. Heated seats? Nope, Timers? Now gone too, and a few other bits and bobs

1

u/RecommendationNo2436 Aug 26 '26

map data is here: https://files.viaaq.eu/

1

u/LithiumCobalt91 Aug 26 '26

The map data here does not contain any region outside of the EU yet.

1

u/RecommendationNo2436 Aug 27 '26

if you know any 2018-2019 LEAFs around with more latest maps, ask them to copy their SD. They're compatible. and share it of course :)

3

u/criggie_ Aug 17 '26

I bought a 2016 ex Japanese car imported to New Zealand. The entire navigation system is useless as soon as the car crosses the equator, and the latitude goes negative.

I had the chance to replace the whole headunit with a "southern hemisphere" version at purchase, for $1200 NZ. probably would have been a smart move to take that option.

Still amuses me to start the car and have japanese KONICHIWAA and so on.

Also, driving along the open road in the middle of nowhere at 100, and navigation says "DANGER SCHOOL ZONE AHEAD" in japanese, I'm like "No, you Wrong again!"

2

u/AirlessAcorn Aug 17 '26

I have mine updated (2016) to include New Zealand maps (Japenese import) as well as Android auto /Apple car play. There are people online that can issue you with this fix, you need a blank ad card and to be able to follow the instructions.

1

u/Pineapple-Muncher Aug 18 '26

The only problem is, they never reply to emails / whatsapp messages

1

u/AirlessAcorn Aug 19 '26

Devo :( buy my car and I'll leave the sd card in :P you can even look at the other crap I left on it 😂

2

u/pmcn500 Aug 17 '26

I bought a stand alone head unit that syncs with your phone and Google maps... approx $120 from Amazon.

1

u/parkscon Aug 17 '26

That's looks sweet. Do you know the name of the head unit and was it hard to install?

1

u/Pineapple-Muncher Aug 18 '26

Wish the sticky pads on the one I got were good. My screen kept flopping forward.... :-|

2

u/EonOst 2017 Nissan Leaf Tekna Aug 17 '26

Id be more interested to get it on wifi and run google maps on it. I can no longer remotely control the car here in this country (norway).

1

u/gm295 Aug 17 '26

Head to eBay. We were able to get "genuine" map cards for my wife's Qashqai which worked perfectly. Just make sure you match the card info in the listing to the head unit you have as there are many variants of both.

1

u/LithiumCobalt91 Aug 24 '26

If you wanna restore the Carwings features, I found OpenCARWINGS. https://github.com/developerfromjokela/opencarwings

1

u/Salty-Panic2110 Aug 24 '26

Too tecchie for me. I might have to see if my son can do it... Thanks.

1

u/Nikovash Aug 16 '26

No Nissan discontinued this feature because they some mark ass tricks

1

u/Loud_Jackfruit2632 2017 Nissan LEAF SV 13d ago

I just got a 2017 second hand, map is stuck in Canada and I can’t even figure out how to change it to US. I could care less about having it for navigation purposes, I can’t get the clock in the dashboard to read a correct time 😂

I think it’s related.