Worked out well then. What model year was the DVD drive from? If it was a 2009+, you may have added functionality to your RL (i.e. NavWeather).

 

Score!!!

 

It was an 06 (6/06) mine was 11/05.

Just a note, that my RL service manual showed 6 connectors, but I could only Find 5 in the trunk. Upon further review of the manual, the 6th connector is if you have a backup camera. I don't, but thought I'd note it. Actually, there are 7 plugs in the back of the unit. 1 not used, 1 for the backup camera, and 5 that get used.

Service manuals are worth there weight in gold, even for something as simple as this.

 

I bought my 05 RL with 36K and the Navi never worked right. It is on point as to show me where I am so I only use it as a map. Anytime I try to go to information screen, it'll just reboot or lock up. Forget about directions, I've never been able to get it so that I can input directions without it locking up on me. I asked the dealer and they said that I needed to buy a current DVD, I just don't think that is what is making it freeze up. I just learned to live without any functions of the gps. But, sadly and annoyingly, I just use the wife's TOMTOM, when I really need directions.

 

I just Purchased my '05 Acura RL and the damn Navi just went out. It works on start-up but give it 2 min and its a black screen. I searched the salvage yard site that the OP listed in this thread and found a salvage yard that had one for $150 and a 90 day warranty. Hope it works out, ill post my experience. If it does I see a rear camera/Navtool in my future!!

 

when i worked at acura, i actually experienced the freezing problem on a few 2005 RL.

on map only, everything works fine. But when a destination is programmed and i drove by a few particular places, they all froze (i asked for different cities knowing the Navi would guide me using that path, and all 2005 RL froze at the exact same spot on the highway....it didn't matter where i was starting from, as soon as i drove past that particular spot when Navi was asked for a destination, it froze)

i replaced the DVD by a newer version as Honda Techline suggested me to, and it worked fine after that ! It was a software glitch that caused the problem.

Though, i've never had the problem as you describe, that you cannot even get it to ask for a destination.

 

I had my Nav. head changed in my 2005 RL in about 2006 or 2007. It's not the best system, pretty buggy.

 

I have a 2004 TL with a Navigation system that I have used less than a dozen times. I have about 97,000 miles on the car. About 2 weeks ago I started getting a "DVD read error, Pleas consult dealer" i hadn't updated the map since 2011 so I paid Acura $162 for the new DVD thinking that would fix my problem. It didn't. I am now getting "DVD read error" & "Dvd read error (incorrect disc)" i called the Acura dealer who explained they had been sending the units off to Alpine but it was taking 3-4 months to return & they weren't fixed so they stopped doing that and are only installing new units that cost $3000!! My car MAY be worth $8000 so it's not worth the cost. I called Alpine & they assured me they canrepair for $358 & it would take 5-7 business days. Is it worth it?