Hello All,

I mostly lurk these excellent forums and don't post much because most topics have been covered a dozen times already. In regards to my problem, I have already searched here and other places on the net. However, I still haven't found any definitive answers. So, here is my thank you in advance if anyone can offer some help to me.

Here are the facts:

• 2005 Acura RL with approx. 95K
• Navi screen is black, but seems to be "turning on". Nothing is ever displayed, include the PIN screen.
• LCD above Navi screen is working
• Radio controls work
• Climate controls work
• Interface Dial and surrounding buttons do not work
• Voice button and back button on steering wheel does not work (no beeps)
• All other buttons on steering wheel work, including HFL
• All interior fuses have been checked
• New OEM Acura RL battery was installed less than 6 months ago.
• Independent Acura mechanic's shop verified battery voltage is good, but one terminal was a little loose. They tightened it.
• Navi unit in trunk has power. I can eject and insert Navi disk. Navi disk is spotless.
• Battery was disconnected by independent shop to see if something would reset. Didn't work.
• All other buttons seem to work like trunk release, fuel door, etc.

The independent shop "tested" some things and they believe the Navi screen has gone bad. Yet, they weren't sure why all of the buttons and the interface dial are dead. Based on what I have read here, the consensus would seem to indicate the Navi Unit in the trunk needs to go back to Alpine for repair. What does everyone think?

 

good convo here: https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-rl-audio-bluetooth-electronics-navigation-90/my-navi-screen-blacked-out-852801/

Could the battery be bad?

 

OP said batter yreplaced 6 mo ago

OP - does the climate control screen or trip info screen display or is display black all the time. If black all the time, I'd suspect bad screen.

 

Replaced battery doesnt always mean a good one.

 

ok, but once the car starts, alternator takes over.

 

I wont debate this one, standing down... you will read a lot of issues caused by a battery that occur once the car is started.

 

OK, I'll agree on that, but most of those issues seem to be sensor related.
I'd be surprised if this was battery related.

 

I don't think it is the battery either. The independent Acura shop checked it.

The screen is black all of the time. Nothing displays on it, but you can tell it is lit. To me, a bad screen wouldn't explain why all of the interface dial and voice command buttons are dead.

 

I missed that part - probably nav unit as you suspected.

 

Maybe I will try to short the terminals next? That'll wipeout all my presets though, right?

 

like getakey said. nav unit in the trunk. i had the same problem. got it fixed

 

Hot damn! I fixed it! I followed the steps for a "master reset" described in this link:

http://www.justanswer.com/acura/56jl...n-display.html

Sure enough, after I hooked the battery back up and started the car, the navi screen came on with a downloading message screen. It took about 5 minutes for this to finish. I put in the navi code and I was back in business.

I AM SO HAPPY!

:gheywave:

 

turned out to be the battery reset... crazy

Glad you got it fixed.

 

very cool

 

So, I'm on my way home from work today and the navi screen goes black again and the buttons go dead like before. Doh!

I jumped the terminals again and its all working for now. I must have a short somewhere or the navi is on the way out. Argh!

 

Navi is on its way out.

Sucks, but a power cycle fixing the issue is usually an electronic malfunction. Your biggest problem is finding the issue. It could be just the screen, or it could be the head unit. Do any nav voice commands work when it's out? Maybe try setting a destination, letting it go out and seeing if it still gives audible directions. That would be a good indication.

 

bummer - was hoping you were all good to go

 

I've gotten through the weekend without any navi problems.

About the same time the navi problems started, the car threw the SH-AWD and VSA errors too. The car also went FWD only. This went away overnight the first time. Well, today these came on again and the RL is back to FWD. I'm starting to think seriously about selling or trading in Phat Betty. I love the car otherwise, but these electrical gremlins have me seriously concerned about the long-term reliability of this car. I had planned on driving it into the ground. Now? I'm not so sure...

 

@ phat betty.

I'd like to see what happens if you trade out that battery.

 

^Fresh battery might be worth to try. And at the same time check the connections.

 

Yeah, I think I will get a second opinion on the battery. The SH-AWD and VSA warning lights were off this morning as I drove into work. However, right after I got off the interstate and decelerated to a stop at a traffic light, they came back on again. I'm really thinking about leaving Phat Betty for another woman, er, I mean car.

 

So, if this whole thing is because of the poor battery you gonna "re cycle" the car, wow

 

Wow, has anyone suggested a battery?

After your last post about coming off the interstate you may want to get the alternator checked too.

 

Battery.

 

Harsh! Here's the rub. Just for fun, I test drove 2 cars yesterday, an 07 Volvo S60R and a 07 Saab 9-3 Aero wagon. I thought they were both fun to drive in their own ways. I actually liked the Saab better since it seemed sharper then the Volvo (very fast, but lousy turning radius!). However, when I got back in my RL, I still much preferred it. It is just so solid, refined, and stable! I decided that I just can't give up on Phat Betty yet.

However, the drama continues. I think a whole hive of electrical gremlins have moved into my car. Here's the newest thing. So, as I explained yesterday, the SH-AWD and VSA error messages came on as I drove to work. When I went home for the night, they were off and then a TPMS error message eventually came on. It was off again this morning but came on again while driving to work.

On the plus side, Phat Betty hasn't taken the navi away from me for a few days now. I'm wondering if she was mad at me since I shut her up by turning most of the voice stuff off? Hmm? Women!

I'm going to take my RL to the local Acura dealer today or tomorrow and have them take a look at it. The bad thing is they always provide a fairly current model TL or something as a loaner. Oh my! I'll have to be on guard to defy their fiendish plan to up-sell me to something newer and more expensive! I really hope it is a bad battery or a loose connection somewhere. Something tells me it is worse than that though.

Stay tuned...

 

Dealer? Have you thought about having the battery and alternator checked?

The parts slinger stores will look up Betty's skirt fo free .99.

 

For the same price as a dealer diagnosis, you could buy a new battery. If that doesn't fix it, sell it or the old one on Craigslist and then go to the dealer.

Even Acura has acknowledged that a slew of codes is symptomatic of battery issues. If you had one recurring issue, I may think otherwise, but this many "gremlins" means your battery is defective.

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-rl-2005-2012-76/i-005-signs-dying-battery-863206/

 

Okay, okay! I'll stop by the Autozone on the way home to have my battery and alternator checked.

 

$10 says it "passes" their test but is still the issue.

 

That's what I am worried about. I haven't had good experience with their "experts" in the past. Hence the reason I think paying the $79 to the dealer for a diagnosis is worthwhile.

 

Subscribed for updated results.

 

When they say it passes, ask em how good it is.
There is an indicator that shows them "new" vs "good" vs "pass"

 

Autozone typically has a good battery tester that puts it through multiple stress tests. A battery my Dealer said was good tested bad at Autozone

 

one of the few times I disagree with you
Autozone wants to sell batteries!

 

That depends on the how shitty their day is.

 

nah - there is 1 reason Autozone has a battery tester that:
1) puts the battery through a stress test
2) its automatic and employee can't mess it up
3) prints a very detailed report

they will sell more batteries

 

troof.

 

I stopped at both Autozone and O'Reilly on the way home today. Both had about the same results. The battery and alternator are "good". 12.54v/84% for the battery and 13.77v for the alternator under load. I still think I'm going to spring for the $79 dealer diagnostic.

Strangely, Betty was very quiet on the way home today. No more nagging error messages.

 

84% is marginal to me.

 

12.54v/84% is not a stress test