Hey Folks,


I have read up on the details on updating my base 08 RL to have navigation. My question is how easy is it to work with the factory Nav unit.


I presently use my phone with google maps. Type in the first 3 letters and the place shows up and I'm ready to go quickly. Is it the same on the factory navigation unit? Just wondering how cumbersome or easy it is before I buy one for the car. Thanks for the help!

 

The technology is from 2004. You have to enter letters with the knob collar one by one. The menu will reduce all entries based on your input, but the process is tedious and slow. I only used my nav for directions once or twice. All other times, I just scrolled around and used it as a map.

 

If you search the forum, I vaguely remember an aftermarket interface that would permit you to USB connect your phone and the Navi screen displays the phone screen. You use the phone voice commands (Siri, Google or Cortana) and the voice responses transmit via the stereo.

Do some research, I would be surprised someone has not developed this by now as most phone users will never be satisfied with car tech.

Getting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in your car is easier than you think | The Verge

 

When I do enter addresses on the nav unit, try using the voice commands. They actually work decently well. For example, you can say the city name and it will usually show the correct name. This is a lot faster than typing out one letter at a time. Next, you can speak the entire street name. For the actual street number, I just type it out one at a time.

 

Hey Folks,

Thanks for the feedback. Well I found a unit on ebay for $150 so I said for that price let me give it a shot. You guys were right. I haven't tried the voice command just yet. I do like the bigger screen and it has some advantages.

I did notice something odd. Now my heat/ac control work different. I turn up the fan speed it speaks back but the fan speed doesn't change. It always says AC on. Before you would press down the big knob and you could toggle back and forth between heat and ac. No more. Anybody have an idea what happened or what I can check? Thanks!

 

There is likely climate control software conflicts. The NAVI equipped RLs also have solar sensing auto climate control that ties into the GPS. Since your car was originally a Non - NAVI model, it would not have this feature and the software interface for climate control would be different. In short, the climate control is integrated to the NAVI system.

 

Here is a better description from Honda:

"GPS-LINKED, SOLAR-SENSING, DUAL-ZONE, DUAL-MODE AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM

The RL has a GPS-linked, solar-sensing, dual-zone, dual-mode automatic climate control system that lets the driver and front passenger set temperature modes to their individual liking. A pair of large adjustable vents in the rear of the center console keep the rear seat area comfortable. Large, simple to use system controls are positioned within easy reach, just below the center instrument panel vents. The system can also be controlled by voice, and some seldom-needed custom settings can also be accessed through the Interface Dial. The climate control system's control logic is now designed to provide smoother operation with less pronounced and obvious changes in airflow.

With its position-sensing ability, the navigation system contributes to overall passenger comfort with 3D solar sensing. Based on its continuously updated vehicle position information, the navigation system determines the position of the sun relative to the driver and passenger. Combining this information with input from a solar sensor located on top of the instrument panel, the climate control system automatically adjusts the temperature and airflow from side to side as needed to compensate for asymmetrical solar heating.

System operation can be customized to suit the preferences of the driver and front seat passenger. Using the navigation screen and the Interface Dial, the temperature of the air flowing through the upper vents can be lowered relative to that of the air flowing from the footwell vents."

2005 Acura RL Interior Part 1 - Honda.com

 

Thanks for the response and information. So does this mean time to go back to the non-Navi unit?

 

Maybe not. My theory above may be incorrect.

If you haven't already, read this thread on successful conversions of non NAVI to NAVI. None of the conversions report a climate control conflict. Perhaps you have a wiring issue as the voice works, but the climate control does not respond. I do not recall if the NAVI DVD updates voice commands, but that may also be a possibility. Hopefully it is a simple wiring connection issue.

https://acurazine.com/forums/audio-b...ersion-499970/

Don't give up yet. And does not the climate control work with the manual switches?

 

Thanks for that link. Yes, I have read it in the past which gave me the confidence to do the conversion. I will go back and read thru it again in case I missed something on climate control.

I did not try the voice command yet. I hit the AC button like I use to for manual control. It said AC on and try to turn the heat on but nothing. Scrolled to change the vent/ floor settings I heard voice back saying the change but the screen had no change. I also adjusted the fan speed it would go up when I turned the dial and said it back but then it would go back to the previous fan speed setting. Only when I put the AUTO button on it would stay at fan speed 3 saying AC on. I made sure on install all connectors were on good.

I appreciate the help and saying not to give up.

 

Just providing an update.


This morning I start the car and the Nav screen comes right up. It's 23 degrees outside. I hit the AC button on the right and the screen comes up but I can't control it manually. I hit the button to increase fan speed, voice replies correctly, you see the screen fan setting go up as I am turning the knob but then drops right down. Fan speed does nothing.


I then hit the Auto button and the fan speed kicks on to setting 5. It states Ac OFF. OK, that's good I have heat. I don't know how the Auto setting works since I always use the manual control previously. I set it to 68 so it's not too hot. After 10 min of driving the fan speed drops to 4 and then 5 minutes later drops to 3. So is that how the auto climate works? I prefer the manual so I can control it.


Good thing I have heat. Now need some help just to figure out how to control manually. Thanks!

 

On my NAVI equipped RL, when hitting Auto, the a/c always turns on. Only if you manually hit the a/c soft button (within the a/c menu) does the condenser turn off. But all other functions remain in "auto" mode in that it will adjust itself manually based on climate conditions.

 

I have noticed mine does the same thing when you hit AUTO for climate control. Seems like heat works and adjusts as it reaches the correct inside temp.
So that is good.

I have no control to shift to manual mode and to be able to adjust the floor/vent/defrost setting. When you say soft AC button do you mean the small AC button on the right?

 

I mean the A/C button to the right of the dial. Pushing that buttons brings up a screen on the navi display for manual control of A/C. One of the options is to manually turn off the A/C (condenser).

 

Hi....Yes, that is the button I hit for manual control. When I'm in AUTO mode hitting that button has no effect. I need to turn off AUTO and then hit the AC button for the manual screen to come up. I turn the dial to increase fan speed you see the screen levels move up but then disappear and fan does nothing. I hit the knob down to go into the mode control. Again spin the dial and no effect.

This loss of Manual control has come up since I updated the car with a NAVI unit. Previous the car had no Navi.

 

That doesn't make much sense, and this is the first time I have heard of that occurring. At the risk of sounding like I just run around this forum telling everyone to reset their car, I think you should reset the car at the battery. Sounds like your electronics aren't talking to each other correctly.

 

OK, thanks! I will try the battery reset. I appreciate including the instructions. Since it's an RL I guess I need to leave the ignition in the Off position. I will try that tonite when I get home.

 

I would not disconnect the battery cables without the ignition off. That's not what the instruction was anyway. Turning the key to "On" is supposed to be done after the cables have been removed and are being held together.

 

I performed the battery reset test but no change and I'll describe how I did it.

First I want to say thank you to 007spy and everyone else who has taken time from their busy day to help me. I feel embarrassed I can't figure this out.

I disconnected the cables but then it wouldn't let me move from the Off position to the On position. I connected them again and put the ignition to the first On setting. Disconnected the cables, put them together, then turn switch to 2nd ON setting, held cables together for 30+ seconds, return ignition to OFF position, took cables apart and then reinstall on battery.

No change unfortunately.

 

It was a long shot. I wonder if your new equipment is damaged. Perhaps a rear end collision is what originally sent it your way? There are many who have performed the upgrade. You could try to track them down to see if there is correlation.

 

I was also wondering if the unit has an internal issue causing that problem. Not sure how exactly the NAVI affects the heat and AC functions. I'll try to reach out to others. I really appreciate the help.

 

Hey Folks,


Just wanted to report back all is working fine now. Went back and cleaned all contact points and one connector especially was giving me a hard time. Once all cleaned up and reinstalled for a 3rd time all is well. Thanks!