So I figured it would be a good idea to centralize a thread for our search for the holy grail...ermm...yeah, well the idea of android integration for our vehicles.

I've concluded that if you want to keep the top display, and use the best (reasonably affordable)amp for the Bose DTS system, you're only going to be able to do so with the stock radio installed, so I figure we can organize a system that uses the stock radio with an android head unit to replace the nav screen.

In my particular instance, I want to go a little farther and add a second double din android unit where the radio part of the head unit currently is and lower the radio into the nav selector position by cutting and reattaching the PCB with a ribbon connector to relocate the nav selector into the gap above "not an ashtray"(or possibly remove it entirely if we can replace the button functions with an android app)

I say head unit and not tablet because some of our cars didn't come with backup cam integration and an android head unit seems the best solution for that amenity. Additionally, most head units come with two USB inputs which can be used for peripheral attachments, such as a USB OBD2(Bluetooth tends to be unreliable), as well as the possibility of routing audio in passthrough through the xm2 aux in.

​​​​​​Primary issue I see is finding a way to duplicate the functions that normally require the nav screen. The three absolute necessary functions I see are:

A. climate control status display and a/c turn on-mode select(panel/floor)

B. Audio adjustment functions(Bass, Treble, Fade, EQ, etc)

C. System clock adjustment

I see two potential ways around accomplishing this:

1. port the nav screen video directly to the android screen, retaining the stock nav selector and surrounding buttons, which could be either very simple or very complex depending on the signal inputs. This would make keeping the three functions easier because those items would be returned with the stock software. The negatives of this would be, unless you could find a way to "scrape" those three function screens only, you're stuck with the clunky navigation interface which would require you to somehow select the interface each time you wanted to adjust or turn off the A/C, which would likely be unsafe while driving.

2. Find a way to develop these functions outside of the nav screen interface. This seems the more viable option if you can get an app programmed after you accomplished the hardware version.

To begin to tackle this, I found a thread:

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-audio-bluetooth-electronics-navigation-94/navi-dash-clock-sync-megathread-update-all-should-fixed-now-630065/page17/#post16848804

in the 3G TL forums in which they've developed a means of adjusting the time clock on an aftermarket screen which might be expanded to include all functions necessary to remove the need for the nav screen, and possibly even the DVD drive in the back. Will post momentarily when I find it. Pay particular attention to the highlighted post in which the poster actually shows the harness he made to accomplish this.

I also located an Arduino controlled vehicle A/C system write up which might help in taking up the controls that normally would be on the nav screen. Wondering if any of you electronics geniuses might be able to help adapt it to our vehicle with an output to an android app.

https://projecthub.arduino.cc/hwhardsoft/hvac-car-control-98d5ed

That only leaves the audio settings controls, which might be handled either by an external mixer, or another creative software application that will either need to be found or developed from scratch.

I posted this thread to kind of centralize some of the things I've discovered while researching the problem. What I know about the stock software is that it is essentially a precursor to CANBUS (a US standard that was required by law in 2008 and later vehicles) which may actually be CANBUS itself. Some call it IEBus and others GA-Net.

It's essentially a network for vehicles that integrated a lot of the data into a centralized processing system. While most manufacturers were smart enough to componentize their systems, keeping nav and climate control separate from the radio it's unfortunate that Acura went with the idea of integrating it all into a one piece system. The essential task here is pulling it part and creating standalone systems that still allow, at minimum, the functionality of the original system.

I'm still researching it, but from some examples I've seen it can integrate with OBD2 systems, which might help with the climate controls, assuming the OBD2 for this car includes the climate control module, which I have yet to determine due to not having found enough information.

I might plug in my obdlink mx+ to check it later to see what's going on with the modules, although that sadly will not tell me what OBD2 protocol is being used. If anyone can contribute that information it would actually do a great deal in deciphering the system.

Yes, Heavy, you're right...I am getting very intimate with the systems involved and by the time it's all done I'll probably know more than I ever wanted to.

 

Also found this in the link I attached:



​​​​​​It may prove to be useful later in modifying the systems involved...anyone know where that slot is perchance?

 

So I've been distracted with buying a house lately, but I was looking around a little on the web and found some links that might help in dealing with the nav issues...

Especially interested in this one:

https://www.tempgp.com/dynamic/?page=4

Not sure if it's a dead site, but I sent a message through the support link anyway and will keep you all informed...

If it works it might be a useful solution to the problem. Also found some background stuff on ga-net which could prove useful in deciphering the code. Will post more as I have time. Right now, I think my temporary solution is to build a harness to extend the nav screen to put it into the bottom compartment of the center console since it's only necessary for a couple functions. Will still need an interface solution for the android radio to aux into the stock radio but I'm sure it'll work itself out when I have the time to focus fully on it.

 

Two weeks to closing on the house...the RL is a side project right now till I have more time (and money) to dedicate towards the project. Anyone know a good strategy with which to force AliExpress to refund? My current is to remind them each day in their support chat then drop a complaint in the federal trade commission's complaint box(with a few insults about how lazy they are to piss them off a bit. Basically gonna annoy my $557.01 out of them(they gave me ten percent back to prevent my bank from doing a charge back...openly corrupt...)

In the meantime I found NEC's overview of IEBus, which is the architecture of the system in our cars, programmed with GA-Net II protocols, as far as I can tell...

All you tech geeks take a look and hopefully one of us can get something developed.

https://www.renesas.com/us/en/produc...ment-bus-iebus

 

So, three days till closing and I've been researching the needs to encapsulate my crawlspace, and while doing so, I had been thinking about how the dehumidifier has a humidity control system when it kinda helped me along with my thought process on the Acura with specific reference to A/C controls.

So we know that the in order to turn the A/C on we have to engage the compressor, and a number of other things have to happen, such as idle speed rising, vent doors opening etc.

Because the actual A/C power on and the mode select are the only two functions that currently require the nav screen(when you use the 2009-2012 climate button panel, which gives manual control of the fan).

The radio obviously accomplishes these two tasks via a software function with the nav screen as the output display of the effects. Having seen a lot of discussion on the TL side about Arduino controlled a/c and whatnot, I'm wondering how feasible it would be to transfer such function to a custom display for A/C only.

A similar display, of course might be needed to do the audio controls, but I think that might be solved with an external mixer after baselining the stock audio controls in the nav display before migrating, possibly even a passthrough on the android unit with the stock radio sending its data/turn on signal to the amp while filtering all audio through the Android head unit. This would allow for full integration of the android unit because it could be used to essentially silence the stock input signal to overlay it's own over the top via a dsp mixing app. This would require the stock radio to output it's individual speaker signals to the android unit for processing. Wish we had some stereo experts to chime in on this...but then again this has been a monologue from pretty early on, but also a good place to reference my previous ideas.


Who knows, maybe one of you will begin having epiphanies with the information I'm posting...

 

Hello I've been following this thread awhile, and I've been trying to come up with some ideas as well while the admins approved my account lol. I used to own a 2002 RL and I recently just upgraded to a clean 2012 RL with the advanced package. The options in this car are as good as most modern cars, besides the navigation. If that could be sorted out the car would be perfect. My knowledge on this is fairly limited but I'm also not a dummy when it comes to electronics. I'm also not afraid to experiment and learn.

So far I ordered the shop service manuals which came in 2 gigantic volumes and contains the wiring diagrams for the navigation system. I also contacted my local custom audio shop via email and explained the dilemma and they are willing to take a look at it. Though I kinda have my doubts. I haven't had a chance to take it in because of work and it also being a side project so it hasn't been a major concern to run it in lol

I don't know if you know anything about the Idatalink Maestro RR but that seems to be exactly what we need. They just dont have a wiring harness or software preset like they do for other vehicles. So I was wondering if it was somehow possible to use the Maestro box but use a custom wiring harness and just make our own preset? but like I said my knowledge is limited, so I don't know if that's even realistic
anyway I hope we can figure something out and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg haha

 

Unfortunately it doesn't mention anything about climate controls, audio mixer controls, or time setting in the documentation of that device. It's also highly doubtful that it would be able to emulate the specific data signal necessary to turn on the factory Bose amp.

 

Is there any chance GiggleBush you could post some pics of that clean 2012+RL Advance model that you purchased. I would like to see how well it’s held up since it first came out. Thanks

 

Have you guys looked at the external units that now exist - like this one as an example
These are designed to work as a standalone unit, and they can do Carplay/AndroidAuto etc. - it might be a better route than trying to integrate with the stock unit.

 

Yeah no problem I'll upload them when I get a chance in just started to move so it might take a little.

 

dang ok worth a shot, I'm stumped let me know if I can do anything to help. I'll take it to the audio shop when I get a chance just to see what they say

 

Sorry, been working on the new house constantly and haven't gotten back to the car beyond regular maintenance...

While a standalone might be nice, it doesn't work for climate controls and you'd have to do some work to get it to have any reasonable quality of sound from the ten speaker Bose system that's in our cars. You also would lose the top display functions.

I've mentioned all of these problems in my original posts and I've even played the guinea pig for the AliExpress unit, which is literal junk(I'm out 620 bucks to those scumbags).

The solution is there, but it's gonna take a lot more research to get it right, and realistically some collaboration with the tl guys for the climate control workaround. I'm pretty sure the solution is finding a way to route the sound out of the android unit through the xm2 channel on passthrough to the amp. This would retain the stock unit for the radio channels and climate controls only and allow the stock amp to work it's magic. Would need a way to automatically switch to xm2 to run phone calls and GPS notifications through the xm2 connected unit.