TLSilver

I am looking to convert my disk based navigation to DVD based? Anyone has any idea how this can be done? Thanks

Bob_F

Just buy the trunk-mounted DVD unit from a 2000-2003 TL and replace your hard drive based unit. It's a Plug n Play replacement.

You can also use the DVD drive from some other Acura and Honda vehicles.

See this link at Paul Mooney's excellent navhelp.com site for more information:

http://navhelp.com/other.html

Here's an extract from that site:

Search for any of the following non-voice activated DVD units as a plug in replacement:
2000-2003 Acura TL or RL
2001-2003 Acura CL
2001-2002 Acura MDX
2000-2004 Honda Odyssey
2003-2005 Honda Pilot

Note the following id in part numbers will tell you what vehicle they came from: S0K=TL, RL=SZ3, CL=S3M, S3V=MDX, S0X=Ody, S9V=Pilot

Note that you'll need to buy both the DVD drive and the navigation data DVD. Some of the units sold on eBay, for example, don't include the DVD disc.

Bob

Bob_F

Also, If you just want something more reliable than the hard drive, you could replace it with a 512 MB compact flash card and a $7 adapter. That's what I did with my 1999 TL's nav system.

Bob

TLSilver

Thank you Bob_F for the information. What do you use to transfer the data from the hard drive to the flash card? Also, what is the adapter that you are using? Thanks

Bob_F

My hard drive had totally failed and I was unable to transfer any files from it. But if your hard drive is still functional I think you can access the files if you have a laptop with a double height PCMCIA slot. You could also have a PCMCIA card installed in your PC that you allow a transfer. (I've never done that so you would want to research that to be sure.)

In my case, my local Acura dealer loaded the files for free. (Some dealers no longer have the equipment to do this while other charge something like $80 for this service.)

I mated my 512MB Compact Flash card to a PCMCIA adapter that I bought on eBay for $7 shipped.

There's a lot more detailed information in this thread:

https://acurazine.com/forums/ramblings-12/why-does-always-seem-140469/

Bob

nap76

when you say plug and play you mean that dvd unit has same hornesses as the hard drive unit?

Bob_F

Yes, the wiring harnesses are the same. See the link to Paul Mooney's navhelp site that I provided above for more information. Paul includes a nice "how-to" for the installation.

Bob

nap76

hey thanks so much i am going to test it out this weekend and if it realy works like you say it do i am getting me a dvd nav!!!!

wise2k

Yup, it's that easy, got my DVD drive for $150 at a local junk yard, plug n play 4 real, but it doesn't have the DVD, extra $185 + shipping from Alpine, ouch!

nap76

i wonder if you can burn the dvd lol

MikePA

What is it you're going to 'test'?

And, no, burned DVDs do not work.

special e. dition

Yeah you would have to copy the files from the HD to your PC, then format your HD and replace the files. Honestly my NAV works 100% faster with the 512 MB and card adapter. I suggest you go that route. If you need NE NAV files let me know.. i have them on my PC already and can send them to you.

MPX

Has anyone actually bought one from Paul Mooney and gotten exactly what they needed? I don't feel real comfortable spending $130 to a site like that...

Can I load your region to it without having problems (I live in Texas)? If so, I would greatly appreciate those navigation files.

Rmcateer

i would definitely like those files if you can send them somehow. also, i have heard of people having problems inputting destinations and mapping routes with the jimmy rigged GPS. do you have any problems with this?

MikePA

Yes. I bought the DVD unit from him (when he had them in stock) and that was a lot more than $130.

special e. dition

I think it would show your car being off the grid because it only shows the NORTH EAST REGION. iF YOU WANNA TRY IT SEND ME A Pm WITH YOUR aiM NAME AND THE TIME YOU CAN RECEIVE THE FILES.!!!

Ditto

3.2VtecTL

iTrader: (2)

Im a new member, and im very interested in doing the same conversion..

Thanks for the excellent info!

Nice site, im sure i'll enjoy it!!

99TLSilver

The 2.4 version DVD is about 7ish GB and there are CF cards out there that can storge up to 8GB of data (the CF card cost about $100 online). Can't we map everything from that DVD to a CF and use PCMCIA adapter to make it work with the 99TL's navigation system? will the new firm version mess up the current system??
Anyone thought about that?
If this works then this may be the cheapest way to upgrade our navigation system.

Bob_F

Unfortunately, everything I've read indicates that you can only store one region on a CF card, regardless of the card's capacity. I think Paul Mooney mentions this on his navhelp.com site. And, beyond that, I don't know if anyone has even been able to use anything other than a 512MB CF card as a PCMCIA hard drive replacement.

My guess is that the closest you can get to an all-region solution is to have a separate CF card for each region. And then you would have to physically exchange them as you entered a new region. And getting the data files for all the regions becomes a challenge because of copyright claims of the company that provided the map data.

Bob

99TLSilver

Does the DVD Navigation system use a single DVD or it uses multiple DVDs?

Bob_F

It uses a single DVD. The early versions were single layer DVDs while the newer ones, which contain much more data, are dual layer DVDs.

99TLSilver

I'll probably give it a try if I manage to get a version 2.4 DVD

Bob_F

Best of luck if you try that!

Be sure to read the old threads on the compact flash replacements. There's a lot of great information there.

Bob

FuzzyNutz

I have region 1 & 2 files if anyone ever needs them.

99TLSilver

It turns out that the 99TL navigation system can't see more than 2GB so the DVD mapping is out of the question.

I'm thinking about getting a 2GB CF card and partition it into multiple drives and hopefully I can load all the regions and make them work in a single CF card.

FuzzyNutz,
can you send region 1&2 files to me? how big are they? I believe that covers the entire west coast right?

anyone else have the rest of the regions? I have region 7 (North Eastern) already.

Thanks

Jack

MPX

It won't let me PM for some reason.
My AIM name is metalpenguinx

Rmcateer

I would love the region 2 files because I don't know if I can get them off my GPS unit. How can I get those from you?

p.s. That's the region that includes Colorado correct?

vzuptnguyen

i still cant believe paul mooney use to be on this site. hes so funny.

FuzzyNutz

Tried to PM you but you didn't seem to have that option for some reason. Here's a link that should work:

http://.com/ypaat9

The link has an expiration date on it so it's only good for a limited time.
...and yes, Region 2 includes Colorado according to Acura & Navhelp.com

FuzzyNutz

My bad,..
let's try that again:

http://.com/ypaat9

FuzzyNutz

OK,.. what the h3ll... it keeps removing "" from the link before the '.com'

I guess you'll just have to add it in yourself or PM me if you still need help.

FuzzyNutz

t i n y u r l

MPX

You have to be a member to download such a large file

You wouldn't happen to have UNLC contact details still would you? I think he has Region 4 files but he hasn't made a post since March

FuzzyNutz

Alright folks,.. for anyone who wanted region 2 files,.. let's try this link here

http://t i n y u r l .com/2loa9z

When you go to the above link, there will be a link on the bottom left area of the page that will countdown from 15 seconds. Once it finishes it's countdown, then it will let you click on the link and download the file.

TLSilver

FuzzyNutz,

Do you have the latest region 1 files (2002)? If yes, can I get a copy? Thanks

My original hard disk failed and I am in the process of switching it to a compact flash setup.

FuzzyNutz

Of course,.. Tell you what, I have a file sharing solution I'd like to try.
Try this link and let me know if you have any trouble.

http://zapr.net/eclipse785/CTB16183/08c54a3212fadf4a

- Rob

FuzzyNutz

PM Sent.

TLSilver

Thanks FuzzyNutz for the region 1 files.

I am now using the Compact Flash drive. It's too costly to convert to DVD. Thank to all of you for the fantastic information and files.

Bob_F

Good News!

Be sure to keep a backup copy of the nav files in case you need to replace the CF card at some point. I recently read in a PC magazine that flash cards used as hard drive replacements may not last forever. Apparently they're limited to a finite number of read/write cycles.

I have no idea if the CF card replacements in the Acura nav units will ever run into a cycle limit problem but it wouldn't hurt to have a back up copy of the nav files.

Bob

NU23.2

I need those files bad, driving me crazy trying to locate them. Can you please send them to me or tell me where to go?