Hey Guys,
My navigation system died out of nowhere and I've been trying to get it back up and running.

First, the screen started flashing a checkerboard. Some plugs at the navigation DVD drive affected this while diagnosing so I replaced the DVD drive with a new (to me) DVD drive from the same model year.
After replacing the Nav DVD drive the screen only displays a black back-light that still dims when turning on and off the lights. I do NOT have a "check disk" read error. Just straight up a black screen that is on. I back pinned the essential wires at the DVD drive and all seems well. The factory service manual recommends to replace the Nav Screen unit if back-pinning checks out. So I pick up a good 2005 Nav Screen and install it. Same issue as before - Black back-lit screen. Never boots into the navigation, just stays solid black always.

- AM/FM radio works
- All climate controls/buttons work
- XM radio does NOT work at all. But still plays music via the USA Spec converter that requires me to press the XM button to use it. (unplugging this unit changes nothing)
- XM doesn't play any audio
- Top AC/Radio display does NOT display anything else but the incorrect time
- Nav DVD disc is in perfect condition
- DVD drive loads and unloads the disc
- Checked all grounds that feed the screen and DVD drive (old electrical tape is the worst)
- All plugs to the back of both the DVD drive and Nav Screen are in seemingly great condition

I want to know my options. I am considering the Nexus 7 mod but only as last resort. I like XM functionality and I am worried about resale value if I cannot figure out my NAV issue first. The factory system is my preferred setup.
The car is well kept and low mileage, I didn't expect this car to have such a complex issue.

 

I believe there was a TSB for this issue for 2005 models!

 

I will try to search for it, but just a quick look around I haven't been able to find it. There's a couple, but none of which pertain to my issue. I appreciate the help

 

Switching a known good Nav screen and a presumably good DVD drive and all the combinations between old and new (to me) components proved unsuccessful. The original DVD drive flickers the screen continuously that dims with the headlights, the replacement drive displays a black back-lit picture that dims with the headlights. Both DVD drives load the disc no problem.

Both Nav screens display the same as one another. I will probably cave and send my original DVD drive to Alpine in the future to just see if it helps, but I doubt it would help.
I didn't find the mysterious TSB for the Acura TL and this issue.