You can get an overview here: TTS quick start last page of the scan.

 

I did an install of a navi system on a non-navi car it works fine no problems....the cables were there it was basically plug n play the only thing i had to do was rip apart the whole trunk to run the cable for the antenna that is a directional unit.

 

Has your Music Link arrived by now?

 

I guess the point here is security - but this really depends on whether you use the valet key or just hand the valet the regular key. By keeping the iPod in the glove box you have a little extra security. But then again, if you are using the valet you probably aren't worried about your car...

 

Yes. All three items were included. I will be installing it next week and will also try to modify it so I can use ipod controls. I will let you know how it goes.

 

Thanks! I just ordered one myself.

 

Mine just arrived! Going to take a look at internals.

 

But, then again would you want to leave your $200-400 IPOD in the car in the first place? Plus, the glove box isn't big enough to store all my important documents. And with it being in the top part of the middle console which I hardly use, it allows me easy access to the IPOD. Oh yeah, I'm LOVING IPOD in the car by the way....

 

So I read thru this post, but either missed it or didn't see it...... Can the Music Link be used in non-NAVI TL's

Sorry... But my eyes are burning from not blinking reading thru this post

 

It will work with either navi or non-navi 2004-2006. Regardless of what the dealer might tell you. It also seems to work somewhat with 3rd Gen (4 button)iPod even though its' not supposed to. The TTS voice does NOT work with my 3rd Gen, but the Shuffle Album and Shuffle Track work OK.

jjh1234

 

Anyone heard if Acura will ever 'officially' support 04 & 05 TLs with the Music Link? An install like this is beyond my skills, so I'd need the dealer to install it. But, I doubt any dealer will do the install in a model year that isn't officially supported.

 

People have convinced the dealer by offering to take responsibility for the labor if the install won't work. Talk to your dealer. Maybe word will get around to the dealers that it works. Good Luck.

jjh1234

 

Divxz - I recently installed the Music Link on my 05 TL and it works perfectly fine. Just to let you also that if you know any audio install shop that you trust they can install the Music Link for way cheaper price than a dealership would. The dealership here in town wanted to charge me $140. Local audio shop installed it for $50. But, if you know how to take apart your middle console and get to the back of the radio you can do it yourself. The only problem I had was when I first installed it, it would only play the music for 15 seconds and stop. I think it was due to me not installing the Music Link cd first. So, make sure you installd the Music Link cd first and it should work fine.

 

Seen many posts stating that music link will work with non navi- though I can't seem to find if anyone noted that TTS works with non navi as well? My dealer said no, but they don't seem to know too much

 

Oh lord! My radio just stopped reading my IPOD. Normally you can switch between the IPOD?cd changer button and XM but, now it's not even reading that there's a IPOD there. Haven't had the time to rip apart the dash to get to the back of the radio yet but hopefully it's just the wire being loose or something. Or it could be that it's not meant to work with my 05 TL. Damn Acura for it not want to work with my car anymore.

 

That's good to know. Thanks!

 

No problem for the info about getting an audio shop to do the install for cheaper. But, recently my radio stopped reading my IPOD for some reason. I would push the CD/CHANGER button but, nothing happens anymore. It's like my IPOD isn't even there. Normally it would switch between CD, XM, Radio and IPOD. But, since two days ago it doesn't even see the IPOD anymore. I guess I have to call Acura to see if they heard any problems with other installs. I'll try and keep everyone updated.

 

Does it charge? The connector could have come unplugged. Perhaps you can have your install shop look at it...

It sucked to put in, I would hate to pull it apart to check it to make sure that its connected.

Try a different car / different IPOD. If you were in SA, I would me more than happy to try it.

 

Anyone know how to raise the Text to Speech volume from Acura'a ipod link?

 

It still shows that it's charging. When I'm on XM and hit the CD/CHANGER button to switch to IPOD it still shows the XM info on the screen but, doesn't play anything. Hopefully it's just the Y cable having a short or something and I can just exchange it out. But, it is a bitch to take apart the console to get to the back. I'm always afraid that I might break something lolzzzz... when I'm ripping apart my car.

 

If there's a way to do this, that'd be interesting to know because I don't get ANY TTS volume or feedback at all yet having used two different iPods (5g and 4g) with various playlists and stuff. I'm using a Mac though, anyone else using a Mac who actually got TTS to work?

 

Sorry about the dual post, still on hold... Meant to post this here first...

I've used both a 5g video and a 4g photo iPod and can't get any voice at all.... Only disc 5 and 6 work, 5 shuffles artists and 6 does the whole iPod from what I gather, but no damned voices... I've uninstalled/reinstalled the app and changed voices and everything on my Mac to no avail. On hold w/Acura who has no idea yet and probably won't at all. Anyone else run into anything like this?

 

Called Acura yesterday and the customer service rep. told me that since it was only meant to work with 06 models only that it shouldn't work at all. But, I stated to her that I had it in my ride for about a month or two so far and it was working fine up until then. She told me well the only thing is to return the parts and get my money back. Man I want to make it work again in my car at least once more before giving up the hope of having intergrated IPOD in my car.

 

FYI, I had an 04 TL. Saw the Ipod Link in Acura's magazine and called about. My dealer told me it was only available for the 06 but they would have another kit for the 04/05 by early April.

Since then I got hit and my 04 was totaled. I bought an 06 with the ipod kit dealer installed. Their are issues with it. For example, I pull my Nano in//out of the car a few times a week. Although a small issue, three times now all my XM preset stations are erased from the radios memory. I'm not sure why but think it maybe the ipod kit. This never happened in my 04.

 

The Acura Music Link is total crap!!! Not only does it not display the track information, but you cannot pause your ipod or select through it. You have to listen to a robotic voice read every single title/artist/album. I have over 7,000 songs and it can take me over 5 minutes (literally!) to get to the album that I want to listen to! Acura states that they will not refund me my money just because I don't like it. I'm going to report them to the Better Business Bureau and then take legal action. SAVE YOUR MONEY!

 

I personally love the thing (after having gotten it to work). I could care a sh*t less if I can't pause it as the music start and stop is IMMEDIATE if I hit the power button (same as pause if you ask me given the results), and as long as the right playlsit is selected, I'd rather hear my random uninterrupted playlist that I put together which is comprised of nothing but songs *I* want to listen to.

If I get some buddies in the car who want to hear something else, hope they brought a CD or told me what they liked ahead of time so I could put together a playlist for 'em, but if I didn't, who cares... There's always the radio for them. If you want to spend time swapping songs/artists while driving, get a damned CD wallet of songs you burned to individual CDs, or put together a 99 track DVD... Last but not least important, I do agree that the track info/song name should be displayed on the screen. THAT is a major let down, but again, given what the option was before, I think this is progress of some sort which hopefully will be improved upon.

Rey :)

 

Stingrey

You know the problem is not workarounds or it's not that bad. But it is about how Acura advertised the product in a matter that was at the very least deceitful if not an out and out lie. I personally am extremely pissed off about the way Apple/Acura marketed and continues to market music link. This will eventually hurt them in the marketplace with credibility issues. What you say and advertise always comes back.

What's interesting in my point of view is if I would have heard about music link in a truthful and accurate description with all of its limitations explained/described I would have still bought it and I would have been excited about it and singing its praises.

But if you’re willing to accept the crap they advertised as factual you deal with the crap. That is certainly your prerogative if you don't care about a company misleading you in their advertising what can I say.

But making excuses and apologies for the companies’ product advertising like this only encourages corporations to put out more crappy product oversell its virtues because you and others will buy anything. It's all about accountability and truthfulness.

When you have done your homework and you pick a product based on a what you thought was factual information and you later find out you were lied to you are going to be angry.

So if your happy with the lie Apple/Acura sold you so be it I and all the members of this forum are very happy for you. But to defend a lie well.... you kinda lose credibility with at least me.

One last question if you pulled all of that plastic under the hood off and began replacing sparkplugs and only found 4 and not 6 would you be so willing to accept that the product you were sold was okay????? (4cylinder vs 6 cylinder motor)

Please don't take this as a flame but just a cry for a little sanity.

The product does not work as advertised period dot dot dot.

If you want to purchase it knowing its limitations then good on ya! By the way as pissed off as I am about the false/misleading advertising I would still buy it Which is probably evidence that Apple/Acura didn't need to over hype the product.

Oh! one last thought if this was a Windows rather than an Apple joint effort would we be yelling for Bill's head on a platter. I think so or at least I would.

I think that's what people are complaining about so let them complain. Hopefully someone who is interested in purchasing music link will do so with there eyes open.

Best wishes no flames intended.

 

I never defended the lie. In fact I took a stab at it by hinting at the problems I had installing the required software in order to make it work. I honestly understand where you are coming from, but what was advertised was integration with the TL. Does it meet expectations around the board? NO. Seamless is NOT having to install a software patch to your existing gear (not required with even Alpine's basic setup) and yet another complaint is no id3 or whatever information. I hate that, too. BUT fwiw, what I am saying is that if you were up to changing albums all day long while you are driving, why hook an iPod up to begin with?

I only put the stuff I want to hear in my playlists and that's that. It is more functional than the Lexus's auxiliary input in that you can select a playlist from the system and it charges your gear, too. Most people just give you an audio jack. In a way, our option IS with integration, but it does need to be refined a bit to be "seamless". Nonetheless, it is integrated. False advertising? I dunno. They didn't ever describe it before hand, and when it was released and IF that seamless thing was the ONE thing I needed and it didn't work that way, I'd have bought another car. In MY case, I LOVED the TL (still do after almost two weeks) and I NEEDED an iPod hookup to seal the deal. I HATE the radio, and I HATE subscription based music (and OnSTAR, another subscription based service, thus Bluetooth) and so this car was perfect IF I could hook an iPod up to it.

That turned out to be something that worked as advertised as far as I am concerned. Cumbersome though, compared to "seamless", but again, it works. I could care less about the credibility I have with you, I'm not selling it to you. I paid for it, too. I bought after reading the reviews and I knew what it did and didn't do before buying it. Acura and Apple were both not that forthcoming with what the thing did aside from the fact that it hooked the iPod up and you could select playlists from the controls somehow and it charged the iPod which you could lock in your glove compartment (I have a pod specifically for my cars, so this was a plus). That's all I cared about at the time, so I'm not really let down.

I'm pretty pissed at something else today, so sorry if it came off as being directed at you. I honestly understand the shortcomings of this setup, and they are MANY as far as I am concerned, but they did address ALL key functionality woes that I had originally with this car.

Rey.

 

Hey Rey I guess I did what I wasn't trying not to do make you angry. Sorry.

I just get tired of well it’s the best out there. Here’s a work around. Yes I agree. Re-read the post I would have bought the interface if I was told its limitations and I just heard it. Since I have 2 ipods I use one in the car all of the time and like you said I just load what I want to hear.

I and many others just want what I was told.

Oh! While I'm thinking about it here is my plan to get what I want.

Since my 5th gen iPod is video iPod and I plan to upgrade the navi to a in dash dvd using AvelElectronics (http://www.avelectronic.com/) I going to use one of the left over video connections for the ipod. Don't know if the menus show but if they do it may be the best solution for those who want it all. (Id3 tags, album art, my mobile personal DVR, Visual integration of menus, playlist etc) It uses the audio input from the XM to play the audio (No you don’t give up your XM) so audio quality should be good or at least I hope. Control will be provided by a ipod dock I purchased on ebay. (http://www.shoptfc.com/store/). If my suspicions are correct I should be able to control the ipod with the remote and see the menus on the screen. Don't know but I will post when I get the chance if there is any interest.

Again sorry about tightening you jaws

 

I've been following the IPOD integration threads for a while. I am still going back and forth on it (in one of my "forth" stages I upgraded my gen 3 to a gen 5 ipod). One of the questions I haven't seen answered yet was whether it was easy to navigate to the podcasts via the musiclink. I follow 3 or 4 of them (audio, plus a couple of video podcasts that of course I cant use) and there's usually a new episode each time I sync.

 

I'm glad that you know EXACTLY what you want to listen to if in your car for several hours, but I don't always know. If I want to listen to a particular album, out of the blue, why should I have to listen to a robotic voice take 5 minutes to find an album in the middle of the list and if I miss the album because it's unclear have to start over. And having the iPOD is so I CAN listen to any album, not just playlists I have to create everytime I go for a drive.

I have 500+ albums in my iPod....maybe if I had 20 it would be easier...

 

I haven't tried getting the PodCasts, but that is not a function which is searchable through the interface. You would probably have to set your iPod on your Podcast and then connect it, the iPod will play what you have it set on....good question though.

 

Since we are back to discussing workarounds. I use my old 4th generation ipod and I usually load only 4 to 5 Podcasts and 1 or maybe 2 audiobooks from audible.com and that's what I listen to on the iPod. If I want to listen to music I just carry a select group of cd's. Which to beat a dead horse into hamburger meat is my complaint everything is a workaround. It’s like the Nav system in my wifes G35 you have to be stopped to program it. That's real useful.

If you have a 5th gen iPod and can get the 3 button shuffle down you can set up a fairly useable system of playlists with the Acura TTS.

But that defeats the whole attraction to the iPod. To listen to what ever music you own whenever and wherever you want. This is where Acura and Apple dropped the ball. The holy grail is possible there are aftermarket solutions and other car manufacturers seem to be able to get it done (Mercedes Benz has full integration for $299 see http://www.mercedes-benz.com/content...ment/ipod.html although the site is a little difficult to navigate there is a better link I have run across on the site).

The real problem is car companies give us what they think we want not what we ask for and we are left with the problem of developing workarounds on huge dollar sign purchases falling short of expectations.

Your only tool to correct this abuse is to fight back after the sale. I've been privileged enough to participate in 5 different post sale opinion polls. You know I decided to be honest instead of nice. One individual probably cannot make a dent except at maybe the dealership. But I promise Acura and my dealership are intimately familiar with my complaints. Do they really care ..... No. Will it change anything......Probably not. But enough people are honest about there experience and vote with their dollars they will listen. I must admit I've wanted an Acura in the TL class for so long I was going to buy it no matter what.

So I 'm stuck with less than a desirable buying experience. Do I have buyer’s remorse....no. But as much as I really do like the car the experience was so bad I'll never go back to another Acura. But I was going to buy a Acura TL no matter what and the dealership just smiled. No one to blame but myself so I ‘ll live with it and try not to bitch on Acurazine to often.

One last thought it might be helpful for someone to develop a sticky with what music link actually does, what are its limitations and advantages. A list of useful workarounds.

 

why would anyone buy this when you can buy the alternate music link for cheaper and it has an extra aux?

 

For the clean look of no extra display and a true all in one system setup... Yeah, it needs polish, but it still gets the job done. I'm pleased with it. I have the same setup in my 2000 Vette, but I did that one myself and lost my cd changer capability... Which who needs when you have 60g tunes on tap?

I ONLY had id3 info w/my Alpine setup, but it was slow and had its own quirks... This system is fast, you can pick a playlist from the h/u, and it overall was a good start at something that even Lexus does not offer. Yes, they have aux in. If you don't want extra controls, displays, etc., you're hosed with most other options.

 

its the same exact thing...is there a difference between the two? I don't think so?

 

I thought that the difference was that one worked with the nav system and the other didn't? As far as "knew what you wanted to listen to over the next few hours", my library spans several weeks worth as I normally have a 15-20 minute commute to work each way 5 days/week. I do see where going to an album quickly is of concern, but as has been posted before, you can order your songs into specific playlists to quickly navigate artists, etc. All in all, this solution lets you hook up an iPod, charge it, lock it away, have NO external display, and on top of that is somewhat integrated with the head unit. I didn't know others did that (with nav)? I don't know. Either way, I like it. I posted my opinion since I know people are trying to decide. I posted the pros/cons. Put up some details if you want to say that something is better or the same.

 

both work with the navi

 

I have an '06 TL.
With all attack on the IPOD adapter, does anyone know if your are capable of selecting the random shuffle on the radio functions, or even if it allows you to scroll through song-mix folders on your IPOD itself?
If it is capable of doing either of these functions, then, big deal.

If someone could answer this, I'd feel safer about the fact I just purchased the adapter

Another note - I did a fair amount of research, and if you have Verizon, the Motorola E815 seems to be gettin the best feedback for Hands Free performance, if you are thinking about whether there is a better Bluetooth option.

Someone though, PLEASE CONFIRM WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT THE 06 TL & IPOD!!!

 

I just bought a new 06 TL with the IPOD adapter and Navi

IMO It DOWN RIGHT SUCKS!

Ok...heres how it works! You basically have to select a playlist on the iPod before hooking it up and then when you turn it on (Its goes to CD-C mode) all you can do is have it shuffle that playlist or not. Thats about it. Oh you can change songs, but it doesn't tell you anything about anything, and you can't change playlists or albums or basically you can't change anything except the damn song.

And for all you who think its a rip from the dealer...its soo expensive because to install the stupid thing they have to take apart the entire stereo unit because it goes in behind and then they wire it into your glove box where you ipod is supposed to sit.

if you really want I can take pictures. Just let me know.\

Hopefully that answers your questions.