I wouldn't mess with mine...

The MID has a trip computer.. that is enough for me.

When Acura has an update in JANUARY then maybe they will add this feature.

FYI on the Acura ownerlink it now says that there was aproblem with the latest NAV (not for us) and starting next week you can sign up to get one in January when it comes out.

Again, I dont know if that includes TL people.

 

Mike, you are missing key features like instant economy and I think total time measured.

 

I had INSTANT ECONOMY on my old car..l I assume that is the thing that tells you your instant MPG.

It was fun to look at because it would change all the time, but I didn't base my driving on it or get better gas mileage because it would say 99 every now and then and I would get excoited (when going down a hill)

 

That is exactly what it is... It is more fun than useful, but a staple in pretty much all other trip computers, including my 97 Jeep Cherokee.

 

The only time Im going back to the Acura one is when I bring it in for service

I practically drive almost all the time (when I know where IM going) in trip computer mode! The Miles to Empty and Average MPG are pretty much lock step with the MID!!

 

I have a Honda Pilot that I would like to try this with can you email me with some info I have a lot of questions. When you put in the new DVD did you loose the NAv ability? After loading the new DVD why did you switch it back? I want the trip computer function so I'm willing to give this a try.

Thanks

 

yeah I have a Pilot as well, and I want to know if I can do a similar procedure to get the MDX trip computer to work on my Pilot

 

I'm interested to know what type of "PC card" did you try? There're many types for different applications. It must be some kind of memory device (flash memory thru a reader, IBM microdrive etc)?

Also, I think when you get "check disk" message because you did not have a disk (the CD you burned or the orig dvd) in the system &/or the PC card did not have all the files (loader files?) you listed on it. Did you select "Card Load"?

From the Navi manual, the PC Card is for Future Expansion only; & you can access the trip computer by voice command under the Information Screen.

 

I think that is a typo from the Accord, as the trip computer is in the navi, where the TL is in the MID display. There are no voice commands in the help screens for the trip computer, which I would think is more acurate.

 

OK, here is some more info on the PC Card slot in the TL Navi system per the Acura 2004 TL Shop Manual from Helms:

--------------------

Definitions

Pg 22-471

PC Card Slot - The PC Card (PCMCIA, type II) slot is for factory use only. Make sure that the sliding door is closed at all times, if opened an error message is displayed on the screen.

PCMCIA - An computer industry defined term refering to the PC Card slot standard.

Explination of diagnostics

Pg 22-473

If the factory supplies you with a PCMCIA card to place in the PC Slot, then the features specified in the diagram with the "Card" are available.


Pg 22-521

PC Card Info.

There is no PC Card in the slot, and the screen should say "PC Card is not inserted"

NOTE: Do not insert any card or object into the slot.

IF the factory provices a PC card and instructs you to insert a card, then the screen displays the Manufacturer, and Product Name as shown in the following screen.

Pg 22-526

Log Data

This screen allows the factory to selct log data to troubleshoot navigation system issues.

Normally there is no card in the "PC Card Slot" and the PC slot door should always be closed. The screen should look like below.

However, if the factory provides a PC card and instructs you to insert it into the card slot (label side up), and then slide the PC Card door shut. If instructed by the factory, Selct "Gyro. Sensor Logs ON". Follow the factory proceedure for gathering test data, and properly ending the test.

------------

At least it tells us that it is a PCMCIA type II card, and it seems other things are possible at a later date.

 

Ok this is my story and I'm sticking to it. Yesterday I was messing around with the navi. I cleared the bread crumbs like the regular manual said. Then I went into map view to make sure the crumbs were gone. The system froze on me, I kept hitting the cancel button. Eventually I turned the car off so the system would re-boot then it came up in honda mode. The first thing I noticed was that the honda system didn't have the area I lived completely maped like the acura software did. Honda's map was smaller than the Acura map with full zoom. All my appointments in my callendar were cleared and the Most annoying of all the dial from Navi is gone. Does anyone know how to switch back without burning the additional CD????

 

I can't remember what buttons I pushed, but I also ended up in the Honda OS. I had to burn the CD (procedure documented on the first page of this thread) to get back. But enjoy the trip computer while you're in Honda mode.

 

^^

 

Does the Honda trip computer require that you start with the gas tank full to be able to calculate Miles to Empty or can it "tell" how much is in the tank if you partially fill it? I think this is one of the most useful features on a car. I wish it was on the Navi only...

 

It starts at what ever level your tank is currently. There is also the option to have it automatically reset at filup. It calculates the miles to empty as soon as the system starts up.

 

There must be something I don't get, since many of you have tried, but if you rename file3 (BN2HH120.bin) to BN2HH12C.bin, this file is already in the folder (File1), therefore not allowed. Am I missing something here? Thanks for any clarification.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by gvahe
[B]

Step 2)
Copy the following files to your hard disk. You must have a DVD Reader.
File1=BN2HH12C.bin
File2=BN2HH110.bin
File3=BN2HH120.bin
File4=BN2HHmld.bin
File5=BN2HN12b.bin
File6=BN2HN18b.bin

Step 3)
Take File #3 above (BN2HH120.bin) You need to rename this file to BN2HH12c.bin, and burn a CD. So, your CD should have the files named in Step 2, but BN2HH12C.bin should "REALLY" be the file BN2HH120.bin (But named BN2HH12c.bin)

Basically, the system is looking to load file name BN2HH12c.bin. We are tricking it into loading BN2HH120.bin by renaming it. BN2HH120 is really the accord nav system.

Burn a CD (Yes...it doesnt have to be a DVD) with these files and place into NAV system.

 

You need to copy it to another name, or put it in a different folder...where it wont give you an error that the file already exists.

Then, rename the REAL 12c file to 120 and the REAL 120 file to 12c.

Then, burn the disk with the files...

Hope Im making sense....

 

Thanks! I understand now. Basically we want to swap file names, right?

 

10-4

 

Whupps. Fat fingered into the wrong thread. Gotta work on my aim.

And, apparently I can't delete this posting to cover up my klutziness. Sigh ...

 

I tried this on my '04 that I just bought about 3 weeks ago. The instant I either A> tried to start the car with my burned CD in the drive or B> tried to open the drive to replace the existing DVD, the system popped an error onto the screen and wouldn't let me proceed.

Perhaps Acura fixed this in some later firmware in the car that you guys don't have? Or maybe I'm just something wrong.

 

A few other comments on the TL Navi system DVD. I pulled up the .bin files into a HEX editor.. they were built with the Microsoft .NET framework for Windows CE. This means reverse engineering the files is going to be awfully tricky -- but it does open the possibility of loading a completely custom set of software on to that thing that would let you do all kinds of things. Unfortunately, getting this to work would be a full-scale development effort that would not be easily undertaken by a single individual -- the key thing we're missing is how, specifically, acura loads the image files off the DVD and on to the local system -- and then how it's addressed on bootup. If you could "crack" that piece, you could have some fun. I've got to believe you could get direct access to the computer if you pulled some things apart. I know, for example, you can get Serial-port access to an OnStar system. I have to assume you could do the same thing here. I'm not sure I'm willing to sacrifice my warranty for the sake of science, however.

I'm a network engineer -- I'm completely fascinated by this stuff. This is what I learned after about 3 minutes of tinkering. I'll post more as I learn more.

 

neatbrian,
I'll donate to the cause if you can get rid of that damn nav "disclaimer" page at start-up......

 

If you need some help let me know.

I've been a developer working with computers since 1979
so I guess I'm a senior Software Engineer.
my B.S was in Computer Engineering.

But I don't like to mess things up until I'm sure of what I'm doing...

 

Question: If you really screw up. And I mean real bad. Can you just unplug the battery for 30 or so minutes, load the original Acura DVD and then it will restart in "factory" mode?

This is interesting. As a software engineer I think I'll be attempting to reverse engineer those .bin files when I get my TL.

Ok.... so now I'm leaning even more towards the TL! LOL!

 

Well, I can BS in pretty much anything

 

people have already tried to reverse engineer the disc and come up to a dead end. the first problem is that the disc is larger then 4.7 GB so it cannot be burned back once changes are applied to the files. The second is the nag screen appears to be loaded on the ROM instead of the DVD. "Fixing" this would be a nightmare project that would involve reverse engineering hardware as well as software. As much as I hate the nag screen I don't ever see this project getting done unless some insider has access to all the stuff unencrypted and ready to mod.

 

How about this, eh?

-Steve

 

that would be sweet if we can get rid of the disclaimer screen

nice find man

 

The Accord trip computer also provides instantaneous gas mileage as well as average.

 

The DVD is burnable if you have a Dual Layer DVD burner.. You can pick on up for $130 or so at newegg.com...

There should be a sticky thread for hacking the computer on the TL...

Maybe set up a working group an and get a Project together.

There looks to be alot of IT people in this forum.

 

Distrbuting pirated software is prohibited!

 

and not condoned on this forum!

 

I don't think anyone is condoning distribution of the navigation DVD. I think they're just commenting that the ability to burn (copy) the entire DVD gives them the ability to "leave out" the disclaimer screen (if it turns out to be on the disc) and/or make other modifications for THEIR OWN system.

As for the legalities of such an act, this wouldn't be a copyright infringement, but it may be a violation of the license agreement for the DVD software. Now, once you hand the burned DVD over to a third party, you run face-first into the copyright laws, and will be hung by your toenails, boiled in oil, and stabbed repeatedly (wait, maybe that's just a local ordinance... I guess your local/state laws would apply).

 

for those who swapped the acura os for the honda os, how do you swap back to acura? i followed instructions posted by gvahe, but it didn't work. maybe i copied the wrong files for the boot disk. wouldn't the boot disk for the acura os just be the original files without renaming? any help appreciated. thx!

 

This may be a stupid question. Does anyone know if the new RL has the "trip Computer" on the nav screen? I'd love to be able to keep the trip computer and the abillity to press the send button right on the screen.

 

Anyone try this mod with an '05? When I try it (even with a finalized disc) it won't load and it says check CD. If I had other files in addition to the 6 it will then load the .bin file (that I renamed) and I still end up with the Acura interface. Anyone have a CD where this actually works?

FYI- people trying to copy the stock Navi disc for a backup, I don't think it is going to work with the current dual layer. I could be wrong but I'll explain my reasoning. Most current DL DVD discs are burnt in a +R format I believe. When I copied my nav DVD to my hard drive I did it on a burner that only recognizes the -R format. It will not read a +R disc I burned on another DVD burner.

 

the RL disc will not work in the TL, it is a completely different version and disc type (white label I believe, where TL is black or orange (don't remember which))

 

What exactly does the TRIP COMPUTER do?

 

Trip Computer can give you an instantaneous readout of fuel mileage and other things. Much nice to have instead or relying on the MID.