Any way to downgrade the navi system? I installed the 2.70a update and the routing is just as shitty as it was 8 years ago with the 2.05a disc so I'd like to send it back. Now the screen just says that the DVD is unformatted when I put the 2.05a disc in.

 

dealer i think has to actually reset the navi itself , an independent shop might be able depending on how availabe acura has made the software to do it

 

I searched and searched all I see is "bring it to the dealer" I see no other info on this site.

 

also maybe try looking at the service manual too

 

For other systems I've seen people say you can hold the Menu, Map/Guide, and Cancel buttons for 5 seconds to bring up some kinda menu. Then select Version and then Download to reload the old maps. Gonna have to give it a try.

 

Called one local dealer and they told me there's no way to downgrade. Called another and they said they can but I have to come in. They said it's something that can be done in the isle so there would be no charge. I'll try to find out what they do while I'm there to see if it can be done at home.

 

Yes you can downgrade the Navi disc at home. You do not have to take it to the dealership. I did it back in 08' so it can be done. I'll see if I can find those directions.

 

That'd be great if you could. Thanks.

 

The directions I have was:

1. Boot with the new disc.
2. Swap to the old disc.
3. Go to the hidden menu
4. Use the Force Download option.

OR you can short the pins under the silver cover on the back of the DVD drive unit to force it into diagnostic mode. I didn't have to try this so I don't know about this part.

It took me a few times to get it but we're only talking about maybe 20 minutes or so. Good luck.

 

FYI, I actually did it back in Dec. 07'. I went from the 2.50 back to the 2.05B disc. Like I said above, it took a few times to get the cycle right but I didn't have to try to short the pins in the back or anything.

 

That's the hidden menu that you get to by holding the Menu, Guide/Map and Cancel buttons all at the same time right?

 

Yes it is.

 

I'll give it a try. Thanks.

 

Didn't work. The second you open the DVD door to eject the new DVD it resets the DVD system.

Did you use those steps on a '01-'03 CL/TL or was it a newer vehicle?

 

maybe try the hidden screen, with the old dvd already in it, and then force the download

 

I can't get the hidden screen to come up. Startup with old or new DVD in, hold the Menu, Map/Guide, and Cancel buttons as long as I want but nothing happens.

 

turn ignition switch ON, then press and hold the keys in this order
1.MENU key
2.MAP/GUIDE key
3.CANCEL key
and keep them pressed simultaneously for 5 seconds

straight from the service manual, just the f***er would not let me copy and paste it, so i had to retype it

 

Hmmmmm, ok. I'll give it a try again. Thanks.

 

I have done this before. You put in your old disc, go to the hidden screen, and press on force download like ppl above have stated.

 

Finally worked. Took a bit to get through the various diagnostic screens. I'll post a How To in a day or two.

 

Please do..! What ended up working?

 

I have the same problem. Could you post a How To as soon? Thanks a lot

 

Insert the DVD you want to force download (downgrade to). Turn the car key to ON. Quickly press and hold the Menu, Map/Guide, and Cancel buttons on the navigation unit. The diagnostic screen below will appear. This may take a couple tries. If you see the normal startup screen for the navigation system, turn the car key to OFF and start again.

Press the Unit Check button.



Press the Force Download button at the bottom of the screen



The navigation system will start the force download. First the screen will show telling you Please wait... Now down loading software. next a screen with a progress bar saying Please do not shut off engine. will appear. It takes about 30 seconds to a minute to do the force download. When the download is complete, the navigation system will restart and you're all set. Sorry the last 2 pictures are so blurry but they're not really important.





These instructions should work for '01-'03 CL/TLs but may work with other models and years too.

 

If it's free at the dealership, why not have them do it and ensure that is done correctly and that you have recourse if it gets screwed up?

 

What is the "hidden screen?"

 

Doing it yourself doesn't require a trip to the dealership. There's not much that can be screwed up. This diagnostic is hard coded into the navigation unit. Even if you shut off the car while it's doing the forced download, you just go back into the diagnostic menu and select force download again. Not all dealerships will be nice and do it for free. Some dealerships may charge you to downgrade. Others like one near me have no idea that you can even do a forced download.

 

The 'hidden screen' is the diagnostic menu.

 

Is it actually hidden and, if so, how do you access it? Sorry for the dumb question but I am a newbie to this even though I have owned the car since it was new.

 

Read my How To with the pictures in this thread. It tells you how to get to the diagnostic menu.

 

I misread your prior posting.

 

let alone for some people, the closest dealer is a couple hours away, and is a little too far to drive to just to get that done

 

Thanks for your help. But i did the same thing many times before and the screen still appears the blue. What the hell I thought that there is anothrer way to downgrade,but ur way is the same mine >.<. Maybe it works on ur car, but not on my car
Thanks alot ^_^

 

I have a very similar problem. I had the original disc for my 03 CL-S. Upgraded to the
2nd update. It loaded fine and I never had any issues. Then less than 1 month ago I upgraded to the 3rd version. It worked fine for a week or so then I get a message about not the right disc take to dealer. I restarted the car and it worked fine. Week later happened again. Called Nav-Teq and they are exchanging. When I went to take out v3 and put in v2 the system would not accept and displayed not right disc take to dealer. I took it in and out a few times and it would not boot up. Put v3 back in and it still wouldn't boot up either. Just as I was about to freak out and give up, I decide to put in
v1 and it booted up and so far is working fine. Can your instructions for this force download be used to force an update from v1 to v3 when I get the disc back? FYI when I did the orginal upgrade from v2 to v3 it did its update fine with all the messages saying it was processing the new disc. Would going to the hidden menu and having it run some of those dynostic to see if it can detect a self problem because the v3 disc is OEM from NAV-TEQ and is clean and free of scratches.

 

The instructions can be used to force download any version of the DVD.

 

Do any one know how to get the new upgrade for acura tl version v3.90 acura the orange dvd please help i want that 1

 

The CL only runs the black DVDs.