All,

I just got my '04 Tl 6 speed with Navi. I got VERY daring, and loaded another version of the software that is on the DVD disk.

I did this by burning a CD, and renaming it to the file name it loads. Got into the diagnostic screen, and said "load from CD"

(I loaded the version for the Honda Accord)

Believe it or not, the screen now comes up Honda, XM commands still work, And I had a TRIP COMPUTER in the NAVI!!!!

I was on pins and needles, because I couldnt get it back to normal. I finally did by burning a CD with the real Acura file, but renamed it to the honda accord file. I had to disconnect the battery for 30 Minutes. When I turned on the car, it reloaded the file off the CD I burned, and I was back to normal again.

Unless you want to be Daring, I would NOT do this. It was NERVE WRACKING because I coundt get it back. However, it was worth it for me, cause I am daring

I may put the accord one back in because the trip computer in the Navi is kick a--

 

um, wow. does the accord version lack anything the acura version does? it must

 

Did you happen to take a pic. of the trip computer on the navi screen? If so, could you please post it. If not, maybe you could post a pic. if/when you feel daring again...

 

Here are a few Pics......

#1 Trip computer with AC Controls Displayed....

 

#2 Info Screen with Trip Computer Added

 

#3 of 3

History (Cool feature!!)

 

I have not really found any compromises yet using the honda software. Some of the voice commands dont work....

For example, the climate control on the TL is Dual Zone AND Dual mode. So---you can say to the TL nav system "Pass mode auto" (Or something like that) The Honda software doesnt recognize this. (I think a trip computer in the NAV is MUCH MORE useful than that command...)

Also, you cannot use "DVD 1 track 2" But, you can say "CD 1 track 2), and if its a DVD-A, it still works fine.

Finally, I suspect that the trip computer may not be acurate. But--I also am thinking how would they differentiate between a 4 cyl. accord and 6 cyl. accord? Maybe it automatically adjusts?

Who knows. I love playing around with this stuff. Heart goes into throat sometimes (I can only imagine taking my car to the dealer with a honda logo on the dash!"

-gerry

 

Could you please detail the procedure you went through (with filenames, etc.)?

 

Nice work. This was one of the things I mentioned earlier.

The Accord trip computer offers better data than the TL, not to mention decimal points!

 

OK. Now I'm a bit miffed. These features should be in the TL's navi system and I hope it's an easy upgrade. I wonder what kept Acura from adding this info to the TL's computer? Maybe there wasn't enough room on the DVD, or not enough memory in the navi computer?

 

Those look like all of the screens out of the MDX. You can probably just buy it and pop it in.

 

This is probably for the Honda Accord....when I start up my TL, it displays a Honda logo now instead of an Acura one.

I will detail shortly the step by step I did. HOWEVER, this is done at your OWN RISK!!!

It took me forever to figure out how to get the normal software back in the thing!!! Im still not 100% sure how I did it, but I will need to figure it out before I post how I got the Trip Computer in there.

I took it for a ride today with the wife, and the trip computer seems acurate. However, I have NO CLUE how it figures out how to be acurate, because its destined for an accord that can either have a 4 cyl. engine or a 6!! (And totally different displacements)

How it figures out the correct pulse for the wheel size etc is BEYOND ME!

 

It doesn't have to. It has a much more accurate distance reference: the GPS satellites.

 

Okay----Here are the details to try this. Again...DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Step 1)
Remove DVD disk from Nav system in trunk. Key must be in II position or III position. Press eject

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.


Step 4) Get into DIAGNOSTIC mode by holding down "MAP/GUIDE+MENU+CANCEL" until the diag screen shows

Step 5) Select "Version" from the diag screen

Step 6) Select "DISK LOAD" which appears in red.

Step 7) DO NOT SHUT OFF KEY from II or III postion

Step 8) It should re-boot, and you will see the HONDA logo instead of the ACURA logo. Place the orig NAV disk in the NAV system

YOU NOW HAVE A MUCH BETTER TRIP COMPUTER!!!! (Than in the MID)

To go back to the orig Acura system, make another disk, however....this time, Rename the Original BN2HH12C.bin file to BN2HH120.bin. The nav system with the Honda logo is now looking for BN2HH120.bin If you re-name the orig acura file (BN2HH12C.bin--->bn2HH120.bin), you will go back to normal. Follow the same proceedure as shown above, only with the disk described here.

I have two disks, and when I go to get an oil change, I will reset to ACURA....

AGAIN....THIS IS AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

 

SFINTEL.....Your exactly right.....I thought of this when I was trying to figure out an easy way to get back and forth between the honda system, and the Acura system

Good call.

Im still wondering how it calibrates the fuel consumption though....The honda system has to deal with two engines (4 cyl. and 6 cyl. 3.0 liter).......Its also dealing with the Acura 3.2 liter...

(At least I think it is. I need to fill up, and make a few trips. Then, compare it to the MID trip computer, and Mileage calculated by hand.

I will say, it tracked the MID trip computer to at least 1MPG. (Since the MID is missing tenths of MPG, I will never know)

 

BTW---I found one more SLIGHT compromise. It has to do with the Audio Setup screen. You cannot adjust the Sub and Center channel with the Accord version via the touch screen. However, you still can with the RIght Silver knob by pusing it in and using the Screen above the NAV that shows the AC status etc.

 

So the files for the accord are already in the TL disk?

 

Can we use this to install DVD player software?

 

yes, there's a single DVD that's sold to Honda/Acura navi owners so it has all the models' versions.

In theory, you could do a lot of things..

 

The loader screen has two options: disk load and card load. Did you try putting both loadable images on a card? Since each image is looking for different filenames, they can both exist on the card, right? And you can leave the DVD in the drive so you can change 'OS's from the comfort and convienience of the drivers seat.

 

i hope Acura makes updates/add-ons available through their website that can be downloaded and added on through this method! The info screen just suggests more stuff can be there. And I can see all the potential hacks now. Technology + cars =

 

I did try putting a version on a PC card. This is the first thing I tried. However, I didnt put all of the files.

Whats strange is, if you dont put all of the files on the CD ROM, it doesnt seem to work. (I get a "CHECK DISK" message)

Im not sure what files it is looking for, but simply putting the one you would think its looking for (Either BN2HH120 or BN2HH12c) on a CD wont cut it.

Maybe the same applies to the PC card.....

 

about how large is each .bin file?

i wonder what else you can load with the load screen? I can see Acura, or any 3rd party, releasing programs that one could load that would display under the Info Screen, such as a picture viewer, and you could put your digital camera's CF card in the pc card reader and have slide shows on your nav screen. Or watch DVD's... There seem to be a lot of possibilities

 

Files are about 13MB.

The only problem is, that you/third party would need the full BSP (Or board support Package particular to the alpine nav system) that has all of the source so it could be compiled under windows CE...

 

well then at least i hold hope for acura releasing some official upgrades, that PC card reader isn't there for nothing!

 

Gvahe, when I tried out the key combination for the diagnostic screens, I noted a lot of diagnostic's tied into other systems in the car. I don't know if any of these systems are "controlled" through the Nav software, though. Any thoughts on that?

Also, you questioned how the fuel usage would be measured in a 6 cyl. vs. 4 cyl. I assume there is some sort of actual reading. Believe it or not, there is a Trip Computer sort of built into the Acura Nav. On the diagnostics, under one of the first level menu choices is "Trip Computer". It acually measures speed in mm/sec. and montiors fuel usage per second, and overall, aparently in 3 different methods. I haven't figured out what everything on this screen means. The fact that most of it is metric and in mm and ml makes it mouch tougher to figure out.

My guess is that there is no reason the Nav does not have the trip computer, other than that it is already built into the MID, so why have both (in Acura logic).

 

The computer probably uses fuel injector readings and speed to figure it out. It also probably gets the speed of the car from the cars comp. There are so many things that you can get from the cars comp. If anyone has an AutoTap hookup for their laptop, they know this.


Would this work for a '03? Also, do you still have all the maps and POI's? How does it all fit on one CD? (im assuming acura used a DVD because not all the info would fit on a CD.)

 

jgrahamiii, were you able to select the Trip Computer diag in the Acura software? Mine was greyed out.

Regarding the thoughts on the other diags....they all look pretty similar with the Honda software. One of the ones I found was that in the ACURA version, there is an option to change to Canada. (Although I didnt touch it....) When switching to Honda, this disapears.

I also noted in a post (I think...) that the Honda version doesnt set the clock based on GPS time on the upper display. The acura one does....

 

Someone mentioned that the MDX has the same screens as those shown above -- that is, it has a trip computer -- if that's the case, why doesn't someone just use the MDX's associated BIN file? It'll at least have an Acura logo!

And for trip computer, doesn't it just count mileage like your odometer would normally? I don't think it needs to know if it's a 4 cylinder or a 6 cylinder.

 

Hello Lore,

Based on the following thread:
http://www.clubtsx.com/bbs/showthrea...4&page=5&pp=15

I only picked the Honda because I know the systems were VERY similar. It also gave me a good indicator to know that I really did download something.

Its possible the other versions would work, but Im not going to try at this point.

Also, do the other vehicles have XM? If not, Im not sure the XM commands will work. (They do with the honda version)

Regarding the 4 cyl and 6 cyl comments I had, to determine gas mileage, there needs to be a way to accurately measure fuel consumption (Especially for Instantanious fuel consumption) Typically, this is determined by the injector pulse width. The fuel rail pressure is kept at a constant differential from the Manifold pressure. This keeps the amount of fuel injected constant over different atmospheric pressures. Therefore, you can calculate VERY accurately how much fuel is sprayed in by an injector over the pulse width of a particular injector.

I would think that the calculations are DRASTICALLY different for a 6 cyl. vs a 4 cyl.

This only means that the trip computer is smarter than I think it is. There is a pretty intricate diagnostic for the trip computer when you have the honda version in there. Not sure what all the things mean in it, but it must somehow adapt. Trip computer proves to be pretty acurate when compared to the MID.

 

This makes everything so much more exciting... it's much like hacking the firmware of a DVD player or a piece of hardware inside your computer. Ah, the convergence of technology!

Thanks for your detailed post -- I'll read over the clubtsx stuff and see what else I can gleam from their postings.

 

You guys do know that you can access this and the other diagnosics by simply holding down the Map/Guide - Menu - Cancel buttons all at the same time for 5 seconds right. Just start the car wait for the OK, push it and from the screen hold the 3 buttons down and it will pop up the diag screen. Has a bunch of stuff in there. Be careful though, messing with some can screw up the nav.
There is even a section to change tire parameters to keep the nav accurate after you change wheel size.

 

I will drive the car at 150. But I will not mess with its brain. Nothing angers me more than a screwed up computer!

 

You see Neuron? I told you there was more that could have been done with the TL's computer!

Maybe next year...

 

hey dennis, did you even read this thread? :p

 

Interesting information!

So, given that the system can be hacked, is there a way anyone can figure out to eliminate the warning acknowledgement screen that comes up each time we start the car? It seems like it might be easier to change the words or change the file to a photo than to completely get rid of the need to click "OK". I'd guess Acura (or Alpine?) has made this a difficult feature to defeat.

 

Some guys on tsx-club website were discussing hacking the nav to eliminate the nag screen. The problem I think was either that the nag lived in an EEPROM on the computer or on the DVD which is larger then 4.7GB so not burnable.

 

I can't remember the exact menu choices. The first choice was on the right side, about 2 from the bottom. This brought up a number of other choices. The first one was "Trip Information" or something like that. When you hit that, the title says Trip Computer and you see a lot of real time displays.

I think the reason Acura did not enable the trip computer is that the Nav computer bases it's calcuations on different data than the MID does. Therefore, you would see two different MPG's, two different miles left, etc. This would be "confusing". Since you get the MID in both Nav and Non-Nav (which is different than, for example, the MDX, in which the Nav replaces the trip computer screen), they just disabled it in the Nav computer. In fact, with the diag screen, you can see that the calculations are close, but not the same.

The thing I can't figure out, is why I have to hit "select" on the MID to get into the trip computer. What a pain! Certainly the Nav trip computer is better, besides.

 

I don't know how I did this, but somehow I managed to load the Honda OS without doing any disk swapping. I was playing around in the diagnostic screens (unit check, I think) and suddenly the unit locked up for about 30 seconds. It then went into the OS load and came up with the Honda logo. I had to use the trick previous documented here to get back to the Acura version.

 

i did the same thing by accident, and it locked up and rebooted, but it still had the Acura logo.