Hack the nav - enable trip computer and AC

[csimo]

Drewbot said, "I'm wondering if it might be as simple as renaming some of the .bin files to the RL names and running the update."

B I N G O. You win the prize. That's how easy we believe it is! The .bin filename is flashed into the unit at the factory. It just looks for a .bin by that name on the DVD and loads it. Should be able to rename the Acura RL .bin to the name the Ridgeline is looking for and PROBLEM SOLVED.

Easy to do yet so hard. We have to find a way to enable loading the other .bin via the DVD. That's why we have to find a way to copy the DVD and make it work in the Ridgeline.

[Drewbot]

Ok here are my latest findings.

I took the files off the Acura RL disk (4.13b) and burned a CD (not DVD) with files from the RL NAV disk without the map data.

I put the CD in the NAV computer in the Ridge.

When the system booted I went into the system menu and clicked on version.

It stated the the ROM was version 1.14 and the disk was version 1.10

I selected download at the bottom of that page and it FLASHED THE ROMS WITH 1.10.

The system rebooted and I repeated the steps above to verify that it did indeed flash the ROMS. It did.

Now the bad news...didn't make any difference in the menus...however I am guessing that it just used an older version of the Ridgeline ROM files so none of the features were enabled. Also upon putting the 4.13C DVD back in the drive the system "noticed" that the files on that disk were newer and automaticly flashed the ROMS back to 1.14.

The good news is that it appears that you can flash the ROMs with a normal CD-R without having to worry about the map data, and if ROMs on the DVD are the same version or older we should be able to use the existing DVDs for map and area data after flashing the "fixed" rom.

Now the hunt begins... Which of the ROM sets is the right one for the Ridge..

S3VW
SJCA
SHJA
SJAA

Anyone have any ideas as to how to find out that info?

[csimo]

In the diagnostic menu I'm told there's one screen that tells you which .bin file is loaded.

We'd need to find out what the .bin file is loaded on a 2005 Acura RL and rename that file to the name of the file the 2006 Ridgeline is loading.

Yes, the problem still exists that when you put the DVD with the map data back in the drive it will want to auto-upgrade. This is the reason we need to find a way to burn a workable copy of the DVD with the filenames changed.

[Drewbot]

My thought is that there is likely an Acura RL ROM image on the same DVD we are currently using. I would also guess that it is the same version as the Ridgeline ROM image so we won't have the problem of the "auto upgrade" if we use the RL ROM off the disk we all already have

I looked and the directions that work on the TSX to determine which file is loading don't work with the Ridgeline NAV. Are there any others that you can point me towards?

In the mean time I'll try a few tests to see if I can determine which ROM set it is.

[csimo]

Try this. In diagnostic mode go to "Unit Check" then "Navi ECU". There should be a listing of the loader BIN and operating BIN files used. At least there is on an MDX... don't know about the Ridgeline.

Put all four bios files on seperate CD-R's. Three of the four should refuse to load. The one that will load is the Ridgeline's file. Then just rename the files off the others to the same name as the Ridgeline's.

You are at the gates of discovery!

[dbenn]

Originally Posted by csimo

In the diagnostic menu I'm told there's one screen that tells you which .bin file is loaded.

We'd need to find out what the .bin file is loaded on a 2005 Acura RL and rename that file to the name of the file the 2006 Ridgeline is loading.

Yes, the problem still exists that when you put the DVD with the map data back in the drive it will want to auto-upgrade. This is the reason we need to find a way to burn a workable copy of the DVD with the filenames changed.

I am taking delivery on my Ridgeline w/Navi this week so I have been following this tread.
I also have a 2005 RL w/Navi and I use the trip computer allot so I am hoping someone can figure this out.
The 05 RL controls the A/C system and audio system it also has a system called AcuraLink that connects to
a data enabled Bluetooth phone built into the messaging system. The RL control is a large cursor knob on
the center consol you can see it here: http://www.acura.com/models/model_co....asp?module=rl
I am not sure how compatible the system would be. Anyway I went into the diag system on the Navi and got
this info.

Program Flash 1.10.00SC.BNKA
Program Disc 1.07.0900
IPL 0.231.000
HPL 0.251.122
DBOOT 0.241.122
System u Com 0.190.000
Model SJAA

This is exactly how the info comes up on the screen.
There is also allot of hacking info at: http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2
My RL software version is 4.13A some RL owners received 4.13B in the mail based on there VIN #
so some of them may have an extra 4.13A disc. Good luck and I hope this has been of some help!

Doug

[imaki]

Originally Posted by dbenn

My RL software version is 4.13A some RL owners received 4.13B in the mail based on there VIN # so some of them may have an extra 4.13A disc.

I am one of those. I got the replacement disc a month or so ago. It is cool to see a few other Ridgeline and 2005 Acura RL owners!

Ian

[Drewbot]

Next bit of info. I found the screen that show which rom set the RL and the Ridge are using.

Acura RL = SJAA.BIN and SJAA2.BIN

Ridgeline = SJCA.BIN and SJCA2.BIN

You can find the info by entering the system menus (Map / Menu / Cancel) then going to version. On that screen is shows the Program Flash - Program Disc - DPL - APL - DBOOT - System uCOM - Model.

This holds all the info we have been looking for the Ridge Model is SJCA.

As a note with no disk in the drive the Program Disc and APL fields are blank.

When I tried to run the update with only the SJAA files on a CDR the system gave me a "Please Check your Disk" error and wouldn't update.

I'm getting ready to rename the SJAA.bin files to SJCA.bin and see if that does the trick...

More to come...

[csimo]

Originally Posted by Drewbot

Next bit of info. I found the screen that show which rom set the RL and the Ridge are using.

Acura RL = SJAA.BIN and SJAA2.BIN

Ridgeline = SJCA.BIN and SJCA2.BIN

You can find the info by entering the system menus (Map / Menu / Cancel) then going to version. On that screen is shows the Program Flash - Program Disc - DPL - APL - DBOOT - System uCOM - Model.

This holds all the info we have been looking for the Ridge Model is SJCA.

As a note with no disk in the drive the Program Disc and APL fields are blank.

When I tried to run the update with only the SJAA files on a CDR the system gave me a "Please Check your Disk" error and wouldn't update.

I'm getting ready to rename the SJAA.bin files to SJCA.bin and see if that does the trick...

More to come...

I'm holding my breath! You should have the answer as soon as you rename the files and load them!

Hurry!

[Drewbot]

Ok... good news and REAL Bad news..

Good News Renaming the roms worked exactly as expected. It patched the system and rebooted..brought up a welcome to Acura Navi splash screen and the hit ok button..

Now the bad..the RL has a totaly different interface than the ridgeline (twisty knob and no touch screen) and now my Navi is not responding to any keys..even the hard keys on the side of the nav.

I tried pulling the power to the system and I did get the reset with the request to enter the code but I still have no way to enter the data.

Right now I'm pretty screwed so any suggestions would be welcome. I might have to pull the Navi head and see if there is a hard reset that clears the whole unit and starts fresh.

So for now the findings are DO NOT USE THE SJCA ROMS!!!

More as I discover it .....