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Sedans Acura TL Acura TL Accessories and Modifications
474 messages, Last post on May 21, 2008 at 5:03 PM
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Replying to: podres (Nov 23, 2005 9:16 am) First I went to see what other aftermarket solutions I could find. Typically I was told I would have to unplug the XM receiver if I wanted to plug in the iPod. No Good. Correct info? The Acura nav system is an Alpine unit. On Alpine's product web site, they only have one model. Also, they only have one monitor interface adapter switch to go with it (VPA-B211A). Here's what Alpine says about their adapter followed by the web address: •Alpine Graphical Interface Display •QuickSearch (iPod, Satellite Radio, MP3 files) •2 Auxiliary Inputs •Dedicated Rear View Camera •Dedicated Navigation Input •Auxiliary Output "Now you can get iPod, Satellite Radio, Navigation or even 5.1 multi-channel DVD music from your factory installed video monitor. If you love the look of your factory video in-dash, but wish it had more functionality and better sound then VehicleHub is for you." Link: Alpine VPA-B211Alink title Sounds good to me. Sounds like one may already be in the 2005 TL's w/Nav. But that's all the information they have on their products. They do refer to the adapter as "VehicleHub". A quick google of that name sends you to among others, Alpine Europe (better information), detailing the KCA-420i iPod adapter unit. Hell, they provide a diagram on how to hook it all up. Link: Alpine Europe VehicleHub The KCA-420i is available from Apline dealers or Crutchfield.com for $90. So there you have it: Alpine Nav, Alpine adapter switch supporting XM, nav, ipod, etc. (the correct model may already be in the car), and the ipod kca-420i switch that interfaces with the ipod to provide on-screen integration. The only thing missing is the Acura software update to tie-in the handsfree voice recognition system. A crack for that is next on my list, but if it works through the nav screen/monitor, I'm good. I'm skeptical of the voice systems capabilities anyway. Likely limited to "iPod, skip track" or "iPod, play play list one". Anyone try this solution yet? So does anyone have experience with these products in an acura with a
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Replying to: dc06tl (Dec 07, 2005 8:58 pm) Most of the accessory is pretty easy to install except for the rear spoiler where you have to replace the springs in the trunk due to the weight. You definitely need a special tool made to remove the springs. I did save a ton of money by purchasing it from dealers listing their products on ebay. Of course the installation charges are free. The price difference on the parts could be substantial therefore, in my opinion you will still even if you hire someone to install them. Dealer costs are ridiculous. 
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Replying to: dc06tl (Dec 07, 2005 8:58 pm) |
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Side moldings go for just over $100 on ebay. Dealer charges $290 including instalation. What is there to installing a side molding? Has anybody done this?
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Has anyone gotten the honda ipod integration stuff, yet? How does it work and how much did you pay?
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Replying to: bif (Dec 30, 2005 1:52 pm) 
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Replying to: tenuki (Jan 05, 2006 5:06 pm) My 06 TL is at the dealer right now having the iPod integration installed and I should pick it up tomorrow... I picked up the kit yesterday and the installation instructions are 9 pages long and very involved. You have to take the entire dash apart. I started the install myself but gave up after breaking the first two plastic clips I came to holding the glove box in. I'll post a review tomorrow after I get it back. ~ Jim |
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Hey easttl...come back to us with that review of the ipod music link for your TL...I need a detailed review of how this works before I pull the trigger on getting a TL...since the TL does not play CDs burned with mp3's, this adaptor is essential...thanks.
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Replying to: jimmyrice14 (Jan 08, 2006 12:38 pm) Acura's implementation of the Music is so crappy. Once your ipod is plugged into the link cable, it is charged via the car's power. You have to install a program that comes with the music link called Acura TTL. This program is basically a scriptting add on to itunes. Once you have all your songs on the ipod, you use this Acura program to basically index the artists and albums on the ipod. The program uses Windows XP's TTS (text to speech) voice to say each of your albums and each of the artists. It also says the letters a - z and all the numbers 0-9. The program records the voice of microsoft's TTS engine as little .mp3 files on your ipod - giving you a way to find albums etc through the stereo system in the car. Unfortunally the default microsoft voice (called sam) really sucks and is hard to understand. Ok, so once you go through this procedure (and by the way, the acura ttl program crashes on me constantly, not allowing me to index all the songs on my 60 ipod), you access the ipod in the car by pressing the dvd mode button on the stereo, pressing it once goes to the ipod, pressing it again goes back to the dvd-audio. When it is in ipod mode it lets you select different modes of the play, like find artist, find album, random play, etc. So say you want to listen to some Zztop. You select the find artist mode by changing the dvd-changer to disk 2 and press the seek button. Now the stereo will play the ipod's little .mp3's you recorded with the acura ttl program. It starts off by saying 'A', 'b', 'c', etc... you have to wait till it gets to 'z', then you press the seek button again, if you press it and hold it, it will cycle thru all the artists that being with 'z'. Once you find your artist that you want, it doesnt seem to be any way to select the sub albums underneath them. Well I am getting tired of typing. I hope this helps explain the system. I will be writing a complaint letter to Acura expressing my extreme dissatisfaction with the music link. In a nut shell, it is hard to understand the voice, takes forever to find the artist, album you want, and it is very non-user friendly (disk 1 = playlist, disk 2 = find artist, disk 3 = find album, disk 4 = random). I will be interested to hear what others think of this system. Oh, and voice commands do not work with it either.
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OUCH...gibbyscott I am sorry you had to go to the mat for all of us. You have single-handedly killed my desire to get a TL...since it won't play MP3's burned on CDs, I was hoping I could live with buying an Ipod and using that as my basic music source...now with your review I can't see going with the TL (the RL plays burned mp3's at least, but you are spending 10K more!!). Thanks for the review and I'm sorry you had to break through for all of us. Jimmyrice14 (HOF this week?)
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