NAVTOOL in 2G MDX (2011 MDX with Pictures)

30043 Views 78 Replies 24 Participants Last post by chdyhgsk, 13 h ago

tecknocrat

Discussion Starter · Sep 2, 2019 (Edited)

3

Sharing my Navtool installation experience like I did on Acurazine

So I ordered my Navtool last Saturday online, asked for coupon code and was provided a 10% discount. Received it on Friday. Started installation on Sunday

Programmed the unit, opened up the car panels, took out radio, connected all the harnesses and then I got stuck twice

First block - radio pin, as we need to remove and connect the power harness it prompts for a pin when you put the ignition on, should have kept it handy before disconnecting so please dont forget this step, luckily I remembered i have the full manual kit, ran back in and found the card with radio pin phew
Second block - The radio switches on but the big dial controller is not working, I cant go past the first warning screen where we need to select 'Ok'. Turns out the two loose wires of red & black cables on the two harnesses need to be connected. This is not mentioned in the YouTube Video and got to know over the customer support chat.

So before I start with pictures, some details which the installation video doesn't tell and how did I route my cables

As mentioned above red and black wires need to be connected for it to work.
I had bought an HDMI and USB extension cable which can be put in the auxiliary/cigarette lighter socket ( Amazon). I couldn't remove the center panel so routed it to the Glove Box and routed the USB cable back from center console bottom section(more on that below)
I bought Aux cable Amazon Canada) routed it through the bottom section of the radio unit, its a black trim piece which I didn't add back. The pictures should help explain, its kind of an eyesore to see that cable out there all the time but its an acceptable compromise at this time.
Microphone - I tried mounting it on top but the cable is too thin to stay under the trim, so put it above steering wheel to the left side, works perfectly. Google assistant works flawlessly and so does Siri.
Calling function is a bit weird, you need to use speaker phone for it to work with Android Auto, have not tried calling with CarPlay.
The USB cable charges the phone while its connected.

Willl Share the pics in next post, let me know if anyone has any questions

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61 - 79 of 79 Posts

alainpp

· #61 · 10 mo ago

Unretired said:
Orange NavTool Wire spliced to Pin 5 Brown Wire on the nav unit under the seat.
Mine automatically switches to reverse and then goes right back to CarPlay when I shift to drive.
If yours isn't working I'd check the splice and the ground.
Otherwise?

I have the diagram here. So, I should splice the orange cable from navtool into the C5 in the navigation unit.

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Unretired

· #62 · 10 mo ago

alainpp said:
I have the diagram here. So, I should splice the orange cable from navtool into the C5 in the navigation unit.

I never found that confusing diagram.
I googled around and came up with something that drove me to the 8 pin plug on the back of the nav unit... don't remember what it was anymore.
Check and see if you have the same setup - 8 pin plug on back of Nav unit - lower left plug when viewed from backseat for splicing.
Pin 2 - Purple wire is Accessory
Pin 4 - Black wire is Ground
Pin 5 - Brown wire is Reverse

If you have the same set up it should work on the pin 5 brown wire

alainpp

· #63 · 10 mo ago

Unretired said:
I never found that confusing diagram.
I googled around and came up with something that drove me to the 8 pin plug on the back of the nav unit... don't remember what it was anymore.
Check and see if you have the same setup - 8 pin plug on back of Nav unit - lower left plug when viewed from backseat for splicing.
Pin 2 - Purple wire is Accessory
Pin 4 - Black wire is Ground
Pin 5 - Brown wire is Reverse

If you have the same set up it should work on the pin 5 brown wire

I was able to connect it to the brown cable as per your instructions and it worked perfectly.

Thank you for the help!

Reactions: 1

Obi1

· #64 · 8 mo ago

AcuraAddicted said:
So it's not connected to the navigation drive under the driver seat like they say in the manual they shared? Why would they mention it at all then? Ugh!

I'll give it a try next week, as my precious MDX is undergoing an extensive paint correction, polishing and C-QUARTZ sealing starting today afternoon. The birthday was mine in November, but the presents are all for the MDX, LOL.

the same thing happens to me too..., there all for the X!

mdxlinc

· #65 · 7 mo ago

Hello, my Navtool 5.0 just arrived. I have a 2010 MDX. While comparing the cables I have with the YouTube, I found an inconsistency - in the YouTube around 23:16, it talked about "14-pin connector". I looked at my main harness, there's no 14-pin connector. The 10-pin connector is there. There's a 6-pin (with 12V ACC, black ground, and 4 other "CAN" wires), a 4-pin connector with yellow label "4" (4 green wires), and another 4-pin connector labeled "Microphone" and "1 if applicable". Can anyone with recent installation experience tell me whether you also got the same cables? My 16-pin harness does have a 6-pin connector out (with just a pair of Red/Black wire). It seemed this will go to the 6-pin in the main harness (though there're 6 wires on the other end)? My 28-pin harness has a 4-pin out (just Red/Black wires) in white label "1" as well as another 4-pin (with green and grayish blue wires) in Red label "2". Appreciate any suggestions.

jimbok

· #66 · 5 mo ago

FYI Know that if you order from Navtool you have 30 minutes to change your mind and cancel. Though they claim that they take returns its under certain under circumstances most of which can never be met.

jimbok

· #67 · 5 mo ago

teknocrat said:
OK, I have add one point which is while obvious may not have come out clearly, when you are listening to Audio(Spotify, Apply music, Google play etc) using AA or CP, your steering controls(next track & previous track) will not work, you will have to use the big dial to control those. The reason for that is you get audio from Navtool in Aux mode in which steering controls for next and back don't work.

Again this is no different than if you had connected an audio source into Aux.

The Volume controls will work as expected.

You are not correct. When I connect my phone by bluetooth or by aux connection to my stock acura info system my steering wheel controls do work and The sounds works. The only thing that doesn't work is the screen IF I am using Waze app.

teknocrat

· #68 · 5 mo ago

jimbok said:
You are not correct. When I connect my phone by bluetooth or by aux connection to my stock acura info system my steering wheel controls do work and The sounds works. The only thing that doesn't work is the screen IF I am using Waze app.

Nope, if its aux its just not possible for steering controls to work, but if its over BT then they work. If you want to confim disable BT and you will find out.

When I made that original post somehow it was always connecting to aux but after sometime it connects through BT in which case I can use steering controls, its still finicky on when it connects to BT vs Aux. May be you have a later model where it always connects to BT which is great

Btrain19

· #69 · 3 mo ago

New user here looking for HELP!! Just bought an 07 MDX. It has the tech package. I am elbow deep in the Navtool 6.0 install! Connected the harness and navtool box correctly black/red/ orange wires all tapped into 8 pin connector on back of nav unit under seat. Verified that my phone hooked up to CarPlay wirelessly. Now for the problems. I do not have the single plug aux inside my console as some others do. Inside my console is an actual electric outlet. I have 3 rca plugs on the back side of my console yellow/red/white. I’m assuming this is my aux connections.
So for me to hook up navtool, I am assuming that I need to run two rca cables from the red and white rca plugs on back of console to the red and white connections on the navtool harness… am I correct there?
Also, how do you access the CarPlay screen??? My iPhone says connected to CarPlay so I know it’s connected but I have no clue how to get CarPlay screen to display on nav screen. I saw video to hold cancel for a few seconds but that doesn’t seem to work.
thanks in advance for any help
-Brad

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teknocrat

· #70 · 3 mo ago

I believe the system is different for 07-09 cars @AcuraAddicted can probably help as he installed in his car which is in those years.

AcuraAddicted

· #71 · 3 mo ago

Btrain19 said:
I have 3 rca plugs on the back side of my console yellow/red/white. I’m assuming this is my aux connections.

Correct.

Btrain19 said:
So for me to hook up navtool, I am assuming that I need to run two rca cables from the red and white rca plugs on back of console to the red and white connections on the navtool harness… am I correct there?

Correct. Also, not sure about Navtool 6, but the version I had (was it 4 or 5, I don't remember) had a pretty quiet RCA output level, it did not allow me to use the full potential of the vehicle audio system. So I bought a simple amplifier and installed it in between.

Btrain19 said:
Also, how do you access the CarPlay screen???

If my memory doesn't fail me, by holding the "Cancel" button on your Navigation system for several seconds. If that doesn't work on yours, you might have not connected something, or there's a different shortcut for your Navtool.

Sorry if I can't help more, but I disconnected this garbage a while ago and no longer use it.

Reactions: 1

Obi1

· #72 · 3 mo ago

AcuraAddicted said:
Correct.

Correct. Also, not sure about Navtool 6, but the version I had (was it 4 or 5, I don't remember) had a pretty quiet RCA output level, it did not allow me to use the full potential of the vehicle audio system. So I bought a simple amplifier and installed it in between.

If my memory doesn't fail me, by holding the "Cancel" button on your Navigation system for several seconds. If that doesn't work on yours, you might have not connected something, or there's a different shortcut for your Navtool.

Sorry if I can't help more, but I disconnected this garbage a while ago and no longer use it.

ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU FOR THE INSIGHT, IF NOT CURRENTLY USING THE NAV TOOL, WHAT TYPE OF SET UP ARE YOU USING? AND WOULD YOU CONSIDER THE ANDROID BASED EXTERNAL SCREEN?

AcuraAddicted

· #73 · 3 mo ago

Obi1 said:
IF NOT CURRENTLY USING THE NAV TOOL, WHAT TYPE OF SET UP ARE YOU USING?

Built-in Sirius XM radio in the OEM audio unit.

Obi1 said:
AND WOULD YOU CONSIDER THE ANDROID BASED EXTERNAL SCREEN?

No.

Reactions: 1

Obi1

· #74 · 3 mo ago

AcuraAddicted said:
Built-in Sirius XM radio in the OEM audio unit.

No.

I'VE GOT TO SAY I RESPECT THAT, IT'S BEEN FRUSTRATING TRYING TO FIGUER OUT THE NEXT MOVE WITH THE AUDIO VIDEO SET UP. THERE IS ONE OR TWO PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK ON THE 2ND GEN ACURA MDX GROUP 2007-2013 PAGE THAT HAVE HAD SOME LUCK WITH THE ALIEXPRESS ANDROID UNIT AND HAS BEEN INSTALLED FLAWLESSLY ON THE X'S.

HanSooloo

· #75 · 2 mo ago

I have been looking for a CarPlay experience for my MDX and this looks very promising. 2 questions:

When you start the car, where does the entertainment system start? Default Acura experience or NavTool experience? Does it remember last used option, e.g., if I was using CarPlay when I turned the car off, will it remember that and use it next time I start it?
Has anyone figured out a clean way to connect the NavTool audio to the Aux audio input on the MDX? I don’t like cables sticking out much and would prefer if there was a way to keep the cable under the trim / inside the console.

Obi1

· #76 · 2 mo ago

HanSooloo said:
I have been looking for a CarPlay experience for my MDX and this looks very promising. 2 questions:

When you start the car, where does the entertainment system start? Default Acura experience or NavTool experience? Does it remember last used option, e.g., if I was using CarPlay when I turned the car off, will it remember that and use it next time I start it?

Has anyone figured out a clean way to connect the NavTool audio to the Aux audio input on the MDX? I don’t like cables sticking out much and would prefer if there was a way to keep the cable under the trim / inside the console.

ALL GREAT QUESTIONS AND HOPEFULLY YOU GET THEM ANSWERED. LOT'S OF PEOPLE ARE STILL WAITING ON A SOLID PRESICE OPTION FOR REPLACING OEM INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.

Cre8ive_MDX

· #77 · 4 d ago

Just wanted to throw it out there that I bought the Grom VL2 to achieve the same thing (as the Navtool) and it was a very simple install and their support is outstanding. Grom is a more experienced (larger) company, and so when looking for options for my '13 MDX Advanced, they were the ones I landed on. Hope this helps others looking to upgrade.

No issues with needing to splice wires
Steering controls all work (Ch +/- does track) (FF and RW on the unit also trigger the track changes)
Reverse camera triggers and works in all modes (Factory, CarPlay, AA, etc.)
Solid support and good documentation, with fairly frequent firmware updates.
Very Reliable, and boots up within a few seconds for wired CarPlay (Wireless is always a bit slower for some reason)
Audio levels are all individually adjustable and plenty loud (nav, music, mic, etc.)
Only wire I had to run was for the mic, and the optional GPS antenna.

I personally did a fancier install to keep things as factory as possible for the USB connections for our devices, but the initial install was only a few hours. They recommend the glovebox, but I put the unit in the passenger cubby since the glovebox is already pretty full of stuff.

Hope this helps others when looking for a good AA / CarPlay solution to modernize their beloved MDXs

-J

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Reactions: 2

Obi1

· #78 · 4 d ago

SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT OPTION, BUT ARE THERE ANY PHOTOS ON THE PRODUCT AND YOUR PROJECT INSTALATION PLEASE.

Reactions: 1

chdyhgsk

· #79 · 13 h ago (Edited)

Cre8ive_MDX said:
Just wanted to throw it out there that I bought the Grom VL2 to achieve the same thing (as the Navtool) and it was a very simple install and their support is outstanding. Grom is a more experienced (larger) company, and so when looking for options for my '13 MDX Advanced, they were the ones I landed on. Hope this helps others looking to upgrade.

No issues with needing to splice wires

Steering controls all work (Ch +/- does track) (FF and RW on the unit also trigger the track changes)

Reverse camera triggers and works in all modes (Factory, CarPlay, AA, etc.)

Solid support and good documentation, with fairly frequent firmware updates.

Very Reliable, and boots up within a few seconds for wired CarPlay (Wireless is always a bit slower for some reason)

Audio levels are all individually adjustable and plenty loud (nav, music, mic, etc.)

Only wire I had to run was for the mic, and the optional GPS antenna.

I personally did a fancier install to keep things as factory as possible for the USB connections for our devices, but the initial install was only a few hours. They recommend the glovebox, but I put the unit in the passenger cubby since the glovebox is already pretty full of stuff.

Hope this helps others when looking for a good AA / CarPlay solution to modernize their beloved MDXs
-J

Also have a '13 Advanced. Does the unit come with good instructions? I'm handy but a little intimidated by this job. Wish there was a youtube install guide for '10-'13s(can only find one for '14)

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