Panasonic CQ-C7303U installed

[CombatCQB]

After seeing daswrx's install where he integrated a pionner unit into the stock panel, I decided to try it as well. It has taken me about two months of part time work to put all this together. With some debugging included. It is definitely not an easy task and it all starts with the deck I picked.

The idea was simple to start:
1) gut the faceplate
2) reroute buttons to stock unit
3) relocate display
4) mount Panasonic unit in place of the CD changer.

Issues encountered included:
A) The faceplate used a CCFL backlight which would not fit into the stock panel. Scavenged a LED backlight from another LCD and build a custom power supply for it.
B) Mapping the 13 buttons from the faceplate and the stock panel to understand what traces to cut. (This led to the A/C btn not working the first time around.)
C) The Panasonic unit had two internal switches that indicates the faceplate open/close. Build discreet logic to bypass the switches. A loose connection caused the CD player to not work the first time.
D) The CD slot in the Panasonic unit is not centered to the DIN dimensions, so the entire unit has to be mechanically offset to align the CD slot with the stock panel.
E) The offset of the Panasonic unit required a small modification to the mounting brackets and the din slot in the car to fit.

With everything done, I now have a dedicated AUX in, Sub out, pre-amp outs, MP3/WMA support, WOW. I can also add XM/Sirius, Bluetooth hands-free, Ipod controller and CD/DVD changer. Not to mention the fancier display and customizable graphics. Now I can continue my carputer project.

Would I do this mod again? Yes, but only after finding another unit that will fit easier. I still have some other plans for more features but those can wait for now. More pics to come...

[fzanetti]

WOW!!!

This is really a great install and project!!!

Congrats...

Great work...

I wish I had the same on mine LGT hehehehe

Flavio Zanetti
Boston, MA

[Hanger]

dammit, you're in NY ><

Great job!!!

[NSFW]

Applause.

[MaStaMooN]

"it's niiiccceeee"

[hutru01]

After seeing daswrx's install where he integrated a pionner unit into the stock panel, I decided to try it as well. It has taken me about two months of part time work to put all this together. With some debugging included. It is definitely not an easy task and it all starts with the deck I picked.

The idea was simple to start:
1) gut the faceplate
2) reroute buttons to stock unit
3) relocate display
4) mount Panasonic unit in place of the CD changer.

Issues encountered included:
A) The faceplate used a CCFL backlight which would not fit into the stock panel. Scavenged a LED backlight from another LCD and build a custom power supply for it.
B) Mapping the 13 buttons from the faceplate and the stock panel to understand what traces to cut. (This led to the A/C btn not working the first time around.)
C) The Panasonic unit had two internal switches that indicates the faceplate open/close. Build discreet logic to bypass the switches. A loose connection caused the CD player to not work the first time.
D) The CD slot in the Panasonic unit is not centered to the DIN dimensions, so the entire unit has to be mechanically offset to align the CD slot with the stock panel.
E) The offset of the Panasonic unit required a small modification to the mounting brackets and the din slot in the car to fit.

With everything done, I now have a dedicated AUX in, Sub out, pre-amp outs, MP3/WMA support, WOW. I can also add XM/Sirius, Bluetooth hands-free, Ipod controller and CD/DVD changer. Not to mention the fancier display and customizable graphics. Now I can continue my carputer project.

Would I do this mod again? Yes, but only after finding another unit that will fit easier. I still have some other plans for more features but those can wait for now. More pics to come...

This is phenomenal. Great job.

[Waxiboy]

can this be done with pioneer or alpine head units?

[CombatCQB]

Thanks guys,

The main criteria I used to pick the deck was the number of buttons and what button functions are needed. The stock unit has one rotary knob and a total of 21 buttons. So when looking for a deck for this project I ruled out decks that had two rotary knobs. Most decks don't have the 1-6 radio memory buttons anymore, but I used the remote to regain those functions.

What functions each button serves is also arbitrary. The power button on the stock unit is now also the source button. The original source select buttons (CD/FM/AM/SAT) are now direction buttons to navigate the menus. So just looking at faceplates was how I picked the 7303.

But now I would add the following criteria to picking a deck:
CD slot location, if not centered it will mean more work to shift the deck sideways.
Backlight, this is harder to determine but LED or EL backlight would be best.
Motorized faceplates, non-motorized=no problems, but motors means there is a sensor to determine if open/closed and that could affect how the deck functions.

Other than that, any deck would work. I had another blaupunkt deck that was a candidate. Panasonic also has the new 8303 with a color display, but I noticed the display is smaller so it's a trade off.