Car PC

Can Anyone help?

 

I am doing a Carputer install in my 05 Legacy GT. Why do people opt for the cubbi hole are vs just replacing their OEM HU with a single Monitor as a single source?

 

1) - putting the screen up in the cubby makes it higher. Easier to operate, closer to the driver's line of sight for navigation. Not to mention the hassle of the climate control system when you remove the 6 disc in-dash changer. It's also nice to have the tactile controls of the stock deck when you're not using the PC.

 

 

Also when mounting it up above in the dash area, what happens to the clock display? Do you guys relocate that or just not evan use it anymore?

 

There's a clock relocation kit available. Since you have an '05 you will also need to add two wires to the harness extention that comes in the kit. If you don't relocate the clock you will trigger an air bag warning light since the clock displays passenger air bag status.

Thankyou for your reply. So that relocation kit is to be mounted in the Ash Tray? That's a bummer, I always like to set up my systems as a "Put In & Pull Out" system w/out tampering with any OEM panels, etc.

 

For Example: When I set up my 3 way active front stage, I fiberglassed a whole new set of doors so I could keep my OEM ones in good OEM condition. It's a lot better for re-sell.

 

If the Ash tray is the ONLY place to relocate the clock, I do not wish to do so. UNLESS, the re-location kit is a seperate kit. Meaning, when I sell the vehicle, I could put it all back to OEM.

 

 

I have an Auto Tranny and my "shifter" and I could modify or get a new 'short' shifter allowing me ease of access to a Monitor where My OEM reciever sits.

 

Me being a "noob" I bought the dash kit for my Legacy not knowing it was only for Manual climate controls lol. Anyways I am very accustomed to fiberglass, and glassing a piece to fit a monitor and the auto climate controls wouldn't be too big of an issue to me, IF the Auto Climate control board/controls come out of the OEM dash piece easily.

 

When I sell the vehicle, I plan on putting everything back to exact OEM.

 

I am just concerned what Pro's and Con's (mechanically, not cosmetics) that I would get if i would just swap my OEM HU out with a single source Monitor.

Yes, you can remove the relocation kit and return the ashtray back to stock.

 

Be awaye however that you will need to trim the tabs on the clock itself so it will not be reusable in the stock location. You will need to replace the clock to re-mount it below the cubby.

 

The climate control board is not easily seperable from the rest of the head unit. There are tutorials here that walk through cutting it up and re-wiring it, but if you like keeping things stock then it's not the project for you. There is also a JDM climate control kit that works.

 

I suppose if you wanted to you could simply leave the clock connected and hide it behind the screen in the cubby if you don't mind losing access to it and the fuel consumption features.

 

 

Anything is possible if you have enough time, patience and money. Installing the Carputer and putting the screen at the cubby is probably the least invasive procedure for your car and the easiest to return to stock.

Yes, you can remove the relocation kit and return the ashtray back to stock.

 

Be awaye however that you will need to trim the tabs on the clock itself so it will not be reusable in the stock location. You will need to replace the clock to re-mount it below the cubby.

 

So I would have to buy another clock when putting it back to OEM location. LOL, I assume the nearest dealer wants about $400-500 for that piece . Can I just fiberglass a mount up so I dont have to 'tamper' with the tabs, or are the tabs inseperable from the clock display unit itself

 

The climate control board is not easily seperable from the rest of the head unit. There are tutorials here that walk through cutting it up and re-wiring it, but if you like keeping things stock then it's not the project for you. There is also a JDM climate control kit that works.

 

Ouch, that bites. I will be looking furthur into this.

 

I suppose if you wanted to you could simply leave the clock connected and hide it behind the screen in the cubby if you don't mind losing access to it and the fuel consumption features.

 

Na, I dont like that idea. Thankyou for all the options here, its nice to have a full view/option of everything n every detail.

 

 

Anything is possible if you have enough time, patience and money. Installing the Carputer and putting the screen at the cubby is probably the least invasive procedure for your car and the easiest to return to stock.

 

Thankyou.

 

I definately don't like the idea of relocating the screen display in the ash tray. However, I do not smoke and this WAY sounds a lot better vs ripping apart my OEM HU & climate controls. (I thought taking the climate controls off the OEM HU would be an easy procedure)

 

I will definately take a lot more at my OEM HU and see whether or not it is worth it to do, but I will most likely go the cubbie hole route.

 

This is my issue, ALL of my Processing will be done on the Carputer itself (that is one of the reasons I wanted to go "carputer" route) so the carputer will need to be on whenever the audio system is in use?

 

So, do you control everything from the OEM HU or Carputer Monitor? I assume, either right? Is there something I "set" to on the OEM HU to do all of my controlling on the carputer monitor.

 

 

 

BTW, this is the dash kit I have on hand: http://compare.ebay.com/like/300615600688?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y

 

I planned on taking a dremel and "emptying" out the interface. Than just fiberglass across the "empty space" to give me a solid base to work on to mount my Auto Climate controls & double din monitor to. BUT, if it is extremely difficult to take apart the climate controls from my OEM HU, than I guess there goes that idea, lol

Edited November 25, 2011 by EazyMoney

In my case, the Carputer is just an add-on. Audio out from the carputer gets fed into the aux-in on the head unit or the aux-in on your amps. (I replaced my 05 head unit with one from a 2007 Legacy for the aux-in).

Hm, I wonder how this would work in my application than since I would be using my "Carputer" as my Source/Processor.

 

Maybe I should purchase a "used" OEM HU and just rip out the climate controls and go about moddying up my dash kit. Or better yet, Just purchase the climate controls themselves.

 

I know there is an "APP" that allows for climate controls on the monitor itself, sure wish I had more backround knowledge than I would not evan use them. However, I think it'd be a PITA to wait for your PC to boot up just to hit the "defrost" lol.

 

Is there any "parts stores" where I could just buy the Auto climate controls or would it run me a fortune?

Hm, I wonder how this would work in my application than since I would be using my "Carputer" as my Source/Processor.

 

Maybe I should purchase a "used" OEM HU and just rip out the climate controls and go about moddying up my dash kit. Or better yet, Just purchase the climate controls themselves.

 

I know there is an "APP" that allows for climate controls on the monitor itself, sure wish I had more backround knowledge than I would not evan use them. However, I think it'd be a PITA to wait for your PC to boot up just to hit the "defrost" lol.

 

Is there any "parts stores" where I could just buy the Auto climate controls or would it run me a fortune?

 

 

The "sticky" on the HVAC controls is right below this thread

 

I don't know much about it since I never went that route.

 

I am not aware of any "app" and interface board for operating the climate control system in our cars. The app would be one thing, but interfacing with the HVAC system would be a problem unless you determined the protocols, signals, etc..

 

Controling it would be half the battle - you'd also need to interpret the signals from the HVAC control modules (seperate from the control panel) in order to show temperature settings, fan settings, etc.. on your carputer screen.

http://www.mp3car.com/content/150-car-pc-101.html

 

Scroll right to the bottom and read under VEHICLE CONTROL. Its the 2nd titling up from the bottom, and read.

 

Yeah, I just clicked on that thread. My DIY will be a bit different since I am not using the OEM plastic interface. I understand how to instal that. Its the seperation of the climate controls from my OEM HU that I need to know. Maybe I am blind, but I have scrolled through the first 6 pages or so and still havnt seeen anything bout that. It only shows how to isntal the double din using the OEM plastic interface. LOL i dont know if its worth it to scroll through 100+ pages and figure out it wasnt evan in there

Edited November 25, 2011 by EazyMoney

http://www.mp3car.com/content/150-car-pc-101.html

 

Scroll right to the bottom and read under VEHICLE CONTROL. Its the 2nd titling up from the bottom, and read.

 

I'm aware that one of the things you can do with a carputer is HVAC control. Good luck determining the communication protocols for the Legacy's HVAC system - there are no "plug an play" carputer interface boards that control the HVAC system for the Legacy.

 

Yeah, I just clicked on that thread. My DIY will be a bit different since I am not using the OEM plastic interface. I understand how to instal that. Its the seperation of the climate controls from my OEM HU that I need to know. Maybe I am blind, but I have scrolled through the first 6 pages or so and still havnt seeen anything bout that. It only shows how to isntal the double din using the OEM plastic interface. LOL i dont know if its worth it to scroll through 100+ pages and figure out it wasnt evan in there

 

Here's a start. You can also search for other HVAC threads:

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/dual-hvac-pcb-relocation-info-53848.html?t=53848&highlight=HVAC

 

Short answer: You're either buying the JDM kit or you're taking a dremel to your head unit's PCB and doing a lot of soldering.

It might be easier to buy the JDM double din in dash kit. It has a 7" hole for your touch screen and separates the climate controls. But, you will have it costs about $400.

haha, Nah thats alright. I am very handy with fiberglass. All my doors, A pillars, woofer enclosure were done with it. Gotta love sanding:)

 

I guess I could have used my OEM dash interface as a "mold" and went ahead and fiberglassed another, but the tabs were tricky and for $25 it would have been just cheaper to go with the Dash kit for the manual climate controls evan though it will take some moddying. I think I can use a dremel for a lil bit n save me 375 lol. And fiberglass resin + material very cheap, my aunt works at 3M, a company that makes the stuff and a lot of other electronics.

 

I guess I can always re-wire, I don't mind doing it. I am a contributing member on diyma and most of its 2nd nature to me. Only tricky thing is going to be tuning. Never used a Carputer to do this, it will be interesting. however, I have always used Mini DSP boards, so I have always manualy tuned each driver according with a laptop/pc

 

damn, 400 for a dash kit? Thats almost my whole budget for my audio system & computer!

Edited November 25, 2011 by EazyMoney

If you have auto climate control it's all one big circuit board that inclundes the radio and climate controls. So, that is why I had to pay $400 for the JDM in dash.

There's always ways to "hack" around

I would like to install a carpc in my 2010 LGT with the stock navigation screen. I have all the essentials including bluetooth, media hub, laptop which i am modifying to be able to power on and off with the ignition. The trouble i have which has been brought to my attention is that there is no adapter to connect the laptop to the stock navi screen. Is this true, or could there be an adapter i am overlooking?

Even if you get something that will allow you to display the laptop on the Nav screen, you will still not have the touchscreen capability.

Subscribed. I need a new project.

it's a money pit. run away. fast.

I've got a carPC you can buy Basically everything you need except the monitor. Give ya a good price too.

Money pit, indeed.

 

If I were to do it again, I'd probably just get a 7" android tablet and stuff it in there.

 

Or a double din AIO system. Shiet, at this point -- OEM systems (like Fords) are better than a CarPC.

http://store.mp3car.com/Xenarc_700IDT_In_Dash_7_inch_Touch_Screen_VGA_p/mon-017.htm

7inch single din touchscreen

http://www.avojdm.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_54_60&products_id=115

single din cubby adapter

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/leptronix-aux-115605.html?t=115605&highlight=aux+mod

and my old laptop is the setup I'm going with.

I would not do a laptop anymore. been there done that. I do not want to do a dissertation on it. Cough the $$$ and do it right the first time. I've been through all these phases - so i speak from experience.

Whats wrong with a laptop, its just laying around... why not put it to use.

You have a lot to learn, young grasshopper

Are you talking reliability, power, shocks to hd. I might not know a lot about cars , but being a computer engineer means I know a thing or two about a pc!

http://store.mp3car.com/Xenarc_700IDT_In_Dash_7_inch_Touch_Screen_VGA_p/mon-017.htm

7inch single din touchscreen

http://www.avojdm.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_54_60&products_id=115

single din cubby adapter

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/leptronix-aux-115605.html?t=115605&highlight=aux+mod

and my old laptop is the setup I'm going with.

 

 

Lilliput is the way to go;)

 

I'm debating on whether to do another CarPC again. -I don't care how well you build it, they will always take a hell of a lot longer to boot up than any "regular" receiver.

 

However, you can't beat the possibilites -endless. ...& the ahhh the Soundcards:wub: