DIY: MAJOR MOD: NAV hacks / Entertainment System - Page 2

semcoll · #16 (**permalink**) 07-26-2007, 11:38 AM

Wilee, wow! -you never cease to amaze. I figure you for a modest kind of guy, so I took the liberty to post a pic of your newly modified instrument panel.

BTW - I like the matte finish. We all hate those nasty fingerprints.

How about a motorized 360 deg-capable roof mounted infrared camera ?

semcoll · #17 (**permalink**) 07-26-2007, 11:58 AM

dp dp dp

wolfhound · #18 (**permalink**) 07-26-2007, 12:23 PM

smar-tee-pants!

I don't have the navi unit...but if I did, my weekend would be planned around this mod.

Great work. The amount of research you have invested in this mod shows true obsession...err...I mean dedication!

wileetundra · #19 (**permalink**) 07-26-2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semcoll

Wilee, wow! -you never cease to amaze. I figure you for a modest kind of guy, so I took the liberty to post a pic of your newly modified instrument panel.

BTW - I like the matte finish. We all hate those nasty fingerprints.

How about a motorized 360 deg-capable roof mounted infrared camera ?

LOL.

Actually I did consider a PTZ (power tilt zoom) camera for the roof but decided against it during prototype testing. When mounted in the middle of the roof you can't see enough of the ground due to the angles, and when mounted to any one side or corner you only get a decent view for about 120 degrees max, plus there wasn't an ideal place for the PTZ control, and the protective dome would get dirty and scratched over time thus degrading the video quality. So in the end I opted for 2 wireless color infrared night vision cameras and will mount them in the top corners of the rear window. Perfect for blind spot views.

wileetundra · #20 (**permalink**) 07-26-2007, 08:03 PM

Update on the Parking Brake sensor:

I tore my dash apart for the umpteenth time to hunt for the Parking Brake sensor. I am getting like an Indy pit crew and can remove the NAV in less than 10 minutes now. Must force myself to slow down lest I end up with a $2,000 paper weight.

First I scavenged some old female socket-pin receptacles from some of my spare PC parts: I also build computers from scratch so had lots of eligible data cables laying around. Then I unplugged all the cables from the NAV, examined the connector which I suspected of containing the Parking Brake sensor, and lo and behold it does contain a pin but no wire in the connector. I disassembled the connector and inserted numerous pin sockets but none of them fit just right - dang socket is a unique size. So I selected one that was big enough to fit the pin but small enough to slip through the assembled connector. Plugged the connector in, fed the pin socket in by hand with tweezers, and bingo it connected. Reinstalled the NAV and fired it up..... and.... SUCCESS!!!

Er... sort of... the diagnositc menus now confirm I can toggle the Parking Brake sensor on or off, however this has no bearing on the NAV functions being enabled or disabled while in motion. All was not lost, though, as my testing also revealed an unused connector on the back of the NAV which I believe is for the rear-seat DVD player. If this is true then I just need to find the pin-out for that connector and I can now use the Parking Brake sensor to enable even more functions on the NAV such as a video input without the crappy "check surroundings" disclaimer.

The testing continues for a permanent speed pulse bypass but I am getting closer by the day and finding even more functions every step of the way. So close but yet so far...

wolfhound · #21 (**permalink**) 07-27-2007, 12:21 AM

I am saving up my pennies and anxiously awaiting each of your posts so that when I can buy the navi unit, I will have the entire process that you have created memorized. I should be able to do this mod in total darkness with one hand tied behind my back when all is said and done...and I have enough saved for that dang pricey unit.

wileetundra · #22 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007, 11:00 PM

OK gang. I am in the middle of developing a website for my Tundra. Not because it is great or anything but because I am getting a lot of PMs, emails, questions, etc. about various mods. I decided to just write each mod up in full detail and post on a website which is easy to navigate without sorting through all the threads and posts. As part of this I do have a bunch of photos of my NAV mods described in this thread. I am still working to put the final finishing touches on the NAV install to make it super-perfect but here are a few pics as a teaser to hold you over...

And before anyone gets upitty... no I am not going to stop posting on this forum. My personal Tundra website is just to house the high-res photos and keep copies of the relevant mod info organized all in one place. It will feature lots of links back to this forum which I think is the best place for questions, sharing, tips, discussions, debates, etc. My website is just going to be a few simple content pages, no ads, no contact info, and the only links will come back to this forum.

wileetundra · #23 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007, 11:18 PM

Update on the Speed Sensor bypass / Check surroundings disclaimer:

I haven't found a workaround yet for the permanent speed sensor bypass. The toggle switch mod bypasses it for 30-40 seconds at a time which is long enough to enter a phone number, address, or whatever. You can then re-toggle the switch for 30-40 more seconds if needed so I am living with the switch mod for now but still pursuing perfection.

The existing 6.1 firmware is programmed to revert to the GPS input for speed determination if the CAN pulse is missing for more than 30 seconds. The only ways around this are to generate a fake speed pulse which remains at a steady 4 mph or less, or to modify the firmware to enable the functions. I am currently working on both solutions but I suspect that the speed pulse generator will be the best permanent method once I solve it.

I did manage to burn a new NAV DVD with the 6.1 maps and the older 5.1 firmware. It loaded fine in my NAV and I was able to use the override function in the old firmware to enable all the NAV features while the vehicle was in motion. The main problem with this approach is that the old firmware lacks certain features found in the 6.1 firmware: most notably it disables the AUX input function which is a no-go for me since I am now playing DVDs and radio scanner traffic through the second AUX input circuit added by my mod. It also requires you to access the diagnostic menu and activate the override function every time you turn the vehicle on which is a pain in the a$$.

I also experimented with modifying the firmware to edit or remove the "check surroundings" message superimposed on the backup camera input. I was able to find and edit the text strings in the loading.kwi file with a binary editor but I can't get the modified file to load completely in the NAV. I suspect that one or more of my changes broke a checksum digit or included one too many or too few characters which corrupted the database pointers. Anyway I am still working on it in hopes of finding a solution or inspiring someone to beat me to it.

While I am waiting I am able to enjoy movies and radio scanner traffic on my NAV, use all the functions while in motion, and modify other NAV behavior with my switch panel. It is pretty cool, can't wait to finish the full article with photos. Will share more soon.

Robin25113 · #24 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 12:26 AM

You are just awesome!!! I have followed most of your mods and I am very impressed. You are doing what I only thought of doing. Keep it up. I look forward to your updates... Just Awesome!!!!!!!

thesse · #25 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 01:23 AM

oh, man ... go, go, go!! you are going to get it, I can feel it!

And thanks, you are answering every question I've had so far about the speed pulse hack option, the firmware hack option, etc. great info!

rignerd · #26 (**permalink**) 08-06-2007, 03:28 AM

Hey Wiley! I am totally impressed. Have you tried using a 556 dual timer to generate the 4 mph pulse and gate it out with the other side? Thanks for all the hard work, Keep it up.

wileetundra · #27 (**permalink**) 08-06-2007, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rignerd

Hey Wiley! I am totally impressed. Have you tried using a 556 dual timer to generate the 4 mph pulse and gate it out with the other side? Thanks for all the hard work, Keep it up.

I think it is more than timing, possibly a certain tone generation at a fixed or variable frequency which I suspect to be 1 khz based on some research I did. If you want to suggest a circuit diagram and parts source then I will build it and connect it up. I have been trying to find some documentation about the CAN network and speed pulse signal protocoal - I know it exists because other companies make speed pulse generators - just need to figure it out and then emulate a fixed speed of 4 or less. My spare time is tight so I could use some assistance from anyone with an electrical background.

kd7onc · #28 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007, 12:41 AM

One of the guys over at the Sienna forums found that his Nav system was receiving a speed signal from the CAN network of approx 1 Hz per MPH that the vehicle speed was. He is using a BASIC stamp with a program he wrote to output the signal for 1MPH by doing 100ms of 5 Vdc followed by 900ms of 0 Vdc.

The only possible problem that I could foresee with this (which is why I have not done it) is that the Nav unit does dead reckoning navigation so that it keeps up with where you are when you lose the GPS signal. It uses the vehicles speed and a gyro as inputs for the dead reckoning calculation.

I don't know if the new Nav units do the same thing. My experience is based on the 7006 in my 2005 Tundra.

wileetundra · #29 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kd7onc

One of the guys over at the Sienna forums found that his Nav system was receiving a speed signal from the CAN network of approx 1 Hz per MPH that the vehicle speed was. He is using a BASIC stamp with a program he wrote to output the signal for 1MPH by doing 100ms of 5 Vdc followed by 900ms of 0 Vdc.

The only possible problem that I could foresee with this (which is why I have not done it) is that the Nav unit does dead reckoning navigation so that it keeps up with where you are when you lose the GPS signal. It uses the vehicles speed and a gyro as inputs for the dead reckoning calculation.

I don't know if the new Nav units do the same thing. My experience is based on the 7006 in my 2005 Tundra.

Thanks for the tip!

The hesitation that you mention wouldn't be a problem with my NAV mod because you can switch the override on or off with the toggle switch, so you could enable the functions when you need them and put the truck back into automatic mode when you don't. Best of both worlds. Personally I have run the truck for several days with the sensor disconnected and the GPS performed fine, as does my portable GPS mapping on the PDA which has no speed or vehicle sensors at all. In fact my handheld PDA calculates my actual speed to within +/- 2 mph of actual vehicle speed. Good enough for my needs...

If you can provide a link to the post on the Sienna forum where he details his circuit and parts then I will make it and try it out.

Rotorfixer · #30 (**permalink**) 08-16-2007, 07:46 PM

Have you concidered connecting a frequency meter up to the source while you are driving? I pick up my LTD on monday, and I will be looking into this myself, I am also very interested in finding a way to switch through the source button (steering wheel) I know that they have done this on 05 nav systems which seem to be similar in design.