DIY: All NAV Functions All The Time without Firmware Downgrade!

[wileetundra]

Originally Posted by hamm3r

Wile's instructions say: "Red wire from the speed pulse generator circuit: any +12 volt source that is switched on with the ignition"

I'm still not far along but I'm just curious what you are using for your power source?

Many people are tapping into the power behind the cigarette lighter.

[wileetundra]

Another update on the speed pulse device:

If you have a CrewMax with the factory Rear Seat Entertainment System and one of my speed pulse generator devices installed, and you want to watch the rear DVD on the front NAV unit, then you will need to flip your speed pulse toggle switch back to factory mode while watching the DVD. This is because the speed pulse device was designed to output a pulse that alternates between 0-1 kmph since this produced better map scrolling during my testing, however the occasional spike of slow motion apparently shuts off the DVD on the front display even though it doesn't lock out the other NAV functions. I have a DoubleCab so I haven't been able to confirm this personally but I believe it is true based on information provided by another forum member that purchased one of my speed pulse devices for his CrewMax.

If you didn't install the recommended toggle switch with the speed pulse device or if you want to leave the speed pulse device enabled all the time for some other reason then you will need to modify your speed pulse device to slow down the output range even further so it is always at or below 0 kmph. To do this you need to change the total resistance by modifying one or more of the components.

If you purchased a device from me and you want the speed pulse output range adjusted as described above then I can do this for you - just PM me for details. This shouldn't be necessary for most people but I wanted to mention it just in case.

Also - the fourth batch of speed pulse devices is almost gone. As of right now I only have two left so if you are on the fence then you should order now. I don't have any more parts to make another batch and I am busy with other projects so I doubt I will make any more for a while (if ever). If you have completed your install then post your results or installation tips here to help others.

[kinginthecastle]

well, so far it doesn't seem to be working. I'm going to mess around with it tomorrow morning and I"ll let update. may just need to tweak some settings.

[kinginthecastle]

OK, it turns out....that it is probably impossible to watch DVDs on the front nav screen. A single pulse causes the screen to switch to the map screen. Even a single pulse every 30 seconds will do it. A pulse makes it think it's doing 1km/h and that's enough to cause the map to come up.

Project gone bad!

[wileetundra]

Originally Posted by kinginthecastle

Project gone bad!

Well not exactly. You can still use the pulse generator to enable all functions on the NAV while in motion, which is exactly what it was designed for, so it works perfectly as designed and as advertised.

When you want to watch a DVD up front then you can just flip the speed pulse switch back to factory mode. I never claimed that the speed pulse generator would let you watch video while in motion, although it is a good thing that you tested this since there are bound to be a few others which are looking for that kind of solution.

I am currently watching DVD on the NAV via the rear camera input and it works fine. I am in the process of devising another mod that will enable the additional video input as well but I don't have a CrewMax with the rear seat entertainment system so my solution may not be applicable for you.

[kinginthecastle]

Sorry Wiletundra,

My comment wasn't directed at your mod. Hope you didn't take offense to that, as that was not my intention. But the project was to enable the DVD on the nav screen and nav functions too. And after all the time and effort put in, it's a no go. But yes, your mod definitely works as advertised and is a great product, as I'm sure many here would attest to.

[kinginthecastle]

OK...updated news...So I currently have my setup, which so far has allowed me to watch DVDs for at least the drive from my house to Charo Chicken...about a 10 minute drive so far. I achieved this by disconnecting the nav antenna. I'm not about to slice up the antenna cable, so I want to see if I can rig something so that I can attach it to my switch. Then I'll see if it works not. So there we are...that's the next step. I don't really need the nav anyways, but so far at least I have video up front. Oh, also the speed pulse is disconnected. Looks like you need both, since it makes the nav think you're not going anywhere.

[Neutron]

So wileetundra I have been following your post and have a simple question for you.

If the signal on the stock speed pulse varied from 0-10v (probably dependent on speed) and your design emulates the 0-1km/hr signal then wouldn't it be feasible to place a switch in line of the stock signal wire cutting signal to the Nav unit (ie 0v) which would enable the lock out functions?

I am sure you tried this and there is something I am overlooking (maybe the NAV unit would not function on an open lead from the speed pulse signal line)...

Lemme know

[wileetundra]

Originally Posted by Neutron

So wileetundra I have been following your post and have a simple question for you.

If the signal on the stock speed pulse varied from 0-10v (probably dependent on speed) and your design emulates the 0-1km/hr signal then wouldn't it be feasible to place a switch in line of the stock signal wire cutting signal to the Nav unit (ie 0v) which would enable the lock out functions?

I am sure you tried this and there is something I am overlooking (maybe the NAV unit would not function on an open lead from the speed pulse signal line)...

Lemme know

I tried no connection first, then various voltages from 0-12v during my early testing. None of these methods worked, however, as the NAV unit apparently needs a signal of some kind to verify the connection is still active otherwise it reverts to using GPS and it locks up all the functions again. I posted all the details of my early testing on another thread. Suffice to say that I wouldn't have gone through all the trouble of building a NAV speed pulse generator circuit if simply disconnecting the speed wire would have worked...

[Neutron]

Figured as much, just thought I would ask. I evidently did not see the other thread.

Thanks for the explanation though

[foxmember]

Kinginthehill, you are absolutely correct, the Wiletundra pulse generator works as advertised. The pulse generator is an excellent product by a person who obviously enjoys a challenge.

I have also tried to find a way to view the factory ”Rear Seat Entertainment System” video on the front NAV screen of my Crewmax (for the wife). I’ve built a new pulse generator with the 220K ohm resistor in order to have a pulse every 6 seconds. I have the parking brake wire grounded as required. The video image appears for 6 seconds and then goes out for a second then return for 6 seconds etc. In other words the image appears on the NAV screen (at any vehicle speed) but goes blank for approximately one second every 6 seconds.

This tells me that the video image could possibly stay on if the voltage on the speed-wire was a constant 12 volts. Naturally this would not enable your NAV functions but could potentially enable the RSES video on the front screen.

I also think the NAV antenna disconnection has potential. Good idea Kinginthehill.

[wileetundra]

Originally Posted by foxmember

Kinginthehill, you are absolutely correct, the Wiletundra pulse generator works as advertised. The pulse generator is an excellent product by a person who obviously enjoys a challenge.

I have also tried to find a way to view the factory ”Rear Seat Entertainment System” video on the front NAV screen of my Crewmax (for the wife). I’ve built a new pulse generator with the 220K ohm resistor in order to have a pulse every 6 seconds. I have the parking brake wire grounded as required. The video image appears for 6 seconds and then goes out for a second then return for 6 seconds etc. In other words the image appears on the NAV screen (at any vehicle speed) but goes blank for approximately one second every 6 seconds.

This tells me that the video image could possibly stay on if the voltage on the speed-wire was a constant 12 volts. Naturally this would not enable your NAV functions but could potentially enable the RSES video on the front screen.

I also think the NAV antenna disconnection has potential. Good idea Kinginthehill.

A constant voltage of 10 volts on the speed sensor wire might work to fool the rear DVD into playing on the NAV unit while in motion but I doubt it. I don't think it will work, though, since I suspect that the NAV uses the same function to check the speed sensor signal for both of the function lockouts. There is probably still some type of signal on the wire while the vehicle is stopped although I haven't been able to detect this in my testing. All of my meters just read a steady 10 volts from the ECU while stopped, yet when I fed that voltage into the NAV the functions would still remain locked. So it is not a significant pulse but it might be a very tiny fluctuation in voltage or an extremely brief or narrow pulse which doesn't show up on the diagnostic monitor.

One of you with the CrewMax and RSES should test this for us and let us know. You can connect a potentiometer between a 12 volt source and the NAV unit, then adjust it until you get a 10 volt output while in use. A resistance of 20-40 ohm should work depending on the current draw of the NAV. This Radio Shack part might work.

[kinginthecastle]

Originally Posted by wileetundra

A constant voltage of 10 volts on the speed sensor wire might work to fool the rear DVD into playing on the NAV unit while in motion but I doubt it. I don't think it will work, though, since I suspect that the NAV uses the same function to check the speed sensor signal for both of the function lockouts. There is probably still some type of signal on the wire while the vehicle is stopped although I haven't been able to detect this in my testing. All of my meters just read a steady 10 volts from the ECU while stopped, yet when I fed that voltage into the NAV the functions would still remain locked. So it is not a significant pulse but it might be a very tiny fluctuation in voltage or an extremely brief or narrow pulse which doesn't show up on the diagnostic monitor.

One of you with the CrewMax and RSES should test this for us and let us know. You can connect a potentiometer between a 12 volt source and the NAV unit, then adjust it until you get a 10 volt output while in use. A resistance of 20-40 ohm should work depending on the current draw of the NAV. This Radio Shack part might work.

I have no problem testing anything...I might need some help as to what I need to do though.

[kinginthecastle]

I will say that the idea of having some sort of disconnecting switch for the nav is looking less promising. I really wouldn't know how to go about doing so because the antenna cable has 2 wires in it. the wire itself, and then a sheathing of wiring that surrounds it.

[foxmember]

I’m anxious to try the constant 10 volt on the speed sensor wire. My only problem is time, if I have any over the weekend I’ll give it a go. Maybe kinginthecastle will beat me to it.