ichi d

heavy how long did it take you to do this install? im about to try and do this tomorrow.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

The Nav tool was under an hour, the hardest part is trying not to break the clips.

The USA spec took them a while, but only because its tough to find room for it and run all the wires for the iPod.

ichi d

kool thx. im going to fallow your instructions and i will let u konw how it goes.

kamakaro

Nice! Where can I get this? And how hard is it to install?

SICUnurse

I finally bought my '05 RL... LOVE IT!!! But I really need this set-up.

I have an overhead DVD player where I guess the overhead light use to be. My question to you is, can I run a video line/ feed to this system (the same feed that will be used in the Nav screen)? It has a single, headphone like plug that says AUX.

Also, how did you guys run the wires to the glove box and how difficult was it? I haven't read this entire thread because I didn't know if I wanted to do all this, but now I do.

Thanks,
Ryan

SICUnurse

Also... What are all those wires in your glove box?

Thanks!

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

kamakaro: I bought the USA spec at a stereo shop, they installed it as well.

SICU, You mean the RCA cables? I'm not sure you get how all this works... So I'll try to answer your question.

There is nothing in my glove box, all of my video connections are in the console (i.e. "the wires")

Your overhead screen is more than likely one piece (DVD player/Screen in one) so there may not be any RCA jacks.
If there are you could run a cable to the set up I have and synch them up all day.

It all depends on how its made. Make sense?

SICUnurse

I didn't mean to say glove box, but arm rest. What RCA's are in the console. I thought that you only had to run the iPod cable to the arm rest???

And yes I don't understand. It looks like more cables, wires, whatever than I thought there would be.

Thanks for the speedy response.

oo7spy

The yellow RCA cable is for video (other than iPod). The red and white RCA cables are for audio. I'm assuming the yellow goes to the Navtool as this is what interfaces with the Nav screen, and the red and white go to the USASpec which interfaces with the stereo.

Have you ever hooked up a DVD player?

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

Ohh ok, I am with ya now... yeah you threw me off with the glovebox.

oo7 is on the right track.

What I wanted was video AND ipod controls, so what I have is exactly what oo7 explained.

I tried to map it out here:

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

As far as the cables, the RCAs unplug and come out when not being used... the others push neatly back into the holes so the wires are tucked under the console.

Its nice to have both, because if my kid wants to watch a DVD I plug the portable player in... if I am in the car alone I rock the iPod with the steering wheel controls... and if my girl wants to DJ from the iPod (instead of worrying me about how to use the radio) she can do that too.

Its the best of everything IMO.

kamakaro

So in order to have video in the car you still need the Navtool? can you not feed video directly from the IPOD with the USA-SPEC? I'm confused lol.

oo7spy

The USA Spec is audio only. It interfaces with the XM module.

SICUnurse

Yes I've hooked up tons of DVD players, TiVo's, BluRays, receivers, aftermarket stereos, etc. I was just wondering why he put the RCA's in. I never seen anything about why he ran them in the first place.

Did you guys have to pull up the carpet to run the wires. I remember someone saying that there was a thread on here that said how to remove any piece of carpet or whatever. Can you put the link up please.

oo7spy

In the garage, there is a service manual that tells you how to take everything apart. My guess is Heavy ran his wires through the door jam trim. Search for a thread titled "DIY Amp Wire" and you will see how the trim comes up. I would give you a link, but I'm on a phone and it ain't easy.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

Yes I went down the door trim oo7.

Sic, Yes I have hooked portable DVD players, iPods, and Laptops up in the car.

How would you hook up a DVD player with out RCAs?

parkmead

Heavy,
I know Navtool will handle the video and Usaspec will handle your audio portion but how do you charge it the same time? What brand of cable do you use and if you can provide the link? I have a ipod touch and it's pretty picky about the brand of cable. Please let me know. Thanks

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

Hey just saw this post, let me know if you still need details.

I have a gen3 touch and an iPhone4 that charges with no issues.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

Just to report back, I am now using the NavTool with my iPhone 4S and the steering wheel buttons skip songs on the internet radio channels.

Also, Siri works through the HFL if you press the buttons on the phone.

datadesigner

This is a huge help to me...I'm going to give this a try with a night vision camera (to compensate for the dark image others have complained of.) If it works ok, I'll let you know..and I'll let you know if the sig is + or - (unless you can look in the manual and tell me first In the nav unit service manual, did they say what kind of connector it is? Is it a ieee standard interface?

DeadLock

Hey Heavy, I did the install using Doms, unit today, everything went smooth except the accesorry power (xm harness yellow cable) seems to be a constant power in my case, the unit is always on, does anyone know which wire in that area is an accessory power ? My volt tester sucks!!!

I still have the trunk all apart didn't want to put it together and take it apart.

Thanks

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

I don't think it should sty constant at 12v... did you open the door after you turned the key off?

There should be a ton of accessory wires including the power to the Nav unit and the amp on the other side of the trunk, but you will need your meter.

DeadLock

My meter sucks, the unit LED light was on even when car was off and doors were locked, the only thing is the trunk was open, which I don't think should have anything to do with the accessory power.

Any recommendation on a good voltage tester?

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

Well you can get a cheap bulb style anywhere, but if you want a multimeter I would check craigs list and ebay.

I love my Fluke, best investment ever.

If the XM unit stays hot, I would use the nav power wires... they are close by on the same side.

DeadLock

I'm going to get a fluke too, it was super cold yesterday and the wired were solid as a rock, I was trying to get the plastic cover off the tail light reverse feed, and the wire just snapped, right at the harness, there is like 3mm or less sticking out, I need to solder that today, so I have one reverse light out lol........

I deff do not recommend doing this in 20deg weather, but I am so impatient, but the camera is working fine, location was spot on, I did not have to drill metal at all, just the plastic where the camera is mounted, overall super easy install, the most time I spent was on finding the tools and being stubborn about the wires, I tried to snake them instead of taking the trunk mount off, which is a waste of time, I finally did take it off, which I thought would be hard to do with one person, but its super easy, just have to have the right tool, and you can rest the trunk on the rear glass, it worked out fine.

I'll keep you posted on which wire I end up using....thanks.

DeadLock

Update:

So Heavy was correct the yellow wire in the OEM harness is ignition power, I was tapping into the yellow wire in my USA Spec add in for the iPod, which goes into the XM module, not sure why it would have a constant, except maybe the yellow from one harness to the next do not correspond.

So yellow is good..........got everything else patched up and backup camera is working flawlessly. Thanks again!

M T L T L

Nice right-up Heavy. Theres still 1 thing I need to be enlighten on...
Judging from your diagram, U must be using a 3rd party iPod composite cable to output A/V. Audio RCA plug to USASPEC n Video RCA plug to Navtool if Im not mistaken. I want to know how you maintain steering wheel control of iPod and battery charge when not using the ipod dock cable provided with the usaspec unit ? If you are using that usaspec ipod cable then how do u extract video signal from it to then route it to the Navtool box ? Thanks for any clarification. I don't have any of the units at hand or have seen them in person so I could be missing something here.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

You are correct, you lose steering wheel controls in video mode.

But there really inst anything to control short of volume.

As for battery charge they make 3rd party cables that charge when wired to a 12v source.

M T L T L

Even when only playing music on iPod, how does the controls work ? Assuming u use the usaspec provided cable when playing only music, do you change cables when you want to play video ?

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

Yes, I primarily use the USpec cable and only swap to watch videos.

The controls are all the same as the radio with skip, vol, category, etc.

ichi d

ok so my friend helped me with the installed and were stuck. did everything you said to do and when i put it in R the screen switches but i get no image. the screen is just black. is there something wrong with my navtool or camera or did i miss something?

EL19

iTrader: (4)

I tackled this last week. Thanks to Heavy and GS400 for the camera suggestion and mounting location. I added a two way AV switch in the center console to go between AUX and ipod video. I'll be adding a DVD player with usb and aux capability in the near future. I was surprised at the clarity of the picture from the music videos I played off of my ipod

supadavesNHBP

question.. where did you get your two way AV switch???

travr6

I just picked up the navtool and it is all I have at the moment. No USAspec and no camera.

A lot of the pictures in this thread no longer work so I might have to ask questions that others did not.


first question is.....

Does the navtool not give you audio as well?
I don't own an ipod so I will probably be playing videos through a usb stick.

Do I have to have the USAspec in addition to this to be able to listen to the audio of a video?

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

yeah I suck at these pics...

You need nav tool for vid and usa spec for audio.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

a bigger shot of my arm rest

oo7spy

If you have the AUX (3.5mm headphone) connection, you will not need the USAspec. IOW, the USAspec is not the only option for audio, but the NavTool is definitely not an option.

travr6

I have the note 2 which has the large headphone jack. I do not have a headphone jack on the car though

So If I play my movies off of it, will the audio play through the speakers or do I still need a USAspec?



If so, then when would I need a USAspec device? Only to play off of a USB stick?

oo7spy

You need something other than the NavTool to play the audio. It can be the USAspec, DICE MediaBridge, FM transmitter, or any other interface that plays audio through the car stereo, but no audio will play from plugging the video signal into the NavTool.

travr6

Is the USA spec the best one to get?


So what exactly is the nav tool good for then?
Just the back up camera?

Is there not an all in one system that provides audio and video?

Does the USAspec only have an IPOD adapter?

I don't own any APPLE products and refuse to buy any.