2002 Toyota Tacoma Monitor Issues

**sprkyjtm** · 02-25-2008, 01:49 AM

Hi.

I am nowhere near ready to put in a carputer, but I am interested in doing so in the future. I have a lot of experience with computers, a little bit with fabrication, and very little with cars.

I want to put a touchscreen monitor, I was thinking a Xenarc 700TSV - 2008 Model, in the front console. My problem is where on Earth do I put it. Here is a picture of a 2002 Tacoma dash that I found on the Internet, it's not mine, but it's the same model, and similar layout. I will post pics of mine later.

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Name: Tacoma Dash.jpg
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The only difference is that my stereo is a single DIN unit, and the one pictured is a double DIN unit. Mine is: HVAC controls on top, stereo in the middle, and an empty slot below that. There's also an ashtray and cigarette lighter below that, but it's sorta detached from the three DINs, and I'd kinda' rather leave 'em be.

I've also found a bezel for my truck on ebay, so that if and when I'm ready I can do this without mangling the original.

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One problem is, the whole front console is basically parallel to the body when sitting in the truck, and the A/C vents don't allow me to put a monitor up very close to eye level. This will make it somewhat difficult to see the monitor while driving. I was thinking that I could move the HVAC controls down to the bottom DIN, just above the ashtray, and install the monitor in the newly vacted top DIN and middle DIN. This would get the monitor up a bit higher, but it's a lot of work to move all of that around. Does anyone have any better ideas about placement before I persuade myself that I need to move the HVAC stuff?

Another problem is that the three DIN's openings on the bezel are a bit trapezoidal. I'm not entirely sure that the HVAC controls would fit at the bottom without some serious modifications to that bezel. I'd check that out before I started, but as of now I have no idea. Any thoughts about that?

Basically, my idea was to put a Xenarc 700TSV - 2008 Model touchscreen monitor in the dash, along with a few USB ports, and possibly a DVD-ROM drive, maybe a BLU-RAY drive since it is going to become big time popular now that HD-DVD lost, at a later date. I was going to put the computer's guts behind the seat of my truck, probably in a custom case, but that isn't a big deal.

I think that I can handle most of the modifications that would have to be made, and the computer stuff is not a problem. I just need some help with placement.

Anyway, I'm fishing for ideas. Not many people trick out a 2002 Toyota Tacoma, so it's tough to find solutions to the problems that I've got. Any input would be appreciated.

I'll try to get more pics of the workspace tommorow, sorry for the lousy ones in this post.

**wjc04wrx** · 02-25-2008, 02:52 AM

I think that you answered all of your questions within your post. You can either go the easy way and place the screen in the perfect location that the stereo is going to leave once taken out, or you can do it the hard way and move the AC controls down and place the screen on top for better view.

**seanz0rz** · 02-25-2008, 04:26 AM

nice to see another toyota truck guy here!

i chose to move my hvac controls to below the head unit where the cig lighter and ash tray go. ive yet to make a final bracket for them, working out how to do that.

heres what i did: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/fabr...elocation.html

and a final pic:

hope those help, if you have any questions at all, let me know, im very knowledgeable on 3rd gen 4runners and that carries over a bit to the tacomas. youre even local and i would be willing to help you out in person.

my personal advise: DONT MOVE YOUR HVAC controls!!!! its a gigantic pain. i ended up buying a new hvac unit to swap in. origionally i was designing a method to extend the cables, but that did not work as planned. even with the screen as high as i could get it, its still hard to see and very low. not to mention the glare is pretty bad. if you are dead set on moving them, i know how, its complicated and painful but i know how, also, you have less to work with dash wise, as im not sure where you could relocate them too.

**sprkyjtm** · 02-25-2008, 07:04 PM

Thanks for the replies.

Your vehicle seanz0rz, looks pretty similar, and your install looks great. I looked again today, and putting the screen below the HVAC stuff just won't work for me. The gear shift will be in the way for using the touchscreen, and it will be too difficult to see. My choices, as I see them, are to either move the HVAC, or to not integrate the monitor into the dash, but instead put it on some sort of bracket. I'm not to thrilled about the last idea.

The good news is that my HVAC would be a little easier to move than yours was. I did a cursory check today, and mine the standard vacuum tube system, but the vents are controlled by servos, not manually. That means that I'd have to extend electrical wires, which is easy, and vacuum tubes, which isn't too bad from what I've read. No cables or metal arms to fight with in my case.

Where did you put the "brains" of the computer? I want to use regular, large parts like an ATX or Micro-ATX motherboard, so puttinfg a Voom-PC or similar case under the dash is kinda out of the question. I was going to put it behind the seat of my truck, but I'd have to build a custom case; I am thus looking for stories and/or pictures of custom built cases.

**wjc04wrx** · 02-25-2008, 08:12 PM

If I remember from the last meet, he has his comuter under the passenger seat, which would be a great location for a VoomPC case.

I'm local so SoCal if you're interested in me giving it a try at the fabrication.

**seanz0rz** · 02-25-2008, 11:17 PM

actually those are not vacuum actuated, but push pull metal rods. nightmare to deal with believe me, but its doable.

computer has been relocated into a custom console between the seats. its been on hold, as with the rest of the computer stuff, for some time.

www.ultimateyota.com for all your taco needs, great site, wonderful community, though they wont be much help on stuff like this.

**wjc04wrx** · 02-25-2008, 11:53 PM

That console looks crazy, is it steel?

**seanz0rz** · 02-26-2008, 12:36 PM

yep, 3/4" square 1/16" wall tubing. serving as an early prototype of soemthing i might produce in the future

**rdholtz** · 02-26-2008, 12:43 PM

I built a custom case from sheet metal, but a "project box" would do well, too. Information on all that is in my worklog -- click below on my signature.

**seanz0rz** · 02-26-2008, 02:05 PM

sprkyjtm, come to the socal meet, its in the meet up thread, its on the 8th of march in corona. we will be able to help you ALOT there. i can show you exactly how i rerouted my hvac controls, how much work it was, and whre i plan on putting them (since your dash is just slightly different)