2004 Mazda 3s Carputer Project

**rsd212** · 06-30-2005, 10:03 PM

Hey, nappyjim, you're from Illinois which is where I will be living in the fall. Have you had any problems with temperature (especially the lows)?

**nappyjim** · 07-02-2005, 01:14 PM

double post

**nappyjim** · 07-02-2005, 01:16 PM

Stealth - Sorry, no walkthru. I mean its pretty basic. You just keep sanding and cutting till the screen frame fits in there to your liking. Takes a lot of time.

Skorpion - No progress yet. Im still waiting for that one guy in the mazda3 forums to finish production of his unit which would place the screen where the stock navigation display goes. I was also contemplting buying that the dash piece that replaces the entire center vent area and also you to fit a single DIN in it. I would then buy a motorized touchscreen and mount it there. For now, I actually have the screen free standing in front of the shifter. It actually stays there nicely and I can view it fine when in 2 or 4. In 1 or 3 parts of the screen are blocked. But I always have people in the car and they want to control it. THis way I can just hand them the screen and they can hold it in their laps and control the music.

RSD - Unless you do some serious cutting of the glovebox, you can not fit the stock HU and a mini computer case in there. I still have mine in the trunk. Never had problems with the low temps accept for like one when it was 20 under and the HD was clicking.

**contaygious** · 07-02-2005, 06:24 PM

that looks pretty tyte! i'm torn b/w getting my girl a tc, nissan azeus (when they come out) or mazda 3

**z32_vg30dett_z3** · 07-19-2005, 01:49 PM

Hey nappy, your carputer was what inspired me to put one in my 3 (just so you know... Feel proud man!) anyway... do you have any old aftermarket decks layin around? if not just go get one cheap and steal the plug from one of them. Aftermarket ones usually have the extended antenna plug. Just elongate the wires and there you go. Just an idea
Peace

**rsd212** · 07-19-2005, 01:53 PM

Well, got my metra dash kit, Lilliput is still on the way. I'll start in with the glovebox tonight, see what its going to take to cram the HU in there. Wish me luck!

**nappyjim** · 07-22-2005, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by rsd212

Well, got my metra dash kit, Lilliput is still on the way. I'll start in with the glovebox tonight, see what its going to take to cram the HU in there. Wish me luck!

good luck, keep me updated. Ive kinda lost motivation to move it to the glovebox sicne its serving its purpose fine in the trunk

**rsd212** · 07-25-2005, 09:04 AM

So I took the front panel off the stock Mazda head unit, but I realized since I still wanted the LCD I needed the PCB from that panel. I seperated the PCB from the actual buttons and knobs, and put the PCB back on the radio. My HU is now in the glovebox, and I can still use the knobs and buttons (though they're ghetto and unlabeled). I'll get some pics up later. I just need to extend the LCD cable now, and find a way to mount it.

My Lilliput is also in. I went a slightly different route. My Lilliput actually sticks out from the dash. Its removeable, so its good while Im still developing. I dont have my mini-itx yet, so Im using a laptop. All my sound/usb/vga cables run down into the console and pop out next to the passenger seat.

I think it may be possible to fit a mini-itx in the dash behind my Lilliput. I'll see once I get the board.

**TxMazda3** · 07-25-2005, 09:51 AM

my install will be finished within the week with tuning and additions coming as the money presents it self. I'm posting my work log on the blog for my car. link in my sig.

**rsd212** · 07-25-2005, 09:57 AM

Im too impatient to wait for you to post in your blog, so may I ask where you're planning to put your screen and your mac? Are you keeping the Mazda HU, or ditching it and just using an amp?