Carputer on a CTS-V???

ichpen · 06-20-2008, 09:21 AM

Cross posting this as I think I put it in the wrong forum....

Guys,

Hoping you can help out a relative newbie. Just got delivery of a new 'used' 2006 Cadillac CTS-V with Bose/Navigation and aftermarket XM sat. It's a Canadian vehicle.

So the Navi unit is ridiculously crap to put in mildly and needs replacing/complimenting.

I'm looking at some options here. One is to replace the navi (double din) completely. I'm ok with this idea, the only problem is that there are some features that show on the factory navi screen that I wish to retain for example driver memory/preferences are configured via the navi and I'm fairly sure stored on the Navi itself. Other features like Onstar, park assist, fuel consumption etc need to work also.

So question is can these somehow be retained? I realise it's custom software running on the factory Navi but wondering if any efforts have been made to read this.

Second option is to relocate stock navi (still haven't figured out a spot) and add carputer as main navi unit.

Anyone ever attempted this?

Help is appreciated.

GizmoQ · 06-20-2008, 09:39 AM

This is a great place to find out about CarPCs, but your first stop should probably be over on the Cadillacforums cause that navi/info center is a PIA to replace.

ichpen · 06-20-2008, 10:26 AM

Yep, regular troller at the cadillacforums. Strangely enough only a handful i.e. 2 or 3 people have ever attempted this. I'm still having issues getting a wiring diagram for the factory Bose/Nav unit.

loginfailed · 06-21-2008, 01:44 PM

GM has been running data lines into their radios since about the year 2001 or so. I use to install car audio back in those days. Even the low end Chevy Cavalier had the seat belt chime running through the radio, so if you changed out the radio the seat belt chime stopped working. The Monte Carlo's of the same years had oil pressure and oil change info that was readable & resettable through the radio.

Im sure your Caddy has a LOT of stuff running through that radio/nav unit. I think the safest thing to do would be relocate that factory radio/nav unit into the trunk area. You can just extend ALL the wires to the trunk and make a little enclosure and mount it under the rear shelf. So if you need to access something you can just go out back and make the changes.

The other option is to somehow leave everything where it is and try to hack the oem screen (its a touch screen or no?) and make it accept a VGA input with some sort of switch so you could flip a switch to go to the oem setup and flip the switch the other way to get the carPC up on the screen.

Either way is gonna be a bit of a pain, unless you can find someone who has already done the research on how to do it.

quantum · 06-21-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by loginfailed

Im sure your Caddy has a LOT of stuff running through that radio/nav unit. I think the safest thing to do would be relocate that factory radio/nav unit into the trunk area. You can just extend ALL the wires to the trunk and make a little enclosure and mount it under the rear shelf. So if you need to access something you can just go out back and make the changes.

Yup, been there done that in the 98 Deville.

32 wires, 17ft each!!! Worked like a charm though.

ichpen · 06-22-2008, 10:10 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by loginfailed

GM has been running data lines into their radios since about the year 2001 or so. I use to install car audio back in those days. Even the low end Chevy Cavalier had the seat belt chime running through the radio, so if you changed out the radio the seat belt chime stopped working. The Monte Carlo's of the same years had oil pressure and oil change info that was readable & resettable through the radio.

Im sure your Caddy has a LOT of stuff running through that radio/nav unit. I think the safest thing to do would be relocate that factory radio/nav unit into the trunk area. You can just extend ALL the wires to the trunk and make a little enclosure and mount it under the rear shelf. So if you need to access something you can just go out back and make the changes.

The other option is to somehow leave everything where it is and try to hack the oem screen (its a touch screen or no?) and make it accept a VGA input with some sort of switch so you could flip a switch to go to the oem setup and flip the switch the other way to get the carPC up on the screen.

Either way is gonna be a bit of a pain, unless you can find someone who has already done the research on how to do it.

Thanks. Yes, lots of driver info going through the nav unit. Most I can live without and I know PAC makes a harness that will preserve chimes, steering controls and onstar however even driver seat memory and preferences goes through the nav which I would rather keep. There are also various competitive/traction control modes that would be problematic to select without the nav's visual aid so I am thinking of keeping it and adding a secondary unit somewhere on the dash.

Still need a wiring diagram though as I would need to splice the wires into the speaker outputs. To top it off it's Bose crap.