Acura TL owners - LCD help

FiSKARZ · 05-06-2004, 09:10 PM

I've reached a stalemate.....where to put a VGA LCD in a 2003 TL...

Currently I have stock HU in (and want to keep it in). There's a narrow space above but that's reserved for front I/O stuff (some USBs and slim cd drive). I was looking into sunvisors, but that doesn't seem too pratical. I've searched all around the acura forums, as well as here, and seen a few installs which involve flush-mounting the LCD in place of the stock HU (codelogic, austin519)...

at this point i think im SOL, but im looking for any creative ideas as to where i can install this screen w/o losing my HU (maybe some fiberglass work on the top of the dash trim, over the center vents??)....I saw something like that in an Audi who posts here...can't remember who

I'll post a pic of the interior when i get the chance

jusatry · 05-06-2004, 09:22 PM

i have no idea what the interior looks like, but have you thought of a gooseneck mount bolted to the pass seat rails? thats what i was thiking for my 2003 A4 cause i wanna keep my HU and HVAC....

just a thought

mp31023 · 05-06-2004, 09:24 PM

IF you don't have the stock Navigation, you can get the navigation dash bezel and mount it there.

FiSKARZ · 05-07-2004, 02:03 PM

are you referring to the dash piece that comes with the TL w/ navi? Seaches for that on the acura forums turned no results. Also, if i WERE to get ahold of this piece, what would I have to do to get my climate controls working? Aren't the settings mapped to the OEM screen included w/ the navi?? I know the buttons line the sides of the navi screen, and i'm sure that the buttons I have now can easily be relocated, but what about the display?

codelogic · 05-07-2004, 03:21 PM

you havent seen mine yet?

here's my install:

im actually in the process of re-doing the bondo on the lcd

codelogic · 05-07-2004, 03:22 PM

doh..nevermind, didnt realize you wanted to keep your stock HU..

one thought would be right above the HU in the cd holder....ive been TOLD it can be done to make it slide out and fold up..but i couldnt figure it out and i was told the LCD would have to be modified heavily...my other thought was a gooseneck type mount

FiSKARZ · 05-07-2004, 03:38 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by codelogic

doh..nevermind, didnt realize you wanted to keep your stock HU..

one thought would be right above the HU in the cd holder....ive been TOLD it can be done to make it slide out and fold up..but i couldnt figure it out and i was told the LCD would have to be modified heavily...my other thought was a gooseneck type mount

TIGHT work on the screen, just a thought (since you are re-doing the bondo).....make the edges of the bondo flush with the wood pieces on the left and right, rather than the curve. I love the work though and if i wasn't so stubborn about my HU id be doing that too..

The CD area is already in the works for a 5-port USB hub and slimline DVD drive....still looking for an OEM match burlwood piece for that area without buying the entire kit

Now, I'm looking into a ceiling mount fabbed case (or even one with a cheap 7" lcd that i could remove).....hopefully i can find something quick as there's a group buy here for the new-model Xenarc 700TSV:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/classified-archive/25683-expired-xenarc-700tsv-group-buy.html

Bxscig · 07-15-2004, 01:31 PM

FiSKARZ, how have you been coming along with your install? Did you find a location for the screen yet? I have the same car as you and I can't figure out what to do with the screen. Something indash is nice but I also want to keep the HU.

hd54321 · 07-15-2004, 01:47 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by codelogic

you havent seen mine yet?

here's my install:

im actually in the process of re-doing the bondo on the lcd

Like another poster said, a good suggestion would be to make the LCD flush with the dash - another suggestion I would like to throw in is that you could have a custom wood dash piece made to go over the lcd mount. Someone here did an install on a Lexus ES300 once and he said that an ebay seller custom cut a wood lcd trim for the dash. That would look pimp!!!

-HD

FiSKARZ · 07-17-2004, 11:45 AM

In the 2 months since the earlier posts, a new screen is being released from Xenarc, a drop-down Touchscreen VGA-LCD, 700TR

http://www.xenarc.com/product/700tr.html

I will replace the two dome lights and sunglasses holder in the front of my car (between both vanity mirrors). THis will essentially cover the rearview mirror, but for the times my screen is down I downloaded a program that allows you to place a sticky window on the desktop (resize/tilt, etc.) that shows a live image of a webcam connected to it. I have an ADS Pyro firewire cam that should live up to the task when the system gets installed