2003 Acura RSX- Sonic's Ride

Sonicxtacy02 · 08-17-2009, 11:03 AM

I finally took the time to show off my project

I drive a 03 Acura RSX Coupe... Picked it up about a year ago with < 20,000 miles on it and couldnt pass it up

The Specs on my computer installation are as follows:

Intel DG45FC Motherboard
E8600 Core 2 duo 3.0ghz processor
2Gig Ram
Samsung 320GB Hard drive
m2-ATX (soon to be replaced!)
7" 2008 LED Backlit Lilliput 629
Onboard HD Audio
XMD-1000 w/ mp3car adapter
Verizon u720 Broadband card
Elm327 USB OBD-II reader
Bu-353 GPS Receiver
Directed HD Radio Tuner
SpaceNavigator PE for front end control
Fusion Brain for temp sensor and relay control
Slot-Load DVD player
Carnetix p5usb hub
Carnetix CNX-P5V 15 Watt +5V Regulator
Unnamed 7 Port Hub
Bluetooth Dongle
Apple mini bluetooth keyboard

Audio Specs:
Rockford Fosgate P1S410 subwoofer
Hifonics Zues ZX8000 5 channel amp
Rockford Fosgate 3Sixty.1 Processor
Stock Clarion speakers

The majority of my computer hardware is installed on the rear of my subwoofer box.

The computer is installed in a Morex 5677 case. I cut the top of the case to install a grille for the processor fan. Initially i was concerned in upgrading to the DG45FC over my previously installed D201GLY because of power and heat but the new motherboard and all components still run clean on the m2-atx. the carnetix point-of-load device is even overkill in my installation. Also installed on the sub box is the Carnetix p5usb hub and my RF 3sixty.1. The Hifonics amp rests on top of the sub-box. I was lucky enough to find the amp on craiglist a few weeks ago and i am very impressed with its features. It also allowed for an easier install that worrying about wiring and tuning two seperate amps.

In the front of the car the lilliput is mounted to a custom bezel i just recently re-bondo'd.

The pictures dont do much justice.. but the lilliput has practically no glare from the drivers position because of the way the factory dash is molded to the drivers side of the car. The XMD-1000 and the directed HD radio are tucked neatly behind the screen. Just below the screen the factory cigarette lighter has been replaced with an MP3car usb plug.

and just to the left of that resides my elm 327...

Under the e-brake and placed nicely at the drivers right hand is my SpaceNavigator device that controls volume, voice recognition, and media playback. I can also set the device to control my mouse pointer if need be.

The glovebox houses my Slot Load DVD and a generic 7 port usb hub which is connected to the devices in the front of the vehicle.

Lastly, my Andrea Array microphone for Voice-recognition and hands free calls through my cell phone is hidden on my gauge cluster.

Not the cleanest install, but everything works and works well!

wariow · 08-17-2009, 01:01 PM

looks good, how's the andrea microphone? I put in a labtec desktop analog and tested out my bluetooth phone and it gave off a lot of echos. I'm wondering how does your andrea sound card/microphone hold up?

Sonicxtacy02 · 08-17-2009, 01:42 PM

the andrea mic works beautifully unless the windows are down. I'm pretty sure its USB adapter cancels out the ECHO i've heard with other mics. I posted a full review of the andrea in the hardware review forums awhile back. Check that out.

willmeyer · 08-19-2009, 01:49 AM

Looks great, very similar install of the SpaceNav PE to mine (in my sig). I like the way your screen looks, seems like a good spot for the anti-glare situation, definitely.

TeamRSX · 08-19-2009, 09:01 AM

Hey Sonic,

Nice install. I also drive a rsx and really like it.

Your dash kit looks good man. Looks like you really nailed it on the colour. Matches great.

I just have a question for you. In my install i am getting very little interference in the monitor, not noticable during the day, but at night time you can see it a bit. Probably due to the fact the vga is too close to a power wire somewhere.

Where did you run your power wires/data/speakers/vga wires? SInce your computer is also in the back just wondering how you have it setup.

Again great job man..

Sonicxtacy02 · 08-19-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by TeamRSX

Hey Sonic,

Nice install. I also drive a rsx and really like it.

Your dash kit looks good man. Looks like you really nailed it on the colour. Matches great.

I just have a question for you. In my install i am getting very little interference in the monitor, not noticable during the day, but at night time you can see it a bit. Probably due to the fact the vga is too close to a power wire somewhere.

Where did you run your power wires/data/speakers/vga wires? SInce your computer is also in the back just wondering how you have it setup.

Again great job man..

My power wires run down the left side of the car under the carpet and all usb/rca/etc run down the right side. There's still a small margin of flickering in my monitor though. Its probably because there is no shielding between the back of my monitor and the ECU of the car.

Your car is actually the one that inspired me to start this when i bought the rsx. I LOVE the way you did your bezel.

TeamRSX · 08-19-2009, 09:16 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Sonicxtacy02

My power wires run down the left side of the car under the carpet and all usb/rca/etc run down the right side. There's still a small margin of flickering in my monitor though. Its probably because there is no shielding between the back of my monitor and the ECU of the car.

Your car is actually the one that inspired me to start this when i bought the rsx. I LOVE the way you did your bezel.

Thanks for the info. The problem is i am a perfectionist, like most ppl on this board, and the smallest things bother me.. haha, but i'm not about to pull all the wires in my car for a small amount of interference that i can barely notice.

Thanks for the compliments, your dash kit looks very close to the way mine looks. I really like how you hide the buttons on the bottom of the bezel. This way it looks so much more cleaner. Thats exactly how i have mine....

crow610 · 08-19-2009, 04:32 PM

Is it necessary to fabricate the bezel? Reason why I'm asking is I have no clue how to use bondo so was hoping I could get away with mounting the screen in without any complicated fab work. Looking at this as a way to mount the screen in my dash this as the dash kit. With the two items I just listed, can I expect a Plug-n-Play experience or will I still have to do some fab work.

Great job on your carputer!

Sonicxtacy02 · 08-23-2009, 07:47 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by crow610

Is it necessary to fabricate the bezel? Reason why I'm asking is I have no clue how to use bondo so was hoping I could get away with mounting the screen in without any complicated fab work. Looking at this as a way to mount the screen in my dash this as the dash kit. With the two items I just listed, can I expect a Plug-n-Play experience or will I still have to do some fab work.

Great job on your carputer!

you certainly can just hide the monitor behind the bezel but its gonna cut off a portion of your display.

crow610 · 08-24-2009, 12:15 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Sonicxtacy02

you certainly can just hide the monitor behind the bezel but its gonna cut off a portion of your display.

Oh really? Can you recommend any places that will fab the bezel?
Also, what are you doing about getting AM/FM on your carputer? I was thinking of teathering my phone with the carputer and stream all my music but may still want/need AM/FM.

Sonicxtacy02 · 08-24-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by crow610

Oh really? Can you recommend any places that will fab the bezel?
Also, what are you doing about getting AM/FM on your carputer? I was thinking of teathering my phone with the carputer and stream all my music but may still want/need AM/FM.

i did the fabrication myself and BELIEVE me i'm a noob at best in that regard so try it out. My suggestion is buy a second double din bezel and just work on that as to not mess up the original. You can get them on ebay or crutchfield. It really doesnt require THAT much cutting just some bondo work to make both pieces mold together.

In my car i use the directed HD Radio. Its by far the best solution for radio in the car.

Sonicxtacy02 · 09-21-2009, 11:22 AM

well Mike (Malcolm2073) hooked my space navigator up with custom red led's to replace the factory blue's that totally clash with my red interior lights at night. Here's the end result. Night shot soon to come

and thanks to Alok at Portal Media i'll soon be adding the TPMS kit to my install. Thats pretty much the only thing i DONT have hooked up to my pc lol

datdude31 · 10-27-2009, 01:41 AM

i noticed you say you will soon be replacing your m2-atx PSU. why so and have you done it yet?

Sonicxtacy02 · 10-27-2009, 09:15 AM

yes a few months back i replaced the m2 with a dsatx because the m2 caused my radio to have so much interference it was barely usable. Replacing just the power supply cured the issue.

vijainair · 10-27-2009, 10:46 AM

Sweet install sonic!

I just got a question for ya: how exactly did you connect the Directed HD radio unit (power, audio and mitch's cable) to the carPC? I've been trying to figure out how to implement the radio without causing too much interference.

Thanks!

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