bodaciousllama

Did that baby slip right in there like butter? My mom wants me to install a carPC in her 01 Protege, and I don't want to do any major fabrication (I'm only 15, dammit!)

Why does it stick out that much? Is it because of the metal loops/bars on the back of the unit or is the problem in the dash itself? I haven't taken out the stock stereo to look yet - need to read up on some installations first.

Anyways, nice setup - one question - what's that knob above the AC vent control (right side)?

LinuxRacr

This definitely wasn't that easy of an install. If you look at the back of the monitor enclosure, you will see the power connector is dead center almost. This is a problem for the Protege's. I had to use a sledgehammer and a tie-rod remover to bend the center frame bar behind the dash back enough so that the connector would clear. The hooks on the back affect nothing. The unit sticks out due to it's functionality. In order for it to swivel like it needs to, it has to stick out like that. If it didn't, you would have issues with the monitor not being able to come out all the way, and it would rub your dash. The little knob in my pictures above the A/C controls is my Haltech Boost Control Knob.

BTW, have you been out to http://www.msprotege.com , http://www.protegemp3.com , http://www.protege5.com yet? They are all the same site.

__________________
My Car: 2001 Mazda MP3
My OLD Carputer project: Here
Completion Progress Bar: [**********100%]
Starting over again with new build! Here
Completion Progress Bar: [*********99%]

bodaciousllama

yeah, I've noticed all those forums are the same.

Anyways, I've decided to scrap the Protege project (Mom's idea, not mine...go figure)

I guess I'll just have to wait till I get my 3000GT this summer...

LinuxRacr

Project complete and installed this weekend. I just need a new laptop battery and a new GPS reciever (ex-girlfriend broke mine on our vacation). More pictures later.

__________________
My Car: 2001 Mazda MP3
My OLD Carputer project: Here
Completion Progress Bar: [**********100%]
Starting over again with new build! Here
Completion Progress Bar: [*********99%]

raspyrx7

awesome buddy, I've got an RX7 and an E6K. I'm planning on replacing my entire 2DIN stereo area with a dash unit like yours since your quite happy with it. Gonna use a Dell laptop and docking station to run it. How well does it work for tuning so far? I see you have the TechEdge WBO2, I'm looking into getting a unit, or making one, that'll interface with the laptop directly so I can display A/F and datalog it easily thru the touch screen... soon as I get rolling I'll get a project thread started up.

LinuxRacr

Very nice!

__________________
My Car: 2001 Mazda MP3
My OLD Carputer project: Here
Completion Progress Bar: [**********100%]
Starting over again with new build! Here
Completion Progress Bar: [*********99%]

LinuxRacr

This is my screen running with the Haltech E6X software to tune my engine. (sorry for the quality).



Tuning the fuel injectors with the On-Screen Keyboard.. I recently bought a mini keyboard.

__________________
My Car: 2001 Mazda MP3
My OLD Carputer project: Here
Completion Progress Bar: [**********100%]
Starting over again with new build! Here
Completion Progress Bar: [*********99%]

hd54321

I'm interested to know if you regret getting the 700IDT or if you would have rather gone for digitalww's in-dash? I want to know if the monitor sticking out makes it really fugly...?

LinuxRacr

I realy don't know much about Digitalww's In-Dash.

__________________
My Car: 2001 Mazda MP3
My OLD Carputer project: Here
Completion Progress Bar: [**********100%]
Starting over again with new build! Here
Completion Progress Bar: [*********99%]

toyoter91

damn that just made my mind up for sure on getting that display... if they were only more reasonably priced. haha

PDiddy

Hey bro. Question on that laptop. I have the same one I think. Have to check the model number but how do you have it wired to get power? I've been thinking of getting the port replicator and then wiring an external switch. How is it that you have it done?? As it is right now I have the screen taken off my laptop so i just reach around the passenger screen and turn it on but I do have an external switch I can mount. I even opened up to access the mobo and saw that I just can't add on the switch so I felt like a docking station was the way to go. I really wanna know. Thanks.

LinuxRacr

I actually have my laptop powered by a Coleman 400 Watt Inverter hooked up to my port replicator.

__________________
My Car: 2001 Mazda MP3
My OLD Carputer project: Here
Completion Progress Bar: [**********100%]
Starting over again with new build! Here
Completion Progress Bar: [*********99%]

PDiddy

I understand that. I'm just wondering how you actually power on the laptop? Are you using the actual switch on the laptop by opening up the screen or is there an external switch on the port replicator or do you have one wired externally and mounted somewhere else? Also if you got pics of that, would be great. I'm thinking of mounting an external switch off the port replicator but before I actually went out and got the docking station I just wanna found out others experiences. Thanks.

LinuxRacr

The BIOS of the Pavilion 5190 has a setting that makes the laptop power on when the port replicator/docing station receives power. So it inherantly comes on by default The screen automatically comes on when it detects the Laptop.

__________________
My Car: 2001 Mazda MP3
My OLD Carputer project: Here
Completion Progress Bar: [**********100%]
Starting over again with new build! Here
Completion Progress Bar: [*********99%]

PDiddy

Really. Do you know what that setting is by any chance in the Bios and what version of the Bios you have? You think that would work without the docking station or is the station necessary? Do you just shut it down or have it go into hibernate when you turn off the car? Thanks!