2007 Hyundai Accent

Sicarius · 07-22-2008, 12:52 AM

OK, OK, you can stop laughing now.

So, where to start? When I got the car, I decided that the stock system wasn't going to cut it. I wanted a deck that could read DVD-R, folders, MP3, bluetooth, etc. So, what did I do? I got this Pyle HU and a cheapo retractable screen.

Big mistake. Song navigation was painful, "random" wasn't, and it doesn't remember where it left off when changing sources or even after taking a BT call among other things. It had to go.

I'd been to MP3car before and finally decided to take the plunge. I've been lurking for a while, deciding what to get and here I am, finally starting my build.

Acquired so far:
Intel D201GLY2TA (Yes, "T", with the s-video port. I might add a couple of headrest monitors later)
1GB memory.
Seagate 500GB 3.5" drive.
M4-ATX power supply.

MSI Starkey 2.0 BlueTooth stick.
Visteon HD-Zoom HD radio and Mitch's cable.
el-cheapo E-bay OBD-II USB interface.
Logitech Orbit MP.

Alpine MRP-F300 4-channel amp.

In transit:
Panasonic slot load DVD-RW USB drive.
Dynamix 816 8" widescreen touchscreen.

Still deciding:
GPS.
Wi-Fi.
Sound card.
Antenna(Maybe).
Portable Internet (Not GSM, too expensive in Canada).

I've got the MB set up on my desk and XP installed along with drivers for what I have already. So far so good. Had a stick of bad memory but a quick trip back to the store and that was fixed.

When I get a chance, I'm going to take some more measurements of the inside of the dash and decide whether I have enough space to dash mount the whole thing or if I have to banish it to the trunk.

Pics and updates to follow. Just wanted to get the log started.

rdholtz · 07-22-2008, 06:31 AM

Welcome aboard. Laughing? Nah. I don't care what you drive or the reasons you drive it. I only care about the system you install and what you fabricate, what you learn, what you find, and what you pass on.

It'll be fun looking over your shoulder.

HiJackZX1 · 07-22-2008, 02:03 PM

My little bro has a 08 Accent. Its a very cute car. i do know it has alot of space issues, so i am curious to see how you install this system. Post lots of pictures, ive been trying to get my brother to throw a CarPC into his Accent.

PS: Did you make sure the 8 inch screen would fit? My brother put a retractable system by DUAL in his and he had a mission trying to find a kit for the weird DIN size Hyundai puts in their cars. You may have to do heavy mods to get it to fit.

monkeyracer · 07-22-2008, 04:00 PM

Welcome to the world of CarPC's.

I've got the dynamix 816, and I would definitely recommend you make sure the thing stays cool. It's a great screen, but when it gets hot, the touch panel de-laminates and you lose calibration. If you keep it cool though, you'll be fine. I had to cut a hole in the back and install a fan, but it wasn't easy.

If you're dash looks like this one:

You will most likely have space issues. the screen will fit, but not the buttons, and you'll have to find a way to hold it there since the housing will most likely not fit either.

I'm interested to see how you do it. BTW, I don't think anyone here cares what you drive, it's that you are interested in the same thing - Car Computing...

Sicarius · 07-22-2008, 10:37 PM

Oh, I didn't expect anyone to make fun of my ride, I just like to keep a healthy sense of humor about it.

As promised, some pics. First, yes, Monkeyracer, that's my dash. Took a picture today:

The dimensions of the opening are 190w*112h (mm). Visible screen dimension is 175w*105h, case is 198w*130h. Size should be OK to get the screen mounted. Still debating on how I'm going to accomplish that though. Heat may be an issue; this thing is getting a little hot on the back right. I'm not too concerned about the buttons. I can hide them away and relocate the IR receiver for the remote.

Well, my screen arrived today. Very nice from what I can tell.

I've got it set up and added to the test bench:

Only problem I'm having is getting the 800x480 native resolution. I think I saw something in the forums for it. Might have to use powerstrip. Time to search.

Things are coming along, no major snags yet. Next step is to slave the M4-ATX off the AC power supply for testing.

monkeyracer · 07-22-2008, 10:44 PM

what video chipset do you use?

if it's intel, that's what i have, and i can help you with that. I couldn't get it with powerstrip, i used clever technologies DTD calculator.

honestly, i don't ever use the remote, but the buttons are nice to have once every few months if something goes wrong, but not really that hard to extend and place somewhere else.

I think I am going to have to buy a new touch panel, since my screen does not keep calibration at all. It will calibrate and be ok for a few minutes, and then slowly more and more become out of alignment. I might remote mount all the PCB's to somewhere a little better ventillated to keep them cool.

Sicarius · 07-23-2008, 09:01 AM

No such luck, Monkeyracer. It's an Intel board but they are using an SiS chipset which has an integrated Mirage 1 graphics engine. The annoying thing is that there _is_ an 800x480 setting in the driver but it is at 60Hz while, from everything I can see, the monitor needs something more like 72 or 75Hz. At 60Hz, the screen just fades to white. I might have to do something silly like create a custom .inf file for the monitor... Looks like I have more searching to do.

As for getting the computer in the dash, that might be harder than I had though. There's plenty of room in there but there's a structural pipe running through the back of the cavity. It's OK for most of the space giving me 9.5 inches from front to back but it angles forward on the left giving me only 7.5:

I might be able to work around it. I'm going to have to make a cardboard model of the internal space so I can play with it on the bench.

monkeyracer · 07-23-2008, 09:21 AM

I'm running the screen at 800x480x32 @60hz... I have my test laptop and my car laptop, and the dell test laptop worked without too much hassle, but the hp car laptop needed a custom DTD for it to work. I started with a standard 720x480 @60hz, and converted it into 800x480 @60hz with a little math.

Sicarius · 07-23-2008, 09:33 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

My brother put a retractable system by DUAL in his and he had a mission trying to find a kit for the weird DIN size Hyundai puts in their cars. You may have to do heavy mods to get it to fit.

Is that a single DIN unit? It's odd that he had a hard time finding a kit then. Scosche, Metra, and American International all make single-DIN kits.

Double-DIN, however, is another matter entirely. Which is odd, really, as the Accent is more than capable of it.

Sicarius · 07-25-2008, 10:52 PM

You know that old saying about "measure twice and cut once"?

Well, it turns out that I misread the original measurement; it's 102mm high, not 112. I foresee some cutting and some Dynatron in my future.

Here's the back of the bezel. I might have to cut off those two clips on the bottom along with the place they clip into (see above).

The width is perfect, however. The case just friction fits between the two ducts without having to force it at all.

The question is how do I mount the screen to the bezel? If I'm cutting and reshaping then it would be ideal to integrate to monitor bezel with the dash piece as one unit but I would have no way to reattach the back of the monitor which holds the panel in place. Hmm, I might be able to attach some brackets internally to hold the back in place, the bottom might be tricky, though... Otherwise, I could just mould a new opening and dry-fit the monitor behind it.

Sicarius · 07-26-2008, 08:46 PM

*sigh*

Finally got 800x480 to work with a registry hack but the screen still thinks it's at 800x600 so the image is squashed.

I guess I'm staying at 800x600 for now.

monkeyracer · 07-26-2008, 09:38 PM

All you have to do is press the menu button on the monitor and select the "Auto Adjust" menu Item. It will fix itself.

Sicarius · 07-27-2008, 12:50 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by monkeyracer

All you have to do is press the menu button on the monitor and select the "Auto Adjust" menu Item. It will fix itself.

Nope, tried that already and no-go.

CodenameUpgrade · 07-28-2008, 05:58 PM

Hit those ducts with a heat gun, get them soft and gently curve them ot the inside. It can give you an extra 1/2 in or better to work with and the ducts will still work.

CodenameUpgrade · 07-28-2008, 06:03 PM

I personally like the xenarc screens. those screens adjust by the signal and always center themselves. Sucks this screen is bening wierd.