2003 Pontiac Vibe GT - Initial Stages

Jahntassa · 05-23-2005, 09:57 PM

This is originally posted on Genvibe.com This is in a 2003 Pontiac Vibe GT. I'm going to get the DSSC serial power controller (it's an AT system), I have the TView 7" on order that should be here thursday (5/26), and i'll probably add more.

What's going in:

A DigiPOS (yes, a register computer) running a 1.2Ghz Celeron
- 512 Mb Ram
- (x2) 20 Gb HD
- Either a Laptop DVDRom or a desktop, depending on shock mounting
- Rand McNally Serial (NMEA) GPS
- Linksys USB WiFi-B

Right now i'll be using the onboard sound and video, but I may upgrade the Video card later on. I'll have to use PCI because there's no AGP on the system. The case is pretty small and fits under the pass seat. I'll try taking it out on a test run tomorrow with one of my 14" LCDs in the passenger seat.

In case you haven't been privy to Mike and I's conversations..we're really into the idea of fitting a CarPC into the Vibe. Well..with the recent purchase of my stock Nav (i'll stop crying eventually) I'm forced to go ahead with it. Today I managed to physically rip the Nav out, and get about 40% of the way through the CarPC. As of yet, i'm missing the power controller, the screen, and a mini-keyboard i'll use for it. The screen should be here Thursday. Hopefully, i'll get the inverter hooked up tomorrow and I can at least give it a test run..

I also need to figure out where to put a DVDRom. I have a full-size one from a desktop system that I thought about shockmounting under the driver seat..but..I might rip one out of an old laptop and have the nice mini-DVD..but, I still don't know where to put it! I considered dremmeling a hole in the passenger dash, but..I don't know if I can make it look clean enough... Any ideas? Talking about a standard Laptop DVDRom drive..
So...the pictures!

First...the front dash pulled off(thanks Mike for the instructions)

What was under the dash...

What I found in the dash! That's the Glass Breakage sensor for the 'Security' system. It's next to the air setup on the passenger side..

Here's the factory GPS antenna. Yes, that is the defroster vent it's attatched to.

Here's the power supply for the computer. Huge, ain't it? It slid in behind the AC controls and shifter. Fit pretty well..I had to slide it over slightly to get it to fit with the stock AC outlet housing..but it all went together. Above it is my 'aftermarket' GPS. A Rand McNally serial GPS with no top.

And a closer of the aftermarket GPS

Here's the lower half of my Alpine EQ brain..which..needs to move. It rubs the bottom of the seat if you put the seat down. The Inverter is the blue thing.

Here's the mess in the 'passenger seat' area. Note the center console and passenger seat missing. The factory Nav is sitting on top of the EQ brain.

And here's the aftermath. As I don't have a replacement screen yet (it should be here Thursday. I get to drive with this lovely view.

And finally..my new puppy, Dade. Leashed to my Hidden Hitch and staying cool under the car.

I'll resize the pics better when I can think..and, when I build a little website about the whole project. This is a nice peek however.

MatrixPC · 05-26-2005, 10:45 AM

Oh boy, when I did mine, I [edit]didn't [/edit]make that much mess

Well at least it is not that much screws to loosen to take the whole dash out.
Keep the hobbies going

tj!2k4 · 05-26-2005, 10:50 AM

don't forget to untie your dog..

looks like you'll have enough room to mount your 7" screen =)

IntellaWorks · 05-26-2005, 10:53 AM

Looks like a lab puppy, how old ?? My lab is 12 weeks... Except he's never just "lying down" like yours is in that pic but always chewing one of my computer componets...

Nice install so far good luck with the rest of it !

tj!2k4 · 05-26-2005, 12:27 PM

The Matrix is the same as the Vibe, isn't it...

dodgetimes2 · 05-26-2005, 12:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by tj!2k4

don't forget to untie your dog..

Reminds me of National Lampoon's Vacation, the one they go to Wally World in and Chevy Chase leaves Aunt Helen's dog tied to the bumper...

Jahntassa · 05-27-2005, 08:50 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by dodgetimes2

Reminds me of National Lampoon's Vacation, the one they go to Wally World in and Chevy Chase leaves Aunt Helen's dog tied to the bumper...

Yeah, I was actually worried I'd forget and do that! Thankfully, that was early in the day. Later on my sister-in-law came by and took the pup off my hands to go play around in the yard. He's a Lab of some sort..we're not sure if it's straight or mixed, the lady we got him from isn't much of a 'dog' expert. He's about 8-9 weeks old in that shot. Coolin' off in the shade.

Yeah, relatively few screws to get the whole dash off. Eight, I think.

Ha HA! The screen finally came in! It's the T-View T-700TS/ 7". It might not be the best in the world, but I got it off ebay for $210 shipped, and it seems to do the trick! There's a Matrix user on this board, who recently posted on the Vibe board about how he mounted his screen, and i'm going to be followign practically the same procedure. It won't look as pretty, due to the fact that he used a Lilliput (I think), and I have the more square TView, but... It'll still look pretty decent.

Now, pictures!
Here it is, fresh out of the box.

Here it is hooked up to one of my other systems. I believe it's running 1024x768, the 15" LCD is hooked up DVI, the TView is VGA. Still pretty decent! Touchscreen is working well after the initial 4-point calibration

Here it is with some video from media player. The TView has an annoying red tinge to it, which the ATI in that system can correct, but right now i'm running onboard video in the car, and it doesn't have that. I'm contemplating finding a PCI ATI-based board on the cheap, just for the Catalyst drivers. No AGP on this system.

Here's a comparison of size to the hole in the dash. I think I have two options. One, cut the bottom of the dash trim off and mold the casing into the dash. Two, pull the screen out of the casing and make an inner shroud, mounting the screen to the existing dash.. If..you get what i'm saying.

Here's the lameo boot screen I made for it. Still needs some work, but that was the first one, and I didn't put too much effort into it.

Here it is running Centrafuse, which isn't fully setup and running yet. Just threw it on there to see how it looked.

And the obligitory wide shot of the screen with the dash. I've since changed the method of 'temporary' mounting. In these shots i'm using the flexible base that came with it and kinda 'anchoring' it between the dash trim and dash. This morning I took out a headrest mount from one of the other projects I had, and cable-tied it in the dash. It's designed to slip onto the poles of the headrests and hold a screen up, so right now it's cable-tied to the factory radio mounts. It seems pretty solid, and I can pull the screen out by unscrewing the bottom of it. Security is an issue around here now, and until it's -in- the dash, i'm going to be pulling it out of plain sight.

Still waiting on the DSSC. Yes, serial power controller. The guys at Dashwerks said they're waiting on a part, so it should be here sometime next week. Then I'll really get moving on things!

Jahntassa · 05-27-2005, 08:52 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by tj!2k4

The Matrix is the same as the Vibe, isn't it...

To answer your question directly. Yes. The only differences in the 03'-04' years were externally cosmetic. Everything on the interior was practically the same.

MatrixPC · 05-28-2005, 06:09 PM

Jahntassa The T-View look like it is much easier to fab to the bezel than the Lilliput. Just chop off the lower part of the bezel and put the T-View frame in there. Just double check if the thickness clear when you put back the bezel+LCD. On the Lilliput I have to shave the back a little to have it fit (I am using the back cover as well.)

Cris · 05-28-2005, 08:30 PM

Looks very very promising. I too think the Tview will look better in there. I do thin it has a fully operation remote control, so the best thing here would be to cut the lower part of the screen bezel, lose the buttons, and relocate the IR sensor somewhere.

Jahntassa · 05-29-2005, 07:44 PM

Matrix - It's still somewhat thick..but i'm trying to decide if I want to wait for a spare bezel, or simply hack and hope.

Cris - I had contemplated losing the buttons.. I have to try the auto-on mod, first though. The remote is wierd..it has 'dimmer', 'mirror' and 'mode select' buttons that don't do anything! It does also have power, vid select, menu, and the +/- keys.

As said, I haven't determined if I want to do something like MatrixPC, or fab it inside the existing dash trim.. At this point I still need to run all my USB stuff behind the dash and get some other stuff running. I put the second HD and DVDRom in the other day, but i'm going to have to rearrange it due to it interfering with seat movement. I have a firewire converter for them, so all I need is a longer firewire cable and I can put them anywhere.

Jahntassa · 06-05-2005, 03:56 PM

And here's an update! I'm about 90% there, (just waiting on the DSSC shutdown controller)

So, some interim pics:

Here's the 40Gb drive i'm using for media (replaced one of the 20's), and an old HP DVDRom. I'm using an IDE-to-Firewire adapter that supports two drives, and extending the molex from the PC to the drives. Works surprisingly well!

And here's the mess of running wires. I ran:
- Power for the glove box drives
- USB behind the screen
- VGA
- Firewire
- Seems like other stuff, but it's been a blur!

The USB hub behind the dash. Right now for the screen and my WiFi. Probably gonna put in an extension and figure out a nifty way to have a visible USB port.

Here's a nice little touchpad I got from Target a couple of years ago. At $20, I couldn't beat the price! It's just PS/2, but it has a long cord, and reaches perfectly. Good for when I need more specific control than the touchscreen.

Here's my WiFi adapter (and my EQ control above), I'm using the little velcro holder so I can disconnect and hide the WiFi if I want to.

And here's the results of chopping up my screen! I decided not to chop up the dash, and it fits well! A combination of Epoxy, and well placed screws helped with this one. I chopped the power LED, and kept the buttons along with the IrDA reciever. This is just a test fit (to make sure the screen still worked after all I did to it.)

More to come later!

Cris · 06-05-2005, 05:32 PM

Looks great!
But really, loose those buttons, wipe out that "TFT 7" wide monitor" writting, and you're set

Everything looks nicely tucked away there...

Jahntassa · 06-05-2005, 06:10 PM

Yeah, gonna wipe out the text, but i'm gonna keep the buttons. Since they just put out a switched ground signal, I can use them for a few different things. The power will still work with the monitor, as well as the Source. I might make the 'M' trigger my remote start, which would be so much easier when I want to hop out of the car.

I really want to use the +/- for some sort of volume control, but I'm not sure what I can do to interface with that Alpine EQ..

I'll probably clean up that gap between the screen and the buttons at one point, but right now it's 'cleaner' than the alternatives I have at hand. Building a CarPC when dead broke means cutting corners...

Cris · 06-05-2005, 06:20 PM

LOOSE THE BUTTONS! You started this, you finish it right!