2004 Subaru Impreza WRX CarPC Install

Redian · 05-11-2006, 05:51 PM

This Worklog has been created by Andrew Sidhu and is not to be published anywhere without my approval.

Car is finished, go to page 6 (if on default for posts per page) to see.

All Images are hosted by my game server, www.CrimsonCombat.com

Page Picture Log:

Page 1: 12
Page 2: 10
Page 3: 14
Page 4: 3
Page 5: 1
Page 6: 11

i decided i would make a worklog, since i know i will need help from some of you (and some have already given me invaluable information)
Edit 2: Also, it may help me get into college (im looking into mechanical engineering or computer science, both are great at purdue which i am looking forward to visiting, although i hear the best eating place within a 25 mile radius is olive garden... as well as a few other colleges, mostly in the connect/boston/new york/penn area

Anyway, my baby is a 2004 WRX, ill take a picture when it stops raining...
Edit 3: i never did... ill get one later, if you want to see one now... its on the 2nd page, keep in mind the previous owner (sister boyfriend) rashed the front left side of the car (in that picture) I fixed it by myself, without replacing any parts (just alot of bondo, sanding, priming, painting, hammering, and pieces of metal... i have only a couple pictures (like before and after) of those... maybe ill put those up later... theres still a little shine ont he side since i never buffed the paint (or even polished that with a powertool) which i will do soon, since it is annoying the hell out of me.... but i need a buffing wheel first (if anyone wants to send me a present... or if someone from school is reading it... they are only 30 bucks... heh.. only... im broke lol)

The carputer has been built and running, actually... im using it right now for this post. The lilliput has been setup (however i cant figure out how to configure the touchscreen so it clicks in the right place, Ill figure it out later maybe ill even

if i have time)

the keyboard im using is also quite good (Scorpius-P20 by IOne)
-at this moment i am typing about 20 feet away in another room
so as you can see, it works well enough.

furthermore since i am using a MicroITX board rather than the usual MiniATX i am going to build a plexiglass case for it,(dimms for that are 12"x12"x5 7/8") and ill place that under the passenger seat.

for wiring, ill wire everything from the computer through the central console (maybe replace the shifter whilst it is open) then run the wires to the amp down to the back where that will be...

However, i may not end up using the amplifier, but go for a simpler second headunit approch, and replace the clock with a single din radio... since i really have no place to put the amplifier besides the trunk, which may get it banged up

As for pictures, here is what i have so far:

The Wiring Diagrams:

My Original:

A couple Wire errors, (Not big enough) as well as just... vauge stuff going on

And the final verison:

this one is perfect (i think... fuses may be wrong but oh well)

The Motherboard Setup and Working:

only thing not connected is the CD rom drive, i disconnected it to connect the lilliput to test the molex

Components:

components are all here except for the Lilliput and actual computer (the boxes are there), which were running in another room..

CarPC Final Specs:
Motherboard:
CPU: Intel Celeron D 315 (2.25Ghz)
Ram: 1GB BUFFALO DD4003
Hard Drive: 120 GB @ 7200 RPM Maxtor drive (16Mb Buffer)
Soundcard: AUDIGY 2 ZS PCI
Screen: 7" Lilliput Touchscreen LCD (1024x768 Resolution)
Keyboard: IOne Scorpius-P20 Wireless RF Keyboard
Wireless B PCI Card

Audio:
500W Phoenix Gold Amplifier
Tx4001 Seperate Component speakers with crossfades
Stock Front Speakers
Rear Deck Modded for Component speakers
rear door speakers still in, and ready to be connected, but are not

maxxell · 05-11-2006, 09:07 PM

Nice start. Lemme know if you hit any snags along the way.

Redian · 05-11-2006, 09:19 PM

Alright, i have completely setup my lilliput, works like a charm. Only snag so far were the drivers not working, i just updated to the beta verisons and it fixed everything.

now i am on frodoplayer, i am running the RexBruMet Skin (both day and night) and i just cant seem to find the skins for the picture viewer, TV, GPS or camera. ATM it isnt a problem besides the picture viewer, seening how i have no TV tuner or camera on my computer, and the GPS has yet to be installed (one step at a time)

In a couple days the pexiglass for my case comes, hopefully ill be able to set it up wihtout a hitch.

here are more pictures too:

Lilliput Installed in Chassis:

Side View:

Running Frodoplayer (i had to modify the Subaru set... one of the night skins was of a land rover logo, not the subaru stars... if you need it just pm)

Sorry bout bad focus :/

lastly, Media Player Running:

Edit 1: If anyone knows what kind of photo transister the lilliput uses for the IR Reciever, tell me... i want to mount it in the AC vent, but i dont want to take out the one in the board.

Sidewalksalvage · 05-11-2006, 09:26 PM

WOW look REALLY good so far. Can you post a picture of the IR reciever board. I may have an additional one from my broken screen... I have to check. But if its the same, a few bucks and its yours.

Redian · 05-11-2006, 10:05 PM

ill post a picture of it tomorrow if you just tell me the model of your lilli i can tell you if it has a possibility of working.

As for the install, i just got a new visualizer for my computer called G-Force... its nice, cept these stupid advertisements come up every 5 minutes, so i am thinking of buying it or find a replacement, if anyone has it... PM me, i could -Really- use it

Redian · 05-11-2006, 10:25 PM

ive changed my mind again, i am going to use the freeware TwistedPixel Visualizer, its very clean and quite nice ^^

Redian · 05-12-2006, 04:59 PM

alright, so i perfected the frontend so all the features work (besides TV and GPS since those have not been installed)

after everything is installed, i have decided ill get an XM Direct radio and place that in my car as well, then change the TV button to XM Radio... since i know tv reception cannot be good.

as for the install, i am waiting for the amp atm, and the plexiglass, both should be here on tuesday.. (unless the amp site stole my money, pexi has been shipped)

once i get both of those, ill take apart my car... i want to know if it is possible to disconnect the side airbag without it going off... and connect it so it would work again (although theres no way to test that..)

I also have my first software problem... frodoplayer doesnt seem to work correctly when the computer comes out of hibernation... Please PM or post here if you have any information on that.

Sidewalksalvage · 05-12-2006, 11:52 PM

I think there is a thread about the frodoplayer and hibernation, i vaguely remeber reading about it. Try searching

As for the screen. Its a lilly in the disguise of a "SUPER" display. That is if it is a lilly at all. I read someplaces that it is a lilly and others that it is a xenarc. Eitherway, the reciever may be the same. Post a pic and if its similar we can take it from there

Redian · 05-12-2006, 11:54 PM

heh will do... ******* camera isnt uploading >.< give me a minute to fix thaat

and yeah, ill try and find that thread

Sidewalksalvage · 05-12-2006, 11:56 PM

sounds good... i think im going to go to bed now tho...got a track meet in the morning.. but ill check it out tomorrow and see if you can use what i have.

Redian · 05-13-2006, 12:00 AM

heres the IR reciever, i used my phone for the picture so bad quality, ill try and get my actual camera working again tomorrow too late for that now

sidewalk, are you going to the hartford public meet?

Redian · 05-13-2006, 02:50 PM

i think i may have solved the frodoplayer problem... it has nothing todo with FP at all either, my touchscreen drivers just boot up w/ right click rather than left click, and thus... makes nothing happen

now i must wait until the 16th before installing, thats when the acrylic comes and the amplifer. after i get that, ill setup the case for my computer, then install.

Sidewalksalvage · 05-13-2006, 03:53 PM

Good to hear you got the FP working. I think the IR parts are similar, but not exactly the same. If you can get a better picture it may help.

Redian · 05-13-2006, 04:36 PM

camera is working... heres the pcture

Sidewalksalvage · 05-13-2006, 08:59 PM

Alright well mine looks a bit different. Actually very different, but contains the same parts and the IR seems to be the same. Ive attached pictures, let me know if you want it or not.