Thread: And so it continues... 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Touring Edition

My GF doesn't think I should do it, but she also thinks it's stupid to have to stock body color bezels (instrument cluster and passenger airbag) so I'm not sure what to think about it.

I might just paint it body color when the TS controller comes, since the screen will be out for a little bit anyways, but the mopar color and clear will be like $25 for two 5 oz cans. My GF will just have to deal with it, after all it is MY car; she can do what she wants to her car.

I'm really kind of sad that the touchscreen is giving me issues, random calibration issues, I think it's a combination of a bad controller, or as dynamix says:

Originally Posted by Brian from Dynamix Computers

I have heard that loosing [sic] calibration can be due to a “Knockoff” controller being used. I have a few controllers here and can send you one free, if you send me a picture of the controller connectors. This way you can help us diagnose if some of the monitors have been distributed with a cheaper controller board.

and a touch panel that's adhesive has released from excessive heat. At least the panel can be fixed with a little attentiveness, but if the controller is bad, it's a replacement situation. At least they offered a free one to help diagnose the issue.

I've been using it, but I've been driving with the laptop on the passenger seat so I can still access the touchpad. I want to get it in it's proper spot soon.

My 10.4" touchscreen appears to have died before I ever got it completely installed, and the warranty is long gone. So I'm wondering whether I want to spend the bucks to get another touchscreen, or maybe a non-touchscreen that's sunlight viewable. I guess the ideal solution is a sunlight-viewable touchscreen, but that's a huge price.

If your touch panel is toast and it would be a while before you could replace it, here are a couple of things I've been exploring. They might let you get the laptop installed and still have a touchpad:

Ergonomic Touchpad
Cirque Touchpad

Other ways to mouse around would be the SpaceNavigator, the Griffin Powermate, or the Shuttle Xpress.

I've been experimenting with a finger mouse, and it's pretty slick. It works well for what it does, but I think it would be best built into the shifter knob, because I have to take it off to type, so it's not very convenient.

I like the idea of a touchscreen best, but it seems there are viable alternatives.

Brilliant Work on your bezel. I wish I had the patience to make mine look so perfect. I have a sanding and finishing question for you. After sanding my bezel and adding some layers of paint I realized there are a few spots that need some more work. What grit or kind of sandpaper do you recommend to sand things down? I was going to keep using my 220 grit but I was thinking of going even finer to 400. Is your screen controller giving you problems from overheating or from taking it apart too many times? I couldn't believe how flimsy the screen components are when handling it.

Originally Posted by rdholtz

My 10.4" touchscreen appears to have died before I ever got it completely installed, and the warranty is long gone. So I'm wondering whether I want to spend the bucks to get another touchscreen, or maybe a non-touchscreen that's sunlight viewable. I guess the ideal solution is a sunlight-viewable touchscreen, but that's a huge price.

If your touch panel is toast and it would be a while before you could replace it, here are a couple of things I've been exploring. They might let you get the laptop installed and still have a touchpad:

Ergonomic Touchpad
Cirque Touchpad

Other ways to mouse around would be the SpaceNavigator, the Griffin Powermate, or the Shuttle Xpress.

I've been experimenting with a finger mouse, and it's pretty slick. It works well for what it does, but I think it would be best built into the shifter knob, because I have to take it off to type, so it's not very convenient.

I like the idea of a touchscreen best, but it seems there are viable alternatives.

wow, i didn't get the e-mail notification that there was a reply, and somehow I missed it in my subs, wierd. Anyways, the controller seems to be the culprit, and dynamix is sending me one to try out, and it should be here today, so I will try and get it in and see if it does anything.

Originally Posted by pack3twhore

Brilliant Work on your bezel. I wish I had the patience to make mine look so perfect. I have a sanding and finishing question for you. After sanding my bezel and adding some layers of paint I realized there are a few spots that need some more work. What grit or kind of sandpaper do you recommend to sand things down? I was going to keep using my 220 grit but I was thinking of going even finer to 400. Is your screen controller giving you problems from overheating or from taking it apart too many times? I couldn't believe how flimsy the screen components are when handling it.

For the first few layers, a low grit paper will be fine, but once you start getting to the finishing phase, you'll need higher and higher grit paper. I used 80 to get the general shape, then upped to 120 for a little finer shaping, then to 220 and 400 then to 600. I could have wetsanded to get a glass-smooth finish, but I am using satin paint, and it turned out fine. After the bezel has settled, there are a couple spots that I need to finish, but since I am swapping the controller, I figure I'd just fix those at the same time.
Since I'll have it out, I might just paint it body color now, and just get it over with.

As far as the controller goes, according to Dynamix, it's possible the controller I was sent was a "knockoff" made with cheap components. If it's a bad controller, it will create heat from it's ineffecient components, and that heat might be what caused the delamination. If this new controller works, I am going to mount it to the back of the casing so that it can breathe a lot better. That will completely prevent any further heat related issues.

I'm still waiting to purchase my PSU (I'm going to use the Carnetix P2140.) and a little more wiring, but the finish line is in view.

Fedex didn't have the right address, so they will try to deliver it tomorrow, too bad I work, and nobody will be here. Hopefully they leave the controller at the apt office. Either way, I won't have some good time to work on it until next thursday. So, we'll see...

Picked up the controller from the fedex facility 30 miles from here since they just could not figure out what an apartment number is.

I won't have time to install it until thursday, and it will require some soldering, so we'll see if this solves the issue.

Looking good. One question though.

Did you just use ABS Cement from a hardware store?

Originally Posted by hailrazer

Looking good.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by hailrazer

One question though.

Ok, shoot...

Originally Posted by hailrazer

Did you just use ABS Cement from a hardware store?

Yup, Oatey brand ABS cement, in a blue can, I got mine from Home Depot, but I think ACE and Lowes carry it too. Here's the info on it from their website:

ABS Medium Black Cement

Pic:


I figured it was easier than trying to shred up some ABS chunks and try and melt it in MEK or Acetone, it's an off the shelf product, and works great.

Originally Posted by hailrazer

Looking good.

I was looking at your install when you first posted it, and it looks nice. I showed it to my brother to try an coax him into putting a screen in his Av' but he just got the truck, and his wife doesn't want him to mess with anything until the factory warranty is up (even though it can all go back to stock if need be...)

I like what you did with the M4, I was thinking of getting the M4 at the time and I was going to copy you with that. But now I'm getting the Carnetix P2140, and it comes cased.