Thread: Zach's 01 SS Camaro Carputer Install

I tore apart my laptop tonight and soldered wires that I can extend to a button to turn on the laptop... What a bear. I hope I NEVER have to do that again lol. Alas, it's done. I don't have any pictures of it at the moment, but I'll get some tomorrow most likely.

When I took this laptop apart the little tab jiggers that let the mouse, keyboard, and what have you work, they all woudln't go back on after I took them off. No big deal I suppose. This laptop looks like a disaster right now, but it works, and it works the way I want it to!

My usb and vga extentions also arived. This means tomorrow will be a busy day. It'll start out with running power for the touchscreen and laptop, then It's time to test, then tear the car apart and install! (minus painting the dash bezel, I'm procrastinating that)

Today I ran the power wire/ground for my touchscreen. Since the stock deck was flipped backwards the power and ground were litteraly staring at me. So I just spiced into them, simple and effecient. I chose the constant power and I might switch it to the acc because I'm not so sure I like the green light blinking all the time.

I also ran the VGA USB and laptop power cable's. I didn't have the correct tools to create the corrosponding ground wire so that didn't get done yet.

I gave everything a test run and everything worked flawlessly, almost. The touchscreen drivers won't hold for some reason. After every restart the laptop just magically forgets that I installed the drivers 2 minutes ago. I think it might have something to do with me turning the laptop on and off about 50 times when it was trying to load windows lol. I'll most likely have to reinstall windows.

My extentions for my power button to be are ready and waiting. Now I just need the wire to run to my switch, that'll take a wal-mart run.

The fun stopped when my battery ran dead . Looks like I'll have to wait till it charge back up for more tinkering.

I still need to find a way to secure the laptop to where the spare tire used to be, no clue what I'll do about that yet.

Edit: I found out the drivers not sticking was a problem with the drivers themselves. There is a what I call "special" version of the xenarc drivers that fixed m problem. They can be found here http://www.egalax.com.tw/eg/drivers.htm.

I would have pulled my hair out for months had someone not mentioned that site.

Edit again: Spoke to soon, I need narrow down the problem though, when I have two items in my usb ports I get this error. With just the touchscreen plugged into my usb ports it works perfectly. Must be a power issue...

My dc/dc converter for my USB hub came today which means everything can go back in the car and I can go for a test drive!!! WOOOh!

So I went for my drive and it worked perfectly. I think something is draining the battery though when the car is off which shouldn't be happening because I wired everything either to the ign or when the key is turned back.

Another small issue is a slight alternator whine, barley noticable but I'd like to take car of it.

RoadRunner did lock up once which was kind of unexpected.

So that leaves me with two things left to go.

1. Finish the power button, right now it's just two wires dangling and I have to connect them together to start the computer .

2. Finish sanding nad painting my bezel and switches.

Almost forgot, I need to try different drivers to try and solve the touchscreen not working after standby.

So today I painted my bezel and installed a temporary power switch. I've decided to use my current hatch release switch to start the computer. This'll save alot of time and hassle and I always use the release on my keychain anyway. How exciting!

My bezel dried this morining so I installled and WOW! The textured paint almost perfectly matches the interior of my car. I could not have asked for this install to look any better (for my first try at least). I am thrilled with the results and I'll snap a few pictures when a camera is available to me.

Almost done!!!

i found out the hardway, after awhile, your edit button will disapeer, and you will have a bunch of posts marked reserved..... any way its looking pretty good. ive got an 01 t/a that im getting some stuff together for. unfortunately i havent decided on a t/s yet, and money is a little tight. it will be a few months probably before i can get into the fab stages.

And here it is, my first attempt at molding and installing a carputer. Excuse the picture, it was pitch black out, I'll get better ones sometime when there is light out.

Today was a pretty big achievement.
- Last night I installed my GPS hardware and software.
- Today I used it! iGuidance is AMAZING
- Fixed my ground loop (ground actually came undone and was using the laptop as a ground I think )
- Installed an incredible 3D spinning centerpiece in my Blue Devil skin see here at the bottom of that page.
- I converted my hatch release button to my laptop power button. This is very stealth and very sleek. I am really happy with it.

Overall the biggest achievement was the GPS. I still have to learn how to use the software, but once I do I feel I'll be even more in love with it .

I am soo excited ^_^.

A few pictures I took at school.