Thread: Ford F6 Tornado Project Log

Yep, I am a member there too, thanx for the links anyway - appreciated!

Anyway, we just tickle along, get a few things here and there, slap them together, and crash-boom-bang ..... Hopefully it works

Thanx for the feedback, will keep you posted.

Ok, a small update - yet, a significant one:

This is my standard Manual Control ICC (Integrated Command Center), that performs audio, and airconditioning functions. It will display radio frequencies, audio data, and aircon fan speeds etc on the mono-color LCD.



Well, I had decided to keep in line with this statement in post 1:

Goals:
1) Most important is the factory look! The mod must/will not detract from original factory looks...

So, I decided the best way to get full-blown factory LCD TFT Color screen, is to update to the Auto ICC Dual Zone Climate Control unit - spot the difference:



In this pic, please ignore the bubbles on the LCD - it still has protective plastic cover over. Why?

Well, when I purchased the unit of another person, it came with the screen damaged - see areas circled:



After some discussion/negotiations, the Seller was kind enough to contribute towards1/2 of a new TFT panel, and I got this:



and fit this:


So, now I have a brandnew LCD TFT color screen in my new ICC, which I will retrofit to my UTE as soon as I return from
Finland next weekend.

a Few things more to do, like external temp sensor, and wiring looms to be fitted - sensor is located in the passenger mirror, so need to replace the complete unit, plus passenger door wiring harness.

Also need to add another actuator, and split airbox shafts to allow dualzone independant climate control, but at least making good progress.

What you guys reckon?

Two distinguishing factors of the LCD, no, rather 3:

It has no Touchpanel, so I will need to source a standalone Touchpanel overlay, and add that.

Secondly. it use RGB arcade-style input, meaning it uses a Composite sync, at 15.7kHz, where std VGA inputs have independant syncs for vert and horiz. So, to rectify the situation, I grabbed myself a very nice ArcadeVGA PCI-Express GFX card which supports the Composite Sync on this specific LCD Ford chose to use in the car entertainment system.

I could have made things a lot easier, and just have grabbed a factory SatNav system, but then I would have no Carputer functionality, eg OBD interface, Wifi, etc.

So, now I am awaiting arrival of this card, which should get here next week - when I am in Finland

Well, patience....

Thirdly, the screen as built-in I/R receiver, but I will replace that with bi-directional unit, that will communicate directly with the PC.

After all, using the ArcadeGFX card, I may need a slightly higher case, as the card is to high to fit in the Morex Cubid 2688.

Well, things are progressing, it seems I will have a brandnew Xenarc 700TSV for sale soon, maybe, and then a 8" LCD touchscreen too....let's see....


Will keep this moving along, with frequent updates.

a Short update - managed to test then new ICC i wanted to fit - replaced scratched TFT LCD, and took it off to ASL Logistics to have it tested on their software simulator, seeing they are the Ford warranty repair agents. I must admit, people can go and learn a lot wrt Customer Service levels from Fadi - thanx Mate, great Service!

Just as a reminder, this is what the UTE came fitted with from the factory, manual aircon control unit, monocolor LCD, nothing fancy.....



So, I fitted the new unit this afternoon, and this is what it looks like in daytime:



and then, in nightime, it inverts LCD background to take strain away from your eyes while driving:



a Big upgrqade, one that would now allow me to mount my carputer, and display that info on the
TFT LCD in the new ICC, something which enables me to keep that "Factory" look

One of my goals, when I started with the project.

What is nice about the controller used here, there is an overlay control line, which senses when
Carputer will use VGA input, and display that video, the moment you press any button, or turn
volume knob, it will put those actions to the foreground, with a certain transparency, while you
can still view the carputer video " underneath.

Well, everything working, except aircon system - will need to take the Bakkie to Ford tomorrow, to
flash "high-level" HIM (Hvac Interface Module) software, to enable new control unit to correctly
operate aircon and ventilation system, pump, vents, etc.

10 minute job, then nearly done

Let me know what you think.

Here is a short update, had the car at Ford today, got my friend Mr Steve to flash new firmware into the Hvac Interface Module, previously it was programmed to accept inputs, and adjust vanes/aircon etc according to Manual ICC inputs.

Thanx for your very good Service levels, Etheridge Ford (Melbourne), I am so glad I decided to buy my car from you!

Well, now I can safely say everything is working as it should from the factory, radio, manual mode, semi-auto, and full auto modes on the Dual-Zone ICC.

So, the electronics are all sorted, all I have to do now, is fit the split shafts to the airbox, and install independant actuator to allow individual adjustment of different zones, passenger or driver.

That has to wait until I am back around the 23rd of Feb, of to Finland from tomorrow to the 18th, then Perth, then back to Melbourne.

Will keep you guys posted.

I luv the new look anyway, now to mount the carputer, and connect it to the LCD

Here is a piccie showing radio volume, and fanspeed indicators, this overlay will be active whenever something is adjusted. After a couple of seconds, the main vga input will become active (foreground) again.



Here it is running in semi-auto mode, with trip-computer active:



and here, full auto climate control is active:



Other than the driver-side actuator, Ineed to fit new passenger-side external mirror, which houses the ambient temperature sensors, which it uses to calculate aircon-compressor speeds, to allow comparison with cabin temp sensor, and do auto climate controls.

G'day Beanie,

You won't know yourself with the Premium ICC. Great stuff.

Pretty keen to see the CarPC in your car and interacting with the new ICC. Even keener to see the "touchscreen overlay" approach come to fruition as that will be awesome.

Should things progress as you expect, and you're looking to offload the 7" Xenarc, then I'm a potential buyer. Is it this one ?

Keep us posted when you get back from Finland mate.

Cheers,

Long.

Hey Long,
I am just about boarding my flight back from Helsinki, but will only arrive in Melbourne Sunday 21h40 - long flight ahead of me

Anyway, that's the same screen I have, brandnew, took it out of the box to test it, really the best quality on the market by far - for these applications anyway.

My gfx from England has arrived, so now I can drive the arcade-inputs on the Ford ICC, so I should make good progress from hereon in.

My Wife said a parcel has arrived during the week, so I can only assume it's the gfx - I hope!

Anyway, I still need to source the correct 5-wire resistive overlay, then all good

Will keep you posted as to selling the 700TSV.

Chat to you soon.

Kind regards,
Beanie

Ok, back home, still recovering from the timezone difference - 9 hours twice in one week not fun, let me tell ya

Anyway, having decided (for now) to use the standard Ford TFT LCD in the ICC, I had to get myself an ArcadeGFX card to properly drive the composite sync RGB input of the stock Ford unit.

Card has arrived, working great.

Well, now having to use the PCI-Express card, makes for another small problem - I have to source a new case, small footprint, that will accept the pci-express gfx card, but maintain good looks, small size, etc...so, I just found this: The Cubit 3 - Hoojum split off from the Company making these, so there are only a few left, and they will not be manufactured anymore, so if you need one speak to Graeme at KustomPCs.

I should receive it next week, and will post some new pics of the setup then. Currently it is assembled on a temporary tray setup, until I get the new case.

Can hardly wait