Some Pics of Magden Gauges
- Thread starter leadf00t
- Start date
It's in! Took about 8 hours to do it right. I installed the video switcher so I can display the gauges on my Nav screen. I installed the computer box in the back under the ledge. I hard wired everything, power, tapped into the OBDII, ran the video cable, OBD, and power under the carpet along the right hand sill. I installed a tiny rocker switch under the climate controls - completely invisible unless you know it's there. It is a three position switch, Magden, Normal Nav, and Nav with the nanny shut off so my passenger can enter an address while the car is rolling.
I took lots of pictures, but it is too late to put them up tonight.
I took lots of pictures, but it is too late to put them up tonight.
Awesome, I cant wait to see them !!
OK, here are some pictures of my install. My car has the factory Nav so I started by tapping into the screen video and putting in a switch box I bought from RPM.
First, I pulled the glove box and the Nav DVD drive.
I opened up the Nav harness and soldered in the connectors for the switch box.
While I was in there, I attached a wire to the VSS signal going into the Nav box.
I then neatened up the harness. I also took the opportunity to stick my AUX switch box back to the firewall with hot-melt glue. I had previously mounted it with double stick, but it came off the insulating fuzzy stuff.
Then, I pulled apart the entire stack and center console top.
Next operation is to install a control switch. I got a little rocker switch at the local surplus shop. It is a three position center off single pole switch. I decided to mount it on the bottom of the climate control panel. I opened the control module and put the switch inside, and soldered three wires to it.
Next, I mounted the video switch box deep inside the console with hot-melt glue.
The next task was to mount the computer unit under the trunk area. I pulled the spare tire cover then removed two screws and took out the plastic piece at the front of the trunk area. I cut out a notch in the rear of the plastic on the left side.
I stuck in a chunk of wood, it turned out I had a piece of 2X4 and 1-1/2" was about the right thickness, plus some foam tape. I stuck it on with hot-melt glue.
I then attached the computer to the plastic piece with an aluminum strap and a couple of sheet metal screws into the plastic.
Here it is for a trial fit.
I then tapped a shielded two-connector cable into the CAN bus in the passenger foot well (sorry no picture). I ran an RG8 coax with an RCA connector from the video switch box into the passenger foot well. I also tapped into the PJB harness to the power wire that would go to the sun roof if it had one. I tied the three cables together with zip-ties, coax, power wire and CAN bus cable, and ran them under the carpet along the passenger side sill. I had to take the rear seat bottom out for access, along with the front and rear sill plates, and door pillar trim. I routed the cables to the computer unit and put on connectors. I fired it up and it worked the first time! I then had to reassemble the entire interior.
Here's some pictures of gauge styles.
Here's the wireless presenter I use as a mouse to control the screen. It is mostly unnecessary, just for setup. Of course when it is new, I use it all the time to play with stuff.
Here's a picture of the control switch installed, taken from way down low. It is nearly invisible from a normal seated position or above. With the switch in the center position, the Nav operates and displays normally. In the right position, it shorts the VSS signal going to the Nav unit to ground which removes the nanny and allows entering addresses and stuff while the car is moving. You don't want to leave it in that position because then the dead-reckoning doesn't work when the GPS signal is lost. In the left position, it tells the video switch unit to connect the Magden video to the Nav display.
Here's a picture of the finished computer installation. In the foreground you can see the USB wireless adapter for the presenter. It is just stuck to the floor with some 3-M double-stick.
First, I pulled the glove box and the Nav DVD drive.
I opened up the Nav harness and soldered in the connectors for the switch box.
While I was in there, I attached a wire to the VSS signal going into the Nav box.
I then neatened up the harness. I also took the opportunity to stick my AUX switch box back to the firewall with hot-melt glue. I had previously mounted it with double stick, but it came off the insulating fuzzy stuff.
Then, I pulled apart the entire stack and center console top.
Next operation is to install a control switch. I got a little rocker switch at the local surplus shop. It is a three position center off single pole switch. I decided to mount it on the bottom of the climate control panel. I opened the control module and put the switch inside, and soldered three wires to it.
Next, I mounted the video switch box deep inside the console with hot-melt glue.
The next task was to mount the computer unit under the trunk area. I pulled the spare tire cover then removed two screws and took out the plastic piece at the front of the trunk area. I cut out a notch in the rear of the plastic on the left side.
I stuck in a chunk of wood, it turned out I had a piece of 2X4 and 1-1/2" was about the right thickness, plus some foam tape. I stuck it on with hot-melt glue.
I then attached the computer to the plastic piece with an aluminum strap and a couple of sheet metal screws into the plastic.
Here it is for a trial fit.
I then tapped a shielded two-connector cable into the CAN bus in the passenger foot well (sorry no picture). I ran an RG8 coax with an RCA connector from the video switch box into the passenger foot well. I also tapped into the PJB harness to the power wire that would go to the sun roof if it had one. I tied the three cables together with zip-ties, coax, power wire and CAN bus cable, and ran them under the carpet along the passenger side sill. I had to take the rear seat bottom out for access, along with the front and rear sill plates, and door pillar trim. I routed the cables to the computer unit and put on connectors. I fired it up and it worked the first time! I then had to reassemble the entire interior.
Here's some pictures of gauge styles.
Here's the wireless presenter I use as a mouse to control the screen. It is mostly unnecessary, just for setup. Of course when it is new, I use it all the time to play with stuff.
Here's a picture of the control switch installed, taken from way down low. It is nearly invisible from a normal seated position or above. With the switch in the center position, the Nav operates and displays normally. In the right position, it shorts the VSS signal going to the Nav unit to ground which removes the nanny and allows entering addresses and stuff while the car is moving. You don't want to leave it in that position because then the dead-reckoning doesn't work when the GPS signal is lost. In the left position, it tells the video switch unit to connect the Magden video to the Nav display.
Here's a picture of the finished computer installation. In the foreground you can see the USB wireless adapter for the presenter. It is just stuck to the floor with some 3-M double-stick.
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Thank you! I need that. I'll PM you my shipping address. (fuoops)rotus's next present!!
AutoEuphoria
Member
- :
- '08 CPW Mazdaspeed 3
That looks REALLY good. Way above my technical skill. Amazing work, and awesome product! Does it display right on the OEM screen, or did it come with its own screen?
The Magden unit does not come with the screen, you have to add one like I did if you have a sport, or if you have the GT like Rotus you have to buy a converter box that lets you have more then one input to the screen. The install is going to be more involved if you have a GT, and less so if you have a sport & buy the screen. Having to buy the Magden, and the screen is more costly then the converter & Magden. So it's a trade off, but at least we have seen it done both ways, and know it can be done.
In the case of installing in a car that has the factory NAV, it is not really difficult, just time consuming. It could be done simpler than I did it, but I am picky and sometimes make extra work for myself because of it. You could mount the Magden unit in the glove box, along with the switcher box and it would make the install much easier, but you lose glove box space.
What was your total cost, if you don't mind me asking? I've been thinking about a similar setup myself. If you weren't in Cali I'd offer to pay you to do it on my car XD
tazman34685
Member
- :
- MadzaSpeed 3
Very nicely Done...(second)
Thank-You !!
