double din

[RickOTR]

The Ford Explorer splash screen would look nice on my Pioneer AVH-P6000DVD...

 

[GRNMACHINE]

So on the GPS models where do u mount the GPS antenna? Do u have to drill a hole in the dash? Also read about bypassing brake connector so you can use the GPS function while you are driving and not parked?

 

[BonesDT]

You know the black plastic insert that runs the length of the back of your dash with the windshield defroster holes? That's where I mounted my GPS antenna. I actually off-set it from the middle to the right slightly to line up perfectly between the tips of my wipers (just in case it's possible for wipers to interfere with GPS signals). I ran the wire through one of the defroster holes. I had to notch the defroster duct underneath, so the wire could exit the defroster path right under the panel. My Kenwood comes with a black metal decal that wraps on the panel perfectly to magnet the antenna to. It's a little bit of a PITA to route the wire this way, but I think it's a clean install. I also like it, because it makes the antenna very discreet, it blends into the black panel, as opposed to mounting it smack in the center of your gray (or tan) dash where it sticks out to thieves.

The way my Kenwood works is, it simply detects whether the p-brake is depressed or not, so all I had to do was hard-wire the head unit's p-brake wire to ground instead of the p-brake pedal switch and everything works while driving! This was a factor I considered when buying a HU. Different models are different.

Some units want more from you - they want to see your p-brake depressed after you start your car, so you can't permanently ground the wire, it has to be pulsed every time you start the car. Aftermarket companies make modules for this.

And then there are some units with internal motion sensors in them that detect when your driving. I don't think there's anyway to trip these, so you're screwed if you have one of these.

GPS makers are such full of s*. The only times in my life when I've come close to crashing and dying and killing everyone on the road is when I've tried to read their fine print warning message telling me not to look at the screen while driving, and then trying to press the tiny "Agree" button. Also, I didn't buy a DVD unit so I could watch movies in my parking lot instead of my home - I got it for my passengers! It sucks when you're lost and you want your passenger to make a modification to the GPS directions, but it won't let you because the car is moving, so you're forced to pull to the shoulder of the highway just so you can engage the p-brake ... and then a semi hits you and kills everyone. So stupid.

 

[GRNMACHINE]

Great Info and Great Idea Bones! Thanks!

 

[TheEnforcer98]

I ran mine up through my sunroof. I started from the top (due to the plug), I had it come through the "trim ring" that goes around the sunroof cutout, into my overhead console, stuffed it in the headliner where it meets the windshield and dropped it down the passenger A-pillar into the glovebox, then to the headunit.

I ran my bluetooth mic onto the gauge cluster, and just ran the wiring through the dash.

I'll get some pictures for you since I gotta snap some of my new subs too.

 

[GRNMACHINE]

That would be great. Thanks.

 

[Steeda04SVT]

Great thread with info. Going to be doing my DD here soon.