damn i missed the finished bezel it looks great! i have no use for it or else id have oyu make me one haha

 

haha ill probably end up selling it anyway eventually as a plug and play setup for someone out there, i havent worked on it in like a month iv been somewhere almost every weekend and i enjoy using it more then wanting to take it back out lol

 

So what is the purpose of having a stand alone computer in the truck. You did a good job of molding it in but i just dont understand......why.

 

Running diagnostics, watch movies, surf the web, ****, being bada$$

 

^---its not something for everyone but the answer above pretty much says it all, its like having an the ultimate ipod only easier to use and a million times more customizable, and you left out voip phone calls and video conferences and gps mapping software lol


..*edit* and forgot to mention, but me and some friends have been trying to get a touch friendly solution capable of also being used over wifi for air suspension, and it branched off into other areas such as lighting and other accessories being able to be used through the computer.

 

man, if you could perfect a system to completely control your car and its systems through an onboard computer, you probably wouldn't have to worry about money ever again haha. I think it'd be pretty sweet to control your air bags through a comp instead of switches.

 

I'm sure its been done. There was a car at Sema last year that the entire thing could be controlled by a iPhone wirelessly. Lights, air suspension, sound, everything.

 

yeah its already been accomplished with the iphone, and is basically identical to what we want to do, just for the computer, only with a different more customizable gui.

 

Guess who just ordered Garmin Mobile PC, a usb gps antenna, Dash Command and an obd2/usb adapter for maximum win.

Going to the junk yard again tomorrow was looking at some members dashes and i think if i can find the little panel at the lower dash with the airbag switch, i can use it to better relocate my hvac controls since the mounting is already done and ill have a perfectly fitting piece to start with, Iv been out of town on the weekends for the past 4 or so weeks along with this weekend, after this im taking a well deserved break to make some progress on this thing.

Ill post pics and video of the software once it gets here

 

Also, forgot to mention it but i also have gotten Centrafuse V3 installed, it will be my main front end to control all my media, still looking for a plugin to embed the garmin software into centrafuse, i believe its been done im just looking for the correct way to do it =).

Heres some screenshots of the Centrafuse software, i love how factory it looks.















Theres a lot more things but these are the main things ill be using the majority of the time.

 

All I can say is BADASS! Good work guys. Can't wait to see the finished product in the Mazda!

 

CarPCs sure have come a long way from the one we built 8 years ago with a full ATX setup in an orange crate in the back of a Supra with cables strung all over the place... It was a hurried job and could have been tidied up a little, but there were power supplies and power inverters and etc that all had to be taken into account.

Now they can be tucked into a dash and be made to do anything! Can't wait to see more!

 

way to freakin kool. all i have is my laptop mounted to the floor in the van.

think you can mount a 17" laptop into my e150? lol

 

There is many.. many variables and sacrifices to take into consideration, but in short form.. the answer is yes, yes i can... but i feel it would be "cooler" if it were to sit hidden within the dash, and raise out from a secret ninja hiding place when you wanted to view it.




Updates have slowed down due to unforeseen bills, the lack of ac in the truck, and different projects for others, iv ordered myself a compressor and im going to try and order the touch overlay after i get paid next week, once it gets here i can fix any cosmetic parts i missed and go back and give the mobo some bracing, i don't like the fact at all that the weight and vibration lets it bow slightly, it needs to be corrected before terrible...terrible things happen.

 

[Off topic] If you have a build thread, or any pictures id like to see your setup!, pm me if you would like to share.

 

Update: Fresh paint! with a side of issues.





Im having some weird unexpected electrical problems and could use some insight if anyone has any, I've killed 2 batteries in a span of a few weeks, on the third one now. i have some kind of crazy unknown electrical draw that im not quite sure how to pinpoint just yet, when i reconnect the battery terminal i get a substantial arc, nothing gigantic but way above any normal amount.

I've done the obvious, i disconnected anything thati have installed (remote start alarm, relays for airhorns and for inverter, both wired to ignition anyway, but disconnected just in case one may have gone bad, radio, and even the dome light, dash and door switch fuses sinve i have had problems with them before.

I do have a wonky key cylinder that i havent had a chance to test / replace just yet but, I also went through the exterior fuse box and pulled each fuse and still had a pretty good spark and was obviously still there, other then that anyone have any other ideas on a good place to start on figuring this one out?

 

discon. your neg battery post and link a working test light between the two. The brighter the light the more draw there it. Start pulling fuses and leave them out. Start with the obvious first (radio ect). The goal is to get the light to go out. When you pull the fuse that makes the light go out you find your draw. when the light goes out start re installing fuses until the light comes on. if it comes on when u put a fuse in pull it back out and put different ones in. you will get it down to like 3 or 4 fuses that have a draw. there you will figure out where your draw is.