Clarion MAX675VD + Painted Dash

[Rahul Sharma]

Well it took me long enough.... but i finally got to finishing the install of the Clarion MAX675VD i bought for the trac nearly 4 months ago! Completed the install, wired in the ipod cable and also wired in the video bypass switch. Got a little fancy with it - the clarion needs to read a ground (parking brake) before playing video, so you have to run the parking wire into the switch, and have a ground wire at the other end. I have the same set-up in my altima, but its a cheapo $3 radio shack toggle switch. I used a carbon fibre ignition switch (usually used with NOS or something like it) to wire it in. I know, over kill, but it looks awesome!



Also, while i had the thing pulled apart, thought i might as well paint it since i was planning to do it anyways.... I used Metallic Graphite from Duplicor (I think). Stuff is made for plastic automotive interiors. Just a light 200 grit sand, spray, dry, sand. Spray, dry, sand. Did that 4 times total, stuff really built up well and finished very nicely. So easy to use, i also did the trim around the dash, and the two vent cirles on the top of the dash...



Here are the pics:

Stock:

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After:

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Ipod hidden in the glove box, fully controlled through the HU:

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And the ipod in action (love the interface):

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Flick the switch:

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And you have video!

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Here's a better shot of the screen in DVD mode:

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Painted trim around the speedo:

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Painted vent piece:

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All in all, took the better part of 2 days. I had to fabricate the bezel, and the metra kit quite a bit to get it to finally fit. it was also -30C to -40C on any given day this week, so that made things funn too....like dropping the screws because my fingers were frozen.... but i was able to do alot of the work indoors....well worth it!



Now to install the Clarion speakers and dynamat that's sitting here - but i'll wai till it gets a bit warmer.....

 

[Shaun Tucker]

mind if i ask how much it costed for a system like that?

 

[Rahul Sharma]

Shaun - the head unit was $890.00 includung GST and all, purchased in Edmonton.



Metra kit, ignition switch and wiring harness were $60.

 

[Woppy V]

Very Very Nice!

 

[Dallas Starr]

very nice.

 

[Chad Merry]

I do not get the parking brake ground for the DVD. Can you just wire to the body or frame for a ground, and avoid a switch all together?



Chad

 

[Rahul Sharma]

Thanks guys...



Chad - no, you can not have a constant ground. the unit needs to recognize a new "ground" every time, which it reads as the parking brake being engaged. This was still simple - in some newer units you have to run PAC switches that recognize a series of steps for you....

 

[marsha marke]

hey let me ask this, the unit you installed is it also a navigation unit? husband wants to do something like this in his explorer

 

[Gypsy me]

RS 05 4X4, looks really nice!

 

[Rahul Sharma]

thanks GM!



argetim - the unit has a nav add-on unit that can be purchased seperately and installed in a hidden location. i think the nav would be run from either a dvd or it's hd based. it's an additional $500 or so.... there are so many things you can add to this unit, it's not even funny....