So I decided this weekend I would attempt to do the nav hack. I've always found it annoying how some functions on the nav unit are disabled while you are driving (even with a passenger) - so it was time to fix this!
I thought I would post up some pics of the process, but pretty much I followed the instructions that can already be found
elsewhere.
I was a little bit nervous trying this myself - I always worry that I'll damage/break something, but it all worked out fine in the end (although I had one seemingly serious problem along the way).
Tools / parts usedTrim removal tools (can be found cheap on
eBay)
Long & short philips head screwdrivers (magnetised)
Tape and towels to protect dash & climate control unit
CD-ROM audio cable
Wire cutters / strippers
Black Diamond LED headlamp
Before starting I checked the vehicle signal info screen, which showed
Parking OFF.
Next I applied some tape to protect the dash and started to pull the trim surround off. The trim removal tools make this a lot easier, I wouldn't attempt it without them. Got it off without damaging anything thankfully.
Below is the dash with bezel removed.
Some more tape applied over the climate control unit, and towels to sit the nav unit on once pulled out.
Unscrewed the nav unit and pulled it out. It doesn't come out very far due to the wiring harness connections which makes things difficult.
Acquired target at the back of the nav unit - green plug with empty terminal between the green & brown/yellow wire.
Prepared the wire used for the ground, which is just a CD-ROM audio cable with plug removed at one end and stripped at the other.
Inserted the metal clip end of the wire into the green connector between the green & brown/yellow wires.
Next, the instructions said to connect the stripped end of the wire to the back of the unit where another ground wire is already screwed in, but it was too hard to get at. I guessed it shouldn't matter really where to connect it since the entire metal housing is grounded anyway.
So just routed the ground wire and screwed it in somewhere convenient. I wrapped it around the outside of the bracket, which seemed like a good idea since the wire won't move around once everything was put back in place.
Finally I pushed the unit part way back in and turned on the ignition. Checking the vehicle signal info screen again, it now showed
Parking ON - hack successful!
A few seconds after getting to this point though, everything went dead! WTF!?
I tried turning the ignition off and on again, but the nav unit wouldn't switch on and was making a clicking noise and the lights on the dash seemed dim. I removed the ground wire and retested with the same result. Then I tried to start the car and it wouldn't start.
Oh no, was thinking the worst initially - then I realised I'd probably just run the battery flat.I had turned the ignition on a few times and played with the nav unit, I had also loaded a new Whereis map disc earlier in the day, and I had my interior lights on while I was working. Either my battery is on the way out, or it's much easier than I thought to flatten the battery!
So, thank god for the trusty CTEK battery charger, I had a break for a few hours.
Once my battery was back to full, I screwed the nav unit back in place and put the trim surround back on. All back to normal, checked the vehicle signal info again to make sure Parking was ON. All good.
Took the car for a drive and tested everything - works sweet. Nothing is locked out while driving now, so while audio is playing I can access list mode and change albums (my main reason for doing this), I can view the GPS signal screen (i.e. show actual vehicle speed), and watch DVD's! Awesome! Wish I'd done this earlier.