I've been wanting to install a carputer on my maxima since a very long time, but I never had the expierence or the time/patience to install all the equipment. Finally, starting in mid December, I've finished installing my carputer.

I tried to make this as factory finish as possible without fiberglassing. Also, I tried my best to keep everything intact and not create unnecessary holes.

I actually never took a picture before I started this project, but here is the closest picture of the stock picture with the original bose headunit.



Next, are a few computer setup pictures and also my homebrew shutdown/startup controller for the computer. I'll post those schematics soon.


SPECS:

• HP Pavilion DV2020US laptop stripped
• MSNTV box
• ELMSCAN Compact OBDII Scanner
• Garmin USB GPS 20x
• Bluetooth Adaptor
• Metra Face plate adaptor
• 40 GB Hard Drive
• 2 GB Ram
• Centrafuse 2.1
• GMPC Plugin

 

This next picture is my homebrew startup/shutdown controller. You can see that I used a computer power supply box to put my controller and extra wires inside. It just so happened that that psu fits perfectly and flush with my headunit. The red and black rca cable are connections that I've made on the computer that connects to my power switch and laptop lid switch respectively. More information about this schematic will be posted later.






INSTALLATION PICTURES

Here are a few pictures of the install in my car. I decided to put the computer underneath the driver's side seat. I also pulled the wires through the channel underneath the seat along with the seat warmer and seat belt wires.

 

This next picture is my obdii connection to the car ecu, followed by gps installation pictures.









Next, my startup/shutdown controller needed someway to determine if the car is on or off. So, luckily I found a telephone acc line that was not being used in the fuse box.

 

FINISHING UP INSTALLATION

 

FEW SCREENSHOTS

 

CONCLUSION

This project took a while, but I learned that patience is the key. There were a lot of times when I second thought myself if I should continue this project, but I just kept believing in myself. There are still a few small problems that I will fix soon.

PROBLEMS

• Need better sound card
• New Bluetooth Device

This laptop is actually equipped with a pretty good sound card, but the headphone jack and spdif connection both have a lot of static noise from the hard drive. This is not a grounding issue, but the motherboard fault. I remember when I used to use this laptop, I could hear the static on my headphones as well. I'll probably just get a new usb soundcard.

Also, the bluetooth device I have is flaky, it works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. I'll prob just get a new one.

Lastly, but none the least, I'm going to continue improving the functionality of my startup/shutdown controller. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Thanks!

BEFORE



AFTER

 

Props on the work..looks absolutely amazing. How long does it take to start up?

 

Right now, it takes about 30 seconds to resume from hibernation. On a cold starts, its a little longer. My next step is to trim down windows xp completely and try to boot quicker.

 

that is dope son

 

http://www.nliteos.com/

 

nice job man looks awesome! definitely a sick mod

 

I like it...why not try a SSHD just a 16GB and use a USB hard drive for anything else...that will cut boot time and eliminate the possibility of a failing hard drive down the road

 

Yeah, my next step is to get a ssd, and yeah I need to use nlite, just haven't gotten time.

 

Pretty sweet alot of people I know have this... Def cost effiecent if done right.

 

very well done much props on the install

 

Actually, if you search around I've only found a handful of people who have installed this carpc on their maxima especially the 4th gen models. People have put commercial unitss, but I really like how my system turned out. Most commercial items can't give you all the flexibility that this system provides. Also, those units cost easily about a 1000 dollars, but I bought and installed all parts for about 300 dollars.

I think especially people who have 4th generation maximas and partly 5th generation as well, it's very easy to make it a very stock look without any bondo or fiberglassing. All I had to do was buy a Metra Double Din Faceplate for the 95-99 maxima and it pretty much lined up very well with my 7" screen.

 

GREAT JOB ON THE INSTALL! props for the patience and taking the time to reach your end goals.

 

Nice! I forgot people did these in cars. I think I might do this in my car since its in peices already.

 

couldn't you have just gotten a navigation dd tv?

but nice none the less

 

That's one of the coolest things I have seen in a while. What app are you using for that?

 

Pretty awesome, mad props on going through w/ this and completing it successfully on your own!!

only problem I have is your shifter, lower it!! lol.

 

Dayum... Great job! Looks amazing