More cheapskate advice needed re satnav screen
Discussion
Hi guys and gals,
Yet another post about scrimping!
I've taken my DB9's satnav screen unit out of the dash with the intention of changing just the screen itself. I've seen the post on fixing knackered gear wheels, where the screen doesn't come up properly but I can't find any information on how to take the screen out of the motorised pop-up unit. The screen is contained in a black housing and this is what I need to get off and opened up.
My reason for doing this is because I want to fit a better quality screen and one that I can connect both my mobile and a reversing camera to. The existing screen has very poor definition and contrast by modern standards and current technology has far more capability than what was originally fitted. As always I am looking for a good result at a very affordable price - I am the very definition of an optimist; someone who could just afford his Aston (the dream car) yet has to run it on a comparative shoestring, ie no AM-sourced upgrades or running to the dealer for fixes or repairs. I have desires for my car but they will only happen if I can find a nice, cheap solution. Apologies for not being willing (or able!) to spend the kind of sums an Aston truly deserves?
Ideally I'm looking for a link or a pdf of how to dismantle (albeit partially) the display module or unit, or even a basic description of how to do it. Does anyone have a clue where to look? My local dealer said that they normally replace the entire module with a new one but I know that someone somewhere takes these apart because I've seen the screen listed on Astonbits separate to the module as well as complete modules.
The end result might even be something other members might be interested in doing themselves as I know I'm not the only one who doesn't love the satnav as is and prefers the quality offered on their phone. Plus adding in a reversing camera (or a front-facing camera maybe for the track-fiends amongst us!) has added appeal, without the typical AM costs.
Cheers, Mark
Yet another post about scrimping!
I've taken my DB9's satnav screen unit out of the dash with the intention of changing just the screen itself. I've seen the post on fixing knackered gear wheels, where the screen doesn't come up properly but I can't find any information on how to take the screen out of the motorised pop-up unit. The screen is contained in a black housing and this is what I need to get off and opened up.
My reason for doing this is because I want to fit a better quality screen and one that I can connect both my mobile and a reversing camera to. The existing screen has very poor definition and contrast by modern standards and current technology has far more capability than what was originally fitted. As always I am looking for a good result at a very affordable price - I am the very definition of an optimist; someone who could just afford his Aston (the dream car) yet has to run it on a comparative shoestring, ie no AM-sourced upgrades or running to the dealer for fixes or repairs. I have desires for my car but they will only happen if I can find a nice, cheap solution. Apologies for not being willing (or able!) to spend the kind of sums an Aston truly deserves?
Ideally I'm looking for a link or a pdf of how to dismantle (albeit partially) the display module or unit, or even a basic description of how to do it. Does anyone have a clue where to look? My local dealer said that they normally replace the entire module with a new one but I know that someone somewhere takes these apart because I've seen the screen listed on Astonbits separate to the module as well as complete modules.
The end result might even be something other members might be interested in doing themselves as I know I'm not the only one who doesn't love the satnav as is and prefers the quality offered on their phone. Plus adding in a reversing camera (or a front-facing camera maybe for the track-fiends amongst us!) has added appeal, without the typical AM costs.
Cheers, Mark
You should probably contact James at Paralight (do a search on here).
However.... I think you're going to need to do some butchering as the connectors don't look like bog std video and power connectors to me, and I wonder what the benefit will be if all you're looking for is improved resolution. That's as much down to the source as it is the screen, so you'd have to be sure the screen itself is the Achille's heal of the system (I'm not convinced).
There are a number of YouTube videos on replacing the unit with touch screens etc... Though bearing in mind where the sat nav is in an Aston, I'm not sure how wise that is...
A lot of people have looked into this sort of thing and I'm not convinced there's a "cheap" solution unfortunately.
However.... I think you're going to need to do some butchering as the connectors don't look like bog std video and power connectors to me, and I wonder what the benefit will be if all you're looking for is improved resolution. That's as much down to the source as it is the screen, so you'd have to be sure the screen itself is the Achille's heal of the system (I'm not convinced).
There are a number of YouTube videos on replacing the unit with touch screens etc... Though bearing in mind where the sat nav is in an Aston, I'm not sure how wise that is...
A lot of people have looked into this sort of thing and I'm not convinced there's a "cheap" solution unfortunately.
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