Ray_li

whats happening with this one?

cw42

iTrader: (1)

Glad you asked ray

UPDATE:
Just got back off my 2 week jaunt in the sun last night, and I'm off to pick up my car from ****** house today, with the pc/amp/screen installed and working
I know ***** has had some trouble with background noise, and I don't know if he's managed to solve it until I hear it for myself.
I'll get some pictures up later today, as I'm assured it looks very professional
Watch this space for my first impressions of the install,
chris.

Ray_li

who is this *****?

cw42

iTrader: (1)

m8 of mine who used to be a pro installer.
Got the car back today, ****** on holiday so picked up from his garage. Damn thing was as dead as a stone No power at all, and barely able to open the doors and turn off the alarm
After trying jump starting down a hill, then borrowing some jump leads off a neighbour and using the wifes car, it still wouldn't start, so had to call the breakdown guy.
Connected up his massive jump leads and fired first time
Battery charging up fine after that. I put it down to 2 weeks of inactivity, and a lot of messing with the electrics to get the install right.
AND WHAT AN INSTALL! All I can see is the screen, in its surround, no other wires whatsoever. A credit to ***** and all the hard work and effort he's put into the job.
BIG THANKS *****
Once I'd worked out how to start the pc, as it's not wired to come on with the ignition, everything was up and running and sounded very good. The only problem, and one that ***** told me about, is feedback from the engine being heard as a buzzing sound from the speakers. I know this is a common problem in pc installs, so I've got this week to sort that out. Otherwise, just my gps to configur, my maps to install properly, and then we'll be up and running.
I'll post up some pics of the install tomorrow, not had time to take any today.
(oh, nearly forgot, the wireless network works fine too )
Back tomorrow,
chris.

Henrik

iTrader: (5)

Is it alternator whine (rising in pitch with revs) or just a general buzzing sound that doesn't change pitch?


I just added a thread with the my alternator whine problems and solution here: http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?p=4939345

cw42

iTrader: (1)

henrick, it's an alternator whine, but it's very quiet now, at least I cant hear it over the sound of my exhaust
I'm still getting a crackling sound though out of the rear speakers, and my subwoofer doesn't seem to be working at all
I unplugged the rears, and that obviously stopped the crackling, but then hardly any bass as the fronts are infinity components.
Took some pics today, so I'll get them up later.
chris.

cw42

iTrader: (1)

UPDATE: and as promised some pictures of the install

From the driving seat:


Under the seat:


From the passengers side:


Chris.

Henrik

iTrader: (5)

I'm guessing the rears are amped as it's a PC install, right?

does it crackle all the time or just with the engine running?

does the crackling ever change character (e.g. with lights on, engine revs etc etc)?

how much power are you running (as in the amps)?

cw42

iTrader: (1)

yes, the rears are amped, from a 2 way split off the pc output.
it crackles all the time, although once the engine is running, it has faded to almost nothing know I've sorted out the gain on the amp, and turned up the pc volume.
It doesn't change character to the best of my knowledge.
Not sure what power the amp is, will check the beggining of this thread for details.
I was out for a run last night, just to make sure everything was easy to work while driving, and I did notice the whine more on quiet tracks. It's not that bad, but I would like to eliminate it completly if poss. I've read that a ground loop isolator is the way to go, maplins, £8.99
But I wouldn't know where to plug it in.
Last thing, my sub isn't working at all now, as there's no power to it. Mate reckons that ***** hasn't wired that bit up quite right
Other than those small niggles, the system is pretty cool. I've just transfered some files to my car from home over the wireless network, and yesterday I did a test of the cd burner, to make sure I can back up my photos of the drive next week, which worked flawlessly.
Sat nav is warning me of mobile, fixed and redlight cameras, if I have it running in the background
All in all, its going ok, and I expected a few troubles to start with.
Finally, I've been in touch with another mate, who is hopefully going to sell me his copy of the ecutek software, and key, so I can monitor my ecu port on the pc
Watch this space!
chris.

Henrik

iTrader: (5)

Ah, cool that the crackling has gone

As for ground loop isolators, they may mask the problem slightly, but they wont sort it

Do it properly and upgrade the engine earths (it's not hard, honest) (sorry, i'm starting to sound like a broken record).

It will also be good for your system as all components will have the same earth as reference point.

cw42

iTrader: (1)

thanks for your help henrik, but on the subject of earths, my cars got the classic earthing mod on, so I thought that would be the last of my worries
I'm going to have a tweak with it again tomorrow, and see what I can do, otherwise, I've got to wait till *****'s back, and he'll sort it out
chris.

cw42

iTrader: (1)

UPDATE: Finally managed to get to maplins today, and fitted myself a GROUND LOOP ISOLATOR, between the 2 phono inputs going into the amp.
WHAT A REVELATION! Didn't really think that it would work, but there's no alternator whine and no crackling on startup anymore. Highly recommend this, and for £8.99 you can't go wrong
Still no idea why the sub isn't working though, and I haven't got the cheek to go to a car installer and ask them to look at it

Everything is working as it should now, so if I go back to the original list of "things I want my car pc to do" here's what it looks like now:
1/ play my 11gig mp3 collection YES
2/ listen to digital radio NO (***** couldn't fabricate the airel plug adapter in time)
3/ navigate me to any location in europe and warn me of speed cameras YES
4/ record film of my car driving trips NO (when funds allow, I'll be getting a proper pci card and bullet camera for this)
5/ store images off my digital slr's cf card YES (and then burn them to cdrom too!)
6/ play mulitmedia on the move YES
7/ share files with my home pc YES

So, all in all, a top result Really just a case of tweaking now. One big thing I'm going to do is reformat the harddrive at a later date, and work out how to install a bare minimum os, with nothing I don't need on. That will make the pc run more stable and faster. I'm also still in the process of organising and sorting my mp3 collection, which I will back up to dvdrom, then transfer onto the carpc (hopefully this week, as some of my file names are corrupt on the carpc).
It's been a long road, from first reading about doing this to actually getting it built and installed, but I reckon it's been worth it.
Finally, I may be installing ecutek ecu software in the future, so I'll be able to see my engines performance in real time, and also show graphics on the screen, much like the skyline has.
Thanks to everyone who helped and contributed to this thread, I hope you are suitably inspired to go off and create your own custom pc install. (you know you want to! )
If I come across any other useful info from now on, I'll post it up here.
Thanks for watching,
chris.

jowl

Sounds GREAT! Well done!

Of course, we'll need some finished pictures.

cw42

iTrader: (1)

Jowl, see the pictures above, there really isn't much to see. The screen is the only thing visible.
chris.

redwrx

Thanks MTV for pimping my ride ......lol


Hiya Chris, Just seen your thread, been on hols for 3 weeks. Looks like you've been seriously busy mate.

Im impressed with the install ...... a seriously nice toy.


Great thread.


Frank

cw42

iTrader: (1)

thanks frank, long time no see, although its the bbo soon, so I'll show you then
see you soon,
chris.

cw42

iTrader: (1)

Bttt as I'm now selling the screen and surround from this install to finance my new-age screen

here

chris.