BG/BK heater controls: Can they be moved into radio slot ?

[GT Wagon]

One thing I'm really missing from my Jetta is having the radio high up on the dash. Its so damm low on the Legacy , I don't like how I have to take my eyes totally off the road and look down just to see what radio station I'm on etc... Taking a quick look at the heater controls the slot appears to be DIN height. Since the controls are all soft touch there should only be electrical wires attached in the back which can be moved / lengthend if necessary. Has anyone relocated their heater controls or know if this is possible ?

[Wiscon_Mark]

BakerGTT did this, I believe. It takes a bit of bracket fabbing, but the slots are the same size (or just about) so its certainly possible.

[gator gt]

If you quickly measure the HVAC controls and the DIN openings, you'll see that you'll need to trim the HVAC control plate and that a radio will have some gaps when moved to the HVAC slot.

BakerGTT did do this, but placed gauges into the HVAC slot.

Seems like a bit of work for 'nostalgic' purposes, but to each their own.

Good luck!
GGT

[Huffer]

Does the BG not have a heat/temp slider control?
That would be the biggest obstacle - because the slider arm is a plastic+metal control arm...

The wiring would be easy - just extend the plugs.

[Legacy4Life]

I thought about doing that when I was looking to install my new radio and some new gauges. Although I fooled around with it, I came to the conclusion that it would be more hassle then it was worth. I ended up putting the radio in the bottom double din, leaving the HVAC where it was, and putting some gauges in the upper part of the double din opening.

You mentioned that it's only soft touch... is that because you have the auto climate control from the JDM versions? If so, I'm green! I still have every intention of installing that in my own car. Almost did once when I saw it on eBay, but the guy wouldn't send me the heater manifold along with it that I would have needed since the USDM models have a cable for the temp control.

Anyways, you can see a few pics of it on Page 2 of my Car Domain site.

[Wiscon_Mark]

- because the slider arm is a plastic+metal control arm...

Not entirely accurate. there's a metal arm that controls a cable back there, similar to the throttle control cable. it wouldn't be hard to move at all.

[GT Wagon]

Great info guys ! I assume I have the same heater controls as everyone else: Soft touch to change blower areas, dial for fan speed and slider for hot/cold. I guess it was only a dream that they could be exactly "DIN" sized, that would have been too easy. The only wire cable I suspected would be attached would be to the slider control.

The reason I want to go though the hassle is I want a screen for a carputer. Locating it down low will a) force me to take my eyes off the road even to change tracks (no different than using the radio) b) the screen will be at an angle so I am unsure how well I will be able to see the display depending on which screen I end up with. Looks like I'll have to play & see on this one and decide if its worth the trouble.

[gator gt]

I believe xcntrk75 did a car-puter in the DIN location. I mean, unless you're watching videos while driving (bad monkey!) then what are you taking your eyes off the road for more than a split second?

:roll: Granted, one should never take their eyes off the road....

...but changing the volume or radio station doesn't (or shouldn't) take all that long.

I may be too biased for this kind of discussion, as I'm not a huge fan of in car entertainment. Sure, give me a good radio station (harder and harder to find those these days) or a great CD to play, but thats it. The rest of the reason I'm there is to enjoy the drive.

Ice:
CD player
CD changer
a couple of aftermarket speakers.

thats all I got.

Don't get me wrong, as shown on BakerGTT's car, it can be done, but, make some measurements before proceeding.

GGT

[GT Wagon]

unless you're watching videos while driving (bad monkey!) then what are you taking your eyes off the road for more than a split second?


I'll have a look at xcntrk75 's setup , do you have a direct link ? I searched and could not find the post.

I'm not interested in watching videos as I drive. I'll be the first to say that's plain STUPID. What I do want is to run a touch-screen carputer which means I'll have to see where I'm pressing to change tracks etc. I would also like to have a navigation system which comes in very handy during our frequent road trips. Typically I am a fan of "keep it simple" however my needs are expanding to the point where a screen would really really really come in handy.

[gator gt]

On NASIOC:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=720661

Thats it.

GGT

[Wiscon_Mark]

this guy did a good job...

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic. ... t=carpc%2A (http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=22736&highlight=carpc%2A)

[Huffer]

HVAC - going to check out the possibility of moving it, like bakergtt/riosuba has. I PMed Adam, and he said it was already done when he bought the car.

Mark says the slider works via a control cable, so that could be lengthened?

CarPC wise - anyone ever thought about mounting a 5.25" DVD drive into one of the DIN slots, and simply run a long IDE/SATA cable back to a PC unit under the seat? And/Or install one of the card reader/USB interfaces that are so popular on the new Compaq PCs...

Hmm.

[Legacy4Life]

The slider for the temp is on a cable. I woudn't think you would need to lengthen it, just route it differently. It would be hard to make another one since it has to attach propely at both ends.

Note: If you ever are trying to take the HVAC unit out, don't try and remove the cable from the HVAC end (as I did the first time). It's much much easier to remove it from the other end and leave it attached to the HVAC unit. It just pops out of a clip and then comes out of the arm on the heater manifold. You can see it real good by getting low in the passenger side and looking up with a flashlight. The cable passes through the dash very easily.

On the note of a regular DVD Drive in the DIN slot, it would be pretty sweet! Two immediate thoughts come to mind though:

1. It would be quite likely that there would be a lot of skipping since generally PC's a pretty stationary device! Chances are it wouldn't take very kindly to the bouncing and rocking of a car.

2. Depending on where you live, the temperature rating would be an issue. The circuity in a regular car radio has been designed to work in very cold to very hot conditions. Very special design considerations. A regular DVD Drive unit not designed for that would never stand up to those temp differences.

But, if you could get around those... it would be a pretty powerful install!

Michael

[Wiscon_Mark]

The slider for the temp is on a cable. I woudn't think you would need to lengthen it, just route it differently. It would be hard to make another one since it has to attach propely at both ends.

Note: If you ever are trying to take the HVAC unit out, don't try and remove the cable from the HVAC end (as I did the first time). It's much much easier to remove it from the other end and leave it attached to the HVAC unit. It just pops out of a clip and then comes out of the arm on the heater manifold. You can see it real good by getting low in the passenger side and looking up with a flashlight. The cable passes through the dash very easily.

+1,000 :lol:

I took it off the HVAC, and it didn't go so well :oops: (I lost heat for about a month, then I fixed the problem with some heavy duty glue)

Its very easy to disconnect it from the heater manifold, definitely do it that way.

[gotturbo]

well i just ordered, a alpine face, with ipod adapter and empty slot thing to mount my turbo timer in. ill be sure when i do the swap that i take lots of photos and do a write up on it. i know for a fact tthat i will need to do some dremiling to the dash kit cause the hvac is larger then the radio so we will see. :lol:

-matt