sleepybobcat

Maybe there's another way to get video/TV on our
RX300 nav screens...

Harrier's nav system has "TV"(look at the leftmost
button, next to "DISC"), as most Japanese vehicles do.

Anyone here speak/read Japanese? Perhaps it would
be easier if we just find out what the differences are
between the Harrier's Nav system and the RX300's
Nav system. (or anyother Lexus vehicles)



Bob

GlobeCLK

iTrader: (5)

Difference? All Lexus models in Japan (Harrier, Aristo, Celsior, etc. ) with NAVIgation has the TV function. Those TVs can be operated only when the car's not in motion. But they have those hack kits out so you can watch them anytime.

Guess who designed the motion TV hack kits? That's right the Toyota electrical engineers themselves, those who applied the motion-off functions. Another way to make money! :eek:

sleepybobcat

My mother-in-law has a '00 MB S430. It has a standard
COMAND navigation/phone/audio system. TV function
is disable for US-bound MBs... Recently we found out it
was only missing a button, two chips, and a new wiring harness to make the TV function come back. The parts were bought from a German MB dealer, at a cost of only
$490(US dolloars) It is now capable of displaying video
by plugging a DVD player into it. TV reception is still not possible because the new chip only receives PAL-standard.

That's what got me thinking about the same thing for
the Lexus navigation systems... they obviously took
out the function for US-bound Lexus as well. Maybe
we could get a Japanese Toyota engineer to tell us
how to put it back...

GlobeCLK

iTrader: (5)

well,

I don't think Japanese NAVs are the same as the US NAVs. Mercedes probably dont' use this weird composite/combo/whatever wire on the monitor so it's easier to hack into. Japanese NAVs are not the same system I don't think, after seeing what the NAV on the ARISTO is capable of! (very cool 3D effect, a SNAPSHOT of your selected destination stored, etc. etc.) It's not just going to be a simple new button/new chip job. Just like Mercedes, the TV tuner isn't there, etc. etc.

Would be alot easier to just wait for VideoNavi's kit which I'm still waiting for!

Overtaxed

If you go into diagnostics mode (see my post yesterday) there is a list of "devices" hooked up to your car.

Here's a pic of my screen in diag mode:
http://www.greendale.se/lexus/screen/101-0153_IMG.JPG

It shows the display, audio headunit, navi, amp and cd changer as devices. And a lot of empty slots for more devices.

This Toyota Prius owner (Richard Scheffenegger) has hacked into the network (iebus) that connects all these units in the car and it seems to be exactly the same system in the Prius as Lexus uses.

He has managed to trick the system to show all possible things that can be connected and it's stuff like a camera, a md player, an additional cd changer and a tv tuner!

So I think that if we could get our hands on a tv tuner that is made for this system (iebus) then it's more or less plug and play.

LeXusBoy

I know someone who has connections with a major Toyota dealer in Japan. I have asked him some questions, is there anything special you people would like me to ask?

sleepybobcat

LeXusBoy,

Ask them when the next totally-new Harrier(RX300)
and Aristo(GS300/400) are coming out in Japan...

Thanks!


Bob

LeXusBoy

All Right I Should Know Soon.

LexRX

wow, I like the way the wood wraps around the bottom of that steering wheel. Is that the way it is in the SC? I think the RX and SC have slightly different patters, do they(RX as a three piece wood)?

sleepybobcat

LexRX,

That photo is from the Toyota Harrier. The lower part of the wood steering wheel has the wrap-around design.
The wood also has a more elegant pattern.

The new SC430 and our RX300s have the three
piece-wood design. (the SC430 also has the option
of a lighter wood) I checked all the other Toyota/Lexus
vechiles and the Harrier seems to be the only one with that design.

I also like that wrap-around look and I'm fairly certain
that you can put it on the RX300.(while keeping the
airbag) Perhaps someone has access to Toyota
parts dept in Japan?

Bob

LeXusBoy

Sleepybobcat,
Here is what the guy said about the new models:

Harrier has had minor changes in Japan about 3-4 months ago.
Now it has a kind of like Altezza tail light and small other things including interiors, but basically the same. Major change will not be done for at least 2 years.
As for Aristo, they say that it will take place about next year or in two years before major change. Not certain yet.

Also GlobeCLK,
This guy also said that the US model can not be modified to be like the Japan Model.

LexRX

sleepybobcat

I would love to put the Lexus steering wheel on my '00 RX, but alas the airbag and steering wheel is a slightly different shape. They changed it for the '01 models.

No matter, I will get an aftermarket one. Most likely from http://www.creativecarconcepts.com - it looks great! The three piece design is more original anyway.

BTW - the leather on the steering wheel in that picture (first post) looks really, really good.

sleepybobcat

LeXusBoy,

Thanks for the info!

Bob

LeXusBoy

sleepybobcat,
Anytime here is that guys E-Mail wavy@attglobal.net , also check out his site http://store.yahoo.com/lexusparts he has lots of addons for any lexus.

GlobeCLK

iTrader: (5)

'

Hiro?