thek1d34

is it possible to install an in dash gps in a 1997 LS400. the car is gorgeous and thats the only thing that i would like to add. any ideas? suggestions? anyone ever done this?? im concerned about the climate controll and all of that stuff that would prob. need to be removed to fit one in

Kansas

Sure you can. There are a variety of double DIN kits for mounting aftermarket GPS/audio system head units in the dash. It is quite easy to pop the climate control / radio assembly out of the dash -- have done it a number of times on both a 90 and 00 LS400. If yours is a standard Pioneer audio system, there might even be adapter wiring harnesses to make the job a little easier.

Or you could take the inexpensive easy route and mount a portable GPS on a bracket like I did in my 00 LS (now aging Magellan) and my wife's 98 Camry (Garmin Nuvi 260W). I used brackets from Pro.Fit International, hid the power cords inside the dash and hooked them up to the accessory circuit to turn the GPS on and off automatically with the car's ignition.

It cost less than $200 a few months ago to buy the Nuvi and all the parts to install it into my wife's Camry.

The GPS units in our Camry and Lexus are fairly difficult to see from outside the cars due to the tinted windows -- we rarely remove them from the brackets except to take them on trips to use in rental cars ... usually just throw something over them to hide them.