Android Head Unit

[Voodoo101]

Hi.

 

Hopefully picking up a 2009 Vellfire next week. This is not a new import so luckily its already been changed to MPH and the head unit has been changed. It is currently a Sony unit with android auto, however the rear camera is disconnected. I wanted to update it to an Android tablet units and see the same units that are available on Aliexpress in the UK at higher prices. I would be fitting it myself as it is something I have done in the past, but wondered if anybody had purchased these units from Aliexpress, do they come with the surround and what experiences have you had?

[Chris.ac]

The factory rear camera works on 6v, I believe; you can buy an adaptor that converts it to a standard phono connector which seems to be compatible with most aftermarket headunits.

 

Alternatively, you need to connect via the parking assist ecu, which is responsible for taking the image from the camera, and superimposing the gridlines on it as a graphic, these guidelines move in relation to the steering wheel.

 

Depending on your exact trim level, the connector may be a GVIF type, or be incorporated into one of the other factory plugs that go in to the headunit.

 

For the reasons above, some people choose to replace the factory rear camera with a higher definition aftermarket one, or fit a 360 system.

Edited June 25, 2022 by Chris.ac

[Voodoo101]

Thanks for this. I've decided to wait for the head unit for a while and make sure that everything else works first. 

 

Two problems fixed. The aircon was not working on the passenger side, just blowing hot. Thought it was the blend door, but ended up just being a loose connection, then today I could not lock the car with the remote. When I got out the car it said there was no key, but in the drivers seat it worked fine. Simple fix was a change of battery. 

 

I'm wondering if the rear camera just has a loose connection. The old paperwork mentions that the front low beam was not working and that was traced to the Amp, so might have had a micky mouse electrician fix the stereo in.

 

Total cost of car repairs so far £5. Got a dent on drivers door which I want to get sorted and the rubber on the front of one of the sliding rear doors has been damaged, so that needs replacing. Hopefully then the head unit can be done.

[ALSALPHARD]

I have a 2011 Alphard Singapore import, came with an android unit  and rear camera

Unfortunately  someone stole the cd/dvd / tv/ radio that were in the glovebox somewhere on route!

Car was fitted with a four camera system  though only a seperate new rear is working with the head unit (poor picture)

I'm still trying to figure out how the unit functions:) I think it needs data from a phone.

I want to upgrade when funds allow and the best advice so far has come from youtube "saab unleashed" reviews the latest n greatest available

some units even physically remove the heater/aircon controls and control via tablet.(not my preference)

[ALSALPHARD]

While i remember, My Alphard had the chip added to get MPH and its as accurate as a garmin GPS.

I'm only on my second tank of Fuel, I have been using E5 for now.  what i'm not sure about is the readout for miles /litre  or km/litre

i dont know if the chip alters that reading,  best it was showing being carefull long run  8.4km/l ( 7.3km/l shorter runs) if the chip alters that to miles per litre its not that bad

approx 30mpg is fine for me  if it still reads km/l = not great! will know more when used the secong tank of fuel

[Rojie]

6 hours ago, ALSALPHARD said:

While i remember, My Alphard had the chip added to get MPH and its as accurate as a garmin GPS.

I'm only on my second tank of Fuel, I have been using E5 for now.  what i'm not sure about is the readout for miles /litre  or km/litre

i dont know if the chip alters that reading,  best it was showing being carefull long run  8.4km/l ( 7.3km/l shorter runs) if the chip alters that to miles per litre its not that bad

approx 30mpg is fine for me  if it still reads km/l = not great! will know more when used the secong tank of fuel

#

Hi Alan,

 

Is your van a 2011, or the earlier Gen 1 ?

 

The Gen 1, according to my Owners Handbook, should return about 9.7km / litre, under test conditions no doubt.

 

About 6  miles / litre.

[ALSALPHARD]

Hi Roger,

It's the gen 2 2011 2.4

I am begining to suspect the chip does alter the  fuel consumption from km/l to miles/l

wont know until ive done a few more miles and filled up again.

Its had  genuine parts -new plugs, oil, filters and a cleaned out pcv valve. Next will be to clean mass air flow thingy.

At £2.00 a litre  trying hard to  use as little as possible:)

[Voodoo101]

Hi Alan

My Gen 2 2009 2.4 Vellfire had a chip fitted when I bought it a week ago. It was imported in 2019, so I am the second UK owner. I had the same question on fuel consumption and the reading, so I did some research. The chip not only converts the speedo, it converts the distance travelled to mile, so the odometer reads miles not km. (some places convert the original odometer to miles and then it is a true mileage reading. Some places leave it as KM and then it adds miles, for example, you but a car with 60000km on the dial, then convert it and travel another 10000 miles, the odometer will read 70000 miles)

 

With regards to the fuel consumption gauge, it only knows distance travelled / amount of fuel in litres (this is pre programmed). As the distance travelled is now miles, it now calculates miles per litre. Unfortunately the display cannot be changed as it is digital so it still say km/l. 

 

1m/l = 4.55m/g so if your display is saying 8.4km/l, which is actually 8.4m/l, then you are doing around 38mpg which is good. I have been doing short trips around town and there is a lot of stop start and mine is about 27mpg.

[ALSALPHARD]

 Hi Craig,

Thanks  and   Yes odometer was corrected for actal miles and reads miles.

If i can get 38mpg  that is better than I expected! that was on the drive home on picking it  up (129 miles),  though presently  looking more like 27mpg for general 16mile  round trips.

Where did you find info on the chips, I would like to know more  on what they do to what and where it goes.

 

[mick85]

Rather than start another post based on android head units, I've seen this one on eBay, it states it's keeps the steering wheel controls and the rear camera.

 

I've been doing my research on the 08-15 models and I know fitting am aftermarket head unit can be a nightmare, and it seems to be commonly mentioned that the rear cameras need to be replaced.

 

Just wondering if this is as plug and play as they say:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125128103884?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=i3ugQjD7R_S&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=F0bWzWlRROe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[threepot]

I have a 3.5 4x4, and I get on average about 18 miles per gallon during normal local use 😂

But if I go on a long drive down the motorway, dual carrageways etc I get 26-29mpg,

If fuel consumption is a big factor in car choice, these v6 jap buses are not the car for everyone.

 

If the speedo has a bit of black tape over the "K" in Km/h, then its got a pulse converter on it (it reduces 4 pulses from the speed signal to 3), thus all the values in the cluster will be Miles.... Miles per Litre, the speedo reads mph, the odometer clocks miles.

 

If the cluster has this type of face, with mph in the middle, then all of the values read KM's... odometer, litres/km etc etc

 

I imported my own and did all my own conversion and registration paperwork etc - and I'm in the autoelectronics industry so know exactly how the cluster works etc.

[ALSALPHARD]

Thanks for that threepot, ties in exactly with voodoo101 updated me on the conversion chip.

Is there a possibility you could pop up a picture of the chip unit and where it goes, How is it cut into system-soldered or ? and do you programme it or plug n play?

[ALSALPHARD]

13 hours ago, mick85 said:

Rather than start another post based on android head units, I've seen this one on eBay, it states it's keeps the steering wheel controls and the rear camera.

 

I've been doing my research on the 08-15 models and I know fitting am aftermarket head unit can be a nightmare, and it seems to be commonly mentioned that the rear cameras need to be replaced.

 

Just wondering if this is as plug and play as they say:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125128103884?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=i3ugQjD7R_S&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=F0bWzWlRROe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Hi Mick,

That looks very much like the  head unit i have in mine. (perhaps that one has an updated android software) It came as is from Singapore so cant let you know about actual wiring.

Unit does work ok but to me feels a bit dated. i am still trying to work it all out as i dont use van that much.

I would recommend looking up saab unleashed on youtube  as there are a lot better headunits out there- faster with better menus and functions. He also explains the extra leads needed  to make it almost plug n play.

"TC's Anything goes" has a youtube video of actual changing the headunit +  more,

My main concern when changing the unit is getting the plastic trim off without cracking after 10 years in a hot country:)

[threepot]

There is a million speedo converter modules on the market, just search ebay for "speedo converter import"

 

It is wired in behind the speedo cluster. It is a little box with 4 wires. 12v - GND - VSSin - VSS-out. Just cuts into the VSS wire on the back of the speedo/cluster connectors.

 

On a vellfire/alphard, it does not remove the 118mph limiter though, because this programmed into the engine ECU software. Also is the 70mph cruise control limiter.

 

I have a Toyota engine ECU I bought from Singapore from a non JDM spec car, and it has no speed limiter and no cruise control limiter - it runs and drives fine, no limiters BUT it gives me a ABS fault code because it has a different software version ID. I did start working on how to modify the software ID but got distracted with life.

[Voodoo101]

On 7/9/2022 at 6:58 AM, ALSALPHARD said:

 Hi Craig,

Thanks  and   Yes odometer was corrected for actal miles and reads miles.

If i can get 38mpg  that is better than I expected! that was on the drive home on picking it  up (129 miles),  though presently  looking more like 27mpg for general 16mile  round trips.

Where did you find info on the chips, I would like to know more  on what they do to what and where it goes.

 

 

I was looking before I bought my Vellfire. Did not want to have to think about speed in km/h on roads with mph and came across this page. KMH-MPH | IVA Preparation| Speedo Conversions |Speedometer Conversion. Luckily I did not need it.

[Voodoo101]

I just ordered one from Aliexpress. I went for the 6gb ram / 128gb storage option because it was cheaper then the lower spec ones sold in the UK. It says it can run the rear camera, so will let you know when it arrives next month.

 

Car Radio For Toyota Alphard 2008-2021 Rhd Octa Core Android Car Dvd Gps Navigation Car Stereo Carplay Android Auto - Car Multimedia Player - AliExpress

 

Incidentally, I contacted the one on ebay to find the specs and found it was a low spec unit. Its 2gb ram and 32gb storage. Many reviews I read said to go for at least 4gb ram as anything less will struggle with newer apps.

Edited July 10, 2022 by Voodoo101

[kinging]

On 7/9/2022 at 5:48 PM, mick85 said:

Rather than start another post based on android head units, I've seen this one on eBay, it states it's keeps the steering wheel controls and the rear camera.

 

I've been doing my research on the 08-15 models and I know fitting am aftermarket head unit can be a nightmare, and it seems to be commonly mentioned that the rear cameras need to be replaced.

 

Just wondering if this is as plug and play as they say:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125128103884?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=i3ugQjD7R_S&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=F0bWzWlRROe&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

It looks like the same unit I have got, it was fitted by the dealer.

It was a bit slow to boot and response was a bit sluggish, but all in all it does what I need, Spotify, kids videos, bluetooth music and phone calls.

[mick85]

23 hours ago, ALSALPHARD said:

Hi Mick,

That looks very much like the  head unit i have in mine. (perhaps that one has an updated android software) It came as is from Singapore so cant let you know about actual wiring.

Unit does work ok but to me feels a bit dated. i am still trying to work it all out as i dont use van that much.

I would recommend looking up saab unleashed on youtube  as there are a lot better headunits out there- faster with better menus and functions. He also explains the extra leads needed  to make it almost plug n play.

"TC's Anything goes" has a youtube video of actual changing the headunit +  more,

My main concern when changing the unit is getting the plastic trim off without cracking after 10 years in a hot country:)

 

I took the head unit and center console apart recently to remove some excess cabling and some additional features that don't work here in the UK and the trim was fine in terms of not cracking, hopefully gives you a bit more confidence with your own 

[mick85]

12 hours ago, Voodoo101 said:

I just ordered one from Aliexpress. I went for the 6gb ram / 128gb storage option because it was cheaper then the lower spec ones sold in the UK. It says it can run the rear camera, so will let you know when it arrives next month.

 

Car Radio For Toyota Alphard 2008-2021 Rhd Octa Core Android Car Dvd Gps Navigation Car Stereo Carplay Android Auto - Car Multimedia Player - AliExpress

 

Incidentally, I contacted the one on ebay to find the specs and found it was a low spec unit. Its 2gb ram and 32gb storage. Many reviews I read said to go for at least 4gb ram as anything less will struggle with newer apps.

 

Let me know how you get on, I'd be interested in the 4gb or 6gb model myself

[Voodoo101]

Unit arrived from China today, came with all cables and looks nice. Will get round to fitting it next week as I am waiting for a DAB usb stick, usb dash socket for the second usb port rather then having a cable stashed somewhere and some usb charging ports to wire to the cigarette lighter socket. Gonna do it all together rather then stripping it all down over and over.

 

When it is done I will get some photos up.