jkantor002

Ok...

I finally did the parking brake/vss bypasss installation. 

Here are my notes on the process:

I purchased the kit from drbypass on e-bay.  $140 (yes, it's gone up).  I know that you are supposed to be able to do this mod without purchasing a module like this, but there is also some question on whether something changed on the 2004.  drbypass said this this kit works on the 04, so for me the $140 was insurance to know that it would work and I wouldn't break something.

The $140 gets you a little module (don't ask me what's in it...could be nothing for all I know) with 4 leads and a ground.  It's well contructed and comes with crimp splices pre-installed on the leads and a U-clip for the ground.

Installation is very easy (if you've done anything at all like this before) and took me about 45 minutes.  (if you're handy with this stuff and no exactly what leads you're looking for you could do it faster, but why not just take your time and not blow something up?)

There ARE a couple things to take note of though.

1) Definitely get some sort of "hook tool" to get in between the (very tight) gaps between the interior panels to pull them out.  A screwdriver is NOT going to cut it.  I couldn't find the "hook tool" shown and listed in the instructions but found a set of "probes" at Home Depot that looked like beefed up dental tools.  I used the one that looked like a Captain Hook hook. I also clipped and filed the point down a little as it's pretty sharp.  With this, getting the lower woodgrain panel (around the lower audio controls) and the vents is not hard.  Just be careful.

2)  The instructions are wrong (even the set that says 2004 on them) Not terribly wrong, but it does make you think a little more.  The directions say (and show) 4 harness connectors coming in to the top rear of the head unit.  On my 2004 there are only three.  It appears that they combined two of them.  The one you want is the one on the very top row, furthest from the driver.

3) The instructions point you to the "violet" lead and the red/white lead.  There are a TON of leads back there, but don't get intimidated.  The red/white one is the parking brake lead.  This is a thin read lead with a white stipe down the length of it.  It's easy to spot and is the only one like it back there.

The "violet" lead is the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) signal for the screen and is a touch more difficult to identify.  It's "violet", which means slightly blue-tinted pink color (with no length-wise stripes, just the little hand-painted dashes that are on all the leads).  Don't confuse this with the bright pink lead that is slightly inter-twisted with a blue lead.  With that advice it should be pretty easy to find.

I do have to admit that clipping leads to your $3000 nav/stereo in your $70K SUV feels a bit like clipping leads on a bomb (I imagine), but it's ok.  (DO disconnect the battery)  Hopefully this helps.

The rest of the instructions are right on and easy to follow.

4) When you disconnect the battery and reconnect it, the NAV system will reset (no big deal).  The other thing that happens is that you will get a flashing warning light for the VGRS (Variable Gear Ratio System).  I thought I had fried something until I guessed that it might just need to reset itself with some driving, which was exactly right.  Just go for a quick drive and once you hit 45 or so it will reset and the light will go out. (whew!)

Other than that stuff, it's a cake install and really works well.  flipping back and forth from the other nav screens works perfectly, as does the auto flip to the backup camera.  The VSS bypass does NOT cause any problems with the NAV system, nor is there a switch the needs to be flipped back and forth.  (This system will NOT, however, let you program the NAV while on the move...I imagine you would have to put a switch on another VSS input to do that, but I don't want to go there...)

Not counting the time to figure out the "Oh Lord what have I fried on the VGRS system...", this all went in in about 30-45 minutes, being VERY careful.

I'm very pleased.  (Just be careful and not watch the damn thing while you're driving ok people?..it is dangerous and illegal as it should be....All I really wanted this for is be able to select "play" on a DVD playing from the factory changer while in motion, which you can't do with the rear-zone audio controls..even through you can change between sources and control chapters, pause, etc. from back there.)

Now all I need to do (the hard part) is find the video out from the factory changer to pipe to my vizuallogic controllers for the headrest monitors.  With that (and the factory rear audio zone) I will have what I believe to be the best integrated rear DVD system available for this vehicle.  (I just can't bring myself to have the audio rigged through an RF mod while there is a factory hard-wired Dolby Digital signal (and dual zone audio control) already built into the vehicle.

So if ANYONE knows ANYONE that has a wiring diagram that would help me find that video out, I'd greatly appreciate it and freely post the final diagrams and steps.  (I haven't pulled the changer to see if there is a standard RCA video out on it (in addition the factory harness), but I doubt it does.)

Anyway...Hopefully this info is helpful to someone looking into this mod.

AirBish

←