Joying Android 9.7" HU Install (~90% complete...)
 

Thought I would share my custom install of the Joying 9.7" head unit. I purchased the JY-VOS01N4GS and absolutely love it.

For those that are unaware, I have a Navi based Z which makes this type of activity even more difficult. It is currently paired with my eZ Navi Delete board, which has had a lot of work done to it and the code over the last few months and has been very stable during my daily driving.

I purchased the single DIN version on this system so that I would have a space available for a pocket to store my phone, glasses, or what not. It always bugged my not having a convent place in the car to put such things.

There are two mfg's that produce aftermarket stereo kits for the 370Z: SCOSCHE and Metra. I originally purchased the SCOSCHE and modified it's bracket to position the HU where I wanted it in the dash.
http://www.the370z.com/members/raden...ng-bracket.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/raden...elete-v0-5.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/raden...9-hu-place.jpg

Since my car came with the factory Navi, I had a mounting bracket that held the stock screen. I decided to use that bracket in conjunction with another bracket that I fabricated out of #16 gauge sheet metal with square and threaded holes for the snap clips that are designed to mount the screen to the HU. I installed the clips to the bracket I made and mounted it to the factory screen bracket. This ensures the screen is centered and mounts it very rigidly. I am currently only using 4 mounting clips, but made cutouts for one on each side of the screen. Joying was nice enough to send me some extras and they will be installed there.

http://www.the370z.com/members/raden...reen-mount.jpg

The screen is positioned to be recessed in the dash and slightly angled for better viewing.

http://www.the370z.com/members/raden...c-mounting.jpg

The wiring was almost 1:1 with the original wiring harness. I made sure to get a version of the audio harness that had all the necessary locations pinned out (some are missing pins that were needed for the steering wheel control, etc). The only thing I needed to wire up outside the harness was a robust GND wire as the factory head unit gets its GND through another connector that I was not using anymore. The other connectors that are needed for full functionality are broken out from the eZ Navi Delete board. These include reverse indication (actually a power supply that I used to power the rear view camera directly), and the mic signal.

http://www.the370z.com/members/raden...e-breakout.jpg

I reused the original wiring for the mic that runs down the A-pillar so I didn't have to take any of that apart. Its terminated in the cab light module on the original connector that runs to the factory mic. Once it comes out of the eZ Navi Delete board (via connector above) it runs to the mic input on the HU. An interesting thing that I learned about this HU is that there is also a built in mic in the system. I think its in the screen because I was able to do voice commands before I even did the mic install where the factory mic is.

The UI is pretty clean and the unit if fully Play Store compatible.
http://www.the370z.com/members/raden...e-screen-1.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/raden...-radio-app.jpg

When the car is in reverse, the backup mode is activated.
http://www.the370z.com/members/raden...-cam-image.jpg

I bought one of those cheap 370Z backup camera units with the replacement licence plate light mount. Turns out that the HD camera I got from Joying has the exact same mounting configuration as the crap camera that came with the mount so I was able to swap them in about 3 minutes!

http://www.the370z.com/members/raden...-installed.jpg

I am now getting around to buttoning everything up. I need to figure out a bit of wire management in the dash and install the GPS antenna (still considering locations). The eZ Navi Delete board sits nicely under the HU and behind the pocket, so I will probably make a mount that secures it to the top of the AC Amp box.

The last bit of work will be modifying the fascia and creating a bezel that finishes around the edge of the screen. My current plan is to 3D scan this area with the screen in place to model the bezel and 3D print it. Then install magnets so that it snaps in place.

http://www.the370z.com/members/raden...overings-1.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/raden...s-pocket-2.jpg

FYI: I had the SCOSCHE for a long while before I got around to ordering the HU and I found out that the double DIN cutout in the fascia was not quite large enough for the screen. The Metra has a larger cutout (and is what is shown above), but the HU mounting style is different. There are no brackets like with the SCOSCHE. Instead, the HU is designed to be snapped into the fascia itself. This was incompatible with my needs as I wanted the screen to sit in front of HU, so I ended up using the SCOSCHE brackets and Metra fascia. This is not ideal from a $$$ point of view, but since I was past the return period of the SCOSCHE, I was stuck with it anyway so decided to utilize it.

So far I am pretty happy with how it is shaping up. It is fully functional (except GPS without the antenna). The steering wheel controls interfaces with the HU perfectly and are completely configurable within the settings. You can map any function you want. I chose to preserve the original functionality, except for the "Back" button. There isn't really a need for that as a physical button, so I mapped it to Mute.

I would also like to point out the the company, Joying, is a pleasure to work with. Even though they are based in China, I would still get rapid response from them if I had questions. There were a few times where we exchanged 5-6 emails within an hour so vs the typical next day+ response time. Even with all the chaos happening right now. Very impressive.

great project, subbed.

Great Write up! I like how you use the metal bracket. Your setup is more complicated than mine because you have the factory Navi system to bypass. Damn, I want to order that new HU box from Joying to upgrade my PX5 unit :D

Great work.
I've done the navi delete and put in a Kenwood double DIN unit with a GPS aerial.
I put the GPS aerial in front of the tweeter, under the tweeter's cover on the dash.
The double sided foam tape was used to hold the GPS aerial in place and stop any possible rattling.

Please show us updated and completed pics of this project. I love what you've done so far. Are you currently or going to be selling the Nav delete board?

Just curious why all this work when workshop 12 has a plug and play kit? Awesome work none the less.

I would guess this is a lot cheaper.

Thanks! Awesome! I was considering locations to put it. I even tried to remove the stock GPS mount to put it there, but after 90 minutes trying to get to it – I gave up. I may steal your idea.

I plan too. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to progress the work much beyond that is in the original post. I do have some plans for upcoming work and will post updates. When I started this, I wanted to make it open source so anyone could use and contribute to it, but I am not sure what the best way to do that is. I am setting up a Github repo and link to make the PCB’s available through OSH Park to purchase and code available for download, but providing assembled boards requires a lot purchase and I’m just not sure how many people out there are actually interested in going in on that. This is something that I have to explore some more. (IF ANYONE HAS INTEREST IN BUILDING THIS, DON'T JUMP THE GUN AND BUY THE LINKED BOARD – ITS AN OLDER TEST REV THAT WILL BE UPDATED SOON. I AM JUST SHOWING AN EXAMPLE ON HOW ONE COULD BUY THE PCB.)

If there is interest in building a lot, I can get some quotes. Otherwise, I may be able to figure something else out for those that want an assembled unit.
There is also the question of compatability. I designed this for my car, which is a 2009. Do all navi based Z's have the same connectors? I know they did change the HU after 2009. If so, an adapter may be needed to access the needed signals.
Anyone out there with post '09 Z's with Navi care to check and document their connectors??
At the end of the day, that system just leaves you with a tablet. I wanted the full car stereo experience without having to dive into super custom work. You also need peripherals to get proper audio quality, interface the steering wheel controls, and even get the tablet to power up and sleep synchronously with the car. Then there are the things that I don’t you can do (or do well), like radio, BT connection to phone to make and receive calls/texts, multi speaker sound, backup camera, etc. Brainiac seems to have put a lot of though into their product, but it is expensive for what you get and just didn’t meet the mark for me. Plus, you are tied to an outdated piece of hardware. Finally, that kit would not work on a car with Navi anyway. Its designed for the non-Navi version of the car and it wouldn't work without doing the work to convert to put the custom Android system in.

Assembled eZ Navi Delete Boards!?
 

Well, my curiosity peeked and I sent my current design files to China for a generic assembly quote. It looks like I can make available fully assembled boards for $100 - $120 each if I order at least 10 (maybe even less than that) and they could be even cheaper if at higher quantities. I haven't gotten the final quote yet, but the current costs are very reasonable. None of the $500 tooling and $250 setup fees that all the US places I worked with through work charge. I need to polish up my design files and parts list to get a precise quote, but I am very surprised at how cost effective this could actually be. I realize that almost all the parts are small surface mount and it would be difficult for most to assemble this as a DIY.

I also briefly looked into the AV connectors on 2012 and 2016 models with Navi and they are in fact different from the 2009 - of course....

BUT - it looks like all the signals the eZ Navi Delete board needs is still grouped together on the connector used in the newer models. So I am thinking that a simple adapter harness could be made that adapts the 2010+ wiring harness to the 2009 connector so that the board is compatible with any model year.

Anyway, Is there enough interest in an assembled plug n-play solution to Navi Delete to warrant a lot build? Perhaps I should start a new thread to gauge this with some kind of comparison.

I would totally be in. I do have a '12 model tho so please figure out the adapter needed :tup:

Any luck on that new bezel?

Yeah any updates?