Adding Navigation to my 2Din Kenwood DDX712

[eskimochaos]

Its my birthday and my parents said I could get the add-on NAV part to my 2din DDX712 screen that I purchased over the summer.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KNAG510/Kenwood-KNA-G510-New-Stock.html?search=kna+g510

Im going to get it and install in myself. Does anyone know if there is enough room back behind the screen to house the box - if not where is a good location? I'm thinking that if room is a premium - I can just run it into the glove box.

I think this should be a pretty self explanatory install but is there anything I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance!

 

[tarheeltp17]

There should be enough room behind the dash but I suggest putting it in a more convenient location if you ever plan to update the maps. I've got mine under the driver seat so I don't have to tear into my dash when I decide to update.

 

[eskimochaos]

There should be enough room behind the dash but I suggest putting it in a more convenient location if you ever plan to update the maps. I've got mine under the driver seat so I don't have to tear into my dash when I decide to update.

Sounds like a possibility. What about just leaving it in the glove box? Perhaps mounting it with velcro or the like?

The unit itself doesnt receive power from the HU correct? I need to connect it to the power, grnd etc?

Last question - do you have yours set to dim when you turn on your headlights? If so - how did you do that?

Thanks!

 

[eskimochaos]

After looking around online I found that 6ave.com had it for $300 and lucked out because the store 5 mins from my house had it in stock. Got it this morning and installed it in about 1.5hrs. Works perfectly and looks great. I ended up just putting the box in my glove box as it was the easiest place to find. The hardest part was getting all the wires and the screen back in place but I finally got it after some adjusting.

My radio doesnt work now. IDK if Im going to spend the time to take it all apart because I hardly use it. I guess I forgot to plug something back in.

 

[A/V1]

There are so many better places to mount the nav unit than in the glove box. I chose to mount mine behind the glove box, under the climate control fan. There is a trim panel shelf (most likely for sound insulation) that is there and allows plenty of room. The 4wd ECU is mounted under there, and there is also another ECU mounted under there as well on some other models.
The wires wound up in front of it are some I pre-ran for some planned future projects.

 

[A/V1]

Here's a little better picture. As you can see, the shelf is easy to access, and has plenty of room. It's also a great location for aftermarket alarm accessories & even the alarm brain.
I believe I used velcro to attach it to the 4wd ECU.

 

[eskimochaos]

Here's a little better picture. As you can see, the shelf is easy to access, and has plenty of room. It's also a great location for aftermarket alarm accessories & even the alarm brain.
I believe I used velcro to attach it to the 4wd ECU.

Great - thanks for taking the time to show me those! Did you successfully connect the illumination wire so that the screen automatically dims when you turn on your headlights?

I cant seem to figure out how to do it.

 

[A/V1]

Are you talking about the radio's illumination wire? Or the G510? Mine doesn't have an illumination wire. It uses the sunset & sunrise times for day & night modes. Of course, I believe you can change it in the menus too.
The radio is a different story. The illumination wire will be in the radio's harness already. I'll take a look in the wiring diagrams in a bit and see which one to tap.

 

[eskimochaos]

Are you talking about the radio's illumination wire? Or the G510? Mine doesn't have an illumination wire. It uses the sunset & sunrise times for day & night modes. Of course, I believe you can change it in the menus too.
The radio is a different story. The illumination wire will be in the radio's harness already.

It seems like the NAV changes to nighttime colors at a certain time like you said but the screen itself does not dim. It is really bright at night. I didnt see the orange illum. wire in the wiring harness.

Does your screen dim when you put your headlights on regardless of time?

Thanks!