Ive been away from the community for a while, my first house, wife, and first born have been taking all my time.
Finally made some time to do something Ive been long wanting to do, just thought Id share this project, although Im not the first to do it.
What turned me off from installing a tablet in the dash a couple of years ago was the fact that the factory nav had the heat controls built in. I finally did some more thorough research and stumbled upon an eBay listing for a non-nav climate control, with the two knobs. I noticed the plugs in the back were exactly the same as the nav version (without fan control) so I dropped the $20 on the used non-nav climate control.
back of Nav heat control panel:
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
Non-nav climate control:
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
After tearing into the dash, I plugged it in and everything worked as it should. Fan speed, Temp, Vent control, everything! So now I decided to relocate my headunit, install the non-nav climate control, and get the tablet in the factory nav location. Heres a before pic:
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
I needed just a bit more space for the climate control so I dremeled the steel chassis in one corner:
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
Quick fitment check:
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
Up next, mounting. Used an existing hole on the left with a tube sleeve (cut a bic pen body to the right length) behind the climate control, made a hole on the right for an L bracket:
behind left side
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
right side
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
I decided the easiest way to tie in the climate control and make a headunit mount was to buy a metra double-din kit and modify it (dont have any pics of the cuts i made):
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
(climate control mounts circled)
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
Next, I tackled removing the ugly black knobs in favor of a knurled machined knob, which took some modification by opening up the holes in the climate control:
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
Now I turned to the tablet mounting. I lined the nav opening with sticky backed-foam (leftover from a home A/C unit, lol). Trimmed off the excess(no pic of trimming):
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
I bent up some brackets for the tablet to sit against using the nav unit mounting points, the dash bezel holds the tablet up against these when snapped in:
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
drilled a hole on the right for the usb cable, bought a right angle adapter for the 3.5mm jack for audio:
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
Made a faceplate (Im a machinist, it comes in handy):
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
The rest was just assembling things in the right order to complete the job, which was a pain. Im extremely happy with the end result though:
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
Looks OEM, which was the goal I was shooting for.
Project cost:
Non-nav climate control $20
Nexus 7 2013 $95 (used-eBay)- bought it with a pattern lock, wiped it, unlocked the bootloader, used Fastboot to enable power on when powered, flashed Elemental X kernel, and CleanROM. Using Tasker App for power off when ignition off. I ran the usb cable to the OBD opening and left it near the power port for easy plug in and access to a laptop if I need to flash anything later on.
Knobs $3.50
Audio adapter $6
Krylon satin rubbed bronze metallic for the faceplate $4. scuffed with scotchbrite to dull it a little more to match the dash.
Usb cable- free (from another device)
double din kit $13
Total- $141.50
Less than the cost of a factory Acura Nav update disc with a ton more features!
Finally made some time to do something Ive been long wanting to do, just thought Id share this project, although Im not the first to do it.
What turned me off from installing a tablet in the dash a couple of years ago was the fact that the factory nav had the heat controls built in. I finally did some more thorough research and stumbled upon an eBay listing for a non-nav climate control, with the two knobs. I noticed the plugs in the back were exactly the same as the nav version (without fan control) so I dropped the $20 on the used non-nav climate control.
back of Nav heat control panel:
Non-nav climate control:
After tearing into the dash, I plugged it in and everything worked as it should. Fan speed, Temp, Vent control, everything! So now I decided to relocate my headunit, install the non-nav climate control, and get the tablet in the factory nav location. Heres a before pic:
I needed just a bit more space for the climate control so I dremeled the steel chassis in one corner:
Quick fitment check:
Up next, mounting. Used an existing hole on the left with a tube sleeve (cut a bic pen body to the right length) behind the climate control, made a hole on the right for an L bracket:
behind left side
right side
I decided the easiest way to tie in the climate control and make a headunit mount was to buy a metra double-din kit and modify it (dont have any pics of the cuts i made):
(climate control mounts circled)
Next, I tackled removing the ugly black knobs in favor of a knurled machined knob, which took some modification by opening up the holes in the climate control:
Now I turned to the tablet mounting. I lined the nav opening with sticky backed-foam (leftover from a home A/C unit, lol). Trimmed off the excess(no pic of trimming):
I bent up some brackets for the tablet to sit against using the nav unit mounting points, the dash bezel holds the tablet up against these when snapped in:
drilled a hole on the right for the usb cable, bought a right angle adapter for the 3.5mm jack for audio:
Made a faceplate (Im a machinist, it comes in handy):
The rest was just assembling things in the right order to complete the job, which was a pain. Im extremely happy with the end result though:
Looks OEM, which was the goal I was shooting for.
Project cost:
Non-nav climate control $20
Nexus 7 2013 $95 (used-eBay)- bought it with a pattern lock, wiped it, unlocked the bootloader, used Fastboot to enable power on when powered, flashed Elemental X kernel, and CleanROM. Using Tasker App for power off when ignition off. I ran the usb cable to the OBD opening and left it near the power port for easy plug in and access to a laptop if I need to flash anything later on.
Knobs $3.50
Audio adapter $6
Krylon satin rubbed bronze metallic for the faceplate $4. scuffed with scotchbrite to dull it a little more to match the dash.
Usb cable- free (from another device)
double din kit $13
Total- $141.50
Less than the cost of a factory Acura Nav update disc with a ton more features!