I am considering fitting a navigation system, but I will need to know a few things. In the ZS 5dr is there a speed pulse I can pick up? I assume there must be some kind of electronic signal for the odometer. I need a parking brake signal, which again I assume is present in most cars for the warning on the dash. Where would be the best place to join these signals, and I assume that would be a warranty invalidation!

In the boot there is a fastener just behind the split fold seats that joins the side carpet with the plastic fairing. Any idea how to remove this without resorting to violence? It looks as though there is no wy to access any kind of capitive faster so I might have to cut this and then fix new ones.

I am going to have to run cable front to back so will probably have to lift out a seat, are there any issues with seat belt tensioners etc I should be aware of?

Thanks Dr Dave

Richard

Speed signal? It depends upon what signal the nav computer needs, to be honest.
Many aftermarket cruise control systems use a reluctor attached to a driveshaft, with a sensor mounted in close proximity.

A handbrake signal would be easy to pick up - tapping into the handbrake switch wiring would be quick & easy:)

Many trim fasteners are 'once only' - you have have to break them to remove them >=(

Running cables from front to rear shouldn't necessitate seat removal.....if you can, try to avoid removing the seats...it's easy to damage trim/paint etc when removing a large bulky seat>=(

Thanks,

One other thing though, I will have to disconnect the battery...will this have any affect on the engine management, or is there anything that I have to be worried about here?

As an aside the kenwood CD player fitted into the ZS's have the option to set a security code, I received no code at the time of purchase...I followed the steps to change this without much luck a while back...but the 5090R aren't supplied with a code?

I had a look as to where I was going to route the cables...not looking forward to that job :( One thing that is interesting is where the rear washer line is routed. It can only be described as "draped" over the engine from the washer bottle, I would have thought the shorter route would have been up the off side?

The speed signal from memory is 0-3volt pulse required... I guess I'm gonna have to buy another box to wire up ...

Do I pick up the parking brake signal at the brake or at the dash? I can see myself removing lots of bits of trim to find out..it's a shame they don't do haynes manuals for newer cars, I could do with one here. Are workshop manuals available anywhere?

Richard

Workshop manuals are supplied to us on CDROM; they are available in paper format but are not freely available???at the moment. Costs? About £40 IIRC
The CDROMS are not available for sale, full stop.

Any info you need, please don't hesitate to contact me; I have an 'always on' internet connection, so you are assured a quick response.

The parking brake signal is best picked up at the lever switch.....yes I know there will be some trim removal, but without an electrical wiring diagram, it is the easiest place to pick it up. If you really don't like the idea of picking it up from the lever end, I'll dig out the wiring connector info.

The speed signal will require some sort of modulation or an interface if you want to use the standard speedo transducer. Otherwise, the Nav system manufacturer must have some sort of universal device, surely?

Disconnecting the battery will have no ill-effects upon the car, engine management system or the alarm, contrary to popular belief:)

Many people think car loose their 'virtual memories' when the power is disconnected...this is not so. With 1990 Rover 820's, perhaps yes.

The only thing you are going to muck up is your clock time & radio security code [if you have one...]

Which brings me onto the coding feature for the Kenwood Units. All Kenwood head units are codeable, it is up to the dealer fitting the unit to activate the code. Many don't >=

Have fun and the best of luck!

BTW..What nav system are you going to fit?

The system is the Alpine DVD unit. They do produce a speed sensor, but I was trying to be a cheapskate and see if I could pick up an existing signal. Unfortunatly the sensor is an optional extra. I had a look at the carpets and way they are fastened and I'm not looking forward to routing these cables. The shortest way I can see of picking up the parking brake at the level is to run up the centre (i'm putting the unit in the boot), but all the fixings are fix once fasteners :(

I'm going to have all sorts of fun routing cables in this car, lifting sill plates etc.

One point of interest is that my 180 is fitted with the plastic handbrake (with it's annoying mold line underneath that I'm tempted to take some glasspaper to) although the website says you're supposed to get a leather one, and the brouchure says the gaiter is supposed to be leather. I'll take some photos during the installation and if it works out okay I'll post them somewhere. Just making a mounting is proving to be time consuming...next time I'll memorise a map!

The Alpine DVD Nav system is a peach of a system, the best I have used. I have a friend with it in his Golf :-)

The carpets are easy to lift, the cables will be fairly easy to hide, too.

Please take some pics of the install.....it might be 'entertaining' for us to see!!

I took the centre console out on the weekend to locate the handbrake switch. It appears to just break a ground connection when the 'brake is off. Removing the console isn't as difficult as it was in my last car which involved removing part of the steering column covers first! A Haynes manual for this might have been helpful, particularly for finding whereabouts on the loom I can tap feeds into. I think Haynes have stopped doing manuals for more recent cars owing to the fact you have to have some kind of testbook to do anything on engines these days! How similar is the 400 series? There is a manual available for that.

I don't have a decent digital camera so I'll have to try and scan some prints of the install process. The camera used to take shots of the cars on this website seems pretty good, do you know what make it is (Steve?). I've ordered new carpet fasteners so I'll be pulling up the carpet to feed the power cable and audio leads up front. My car looked quite a sorry sight on the weekend with bit of plastic missing, I really need a big workshop with good lighting where I can open all the doors at once to make this job easier! I need to find a hole in the bulkhead that I can route a 4 guage power cable though...any ideas before I go tearing my car apart again?

One last question, when reassembling the console I found an unconnected wire with a white plastic plug with six pins. It didn't seem to attach to anything in range, and I assume that it is supposed to clip next to the diagnosic plug(?) ...please don't tell me I've disabled the airbag system by accident.. my car did produce two bleeps when I put the key in to roll it down the drive without the steering lock... not only is the car a tank to steer without power steering, but you can feel the brake assistance fade away...I wouldn't like to tow this car!

The 400 is very similar electrically, the old 400 manual would suffice.

Steve's digi-cam is a Sony (not my fave, I would reccomend Fuji everytime, nothing else:D) but each to their own....

Thanks for the update Richard :)

A good place to route a 4-gauge cable is near to the heater fan assembly on the NS of the dash :D