Junkyard Run and playing with HUD commands some more...

I don't know about you, but there is something about moseying around a junkyard and looking at all the cars and parts there that gets you thinking about ways to help progress your current projects and most of all give you ideas for new projects. I was checking my local You Pull It junkyard inventory and noticed that they had three 2005 base model Grand Prix cars there. Since I need a few things from the Grand Prix, I figured I would take a trip down there and see what I could find.

I scored several modules and wiring pigtails and learned a few things. I picked up an engine computer (looks to be an E40 type), two BCM modules, two Key less Entry Receiver modules, instrument cluster, ignition switch, three footwell lighting harnesses, instrument lighting dimmer control, two HUD harnesses, radio harness connector, ambient air temperature harness (wish I could of scored the sensor itself, but it was gone on the cars)  and various other small harnesses.

I learned:

1) The base model Grand Prix does not have a Compass Module or the wiring to it.
2) The HUD harness is there in the base car and just tapped to the main harness.
3) The HUD switch harness is not included in the base model

So the only thing I really picked up that I needed for the HUD project was the Air Temp Harness. Boo.

Playing some more with the HUD over the past week or so I can report that I can get the turn signal indicators in the HUD to come on and off now along with the high beam indicator. There is quite a bit of other information that can be displayed in the HUD with the source of the info in parentheses:

Cruise Set Message (PCM)
Stability Control Active (BCM)
Traction Control Active (ABS)
Traction Control Off (ABS)
Compass Heading (DIC)
English/ Metric Mode (DIC)
Gear Range Selection (DIC)
High Beam (BCM)
Outside Air Temperature (DIC)
Radio/ CD/ Cassette Display (Radio)
Speedometer (PCM)
Tap Up/ Tap Down Transmission (DIC)
Turn Signals/ Hazard lamps (BCM)
Check Trip Computer (DIC)
Ice Warning (DIC)
Turn by Turn Navigation (OnStar)
Upshift (PCM)


I also wondered if the low fuel gets indicated in the HUD somehow like in the original Bonneville HUD with the gas pump symbol and the CHECK GAUGES indicator as well. I do not believe the HUD indicates low fuel but have seen the DIC indicate it in the Grand Prix. Also not sure about the CHECK GAUGES. I will have to borrow my friends Grand Prix GXP and check how this all works. I also found out how to turn the CHECK GAUGES and LOW FUEL indicators on and off in the Bonneville HUD.

Some things to look for now are the commands to get the HUD to indicate when the Traction Control System is turned back on along with finding the commands that the DIC uses to make the radio beep when you press the button. Perhaps getting the Stability System messages to show up in the HUD as well. Finding the commands that get the Compass Direction, Outside Air Temp and Gear Selection to appear on the HUD. Finding the DIC commands that do the Ice Warning, Check Trip Computer command, and the Cruise Control commands. I want to add as much functionally as I can with this GP HUD. I also see that there is a company that can project radar detector commands onto the GP HUD, so I will be on the lookout for the commands that send text to the HUD as well. Maybe I can send the same message that appears in the Bonneville DIC over to the HUD as well. There is a lot of possibility here, and learning what I can here will surely carry over somewhat to the G8 when I try and add the Camaro 2010 and up HUD to that vehicle. I would love to have a HUD in the G8!

So things are progressing slowly along. Just wanted to post an update to keep the blog active with my progress. Until next time.

Installing Windows 8 Developer Preview in VMware

Well I went to install the Developer Preview of Windows 8 in VMware Player and found that I could not get it to install. Kept getting HAL blue screens. Did a little searching and found this blog with a successful install of the Preview. Downloaded and installed and I did successfully get Windows 8 Developer Preview running in VMWare Player 4!

Here is a link to the blog entry with all the details!

http://tseonet.blogspot.com/2011/09/installing-windows-8-developer-preview.html

Enjoy Windows 8! Still over a year from release but its nice to get to play with it early!

2004 Bonneville to 2004+ Grand Prix HUD Conversion Project

The purpose of this upgrade is to get the much improved HUD from the 2004+ Pontiac Grand Prix and either modify the current housing to accept the electronics from the 04 GP unit or see if the 04 GP unit can fit into the space the current Bonneville HUD resides in.

After taking the 04 GP HUD apart, it is a totally different animal. I doubt that it can be retrofitted into the case that the current Bonneville HUD is in now.

One problem is the turn signal switch input to the HUD in the current HUD is derived from the switch itself. On the 04 GP HUD, the turn signal switch signal is received from the Class 2 data bus. This will have to be resolved in order to get the turn signal information into the new HUD. More than likely will require a special circuit to inject the signal onto the Class 2 bus as this comes from the BCM on the GP. Have to check this as the turn signal lamps in the cluster of the Bonneville actually turn on and off via class 2 signals according to the schematics. So, it may be possible that the instrument cluster is putting these signals out on the class 2 bus as well.

So I need to get some parts in order to try and see if this will work:

Bonneville HUD Bracket – 25715446 -  Need - $7 – Possible use to secure the 04 GP to the Bonneville
Bonneville HUD Harness – 12084944 – Need – $4 - Plugs into the HUD Module
04+ GP HUD Switch – 10438819 – Need - $15 – To hook up the HUD Switch to the HUD Module
04+ GP Compass Module – 15236913 – Need - $90 – Need for DIC to read compass direction
          Note: Bonneville compass module should work as well and uses same harness as below.
04+ GP Compass Module Harness – 12102629 – Need - $46 – Plugs into Compass Module
Ambient Air Temperature Sensor – 25775833 – Need - $4 – Needed for DIC to read ambient air temp.
Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Harness – 12101856 – Need - $15 – Plugs into Temp Sensor
04+ GP HUD Module – Have
04+ GP HUD Harness – 15306185 – Have - $27 – Plugs into the HUD Module (Got sample parts from Tyco Electronics and made my own harness)
04+ GP HUD Switch Harness – 15263108 – Have – $30 - Plugs into the HUD Switch (Got sample parts from Tyco Electronics and made my own harness)
04+ GP Trip Computer / DIC– Have
04+ GP Trip Computer Harness / DIC – 15305996 – Have - $48 – Plugs into DIC Module (used connector from the Bonneville Fog Lamp / Interior switch that I purchased on ebay – perfect fit.

With these parts I should be able to wire up both HUDs outside of the car and test them. Mainly need to hook up the 04 GP HUD to the Bonneville Class 2 Bus and see what it shows. From there then we can determine if it is even worth it to attempt to install this 04 GP HUD into the Bonneville.
 
8/3/2011: Hooked up the 04 GP HUD to the Bonneville using the DLC and it does work!
It did note to check the Trip Computer Connections so I think the HUD gets some information from the Trip Computer which I did not have hooked up at this time.
The HUD had no problem displaying the speed. The E/M switch on the Bonneville does change the setting in the HUD as well.
The Traction Control ON/OFF switch does work then you turn the Traction control OFF. There is no indication when you turn it on.
The turn signals did not indicate in the HUD.
The High Beam did not indicate in the HUD.
Some radio information did show up in the HUD. On XM Band, it did not show up in the HUD unless you pressed BAND, and then went to XM and changed the stations there before the indication went off the HUD display. The AM and FM and CD Track information works in the HUD at all times. The XM will work if you switch the BAND to XM and then select channels. It shows the Channel Name in the display. Not sure if this information comes from the XM radio module or the Radio itself. Will have to try a later model radio in the Bonneville and see if this resolves this issue. If not, will have to get a later model XM Radio module and see if that resolves the issue.

So, in limited testing the HUD does have some good functionality. Next steps will be to get the trip computer hooked up in addition to the HUD and see how much more functionality we receive. I also need to get the HUD switch so that I can change the mode of the HUD display to see if I can get to the other screen modes.  I think it worth it to try and integrate this 04 GP HUD into the Bonneville.

Finished building my proto board that allows me to hook up to the car via the OBDII connector and then connect to the 04 GP HUD, HUD Switch and DIC/Trip Computer along with another connector for connecting to a ELM327 based interface. Since the HUD and Trip Computer get their power signal from the class 2 bus, I need them hooked up to the car in order to get them to work at all. I really need to find the Power Master Mode codes by sniffing the bus so I can do this on the bench. 

In any case, the added functionality  from adding the Trip Computer to the bus is:

Gear Indicator appears in the HUD now. 
Outside Temperature appears in the HUD now.
When you press the traction control button to off, the car emits a beep now.

So I have some more codes I need to get from the bus so that I don't have to install the trip computer to the car to get this information onto the HUD.  

Progress is slow, and I plan on scanning the bus some more in the coming weeks and see what else I can figure out so I can program all this stuff into a microcontroller and let it translate some of this information to the HUD. 

 

Hello World! Welcome to my Blog

I decided to start a blog since it will be a great place to jot down my thoughts, experiences and my repair exploits and my progress on hacking my '04 Bonneville GXP and '09 Pontiac G8 GT. This is my "Hello World" post and I hope to use this blog to help and educate anyone interested in what I have to offer!