OEM for me!
Alpine Siege | 100 Series HVAC Controller - NAV DELETE - (OEM+)
- Thread starter Anarchy
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #584
Prototype #2 and the new vapor-honed faceplate ships out to @LJE tomorrow for validation in his 2005 LX470 and a round of fitment refinement!
Added to that shipment is the Land Cruiser JBL cassette deck.. shout out @ZCaptn
Prototype #3’s destination is still TBD.
Work on the final OEM-style finish is also underway. I should have a much better idea of where that lands within the next couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, the development vehicle has moved into extended real-world validation. It will be daily driven for the next several hundred miles with repeated cold/hot starts, key cycles, battery disconnects/reconnects, and more aggressive fault and durability testing.
North Alabama will be in the high 90s for the next several days, with a forecast high of 97F tomorrow, making this a great time to put the system through additional heat testing under real-world conditions.
Reliability has been the #1 design priority from the beginning. Component selection throughout the PCB was deliberately conservative, down to the passive components, with automotive-grade parts and additional margin used where it mattered rather than optimizing the board around the lowest possible cost.
The focus is now on finding anything that could surface after months or years of actual ownership.
Added to that shipment is the Land Cruiser JBL cassette deck.. shout out @ZCaptn
Prototype #3’s destination is still TBD.
Work on the final OEM-style finish is also underway. I should have a much better idea of where that lands within the next couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, the development vehicle has moved into extended real-world validation. It will be daily driven for the next several hundred miles with repeated cold/hot starts, key cycles, battery disconnects/reconnects, and more aggressive fault and durability testing.
North Alabama will be in the high 90s for the next several days, with a forecast high of 97F tomorrow, making this a great time to put the system through additional heat testing under real-world conditions.
Reliability has been the #1 design priority from the beginning. Component selection throughout the PCB was deliberately conservative, down to the passive components, with automotive-grade parts and additional margin used where it mattered rather than optimizing the board around the lowest possible cost.
The focus is now on finding anything that could surface after months or years of actual ownership.
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What's the score with the cassette deck? Is this something which can be fitted along side the new climate controls?
Sounds silly, but I use the cassette in mine regularly, so would love a workaround to have both!
Thanks
Sounds silly, but I use the cassette in mine regularly, so would love a workaround to have both!
Thanks
Can't wait to get it in-hand! I'll be working on the fitment improvements ahead of time as well, so we should hit the ground running.
- Thread starter
- #587
Quick demo of the working prototype:
That’s my tape deck!!! It warms my heart to be a part of such a big project. Going without AC or any air movement control in my Land Cruiser has been a small sacrifice for the greater good for the 100 community. (I will also mention that Mr. Anarchy also hasn’t had HVAC in his LX470, so he can bring this project to life)
I appreciate what you are doing and thank you for taking on such a niche project.
F’n legend.
More than happy to help out on this!
I offered originally purely because I wanted to see this become a reality, but Anarchy was kind enough to offer a prototype in exchange - hard to say no to that! Glad I can continue to help out & fine tune the physical fitment of everything so that it ends up with that signature LC/LX "perfect fit" that just make these trucks so magical.
On a side note, it's funny - I was talking with a good friend who is starting to manufacture an item he designed for the maritime (boats, gross. . . ) world. He's concerned about it getting popular enough for foreign companies to knock off them off for much cheaper than he can make them here in the states.
I was like "well, that's not really even a remote concern for most of my designs. . . China isn't going to spend the time to copy something that 17 people, ever, are going to buy. "
I have a few products more popular than that, but some of my stuff ends up being nearly one-off solutions for folks. There's definitely something to be said about work for a niche market! Means I don't get to rest on my heels - always designing "the next thing" to sell 17 of, but the community makes it entirely worth it.
Absolutely incredible work here - that demo video blows my mind. I just looked back at the beginning of the thread - to think that Anarchy has taken this from concept to multiple functioning prototypes deployed for testing simply melts my brain.
I'm more than willing to install in my 07 and test. I can work on a billet faceplate cover too if people want brushed or frosted aluminum
@Anarchy
@Anarchy
In 8 months no less! Im still trying to finish my deck and paint the soffits at my house that I started summer 2025 LOL
More than happy to help out on this!
I offered originally purely because I wanted to see this become a reality, but Anarchy was kind enough to offer a prototype in exchange - hard to say no to that! Glad I can continue to help out & fine tune the physical fitment of everything so that it ends up with that signature LC/LX "perfect fit" that just make these trucks so magical.
On a side note, it's funny - I was talking with a good friend who is starting to manufacture an item he designed for the maritime (boats, gross. . . ) world. He's concerned about it getting popular enough for foreign companies to knock off them off for much cheaper than he can make them here in the states.
I was like "well, that's not really even a remote concern for most of my designs. . . China isn't going to spend the time to copy something that 17 people, ever, are going to buy. "
There's definitely something to be said about work for a niche market! Means I don't get to rest on my heels - always designing "the next thing" to sell 17 of, but the community makes it entirely worth it.
Apologies if this has been covered and I missed it but once the beta is complete and I buy one (yeah buddy!) and install into my LC is there any reason to leave the factory dvd nav installed? I've got an 04 with JBL stereo system. Is there anything else routed through the nav that needs to keep it there? I'm ready for my next rabbit hole after the head unit swap.
imperium
SILVER Star
I went down a navigation module rabbit hole when my nav and backup camera died at the same time (still haven't gotten to the bottom of it, but at this point I no longer care).
From what I can tell, you can take out the nav module and the nav DVD player under the passenger seat and be just fine.
This would be ideal. I would love to just be able to run a touchscreen Kenwood with an aftermarket amplifier, speakers etc.
The factory audio/headunit/hvac controls are easily the worst part of a 100 Series. It bothers way me more than the gas millage ever has.
Haha I have fully embraced the gas mileage, I've turned it into a game to beat my last total price for a fill up 
. That just leaves the weakest point for me which is the head unit/nav screen and stereo which is why I'm so excited with everyone else for this standalone HVAC unit. Install a nice Alpine, Kenwood, or other then swap the factory amp with an ESP amp and all the speakers. Kind of sad to lose my dvd changer, though. It always warms my heart when I remember there are two Metallica videos and four Limp Biskit cds waiting for me whenever I need them 
. That just leaves the weakest point for me which is the head unit/nav screen and stereo which is why I'm so excited with everyone else for this standalone HVAC unit. Install a nice Alpine, Kenwood, or other then swap the factory amp with an ESP amp and all the speakers. Kind of sad to lose my dvd changer, though. It always warms my heart when I remember there are two Metallica videos and four Limp Biskit cds waiting for me whenever I need them