LC & LX470 Tesla Style Screen Radio Upgrade with Climate Control: General Discussions (11 Viewers)

[LC100DK]

Hey I have a 98 lx470 and they said if I installed this my AC wouldn't work. I want one bad there has to be some way around it

View attachment 2324027

For the 1998-2002 LX 470/LC 100 Navigation version, as I understand, there is only the possibility to make the Nav-delete-procedure ( Pre-03 nav delete how-to ) and THEN mount the Tesla style Android system. They now support both man. and aut. aircon and maybe 6 cd changer. Right ?

I have a 2001 nav/auto aircon myself - so waiting to do the same maneuver, as soon as I get som more confidence .

 

[montie80]

Greetings
I wanted to warn anyone looking to purchase one of these units from AliExpress to avoid Aotsr Store.
I have had nothing but problems with my unit from day one.
The AC controls do work but only after 5 or so minutes after starting the car in the morning.
The unit randomly changes input by its self, it also changes radio stations randomly.
The sound quality is not consistent and sometimes sounds very flat.
If using CarPlay the microphone seems very crackly when on a phone call but fine if not using CarPlay.
It does have the quick start but doesn’t always work and you need to wait for a full boot.

Now why avoid Aotsr Store?
I opened a dispute with AliExpress after they didn’t offer anything helpful with all these problems, after I did this they offered to send me a replacement and gave me a tracking number for the replacement. I cancelled the dispute and waited only to find they had given me a tracking number for someone else’s package. Now I can’t reopen the dispute and they ignore my messages.

I hope this helps anyone looking at purchasing one of these systems.

 

[BillZ260]

Hey I have a 98 lx470 and they said if I installed this my AC wouldn't work. I want one bad there has to be some way around it

Circling Back. I played with settings for about and hour and basically, by looking at other models / settings, kind of learned the nomenclature of the Hi Med Low which i think are trim levels. I did the Pre '03 Nave delete, and changed my LX to an LC 3 knob dash control, and needed to change my settings to LC100 Low w/ Auto, now all AC controls work, auto temp works, and rear air controls work!

Only thing not working is the CDL, but I may have fried by Relay, i have another i need to install. I'll report on that when i get it done.

So again with the 2002 LX, had Nav and Rear Air. Swapped to LC 3 knob, then used that AC controller to merge with the Tesla Unit for the LC. Most of my issues were around understanding which freaking settings to use for the control. If there is a newer version for the LX, then i'm sad, but I wanted the 3 knob anyway and had the stuff for a few years.

 

[Ell Ex]

Greetings
I wanted to warn anyone looking to purchase one of these units from AliExpress to avoid Aotsr Store.
I have had nothing but problems with my unit from day one.
The AC controls do work but only after 5 or so minutes after starting the car in the morning.
The unit randomly changes input by its self, it also changes radio stations randomly.
The sound quality is not consistent and sometimes sounds very flat.
If using CarPlay the microphone seems very crackly when on a phone call but fine if not using CarPlay.
It does have the quick start but doesn’t always work and you need to wait for a full boot.

Now why avoid Aotsr Store?
I opened a dispute with AliExpress after they didn’t offer anything helpful with all these problems, after I did this they offered to send me a replacement and gave me a tracking number for the replacement. I cancelled the dispute and waited only to find they had given me a tracking number for someone else’s package. Now I can’t reopen the dispute and they ignore my messages.

I hope this helps anyone looking at purchasing one of these systems.

This is very similar to my experience buying off AliExpress (the story is somewhere earlier in this thread). Basically, they convinced me to drop my PayPal dispute, only to find out that it was just a trick, leaving me with no recourse. Buy from a company with American customer service, or you're pretty much on your own. Unfortunately, it looks like we both learned that the hard way. I ended up paying for two units just to get one that worked, and I never got the refund for the one that didn't.

 

[Moridinbg]

Never drop a dispute, until you reach satisfactory results. It's a popular trick. Doesn't matter Chinese, American or European.

 

[Smiles]

Never drop a dispute, until you reach satisfactory results. It's a popular trick. Doesn't matter Chinese, American or European.

Hindsight is a wondreful thing, not as good as foresight though, wish I'd never met my ex wife.

 

[nukegoat]

I have a px6 unit for sale. It is for a later model LX that I installed and ran it for about 50 miles and it worked, but I didn't like so I put the OEM controls back in. PM me if interested

 

[LandHoosier]

I recently installed this is a 2005 LX ML and I have a lot of grounding noise and I cannot change any of the ML amp settings within the menu settings. Any suggestions?

 

[molonlabemike]

Has anyone else had an issue with the changing every time the car turns off? I set it and once I turn my rig off the clock resets to 10 hours ahead. Also after the install my memory seats no longer, any idea how to regain those functions?

 

[firattlc1002004]

Hello everybody. I bought a tesla screen android unit from a very bad seller for my 2004 Land Cruiser 100 aproximetly 1,5 year ago. ( when the tesla unit new arrived or out first) Unfortunately I haven’ t used it yet. Device is working for audio but its a/c sockets aren’ t fit to eachother. I can t use it because of not working a/c. My car has 3 climate sockets. 1-40 pin 2-20 pin 3-18 pin. Tesla units female sockets are different from the orginal. Is there a solution? What can I do? Please help

 

[Ell Ex]

For anyone interested in updating the firmware and customizing the styling on your Tesla style head unit, take a look at this Facebook group:

Tesla Style. Firmware and HeadUnits

Someone from an LC/LX group pointed me to it this week. The guy who started the group has developed a custom firmware that not only upgrades the head unit to address a lot of the bugs we've come across, it also gives you about 50 different skins to choose from, replaces the on-screen diagram vehicles with a LC or an LX based on your model, adds the ability to reassign the buttons along the top of the screen, lets you control the A/C using the steering wheel controls, adjust the rear view camera lines, and speeds up the boot process by a few seconds. It also gets rid of the stupid yellow Lamborghini and lets you replace it with an image of your choice or a custom boot animation. He charges $100 for the firmware, and I think it's worth every penny. His name is Sergey, and he lives in Russia so your best time to reach him is after 9 PM EDT/6 PM PDT. He's extremely helpful and installation is very easy.

Here's a link to the gallery of available skins: Custom firmware for Android 4.4.4 and 7.1 with 1024x768 display | Facebook

 

[jerryb]

I don't know that I would call that firmware, but good for him getting 100 a shot, look at the fordraptor forum.
it's probably a bad idea unless you can make a backup, or reflash the images from stock. MAybe not a horrible idea, I just wouldn't.

 

[Ell Ex]

I don't know that I would call that firmware, but good for him getting 100 a shot, look at the fordraptor forum.
it's probably a bad idea unless you can make a backup, or reflash the images from stock. MAybe not a horrible idea, I just wouldn't.

It's definitely firmware -- it installs in the same process as a factory firmware update, and it adds functionality like the ability to adjust your phone mic volume, a few tweaks to the factory music player and a few other things I haven't fooled around with yet. Several issues that I had at startup with my backup camera and very long boot times were resolved by the update. There's no way to make a backup from the head unit, but if something were to go wrong, Sergey has factory firmware that he can send you to re-install it. My installation was completely seamless, with no issues at all.

 

[jerryb]

i was trying not to be nerdy. I wouldn't flash without root, adb fastboot tools working, SU, custom recovery etc What you guys do isn't my concern.

I see he added adb root/ SU/ whatever he used. So the work is done. I just don't like the idea of paying for a tablet rom in the first place. Not saying it isn't worth it and honestly, the support from sergey alone is probably worth the 100 as it is. And he gives you a zip for free.
carry on.

 

[cehoza]

Hello Mud Community,

Over the last 9 months there has been some great headway made on the ZhiFang 12.1" Tesla style touchscreen radio with integrated climate controls. There are a few dedicated threads to specific installs and I figured it was about time to create a general discussion forum as lots of good install info if getting buried in these threads.

For those of you who have not seen this yet it seems to have started here: Tesla style head unit - has anyone seen this?

Specific installation experiences have been documented here:
Successfully installed a Tesla Style headunit into a 2005 LX470
"Tesla Style" found for older LX470/LC100
2003 LC Tesla Screen Install Write-Up

Here is what they look like: ( mistered123 I hope you're ok with me snagging your pics for reference)
BEFORE

AFTER

The quad core units were the first batch to come out late last year. Part #s are ZF-1301S. These used Android 7.1 and (once the wiring issues were worked out) they worked pretty well. Overall the hardware and OS where described as a little clunky, but a definite improvement over the original touch screen radios and cassette decks.

The six core units (PX6) are the latest batch out as a release of this post and are pretty good. Part # for the LC version is ZF-1301X. These are not showing up on the ZhiFang website yet, but they have ZhiFang's name on them. They look to have the same cables as the original quad core units but have worked through most of the wiring issues. Interfaces are crisp and fast with the only general complaint is the amount of time it takes to start up once you turn your key on. This is typically around 20 seconds. AC controls work great and utilize existing Toyota circuit boards as part of your original radio.

I'd like to send out BIG thanks to mistered123, LX470MK, Swainbuilt, Wetwillie, revoked, loeky, Ell Ex & all the others that have contributed so far with testing and Q&A.

These units are sold by a variety of online resellers, but they seem to be made by one manufacturer in China. They don't come with assembly or operations instructions...AND the technical support is lacking. Some have been buying from a US based radio shop, but it sounds like they were just buying these radios in bulk from China. Here is where you can find the PX6 chip set radios online for purchase:

• LC version: Android 8.1 lc100 12.1 – Buy Android 8.1 lc100 12.1 with free shipping on AliExpress version
• LX470 Version: Android 8.1 lx470 12.1 – Buy Android 8.1 lx470 12.1 with free shipping on AliExpress version

The only thing I can tell different between the LX and LC versions is the additional side trim for the air vents as the LX trim tends to be in three pieces (one running the full width of the cassette deck) and the LC already has the appropriate vents.

Ell Ex has done a successful full install of the PX6 (6 core) units with Android in a 2006 LX470 with ML amp and custom apps. I'm in the middle of a full amp and speaker replacement with a 2004 LX470 and the PX6 unit. A few others have been working on 2003 and older installs. I've heard of a few people wanting to try these with non-nav (dedicated AC control version) 100 series trucks, but have not seen one yet.

The 2004 and newer seem to be plug and play for cables (once you figure out where they all go). There seem to still be a few extra plugs left over (3 in my case) that may have been part of the factory test.

The 2003 and older units are needing either another harness from the manufacturer or a few wire splices to work. There was a request for the "Top Model" wire harness for these truck to avoid splicing, but I cannot confirm its the final solution.

No confirmations I can find yet for getting the factory backup camera working. I'm looking at installing a new HD camera now to replace the 16 year old factory one. One in the back and one up front hopefully.

I am hoping to write up a first draft of an installation guide for my experiences on a full amp replacement and am willing to share with others to alter for 2003 and older versions as well as ML integrations/tips/tricks.

My hope is that this can be a source for good general information on the radio installs, applications, mods and troubleshooting and the model specific threads can serve those specific needs without getting cluttered with off topic discussions.

Hope you all find this helpful. I'll try to get my install guide uploaded soon.
PLEASE ADD YOUR EXPERIENCES AND COMMENTS.

************************************************************************************************
11/05/19 Update: Version 0.0 of the Install Guide Uploaded. Please review and private message me if you have suggestions for improvements or additions. Would really like to add sections for 2003 and older installs and any other variations seen. Also, any suggestions for App are appreciated.
************************************************************************************************

Looking at this instruction manual I find an error in the panel instructions. The image shows that N is the connection for the GPS and O is the connection for the WI-FI, but the panel image shows these connections reversed. O for GPS and N for WI-FI

 

[tightt]

For the guys who installed aftermarket backup camera, once the wires are run, what needs to be plugged in? Just the yellow RCA? Or do you have to tap into something to grab the reverse signal too? Thanks!!

 

[tightt]

For the guys who installed aftermarket backup camera, once the wires are run, what needs to be plugged in? Just the yellow RCA? Or do you have to tap into something to grab the reverse signal too? Thanks!!

Also, has anyone successfully gotten an external microphone to work? Every time I plug one in, no
one can hear me. I unplug it, the unit reverts back to using its built-in mic, and it works (poorly).

 

[sharkCamo]

For the guys who installed aftermarket backup camera, once the wires are run, what needs to be plugged in? Just the yellow RCA? Or do you have to tap into something to grab the reverse signal too? Thanks!!

There should be the yellow connector plus another wire on that same end. That wire will need to be connected to the reverse wire so the unit knows when the rear feed is active.

Also, has anyone successfully gotten an external microphone to work? Every time I plug one in, no
one can hear me. I unplug it, the unit reverts back to using its built-in mic, and it works (poorly).

I used the mic that was attached to the BT45 That was installed previously. I would get another mic that has the same mini jack connector to plug in.

 

[tightt]

There should be the yellow connector plus another wire on that same end. That wire will need to be connected to the reverse wire so the unit knows when the rear feed is active.



I used the mic that was attached to the BT45 That was installed previously. I would get another mic that has the same mini jack connector to plug in.

Thanks for the help! Any thoughts on where is a good spot to attach the red wire to pickup the reverse signal??

I too have a mic with a mini-jack hookup but, as soon as I plug it in, it doesn't work. Unplug it and the built-in mic activates (and works). But people tell me I dont sound very good. Im hoping to get the external mic working...not sure if it needs to be turned-on somehow.

 

[sharkCamo]

Thanks for the help! Any thoughts on where is a good spot to attach the red wire to pickup the reverse signal??

I too have a mic with a mini-jack hookup but, as soon as I plug it in, it doesn't work. Unplug it and the built-in mic activates (and works). But people tell me I dont sound very good. Im hoping to get the external mic working...not sure if it needs to be turned-on somehow.

If I remember right, I have mine connected to the driver side reverse light wire so it only activates when reversing (called the trigger wire I think). There should be another wire for power, then the RCA to the camera. Up front, you should have an RCA to connect to the unit, then another wire to connect to one that should say "Reverse" on it. I would rig up the connections and test before soldering, etc.

As to the mic, I think there is a setting to "activate" it. It may have been already set from the factory for me, but not on yours. I'll take a look to see if it exists or not.