Nav to Non-Nav Conversion Walkthrough

[MrMikeyG]

Thanks. This project is a mild nightmare. I migrated from an 80 series, and I've done the PHH and a full egr delete. This wiring crap is almost worse. I had to get my ecu/ecm loose, and I'll likely have to unwrap the harness all the way to just above the glove box latch. as of last night, 2 of the short wires cut, extended and soldered.
All of this did allow me to get a bunch of abandoned stuff removed (that weird speaker for one), those t-taps were part of some audio/comms stuff that a previous owner had in the rig. I'm half expecting to find a dead grom or some other unit in the center console. I had 2 in-line fuse wires in the passenger kick panel that were both disconnected with fuses lying under the carpet.

 

[Rednexus]

Thanks. This project is a mild nightmare. I migrated from an 80 series, and I've done the PHH and a full egr delete. This wiring crap is almost worse. I had to get my ecu/ecm loose, and I'll likely have to unwrap the harness all the way to just above the glove box latch. as of last night, 2 of the short wires cut, extended and soldered.
All of this did allow me to get a bunch of abandoned stuff removed (that weird speaker for one), those t-taps were part of some audio/comms stuff that a previous owner had in the rig. I'm half expecting to find a dead grom or some other unit in the center console. I had 2 in-line fuse wires in the passenger kick panel that were both disconnected with fuses lying under the carpet.

How hard was it to find the parts? While my Phoenix PX6 has a lot of nice features, it's a rather imperfect solution, and I've already had one crap out on me. The replacement boots slow and has kind of crappy visibility with polarized sunglasses on, even with me putting a filtering screen protector on it. So, I would not be opposed to doing a non-nav conversion so I could run any Android head unit.

 

[drowzyGX]

I think it is getting harder and harder to find the parts as the GX got pretty popular.

If you can find them, then, IMO, it’s hands-down the best quality of life mod you can do for this truck.

If only Eldar was still active on the various GX forums. He made and sold a harness extension to save the headache of extending all the nav / HVAC harnesses yourself.

 

[Rednexus]

I think it is getting harder and harder to find the parts as the GX got pretty popular.

If you can find them, then, IMO, it’s hands-down the best quality of life mod you can do for this truck.

If only Eldar was still active on the various GX forums. He made and sold a harness extension to save the headache of extending all the nav / HVAC harnesses yourself.

0 on eBay and only 1 on Car-Part.com (in TX). Guess I'll continue to live with the PX6 .

 

[MrMikeyG]

I sourced mine on ebay. Vendor from UAE. Ironically, there's one on Seattle craigslist right now. I was thinking of grabbing it and putting it in the classifieds here. No part numbers stated, and only one picture of the unit sitting in a box. I'm haeding back outside in a few to hopefully get the climate control stuff sorted. I was getting tired and loopy the other night one of my soldered extensions wraps around the inner dash/glove box support. D'oh!

 

[MrMikeyG]

OK. Those that have tread this path before. I'm skipping the backup camera completely. The head unit I chose does not have built-in gps/navigation. It does have a gps antenna that I can use or not use.
Due to these features, I have some wires I think I can skip;
Pink speed sensor
purple/white reverse
light green parking sw
Does this sound correct?

Kenwood head unit/harness

 

[MrMikeyG]

Well, I guess the lesson here is to check connector compatibility first. The Axxess tyto-01 I have doesn't fit onto the gray stereo harness in my dash. There's some hours wasted.
never mind, that was a different connector. It's the crazy one with the bolt through it that I need.

 

[CleggyZ28]

Search: 30 results found for "GX470 climate control" - https://247carspares.com/search?type=product&options%5Bunavailable_products%5D=last&options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=GX470+climate+control

Here's where I've been able to source some climate control units for the non-nav conversion. Had to get a second one with mine as the first didn't work, but suspect its because my GX is a carryover month build date. I think they're sourced from UAE as well, maybe they have warehouses all over. Even have the rare 08-09 units from time to time, but YMMV with the button wear.

 

[MrMikeyG]

Are there any lights on the Mark Levinson amp that give a visual confirmation that thing is getting power and conceivably functioning?

 

[Sixto Lezcano]

I don’t believe there are any lights. I got a refurbished amp off of eBay, I can’t remember all the details but the install notes referenced a fuse to check if no audio even after swapping amp. Mine worked so I never looked.

I’ve also had an issue where I can hear audio, but barely, even at max volume. I went into the audio settings for the head unit (I have Joying model) and there was a power button in sub or surround setting which I pressed and that fixed issue. I’m not sure why or how it got turned off but it worked and got my daughter her Spotify back…the gx used to be mine.

Edit: just remembered, before I bought refurb unit the seller had me check my existing amp, I had to see if fans were working on amp. Maybe check the fans too? Good luck.

 

[Rednexus]

Search: 30 results found for "GX470 climate control" - https://247carspares.com/search?type=product&options%5Bunavailable_products%5D=last&options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=GX470+climate+control

Here's where I've been able to source some climate control units for the non-nav conversion. Had to get a second one with mine as the first didn't work, but suspect its because my GX is a carryover month build date. I think they're sourced from UAE as well, maybe they have warehouses all over. Even have the rare 08-09 units from time to time, but YMMV with the button wear.

Zero 2007 units out there, other than one on eBay that is over $1K. I'll keep my eye out on one for a backup, but probably just keep the PX6 in the meantime. Or, just snag another backup PX6 for one my current one inevitably dies - which is still cheaper than a non-nav conversion.

 

[Sixto Lezcano]

I got a 2008 climate control off of car-part.com a few months ago for $80 shipped including the metal brackets. Resold it easily, first time I ever made money from the gx.

 

[Rednexus]

I got a 2008 climate control off of car-part.com a few months ago for $80 shipped including the metal brackets. Resold it easily, first time I ever made money from the gx.

I searched Car Part a couple of weeks ago and didn't see any for a 2007 GX470. I'm sure one will get totaled and a set show up eventually. But, if you find one first, you can gladly flip it to me .

 

[MrMikeyG]

I may pull my driver's seat and watch for Amp behavior, Then check fuses, then rip stuff apart and re-check my harness connections. Good times.
Well, maybe I'll check fuses first.

 

[M3GX]

Zero 2007 units out there, other than one on eBay that is over $1K. I'll keep my eye out on one for a backup, but probably just keep the PX6 in the meantime. Or, just snag another backup PX6 for one my current one inevitably dies - which is still cheaper than a non-nav conversion.

I'd do one of the other alibaba headunits before I waste money on another PX6 processor HU. those are so far out of date by now and cannot support the more current versions of Android. I think they're stuck at like 9 or 10. And even then you need to pay another $100 to get the Sergey firmware update to make it work any better.

 

[M3GX]

This one is at the top of my list right now. One of my current HVAC trim pieces is broke ATM, so even better that this kit deletes and relocates them.

And definitely get the higher 8GB Ram version.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008653344402.html

 

[Rednexus]

I'd do one of the other alibaba headunits before I waste money on another PX6 processor HU. those are so far out of date by now and cannot support the more current versions of Android. I think they're stuck at like 9 or 10. And even then you need to pay another $100 to get the Sergey firmware update to make it work any better.

I have one of the newer ones that appears to have a Google Pixel-based operating system. My old one was 2020-ish or older production date and had the Sergey firmware on it, but the new one is quite a bit different It runs every app I've installed on it just fine, I'd say the only issues are the slow boot and glare. BUT both of those are pretty darn annoying issues. For whatever reason my old one has drastically less glare even without a screen protector on it, and it booted faster.

 

[Rednexus]

This one is at the top of my list right now. One of my current HVAC trim pieces is broke ATM, so even better that this kit deletes and relocates them.

And definitely get the higher 8GB Ram version.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008653344402.html

Phoenix appears to sell that one too! I'm sure they all come from the same Chinese developers and factories.

16.8" Android 13 Fast boot Navigation Radio for 2002 - 09 Toyota Prado

Shop 16.8 vertical screen Android 13 fast-boot navigation radio for Toyota Prado and Lexus GX470. Upgrade multimedia and connectivity at Phoenix Automotive.

phoenixautomotiveinc.com

If you get one I'd be highly interested in your review of it. It looks a lot slicker than my PX6 for sure, although the black would kind of clash with the rest of the cabin. Also looks like it will support a GX470 with NAV. I'd drop the ~$1K on it if it boots fast, has no glare, and works better than the PX6....and I'd keep the PX6 as a backup.

 

[M3GX]

Phoenix appears to sell that one too! I'm sure they all come from the same Chinese developers and factories.

16.8" Android 13 Fast boot Navigation Radio for 2002 - 09 Toyota Prado

Shop 16.8 vertical screen Android 13 fast-boot navigation radio for Toyota Prado and Lexus GX470. Upgrade multimedia and connectivity at Phoenix Automotive.

phoenixautomotiveinc.com

If you get one I'd be highly interested in your review of it. It looks a lot slicker than my PX6 for sure, although the black would kind of clash with the rest of the cabin. Also looks like it will support a GX470 with NAV. I'd drop the ~$1K on it if it boots fast, has no glare, and works better than the PX6....and I'd keep the PX6 as a backup.

Oh cool, I hadn't checked there in a while. I think the main advantage of ordering through Phoenix is a US based warranty and support.

Also not sure what tariffs would be on an AliExpress order these days. I ordered my digital instrument cluster from Ali before any of that went into effect

 

[Rednexus]

Oh cool, I hadn't checked there in a while. I think the main advantage of ordering through Phoenix is a US based warranty and support.

Also not sure what tariffs would be on an AliExpress order these days. I ordered my digital instrument cluster from Ali before any of that went into effect

In addition to tarriffs reducing our ability to get stuff from Ali, they also killed our ability to get cheap OEM parts from PartSouq and Megazip. I've saved hundreds and hundreds of dollars with PartSouq alone - now I'm back to paying dealer prices.