Replace nav touch screen in 2004 GX470 (1 Viewer)

[drowzyGX]

Hey Y'all,

Threads abound on the topic of nav to non-nav conversions, tesla-style android auto screens, and after market components to uograde the functionality of the existing nav units in the GX 470.

However, I can't find an answer to the question I have. Is it possible to replace the touch screen in a 2004 GX 470 with the touch screen from a 2007 or newer?

If so, I'd rather do that than attempt the nav to non-nav conversion. While I'm comfortable wrenching on my car, I have no experience working with the electronics, and no confidence in my ability to successfully execute the nav to non-nav conversion that Adonis has so kindly laid out over in the GXOR Facebook group. The only audio shop around Atlanta that seemed capable of doing the conversion, and was willing to do it, estimated $3k+. That's just way more than I can justify spending on that task.

The grom vline2 paired with the 2007+ screens seems like it nets me most of the functionality that I want, and I could snag a screen from a 2007+ from a junkyard for a lot cheaper the $3k non-nav conversion cost.

Thoughts?

Am I significantly overestimating the difficulty of the conversion?

 

[b8bydesign]

Subscribed, also interested in if this possible with my '06. Would be great if the screen from the '07s+ were just plug-&-play as I agree, that combined with a GROM is a great setup.

 

[James C]

No answer for you (and my nav is an 04 so I also can't check), but the fact that you need to match model years for the non-nav conversion is not a good sign for the nav screen swap across model years.

 

[drowzyGX]

Hey James,

That's a really good point about the HVAC control matching.

My hope is that just the LCD screen and digitizer aren't year-specific, even though the housing and buttons might be. For example, there seem to be a fair amount of LCD screen + digitizer replacements that claim to fit all models from 2003 - 2009.

 

[James C]

Got it. I wrongly assumed you meant replacing the whole head unit but you're thinking just the touch screen.

 

[drowzyGX]

Yeah, I'm thinking just the screen.

My understanding is the screen is better on the 2007+ models. When paired with the grom vline2, folks with 2007+ models seem to get about 95% of the functionality I want in terms of connecting my phone to the screen.

I thought the issue with the earlier models and the vline2 was the screen just sucks, and pairing it with the grom unit doesn't offer a lot of benefits.

Is the computer better in the newer cars, too? If it is, then my plan of better screen + grom vline 2 may not be a good one.

 

[JLee]

I doubt it will work -- I believe the screen resolution is different. I have an 05 nav unit gathering dust in my garage...if you want to pay for shipping and share your results with GXOR, you're welcome to it. Looks like they're about 300 bucks on eBay, so if you sell it when you're done and want to split it with me, that'd be cool too

 

[drowzyGX]

Hey JLee, appreciate the offer. If it was an 07 nav unit, I might have taken you up on it. Not sure an 05 would be much of an upgrade from my 04.

Did you do the nav to non-nav conversion, or do you just have a spare nav unit?

 

[z00t3ch]

Quite a variance in plugs from year to year, I'd be amazed if an 07-09 screen plugged right into an 03-06 truck...

 

[drowzyGX]

Hey z00t3ch, thank you for posting those images! Really helpful and answers my question about swapping the nav units.

I'm wondering at this point if the lcd screen + digitizer replacement would be work across years like the the sellers I've found online suggest.

It's looking more and more like my options are: get an aux / bluetooth input for my unit and just accept the lackluster screen, or try and brave the non-nav conversion.

Really appreciate the responses folks have shared.

 

[Nic]

I run the Grom on my 04 and don't find the screen to be that bad. Unit can be a bit buggy at times but overall I am pretty happy with it

 

[drowzyGX]

Hey Nic,

That's good to know. Which Grom unit do you use, and do you use car play?

 

[Nic]

I have the Vline 2 and yes I use Carplay

 

[JLee]

Hey JLee, appreciate the offer. If it was an 07 nav unit, I might have taken you up on it. Not sure an 05 would be much of an upgrade from my 04.

Did you do the nav to non-nav conversion, or do you just have a spare nav unit?

I did a non-nav conversion.

 

[drowzyGX]

I have the Vline 2 and yes I use Carplay

Have you ran into any of the issues that other folks have - things like the backup camera not switching off, bad audio quality, etc?

 

[drowzyGX]

I did a non-nav conversion.

How difficult did you find the conversion, and do you have experience with car electronics work like that? Also, were the files on the GXOR facebook group enough for you to handle the conversion?

 

[Nic]

Have you ran into any of the issues that other folks have - things like the backup camera not switching off, bad audio quality, etc?

I havent had any issues other than it needing to reboot at times or freezing during an update. Considering its working with such an old setup I am pretty pleased

 

[JLee]

How difficult did you find the conversion, and do you have experience with car electronics work like that? Also, were the files on the GXOR facebook group enough for you to handle the conversion?

Lots of reading on the GXOR group got me through -- there's enough info out there now where it's possible. You do have to make sure to get the right model non-nav HVAC controls, otherwise it'll all look like it works (you'll even get idle-up) but the AC compressor won't engage. I am no stranger to automotive work/wiring, and I really do not want to ever do it again..lol. It's possible, don't get me wrong, but extremely tedious.

 

[drowzyGX]

I havent had any issues other than it needing to reboot at times or freezing during an update. Considering its working with such an old setup I am pretty pleased

That's good to know! I've got a lot of thinking to do regarding this + repairing the speakers vs non-nav conversion + new speakers and amp.

Lots of reading on the GXOR group got me through -- there's enough info out there now where it's possible. You do have to make sure to get the right model non-nav HVAC controls, otherwise it'll all look like it works (you'll even get idle-up) but the AC compressor won't engage. I am no stranger to automotive work/wiring, and I really do not want to ever do it again..lol. It's possible, don't get me wrong, but extremely tedious.

Yeah, I remember reading that about the HVAC controls. Piecing the parts together from Toyota / Lexus and scrap yards didn't seem terrible. Fortunately the '04 seems a lot easier to find the controller than some of the newer models. All the wiring is what concerns me. Some threads make it seem so easy: oh, it's just extending 7 or 8 wires and routing them behind the center console, and installing a new backup camera. But I've seen some comments similar to yours, and they seem more realistic, lol.

Wishing I had been more patient, and hunted down a non-nav model. Oh well, live and learn!

 

[Tak555]

i successfully did the nav to non-nav conversion... i'm not that adept at wrenching and never worked on car audio before. with adonis' help and patience (as well as some others), i got through it. if you take your time, and don't rush it, i dont think it's THAT bad. i'm not saying it's easy, but if i can do it... anyone could.

for me, i went through the process over 2-3 weeks, and yes i drove my GX around with no stereo, wires hanging out everywhere, and trim pieces removed over that period of time. but in the end, totally worth it!

That's good to know! I've got a lot of thinking to do regarding this + repairing the speakers vs non-nav conversion + new speakers and amp.




Yeah, I remember reading that about the HVAC controls. Piecing the parts together from Toyota / Lexus and scrap yards didn't seem terrible. Fortunately the '04 seems a lot easier to find the controller than some of the newer models. All the wiring is what concerns me. Some threads make it seem so easy: oh, it's just extending 7 or 8 wires and routing them behind the center console, and installing a new backup camera. But I've seen some comments similar to yours, and they seem more realistic, lol.

Wishing I had been more patient, and hunted down a non-nav model. Oh well, live and learn!