Hacking Navigation
New User
Joined: Jan 2007
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Any one what to try this?
Originally Posted by bridge
UPDATE: Don't cut that wire just yet. Today I got in my car sans the ABS fuse for my morning commute and the NAV triangle did not move. The whole way to work my NAV thought I was sitting in my driveway. The compass letters did not change to red so I assume it was getting signal but, evidently it will not update the position w/o speed sensor input.
I'm going to run through the electrical diagrams and see if I can figure out why, but if it's internal to the NAV unit we're pretty much SOL. Perhaps a simple two-position switch to turn the speed sensor on/off?
I'm going to run through the electrical diagrams and see if I can figure out why, but if it's internal to the NAV unit we're pretty much SOL. Perhaps a simple two-position switch to turn the speed sensor on/off?
Ok if someone figured out that snipping the balck/white ABS wire will allow you to
operate the GPS, then all you have to do is to open the circuit ,only when you want to
Make changes while driving then re-attach the wire after all the changes have been made to re-enable the GPS . You can do this with toggle switch or toggle Push Button. This can be placed some where in reach like in Your console . I have a Lincoln MKZ and I have the Same situation with My GPS also the Sirious Radio also Shuts off most of the Menu Search when the Care is in Motion . This Modification will Probably Fix this also.
If anyone trys this , let me know how it works out since I wont be trying this for a while because We just got the car For Christmas AND My wife WILL Kill Me
Ray Ford
Sick 'n Tired
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,969
Likes: 47
From: League City, TX
Hectic holidays have prevented me from experimenting on my Expy, but I have every confidence that the toggle switch method will work. Once I get some down time I'm going to install one. I'll write up a procedure and take some pics when I do it and pass it along as well. Stay tuned.
Sick 'n Tired
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,969
Likes: 47
From: League City, TX
It worked. I bought a simple two position switch, cut the VSS wire and soldered it in line. I went for a drive and tested it at highway speed. Flipped the switch to off and the unit stopped tracking. Selected the NAV button, selected a POI and then it started calculating route from the point where I flipped the switch to off. I then flipped it on and it started re-calculating the route. There was no delay and it immediately started tracking once the switch was flipped back on. I rule 
The wife and I are going out to eat tonight and I'll be able to give it a more thorough test.
The wife and I are going out to eat tonight and I'll be able to give it a more thorough test.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2006
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Bridge you are the man...if you could post pics of your install that would be sweet. I am just wondering how how the VSS wire runs and how much play you have in the wire to find a out of the way place for the switch. Also did you have to remove the head unit or just go from under the dash? You have got me wanting to do this bad now that you have got this started. It is not the solution we all wanted but as long as you are basically heading in the same direction when you flipped the switch the directions should be on spot.
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Sick 'n Tired
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,969
Likes: 47
From: League City, TX
Sorry no pics, but it's really easy.
- Remove the black dashboard trim. Remove the two screws above the instrument cluster. You will be tempted to just bend the trim piece enough to get at the headunit screws but the headunit must come out of the dash anyway.
- Once out (or out far enough to get at the harness), looking down at the back of the HU you will see a harness with only 4 wires on the right side. There will be a black wire with a white stripe, that's the VSS wire.
- Push back the cloth material wrapped around the wires and cut the wire a few inches from the harness.
- Strip the wires and crimped on two 20ga crimp connectors (the red ones).
- Prepared your switch by soldering about a foot of wire onto each pole. I used a simple STDP switch, but I would suggest mounting a black push button switch somewhere near the HU. Not a momentary switch. You want one that will switch b/t on and off and stay either on or off.
- Crimp the switch wires into the VSS wire crimps you place on the VSS wire in step 4.
- Mount your switch where ever you like. Done deal!
New User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24
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Thank you Bridge! You indeed rule!
I hope to install a switch in the very near future. I'd like to put something near the NAv controls, however, that seems to be difficult. Maybe a location down low near the seat heater switches could be possible thus avoiding anything that may look too aftermarket.
I hope to install a switch in the very near future. I'd like to put something near the NAv controls, however, that seems to be difficult. Maybe a location down low near the seat heater switches could be possible thus avoiding anything that may look too aftermarket.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 71
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Did the mod...works perfectly on my 2004 EB. But one thing confused me....I noticed the single black wire connector on the back of the radio and it was obvious to me that this was for the GPS unit so I peeked behind the passenger side of the dash through the radio opening and saw that the GPS units sits right behind the passenger airbag. HOW THE HECK DOES THE GPS UNIT GET A SIGNAL THROUGH THE DASHBOARD!!!! I work with millitary grade GPS units at my job, and I have yet to find a GPS beacon that could resieve a signal through thick plastic. I am curious of how this is so, because I plan on upgrading my Navigation Radio to an aftermarket unit and if I can install the aftermrket GPS unit in the factory location that will make for a reall neat install. On my old 2003 Expy XLT I had the GPS unit (pioneer) in the middle of the dash on a magnetic sticker that it came with.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2007
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First all the factory GPS units, Ford, Cadillac have the antenna under the dash. As a matter of fact my XM antenna sits on top my dash and the signal goes through the windshield perfectly. About disabling the must stop feature. My 2004 Caddy XLR used to hold to buttons down then I would get a key pad. Then you entered 1640 (I believe) and as long as you were moving you could do all the functions. Once you turned the key off that proceedure had to be redone. I am sure there is a code that once entered would disable the movement feature. Just need to know it. Oh yea so many found out about this that in the later 05 and 06 models this no longer worked.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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Silent Thunder:
You mention your XM antenna receiving a signal through a windshield as if it is comparable to a GPS antenna (beacon) recieving a signal through the solid dashboard. When I say through the dashboard, I literally mean through the dashboard...the GPS beacon is under the dashboard, not on the dashboard recieving a signal through the winshield like your XM antenna.
And to everyone else...I am sorry about the size of the pics, I have no idea why they came out so small.
If you want to see full size pics just see My Gallery.
You mention your XM antenna receiving a signal through a windshield as if it is comparable to a GPS antenna (beacon) recieving a signal through the solid dashboard. When I say through the dashboard, I literally mean through the dashboard...the GPS beacon is under the dashboard, not on the dashboard recieving a signal through the winshield like your XM antenna.
And to everyone else...I am sorry about the size of the pics, I have no idea why they came out so small.
If you want to see full size pics just see My Gallery.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 50
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Originally Posted by gistecknician
Silent Thunder:
You mention your XM antenna receiving a signal through a windshield as if it is comparable to a GPS antenna (beacon) recieving a signal through the solid dashboard. When I say through the dashboard, I literally mean through the dashboard...the GPS beacon is under the dashboard, not on the dashboard recieving a signal through the winshield like your XM antenna.
And to everyone else...I am sorry about the size of the pics, I have no idea why they came out so small.
If you want to see full size pics just see My Gallery.
You mention your XM antenna receiving a signal through a windshield as if it is comparable to a GPS antenna (beacon) recieving a signal through the solid dashboard. When I say through the dashboard, I literally mean through the dashboard...the GPS beacon is under the dashboard, not on the dashboard recieving a signal through the winshield like your XM antenna.
And to everyone else...I am sorry about the size of the pics, I have no idea why they came out so small.
If you want to see full size pics just see My Gallery.
The only reason I mentioned XM on the dash top was because most manufacture's mount those on the vehicles roof when it is not needed.