Computerize your car

Step 5: Install the display and input

Complexity of installation depends heavily on your choice of monitor. For a weekend project, an external base-mounted system should be used. If you want to flush-mount it later on, pulling out the base mount is simple and leaves no traces. External monitors can generally work as a base- or flush-mount, making them a decent investment if you plan on setting it in your dashboard at a later date.

The external-mount monitor can be installed in less than an hour, but does not provide the clean look of a flush-mount or retractable model. Retractable monitors are more expensive but offer relatively simple installation with their single-DIN form factor. And it looks cool when the screen comes out of the dash.

Every external monitor is going to have its own style of mounting base. Often it will work with your dash, but sometimes it may need to be modified. Fortunately for those of us without a sheet-metal press in our garage, the good people at Panavise offer various vehicle-specific mounting brackets. These mounts generally involve taking off a part of the dash or center stack and bolting the mount in place. The Panavise site lets you choose a mount by car make and offers instructions on how to put it in place.

After the mount is secured, carefully put the dash or center stack back together. Most properly constructed mounts should fit your vehicle without any further modification. If modification is needed, you can make a decision to modify your dash parts to make it fit, modify the mount, or find another mounting bracket.

Once the monitor is mounted, make sure all of the cables are routed nicely through whichever path you chose--no tight bends, never over a seat rail, and steer clear of hot or moving parts. Tap into the 12V switched circuit you located earlier, and use that for the monitor's primary power. Avoid using direct battery power to supply current, or you may find your car with a dead battery.

Although the touch screen should cover most input needs, a keyboard and mouse may be necessary for typing in locations and URLs. Gyration makes a durable and compact wireless keyboard and mouse suite with good range and resistance to RF interference. The mouse not only works without wires, it has no need for a flat surface. For the budget minded, a small-footprint keyboard can be had for about $25. These smaller integrated keyboards can live in the seat-back pocket and don't cost a lot to replace if lost.