Pioneer AVIC-Z1 Install

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Originally Posted by BuzzH3

Excellent write-up. Did it take you longer to write all that up then to do the actual install??

I would agree with the massive amount of wires for the stereo. I think the hardest part of the install was just trying to route all of the wiring. I also have the iPod module so that adds another cable and 2 wires. Fortunately, there is pretty much room in the dash.

I'm curious how well your GPS antenna is working. I'm thinking of moving mine there also. How many satellites are orange on the connections screen?

One thing I have done recently is to add some spacers between the top of the stereo and the trim ring for the dask kit to make it line up with the dash opening a little better. I actually cut some small pieces off of a mouse pad and slid them in there. They were the perfect thickness.

I like where you placed your camera. I think I might move mine there also. I have it over the license plate right now and you just don't get a great view to the passenger side of the vehicle.

GPS is working great, it appears every time I have checked (about three times), I am getting 5+ satellites (max is eight for this system, I believe). For ground movement all you really need is three (for altitude correction you require four, but this unit does not require altitude correction). So far, with the reception, and the fact that it has software that locks on to the roads, it appears to be very accurate. Only thing I have noticed is in the book it says your vehicle is in the center of the arrow, and it appears to me, my vehicle locations is really at the front of the arrow.
When sitting at a red light, the arrow is right at the cross road. This is very minor.
Just make sure to use the metal plate to help the signal strength. Like I said in my writeup, this will work with GPS, but not with XM. GPS satellites sweep from north to south, back to north, while XM satellites are only in the southeast and southwest in a set orbit.

You can change the route using way points as in my other GPS units which is great for avoiding certain cities on a cross-country trip. Just add a few way points on a different route, and it will route you back on the original course or deviate you via a different route.

Today, I'm going to study the POIs.

"One thing I have done recently is to add some spacers between the top of the stereo and the trim ring for the dask kit to make it line up with the dash opening a little better."

Mine seems to line up great. I found out if the inside of the vehicle is really hot, the trim rings causes some slight interferrence with the screen when it opens. So, this weekend I will be doing a bit more sanding. Evidently the heat is causing the plastic to expand just enough to create this fit problem. But mine seems to fit the opening ok.

Only problem I have noticed is there is alternator whine when using the Onstar phone. I plan on installing a coil in the power circuit (kodiacz recommendation), if I can find one around here. I might even run a large gage ground from the point I used, directly to the battery. If you don't use the Onstar phone, you may never notice it.