Nissan 370Z Forum - View Single Post

radensb · 04-14-2019, 01:10 PM

My guess is that the audio worked because Nissan is still using the same 20 pin audio connector and pin out definition as their previous models. That is probably where the compatibility ends, unfortunately.

In the Navi based 370Z, the stock HU is a CAN network bridge between two CAN bus networks; the main network that the ECU, AC Amp, ABS, etc devices are on, and the "infotainment" network that the stereo, Navi controls, and AC controls are on. The CAN packets on the infotainment network are translated to CAN packets in the main network to control main network devices (AC Amp for example). The networks use different packet IDs (Nissan specific) and are probably optimized for a specific system. I would be very surprised if the CAN packet structure was at all compatible. So, this is why it only works with the 370Z HU installed and not with the Patrol unit (are the connectors event he same??).

Of the two options you mentioned, I would not even consider #2 further. Not only would it be extremely difficult to move the stock HU to another location and rewire (It hurts my head even thinking about all that would entail...) Even if the CAN packets were identical in the Partol system you have and the 370Z's main CAN network and you have both devices connected, it still would not solve anything because you cannot have two AC controllers sending AC status CAN commands at the same time.

Option #1 is possible and there are even several methods available to remove the stock Navi. I am working on a project as well that deals with this exact situation with regards to AC control in custom Navi installations.

The problem you are going to have is trying to shoehorn an AC system from another car into the Z. At the very least, this would probably require a custom CAN translator that converts the Nissan Patrol system CAN structure for AC control to the Z's. This is not trivial and would require reverse engineering the CAN packet structures and there may not even be feature compatibility.

Is there a reason to use the Nissan Patrol system? Even if it were possible to integrate the Nissan Patrol system, I would be far simpler to use a non-Nissan Tablet based or aftermarket Navi based system. Have you seen the Brainiac Tablet kit?

04-14-2019, 01:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
radensb Base Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: California Posts: 148 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z GM M6 Rep Power: 6721	My guess is that the audio worked because Nissan is still using the same 20 pin audio connector and pin out definition as their previous models. That is probably where the compatibility ends, unfortunately. In the Navi based 370Z, the stock HU is a CAN network bridge between two CAN bus networks; the main network that the ECU, AC Amp, ABS, etc devices are on, and the "infotainment" network that the stereo, Navi controls, and AC controls are on. The CAN packets on the infotainment network are translated to CAN packets in the main network to control main network devices (AC Amp for example). The networks use different packet IDs (Nissan specific) and are probably optimized for a specific system. I would be very surprised if the CAN packet structure was at all compatible. So, this is why it only works with the 370Z HU installed and not with the Patrol unit (are the connectors event he same??). Of the two options you mentioned, I would not even consider #2 further. Not only would it be *extremely difficult* to move the stock HU to another location and rewire (It hurts my head even thinking about all that would entail...) Even if the CAN packets were identical in the Partol system you have and the 370Z's main CAN network and you have both devices connected, it still would not solve anything because you cannot have two AC controllers sending AC status CAN commands at the same time. Option #1 is possible and there are even several methods available to remove the stock Navi. I am working on a project as well that deals with this exact situation with regards to AC control in custom Navi installations. The problem you are going to have is trying to shoehorn an AC system from another car into the Z. At the very least, this would probably require a custom CAN translator that converts the Nissan Patrol system CAN structure for AC control to the Z's. This is not trivial and would require reverse engineering the CAN packet structures and there may not even be feature compatibility. Is there a reason to use the Nissan Patrol system? Even if it were possible to integrate the Nissan Patrol system, I would be far simpler to use a non-Nissan Tablet based or aftermarket Navi based system. Have you seen the Brainiac Tablet kit?