how to install tv monitor in dash - Honda Prelude Forum

ECHprelude · 02-02-2003, 04:31 PM

ok, this is to install a tv monitor behind the plastic/glass panel on 92-96 preludes. i dont think any monitor bigger than 5 inches will fit but you can try. this is a simple way to do it, but it will loose some of your warning lights like check engine, brake lamp and the one next to check engine, whatever that is. door open?

First off, remove the dash.......j/k...mine was already removed for the jdm climate control install, but it is NOT necessary to remove the dash to do this. first things first, remove lower strip on dash panel and unscrew the top panel and remove panel.

now to remove the plastic/glass panel unscrew the screw on each side of the panel and the glass will pull off. be careful, it might be difficult so dont break the glass. it snaps in at the top and bottom, so work it. then remove the clock adjustment knob from panel.

unplug whatever that thing is in the white box and unscrew the white box and remove. unscrew the fuel guage cluster (4 screws) and pull it up then unplug the 3 harnesses on it and remove the cluster.......wow....empty

ready for fun with a router? better decide now if you wanna do this, no going back unless you have a good junkyard :-) ok, we need to cut off the bracket that housed the clock adjustment knob. careful not to cut through the plastic and cut the glass, that would suck.

now we need to cut off the black box that has four screw holes in it and get it out of the way.

ECHprelude · 02-02-2003, 04:31 PM

now i got creative and decided to use that wasted white box for the right side of the bracket for the gauges. cut it on the left half of it about 1 1/2- 2 inches back. see pictures to be clear. and mount it on the first ridge on the right side of the dash. use a spacer for the top half of it, the bottom sits right on the ridge. works out perfect.

time to mount the gauge in its new location. place the gauge back in and check fitment and plug in the harnesses again. the right side will match up with the holes on the white box and use the silver tabs from the black box you cut out for the screws to tap into. the left side i measured the heights of the gauges old mount and made spacers for its new location. make sure you leave a small gap at the bottom because the glass panel snaps into that gap. i forgot that at first and had to move it up some from whats in the pic.

now, hopefully you didnt go crazy and buy that 10 inch monitor because i dont think anything bigger than a 5 inch screen willfit. maybe with more work a 7 in widescreen would but then you would have to move the gauge over more and loose even more warning lights. i cut a peice of 2x4 about 4 inches wide and cut a angle to it so the monitor will be viewed easier. place that in the open spot and scew both it and the monitors housing to the dash. make sure BEFORE doing this you can run the wires through the back of the dash or wherever you plan on running them.

now slap that monitor in and make sure its snug. connect the thing from the white box and put it back in there somewhere (still have no clue what it is?) and put your glass panel back on. i had problems with some tabs not letting the panels go down but nothing a router couldnt fix :-) also had problems with the right side not matching up with the hole so i made a new one. now put the 2 screws back in and place the top panel on with its 6 or 7 screws and bottom trim on (i am missing mine) and your done once you hook up the monitor. just that easy. i will get complete pictures once the climate control is done and the dash is re-installed. should be pretty :-D

j_t_heilbrun · 02-02-2003, 04:57 PM

awsome, I'm definatly going to do that once i get to that part of my car

vipastyle · 02-02-2003, 05:25 PM

*cough* lifetime membership *cough* FAQ'd!

very nice bro!

man, if u got pulled over for it you could turn that tv off and cops would never know!

does it make the screen any darker when you place the cover back on?

ECHprelude · 02-02-2003, 05:51 PM

not much darker, heres pictures of it on. it does make it look a little faded. maybe its just my monitor. i never tested it before mounting it.

ECHprelude · 02-02-2003, 06:10 PM

j_t_heilbrun · 02-02-2003, 06:38 PM

is your climate control working??

ECHprelude · 02-02-2003, 08:29 PM

yea, it works. i blew my air mixture motor up though. new one is on order.

concLude · 02-02-2003, 08:40 PM

all of the functions of the climate control works? damn nice, feel like doing another?

92 SI Ludester · 02-02-2003, 08:49 PM

can you post a pic of the lcd turned off after the dash was installed back in?

ECHprelude · 02-02-2003, 08:57 PM

helllllllllllllllll no i dont wanna do another one. i will watch someone do it and help but i refuse to go through that mess again. i can show you horror picture if you want that will change your mind.

i can post pictures of it off tommorrow when its daylight.

92 SI Ludester · 02-02-2003, 09:06 PM

alright thanks...but unless the screen is on you cant tell there is a LCD there right? thats all i am really looking to see

conundrum07 · 02-02-2003, 09:13 PM

Wow, very impresive job!

Padge · 02-02-2003, 10:41 PM

great work man!
very nice. what type of tv and other equipment do you need for it to work?
Also you loose the check engine light?? That doesnt seem good, is there a way you can switch the lights around?

MidNKight-lude · 02-03-2003, 12:46 AM

omg i am double jealous of you grrrrrrrrrr

Scalifludesi · 02-03-2003, 02:10 AM

welcome to the "LCD inside the dash" club

BTW here's my mine: (it's on the far right though)

schrunk · 02-03-2003, 07:07 AM

What kind of LCD monitors do you guys use that you would recomend? I wouldnt like to spend like over 150 but...

Padge · 02-03-2003, 04:22 PM

Scalifludesi: did you lose any lights behind the dash or anything?

what type of LCD is that?

ECHprelude · 02-03-2003, 05:44 PM

he wouldnt loose any lights with his set up on that side, but he had to cut the plastic behind the panel and i didnt want to risk cutting the glass, so i just moved the gauges over. if you cut the plastic, you could see my gauges, but im not worried. my check engine light is always on anyways. damn o2 sensors. sorry no pictures today but no, you cant see the monitor when its off. you can use any monitor from ebay even as long as its around 5" big. you will need some sotra tv tuner or in dash tv already to work the tv.

92 SI Ludester · 02-09-2003, 12:19 PM

so let me get this right..if you do it your way you will not be able to plug back all the warning lights into their harness on the water temp thing?