After many years and discussions of how to accomplish getting Android Auto or other such technology into our cars, GROM Audio designed a module that allows us connecting their unit to our A/V system and giving us built in functionality of apps such as Google Maps, Spotify, Waze, etc.
*Disclaimer* - I am not liable for anything you do to your vehicle. This is just a basic walk through and the steps that I followed to get this connected. Additionally, this HowTo is only for making the physical connection of the VLite VT2 unit to the vehicle. I will not be covering how to set up the device, updating, etc. although I may invariably, due to my background in IT, provide unofficial support or tips (but don't expect that
). If you need support on how to use the GROM unit, please contact their support team.Task: Install the GROM Audio VLite VT22 (NIS9VT2) interface on a 2014-2016 Infiniti QX60 w/ Navigation
Time: A couple of hours working cautiously
Tools/Supplies Needed:
- GROM Audio VLite VT2 (NIS9VT2)
- A phone that supports Android Auto or Apple CarPlay
- Flat head screw driver or other flat tool to pry panels (I always use a flat head but I'm SUPER gentle)
- Phillips head screw driver
- 10MM Socket and Wrench to remove negative battery terminal clamp
- (optional) 1/4, 5/16 or 3/8 drill bit and drill to drill out a hole in the glovebox to feed the wires into the glovebox - you can use other things to do this. Note: the hole is not required but I chose to go that route for ease of use.
- (optional) Magnet to reach screws or get screws that will inevitably fall somewhere
- (optional) Grabber-thingy-majig which will help removing a screw the last bit of the way as sometimes simply unscrewing doesn't actually get it out especially if there is a little bit of weight on it
Process:
1) First, open the hood and use the 10MM socket to remove the negative battery terminal clamp. Never work on electronics with the battery connected. Infiniti's are particularly sensitive (ask me how I know from my M56x ownership). Yes, I know the battery is dirty.
2) Once the battery has been disconnected, we need to continue to the interior of the car to start taking the center console apart. Here is an image of what comes in the VLite VT2 box.
3) First, we need to pry the lower power of the radio trim (below the radio controls) out. Use a pry tool or flat head screw driver VERY gently. You do not need to go deep, as the clips are right near the edge.
4) Next, we need to remove the rubber tray that is below the radio. This tray has basic clips and just pulls up and out but it was a bit of a challenge to get it out. Eventually I got it.
5) You should be left with this:
6) Next, we need to remove the two phillips head screws holding the radio controls to the center console. Once these screws are removed, gently tug on the radio controls and they should come lose. Unplug the connector and set the radio controls aside.
7) We now need to remove these two phillips screws that hold the bottom of the actual radio unit:
8) Next, we remove similar screws from the top of area at the top of the radio unit to remove the climate control panel:
9) Once the climate panel is free, lift it up and out like so to remove it from the vehicle. Also unplug the radio harnesses and remove the radio unit. I recommend taking a picture of the back of the radio before doing so so that you have an approximate idea of how everything plugs back in.
10) You should be left with this:
11) Next, we need to remove the vent fascia for the screen. There are three screws here (two of them hold the screen). Once these are removed, gentle pull on the vent fascia and remove.
12) You should be left with this:
13) Once you have access to the back of the screen, connect the GVNMF cable to the connector (one side to the screen and other to the original connector).
14) Next, connect the MCFNIS9 cable to the appropriate harnesses (two of them) that you unplugged from the back of the radio):
15) Next, we need to remove the glove box. To do that, follow the following video on YouTube.
16) Now you need to determine how you are going to route the wires to the glovebox area. You can pick one of these two spots (I went through the area circled by the smaller circle).
17) Now, start feeding your wires to the right of the screen/radio into the glovebox area:
18) Here is the wires fed through:
19) Next, we need to get the wires into the actual glovebox. Unlike my '11 M56x, I couldn't really find a good way to do this that wouldn't result in massive pinching of the wires. So I decided to go with the nuclear option and cut a hole in the glovebox using my drill and drill bits. Again, this step is optional, but it's not something that most people will ever see or notice.
20) Here is the wires fed through my hack, err, I mean hole:
21) Lastly, we have to feed the microphone up to a good spot in the car outside of the glovebox. I chose to feed it through the right side of the glovebox area up the right side A-pillar, along the roof liner near the mirror.
22) Now, connect the radio to the new GROM hardness + the other connectors that we didn't touch. Connect the GROM Audio VLite VT2 in the glovebox.
23) Finally, reinstall the glovebox and dash side panel and button everything up. Then connect the negative battery terminal clamp.
24) If all went well, when you power the car on and switch to the iPod source, you should see something like this where you will be able to connect your phone:
25) Congratulations! You have updated your cars AV and modernized it a whole bunch! You now have real-time traffic updates, up to date maps (no longer need to update the factory navigation), etc.