Technical Changing Connect nav+...

[Citizen Smith]

...for a aftermarket D-Din head unit. - if proxy alignment was carried out afterwards, would the features like independant boot opening and single door lock etc be transferred from the CN+ menu to the menu screen on the dash cluster through the buttons in the light switch assembly like other stilo's without CN+ ?

I have not done this personally when I last worked for a dealer, so would be interesting to find out.

Many thanks

 

[yellowstilo]

If your Connect Nav was fitted standard in your car you will need it to alter most of your "my car" settings.
They will not be available on the menu button panel.
Theoretically it is possible to send the changed settings as a message on the can-bus but you will need a laptop, canbus interface and the info what to send....
So think twice before removing your Connect Nav - even the time can't be changed anymore after removal....

 

[john55]

No.
That information is configured into the body computer during manufacture. There is no way to change it. If you order another body computer from a dealer, it will just come pre configured the same as your old one and still not work. You would have to take the complete setup (engine ECU, body computer dials etc from a scrapped car the same as yours, except that didn't have the CN+.
I had this problem and ended up buying a CN+ on ebay just so I could open the boot.

Yellowstilo will probably be along soon and he can give you the commands to send over the can bus (if you have an interface) to enable boot opening.

 

[Argonought]

You would have to take the complete setup (engine ECU, body computer dials etc from a scrapped car the same as yours, except that didn't have the CN+.

That's an interesting idea but I can't help thinking you wouldn't even get as far as turning on the ignition so that Examiner could proxy align everything else on the car.

Effectively you've stolen the identity of another Stilo and my understanding was that the core of the security system was to make this pretty much impossible :chin:

 

[yellowstilo]

John is right - if you change all relevant parts of a scrapped Stilo it would be possible to create a Stilo with another configuration as your own (i.e. without a Connect Nav).
It would be important though to obtain the code card from the donor car to be able to alter some settings in the body computer , to be able to emergency-start the car etc.
Just to change your settings without a (standard) Connect Nav i would prefer to plug in my CAN interface and send a message to change the settings - this is basically the same as what the Connect Nav does....

 

[Argonought]

John is right - if you change all relevant parts of a scrapped Stilo it would be possible to create a Stilo with another configuration as your own (i.e. without a Connect Nav).
It would be important though to obtain the code card from the donor car to be able to alter some settings in the body computer , to be able to emergency-start the car etc.

So are we agreed then that without the code card then you'd be on to a non-starter (sorry )

 

[Citizen Smith]

Hmmmm, I thought it would be a case of replace the stereo, carry out proxy alignment, it wouldn't detect CN+ so therefore setup the menu function to be done through the RH light switch assembly rather than the CN+.

 

[john55]

Without the code card?
Just take the keys as well and then put your blade in the key from the donor car. I understand the immobiliser is actually a function of the body computer. No code card needed if you do this.

 

[yellowstilo]

"So are we agreed then that without the code card then you'd be on to a non-starter"

the car can be started without the code card - only in emergency cases you would need the code for the emergency start procedure (faulty transponder or poor communication).
The code card is also nessesary to alter some settings in the body computer like blinking indicators at central door locking or key coding...
But to get back on topic- the "my car" settings choosen with the Connect Nav are stored in the body computer.
To change them you will need a Connect Nav system or send the settings as a CAN-message just like the CN does.
Most option will not be available afterwards on the "my car" button panel after removing the CN.
The km/Miles indicator will keep blinking because the bodycomputer is missing the CN at startup.
A proxy alignment procedure will change nothing - it justs adapts the other nodes in the car to the factory settings stored in the body computer (so with CN!)
The option John mentioned is possible but rather complicated (you would need to change the body computer, engine ecu, keys, locks and above all it would have to be a donor car with a code card and the correct configuration (same as your car but without Connect Nav)
I don't understand why Fiat has choosen to make things difficult - in my opinion there should be an option to remove the CN and keep your settings menu.....

 

[john55]

The km/Miles indicator will keep blinking because the bodycomputer is missing the CN at startup.

This is not true. It does not blink if the CN+ is removed, only if you add one to a car that didn't have a CN+ before.

 

[yellowstilo]

I could not check this because i retro-fitted my Connect Nav...
thought miles indicator would also blink when some node is missing during initial check but i'm still learning new things about my Stilo every day...
Thank you for the correction.

 

[Argonought]

The option John mentioned is possible but rather complicated (you would need to change the body computer, engine ecu, keys, locks and above all it would have to be a donor car with a code card and the correct configuration (same as your car but without Connect Nav)
I don't understand why Fiat has choosen to make things difficult - in my opinion there should be an option to remove the CN and keep your settings menu.....

Thanks for the confirmation. The reason I ask is because a while back I made a determined effort to fit the oem alarm system - and failed

I now realize that had I managed to track down the identical spec Stilo as mine but WITH factory alarm then if I'd then extracted all the items mentioned above then I would have been successful.

....but only after an insane amount of effort and insane cost too

As you say, quite crazy making a system so upgrade/downgrade unfriendly

 

[yellowstilo]

I just retrofitted two Fiat Linea Accesoire Meta alarms for the Stilo which uses the original keys and the can-bus info - works 100% with little effort!
As a lot of info is read from the CAN-bus of the Stilo there are relative few cables to connect - the siren is self-powered (build-in batteries) and everyting you need is in the box (cables,fittings,ultrasonic sensors etc).
At the moment they are for sale on Ebay for good prices!
see http://cgi.ebay.de/Genuine-Fiat-Sti...photoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262
As these are specially designed for the Stilo they are a good substitute for the original factory alarm system!

 

[john55]

Thanks for the confirmation. The reason I ask is because a while back I made a determined effort to fit the oem alarm system - and failed

Which alarm were you fitting?

The original factory fit alarm is quite different from the dealer fitted Meta alarm. You should be able to fit the Meta one OK. The factory fit one I have, but I don't think you can retro fit them after the car leaves the factory due to integration with the body computer, hence the dealers fitting the Meta one.

 

[Argonought]

Which alarm were you fitting?

The original factory fit alarm is quite different from the dealer fitted Meta alarm. You should be able to fit the Meta one OK. The factory fit one I have, but I don't think you can retro fit them after the car leaves the factory due to integration with the body computer, hence the dealers fitting the Meta one.

Spot on ....and the total madness of this situation just confirms my comments of a few posts back.

As these are specially designed for the Stilo they are a good substitute for the original factory alarm system!

Yes; I should know as I've got one on the shelf now. I also have all the items required for the factory fit alarm (aside from WRONG Body computer as just discussed )

I'm sorry but, for someone who's spent 20 years in the electronics industry, I do not consider these a good substitute for the oem alarm. Barely a single wire of the original factory fit alarm is utilized by the META alarm (and a large number of Stilos, such as mine, are fully wired).

If the body computer COULD be programed then many Stilos would only need:

1. Alarm header console
2. Contact switch for bonnet catch.
3. Siren module
4. Wiring: NONE! (even the wiring for the bonnet catch exists)
5. Activation with Examiner

Instead Fiat sell the META alarm - MADNESS :bang:

 

[john55]

Got a eeprom programmer? Get that body computer out and see if you cant read the eeprom. Then get dumps from others with different configurations and start comparing them.

 

[yellowstilo]

Yes, i fully agree but lacking a correct programmed bodycomputer i'm afraid the Meta system is the second best way to fit an alarm in your Stilo...
I did a lot of research on the Stilo electronics but never found any clue how to reprogram a bodycomputer;i guess only Fiat Italy and Magneti Marelli have the know-how to do so....
But regarding the Meta alarm - i think it offers good features for the money and i consider it a good alternative for the OEM alarm.

 

[Argonought]

Got a eeprom programmer? Get that body computer out and see if you cant read the eeprom. Then get dumps from others with different configurations and start comparing them.

Well! I've also learnt it's best to know when to leave things well alone

Far better to let guys like yellowstilo do the hard grafting and then copy the fruits of their labours (nothing wrong with a bit of financial inducement though)

At the end of the day it's only an alarm

 

[john55]

Well, at least you don't get the loud beep - beep that I have with the factory alarm every time I lock / unlock the car. It is really annoying and everyone around knows when you unlock / lock the car. Added to that it goes off every time a large truck passes the car and I can not leave any windows or sky roof open slightly for ventilation on hot days as that randomly sets it off too. You are probably better off with the Meta one for these reasons.