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Maintenance & Repair DVD/Entertainment Systems
397 messages, Last post on Sep 04, 2009 at 11:50 AM
You are in the Maintenance & Repair Forum. Your Host is mr_shiftright
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I'm looking to add DVD rear seat video to my 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT. Have started research but am having difficulty finding answers. Can anyone comment on factory-installed or MOPAR accessory system (DVD player in-dash with 7" fold-down screen in overhead console plus wireless headphones) in a Grand Caravan, Caravan, T&C, or Voyager (maybe Durango is similar too)? Can anyone verify whether or not wiring for the overhead already exists in these vehicles? I'm in the process of ordering the factory service manual, which may (or may not) be of help. There are several aftermarket kits available. Hard to find concrete comparisons on features and performance. One thing I'm interested to know is side-to-side viewing angle; I have read that some monitors have very narrow viewing angles. Another is how well the screen can be seen it is bright and sunny outside. If anyone has experience with installing (or having installed) DaimlerChrysler of aftermarket system, please let us know what you found out. |
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None of the Chrysler minivans (Voyager, Caravan, or Town and Country) comes with factory wiring for the video system. The Mopar video system comes with all parts including wiring harnesses and templates for cutting the headlining. I bought the video system after I bought my Grand Caravan and had it installed by a place here in town that does automotive electronics. I bought the complete video system on EBay for $275.00 complete in the sealed box and paid another $220.00 to have it installed. Total of about $500.00. Came with one wireless headset so I bought another headset from the Dodge dealer. Everyone used to fight to sit in the right front seat, now everyone fights to sit in the middle or rear seats. Sure makes a great difference on even short trips. A really great deal on EBay but not sure if I would go for the system if I had to pay list price for parts and labor from the Dodge dealer...... |
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I purchased a Dodge Grand Caravan Sport for my wife without a video system and then found several video systems advertised on EBay over a few months period. I purchased a complete Mopar system still in the sealed box for $275.00. Opened the box and found that it contained everything including instructions, wiring harnesses, template for cutting the headlining, etc. A fairly competent do-it-yourselfer could easily do it, however, when my Dodge dealer referred me to the electronics shop here in town where they have them done, I found that the installation price was $225.00 (5 hours labor) and figured that was the way to go. There is only about 1/4" leeway in cutting the opening in the headliner and a new headliner costs more than $225.00! Came with one wireless earphone and I bought one more at the Dodge dealer. Whole family loves the system! Used to be everyone fought to ride in the right front seat, now everyone fights to ride in the middle or rear seats. Makes a big difference even on short trips and with the earphones, I can drive and listen to the radio or my own CDs or cassettes while they watch and listen to the video system. Only drawback I see is that it restricts vision to the rear through the inside rearview mirror a bit. My total price (system, installation, extra headset, etc.) came to about $535.00 which was well worth it expecially as it is factory original as opposed to aftermarket. Don't know if I would get it if I had to pay full Chrysler price though....... To answer your other questions -- the stock van does not have any wiring included for the video system, everything needed comes with the kit. There is nothing in the shop manual for the video system, again everything comes with the kit. The viewing angle on the screen is very wide and the color intensity is such that it is clearly visible in bright sunlight without being too glaring at night. Overall, I would have to rate this very high in quality. By the way, the users manual for video system is the same size as the users manual for the van..... If you shop for the Mopar kit on the aftermarket, the system for any Mopar minivan from 2001 up will fit, however, make sure that the color matches or complements the interior color of your van. ****My apologies for the duplicate entry above. I posted the first entry and it didn't show up. I thought it got lost somewhere in "that great bitbucket in the sky" so I reposted.****
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Howard, Thanks for your very informative reply. You got a great deal for your system; I have been looking on eBay, too, but not found anything yet. Dealer list price for the 2004 system is $1395 plus installation. What year is your GC Sport? MOPAR parts book shows 1.5 hours labor for installation; sounds like a low figure. I have found several internet sources that quote discounts off MSRP. Problem I am encountering now is that no dealers (both internet and brick-and-mortar) can get the system -- back-ordered for an indeterminate time. I am encouraged by your desciption of the wide viewing angle and brightness. Thanks |
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I was thinking about installing two monitors and a DVD player in my car, and a local electronics install shop said about $1500, all included, but not Alpine equipment. (pioneer and some other monitor) Went to Canepa Designs, and they quoted me $5000 at least, but will include the better equipment like Alpine. |
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| I'm not finding anyone (besides the two on Amazon) who have the Audiovox Overhead DVD LCD system (VOD 806). I would like to here some life experience with this model vs. say the Sony Mobile DVD Dream System. I'm interested in hearing about the smaller screens (Sony's is only 7" dia.) and where anyone has had the DVD player put on a 2003 Sienna. (I don't have a center console and I didn't want it installed under the middle row captain's chairs.) Thanks. | |
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A magazine reporter is looking to interview automotive technophiles who have DVD players, MP3 players, satellite radio and/or surround systems in their cars and cannot wait for the next big thing to come so they can add it to their rolling entertainment centers. Please respond no later than Wednesday, February 4 to jfallon  edmunds.com with your daytime contact info, make/model of vehicle and a sense of the entertainment technology you have and aspire to own. Thanks! Jeannine Fallon PR Director Edmunds.com |
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We're considering buying a new Chevy Venture. We would prefer to buy the model without the DVD and add it ourselves. We can't quite figure out if it's possible to install it because the rear audio and air controls are where the DVD would go. When it comes factory the air, audio and DVD all come together. Thanks - Stephanie |
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I saw two din size dvd/cd player made by alpine and panasonic. They're just cd/dvd players with no motorized screen. I wonder if it can work with a separate lcd screen that flips down. The dvd/cd player costs about $500, an individual lcd screen (10.5") costs about $800 and it comes with wireless headphones. By putting the player in the factory receiver opening, you can have access to the car audio system and play your regular cd if you're not watching a movie. I think the trick is to feed the audio signal from the screen to the dash receiver. Anyone has any idea how this works? thanks |
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| Does anyone have any experience with the portable DVD system made by Karview? (see www.karview.com) | |
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