are dual RPD possible? ..oh and I agree it's pretty awesome as a factory option, but the lighting blows, once my car goes to night mode the RPD is unreadable with even the smallest glimmer of sun.

 

Yeah I agree about that once the screen dims during the day you can't see it

 

I just turn off my auto lights until they are actually needed.

 

I don't see why not. It gets its data from the LAN.

If the interceptor + RPD works at the same time I see no reason dual RPD's wouldn't work.

I'm going to try and figure out a way to keep my dash lights off *auto dimming* when my fogs are on.

 

Well sometimes when the sun is going down but not fully is when I have the most trouble and by then I like to have my lights on but yeah turning off the lights fixes the rpd dimming

 

I wish it would be as simple as disconnecting the parking light feed to the RPD but unfortunately it gets that info off the LAN like everything else.

 

Hmm when I was fooling with the Tech 2 the other day I saw an option for "parade dimming". I had no clue what it was and left it alone.

I did some reading and found the following info:

Parade Dimming
Maintains intensity of all instrument panel vacuum fluorescent displays such as radio and climate control when headlamps are in use during daylight hours.



I have to wonder if I enable or disable this then make the light sensor think it's daytime all the time via resistor if this might just make the RPD bright at all times.........

It would obviously disable the auto headlight feature but I wouldn't mind flicking the switch on manually if this fixed the brightness issue.

From what this information says it will also force all VFD's to full brightness even at night...that may be annoying.

Time to experiment.

 

Welp some good news.

I plugged in my Tech 2 again. This time in the BCM I DISABLED "parade mode"

Now when I turn on my fogs or headlights WITH a flashlight aimed in the light sensor the DIC/Radio stay FULL BRIGHT!

When I remove the flashlight after 20 or so seconds they dim.

The whole time all my backlighting for the cluster / hvac etc are on full bright.

Now all I have to do is find the right resistor to replace the light sensor with to make the car think it's daylight all the time.

This should keep the RPD at full bright once I install it.


Maybe I'll leave the light sensor alone. I do typically disable auto lights.

The problem I saw coming is I do like to run with my fogs on and that makes the dash lights / DIC dim anytime they're on.

Disabling parade mode basically made them stay full bright anytime the car thinks it's daylight out now!

 

You dont want the rpd bright all the time. When its dark out and the rpd is bright, it looks pixelated

 

Duly noted. Thanks.

 

Tested my DIC/Radio lighting today. Ran with my fogs on.

Dash background lights were all on and DIC/Radio on full brightness during the day.

I have to imagine the RPD will stay full bright during the day now also.

I will report once I have my RPD installed.

 

Harness assembled. Time to put it in some tubing and install it.

 

Nice man I hope it works for you

 

Aaaand done! I will post some pics of the final product when it's daytime tomorrow.

Side note: With "parade mode" off in my BCM if I hold a light to the light sensor and the headlight switch in the on position the cluster stays illuminated but the VFD displays go full bright and the RPD goes full bright.

To be honest it's not that bright to me and will do some testing to see if it works at night for me.

If so I will be putting a resistor in the ambient light sensor essentially disabling my auto lights + the auto dimming feature.

I find the RPD to be rather dim even in the dark once the dash dims.

I need to take it back out tomorrow when there's light and get it so it's not so crooked. I think the ZZP attachment point needs some slight adjustment.

 

Ughhhh it's always something.

With parade mode off and my ambient light sensor tricked to daytime all the time here's what happens.

The DIC/RPD/Radio VFD are full bright all the time. Headlights on, off, fogs on it don't matter, full bright. Perfect. None are that bright at night to cause vision issues.

Everything behaves perfectly. Auto headlights no longer exist. I love it.

Tonight noticed one issue. The backlighting for the buttons on the radio do not turn on at all.

FFS GM. WHY?

I am now going to dismantle my radio to make the backlights on anytime the key is on.

Other than that it works great and I can see it fine anytime under any lighting.