Note: Each headrest for each vehicle is different your specific install may vary slightly from the installation guide shown.
For larger images of each step, click on the thumbnails to the right.
Prior to starting install remove headrest from the seat back and use a clean location for performing the installation.
Take out the monitor shroud and position it where you will be installing it on the back of the head rest. Try to position in the center of the flat area away from any bends or stitching.
Double-check the location of the headrest. While firmly holding down the monitor shroud to the headrest back, outline the cut out hole with an erasable marker. Once you have the cutout hole drawn use a razor knife to bore out the headrest cavity. Note: You may want to cut out a hole 1/4" smaller than the headrest cutout hole to allow for error.
Using a marker or pencil, trace the cutout hole onto the internal foam rubber surface of the headrest back.
Once the cutout hole is traced onto the foam rubber, you may now remove the headrest cover from the foam rubber interior. The head rest cover is usually attached by a fabric channel. By squeezing the channel together it should separate the two fabric pieces and easily open. Once the channels are open pull the cover from around the foam headrest making sure not to tear the fabric.
Once the fabric is fully removed all that should be seen is the internal foam headrest and the headrest poles.
Take the monitor shroud and position it evenly around the cutout hole. If you allowed for error by making your cutout hole on the foam headrest fabric cover smaller you will have to retrace the cutout hole on the foam so that it will fit the shroud.
Once you have the hole traced on the back of the foam headrest, start to chisel out the foam from the cutout hole to approximately 1/2" deep. For best results start at one end and slowly chisel and pull back the foam rubber.
Trim all edges of the cutout hole so that it will accommodate the monitor shroud with ease.
When the trim-out of the hole on the foam headrest back is complete, reinstall the fabric cover over the head rest and check the fit of the monitor shroud onto the headrest back. An easy method to affix the headrest shroud to the foam cutout opening is to first cut out a piece of cardboard the size of the foam opening and hot glue it to the base of the foam opening. This will provide a flat clean surface to mount the shroud. Then using a quality 3M Hook and Loop fastener (Part Express Part #350-350), place three rows between the two surfaces. This will provide a strong bond yet offer the flexibility of removal if ever necessary.
Prior to mounting the actual TFT LCD screen into the shroud, it is important to take both screen adjustments and wire management into consideration. Carefully take out the screen from the static sensitive bag. Power up the TFT LCD screen and using a video monitor tester like (Parts Express part # 390-760) check the screen for color, tint, pix contrast and back lighting. These controls are found on the back of the screen. Note: These controls are typically already adjusted and optimized at the factory.
Now that the screen is properly aligned it is ready to be installed into the shroud. Keep in mind that there is still the issue of running the wire through the foam and either along side the headrest pole or actually through the headrest pole. For an ultra clean install we chose to run the power and video wire through the pole leaving no exposed wires to be seen.
The screen was easily mounted using three strips of 3M Hook and Loop fastener. Make sure to remove plastic protective screen film prior to mounting screen.
To send both the power and video wire through the small hole in the headrest pole, we used a multipurpose four conductor wire (Parts Express part #100-540).
We first drilled a 1/4" hole into the metal pole at top pulling back the foam approximately one inch so that the wire would be totally hidden by the headrest fabric cover.
To fish the multi-purpose wire through the hole in the head rest pole, we first ran a smaller wire through the hole by slightly bending the end that needs to pop out through the drilled hole in the headrest pole. After fishing the smaller wire through the hole we attached the multi-purpose wire to the other end and pulled the wire through the drilled hole.
After the multi-purpose wire was fished through we terminated the video cable using a male solder type RCA connector Parts Express part number 090-250. We also soldered the power and ground cable using the outer conductor as ground and the inner conductor as +12v.
The headrest is now ready to be reinstalled into the seat back. Note: Remember that the monitor faces to the back passengers. Make sure that you fish the proper side of the top seat back head rest post prior to fishing wire.
To fish the multi-purpose wire through the seat back start by using a opened metal hanger. Make a few wraps of tape around the end of the wire that you are fishing through the top of the seat back to prevent poking the wire through the seat.
Fish the wire all the way to the bottom and use your other hand at the bottom to find the end that you are fishing down. Once you touch the wire being fished down, pull it through with the other hand.
Attach a piece of wire to the opened fish hanger and pull the wire through the seat. This wire will be easier to attach and pull the multi-purpose wire through.
Attach the multi-purpose wire to the end of the fish wire and pull it through from the bottom.
Align the headrest poles to the top of the seat back and click it into position.
Perform the same technique to the opposite side headrest.
