Firmware hacking?

[carperson]

So in computers, phones etc you can hack and apply custom firmware to the devices. It seems to me now that car stereos have usb/car sdcard readers and aux connection there should be a way to interface directly with the stereo using a PC and download the firmware in a bin file. Edit it and re-upload it to the stereo.

Has anyone attempted this or is there software that is used to do this?

Thanks all //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

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[gckless 5,000+ posts]

What would you accomplish by doing this?

 

[carperson]

Depends on what is in the firmware but you could change the boot text, text color (if possible), lighted button colors, ability to backup your custom settings, configurations, remap buttons, menu options, new features, fix annoyances or add them lol etc. It is just a matter of getting the bin and editing it to see what is possible. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Slo_Ride 5,000+ posts]

hmm

 

[carperson]

Looks like maybe they use the IEBus to do their communications. I wonder if that could be utilized to make the communications. I wish there was more info on this subject

 

[carperson]

Interesting it use tcp ip ack. Wonder what happens if a malformed ack is sent to one of the sections of the device like say the usb port? I just need to find software that is made to communicate. Although if the systems (pioneer) use ACK then they probably utilize the tcp stack more then what is published.

 

[fatboytyler]

There's likely not enough interest in this to have a publicly available software for it. I don't have a touchscreen, thus I haven't tore one apart to try to do such a thing. What are most HU even programmed with nowadays?

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Of course you imply that they even make an interface to flash the chips. I find it most probable that the information on the chips cannot be changed once the unit is assembled. It would be a nightmare for the companies to deal with all the nitwits bricking their head units trying to mod them.

 

[fatboytyler]

Of course you imply that they even make an interface to flash the chips. I find it most probable that the information on the chips cannot be changed once the unit is assembled. It would be a nightmare for the companies to deal with all the nitwits bricking their head units trying to mod them.

If you look and try hard enough anything like this can be changed, just a matter of who has enough time and wants it bad enough.

 

[gckless 5,000+ posts]

I doubt you're gonna find anything. I find it hard to believe that this is worth anyone's time also.

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

If you look and try hard enough anything like this can be changed, just a matter of who has enough time and wants it bad enough.

My point is that the firmware is likely flashed before the boards are assembled and they're NOT designed to change that after the fact like phones, tablets, etc.

Most head units are built to be disposable anyway, so I'm sure if, for example, a new music format or version of iPhone comes out, manufacturers would much rather sell you a new head unit that simply let you flash the firmware in yours to deal with new format or hardware.

 

[los33 10+ year member]

You cant change the text or colors or anything on a headunit unless you can pull the firmware source code and code in support for new content. Dont forget color changes is hardware supported as not all headunits come with available leds. You could manually change the leds tho.

Also the types of chips are jtagged for repair and updates unless you own a double din capable of using updates from usb.

I would advise not messing with a headunit unless you can jtag it because if you brick the firmware loader you wont be able to bring it back.