Japanese car headunit from Japanese to English

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CB_24

366 posts

Ultimate Geek

#152069 15-Sep-2014 08:58

Anyone changed a Japanese stereo language from Japanese to English (without replacing the whole unit)? I've heard it can be done.

The car is a Mazda MPV and it appears to be a factory headunit that's branded Mitsubishi, I say its factory because when the unit comes on it has the Mazda logo on startup.

Front of unit

Behind the unit

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4096 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1128799 15-Sep-2014 09:19

I wouldnt hold your breath - but this is as good a place as any to ask the question.
You will always find the radio doesnt quite work right (the Japanese of course having a different frequency range - hence the band expanders that you need to install to get any NZ stations).

Depending on how much you want to spend maybe this place is worth a call :
http://www.oemaudio.co.nz/mazda.aspx

It would be a complete replacement (assuming they have a suitable unit). They seem to pretty much build the cars around the head units these days. I note on that site above they mention a couple of cars have the heater controls hooked through the head units (as well as GPS etc etc) - so they have gone beyond a radio replacement that you used to be able to do in the good old days. I guess there cant be much market in nicked car radios these days...

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Jared777

61 posts

Master Geek

#1128832 15-Sep-2014 09:58

Yeah a complete replacement is probably a good idea. The stereo in the Japanese import I purchased didn't even have an option to switch to English.

CB_24

366 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1128851 15-Sep-2014 10:36

Haven't had much time with it yet to see if I can find an exact model number of the unit so I can try and locate a manual for it.

Predated

177 posts

Master Geek

#1128864 15-Sep-2014 10:48

Hi

As the tech go to guy for a few people I've done a bit of research on this in the past and my findings are that just about all of these are Japanese only, no other language options.

This is why the replacement units are so popular

European imports will switch to English without a problem tho

joff_nz

446 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1128865 15-Sep-2014 10:51

CB 24, I'd say its almost certainly not going to convertible to english, however fortunately it looks like a standard double-din size.

Assuming it isn't tied into your heater controls etc, it should be a pretty easy replacement with an off the shelf unit from Repco or similar.

I've done a little research into converting all sorts of japanese head units, and I've seen hundreds and hundreds of comments of 'It can be done' 'You just need a disc' etc, and yet come across practically no examples of this actually being the case. (That's not to say it's never the case, but I don't believe it's common in any way)

That aside, a band expander to shift the radio frequencies to NZ frequencies should be easy enough, and if you can work out the basic functions, that could be a pretty powerful headunit. It apperars to have an HDD built in which commonly will allow you to record music onto it, meaning you can store all your cds in your head unit.

CB_24

366 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1128886 15-Sep-2014 11:02

Thanks for the info,

It has a band expander already in so no worries there. When I get some more time to play with it I'll start pressing more buttons and see what it can do. Keen to find out more on the HDD option, would be great if it works here and not carry our CD's around.
The headunit is for the reversing camera also so replacing the unit would probably mean a new camera also.

joff_nz

446 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1128890 15-Sep-2014 11:09

Often the camera will have standardised input, and many double din units with a screen will have a revering camera input, so if you did replace it you'd be able t keep the amera

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CB_24

366 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1128922 15-Sep-2014 11:38

Thanks

I'm guessing it must have an English keyboard going by "Kiss FM" on the display screen?

pgs2050

281 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1129071 15-Sep-2014 14:43

I am also about to convert a Japanese system into English as well. It's on a 2007 Outlander that has a MMCS Mitsubishi Motors Communications System. Apparently this has already been done successfully in NZ and in other countries where vehicles are imported from Japan. I've just got to get a 2.5" to 3.5" hard drive cable and a #8 torx tool to make some progress.

The system automatically copies CD's onto the 30-40G hard drive.

If your system was also sold in English markets, you may be able to replace the Japanese language files with appropriate English language ones. You may find some useful information for your system at a Mitsubishi car enthusiasts forum such as this one http://mitsubishiforum.com/forum/. Perhaps you may be able to locate a similar forum for your vehicle.

Edit: It appears that KISS FM is a radio station in Japan. The auto tuner adds this station name after a scan. There is no option in my unit engage an English keyboard.

CB_24

366 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1129219 15-Sep-2014 16:46

Excellent info, sounds like it might be a similar unit?
Keen to hear how you get on with it, any more detailed info on how its done?

pgs2050

281 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1129230 15-Sep-2014 17:00

I am following the advice shared in this post: http://mitsubishiforum.com/forum/everything-else-37/mmcs-data-files-japanese-english-46550/. Another thread that was useful to me is this one http://mitsubishiforum.com/forum/mitsubishi-outlander-10/how-unlock-mmcs-25583/.

The 2007 Japanese Mitsubishi's have at least 4 different head units - a similar process is followed to convert the language. One of the critical steps is unlocking the hard drive (using a software tool XBOXHDM that previously developed for unlocking the original xbox hard drive, so identification of your specific model and finding the unlock code is a starting point. Another critical step is locating the language file for your specific unit.

Fortunately, for me the users in the first thread I mentioned were very helpful in making these available to me. On my unit the model number (j-01) is stated on the face just below a joystick/selection button.

A bit more nagging from my wife (it's her car) and I will get hold of the cable and tools I need to proceed. Incredibly, PB Tech Penrose do not stock this cable!

Behodar

10501 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1129231 15-Sep-2014 17:00

pgs2050: There is no option in my unit engage an English keyboard.

It may be called a ローマ字 ("roman character") keyboard. Also, the word for "keyboard" is キーボード (or occasionally ワープロ) if that helps to find any options.

CB_24

366 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1129544 16-Sep-2014 00:01

pgs2050: I am following the advice shared in this post: http://mitsubishiforum.com/forum/everything-else-37/mmcs-data-files-japanese-english-46550/. Another thread that was useful to me is this one http://mitsubishiforum.com/forum/mitsubishi-outlander-10/how-unlock-mmcs-25583/.

The 2007 Japanese Mitsubishi's have at least 4 different head units - a similar process is followed to convert the language. One of the critical steps is unlocking the hard drive (using a software tool XBOXHDM that previously developed for unlocking the original xbox hard drive, so identification of your specific model and finding the unlock code is a starting point. Another critical step is locating the language file for your specific unit.

Fortunately, for me the users in the first thread I mentioned were very helpful in making these available to me. On my unit the model number (j-01) is stated on the face just below a joystick/selection button.

A bit more nagging from my wife (it's her car) and I will get hold of the cable and tools I need to proceed. Incredibly, PB Tech Penrose do not stock this cable!

Great info, thanks a lot.
Will look into those forums and see how I go.

Cheers

CB_24

366 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1134681 23-Sep-2014 16:20

pgs2050: I am following the advice shared in this post: http://mitsubishiforum.com/forum/everything-else-37/mmcs-data-files-japanese-english-46550/. Another thread that was useful to me is this one http://mitsubishiforum.com/forum/mitsubishi-outlander-10/how-unlock-mmcs-25583/.

The 2007 Japanese Mitsubishi's have at least 4 different head units - a similar process is followed to convert the language. One of the critical steps is unlocking the hard drive (using a software tool XBOXHDM that previously developed for unlocking the original xbox hard drive, so identification of your specific model and finding the unlock code is a starting point. Another critical step is locating the language file for your specific unit.

Fortunately, for me the users in the first thread I mentioned were very helpful in making these available to me. On my unit the model number (j-01) is stated on the face just below a joystick/selection button.

A bit more nagging from my wife (it's her car) and I will get hold of the cable and tools I need to proceed. Incredibly, PB Tech Penrose do not stock this cable!

Been able to make any progress on this?
Know if you can buy another HDD and work on that and then swap them out?

pgs2050

281 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1134699 23-Sep-2014 16:42

CB_24:
Been able to make any progress on this?
Know if you can buy another HDD and work on that and then swap them out?

I haven't made any progress as yet. After seeing some images of the cable, I think I have an old cable somewhere in storage, got to find it or get another.

I have read on other forums that the HDD is pretty standard – others have added larger capacity drives with the intention of storing their CD collections. However, you do need to start with the HDD that is in the car. This process only replaces the Japanese language file with the English one. I think all other files, boot instructions, etc. remain unchanged. Maybe you could use a clone image from another source.

After a long drive in the car this weekend, I am determined to sort this out. The Japanese navigation needs some urgent attention. I need to figure out how to turn off navigation or lower the volume of the voice directions - it seems that every time the vehicle is detected as entering a new prefecture / province, a loud welcome / announcement is played through the driver’s side speaker. This becomes annoying after a few repetitions.

I hope to make some progress this weekend.

edit: insert paragraphs.

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