I am fairly certain that all the inputs from it are generated by momentary contact microswitches. Replacing them with switches that serve a similar purpose, say, the switches from computer mice "left click" and "right click" would be a task only as difficult as your skills with a soldering pen.

My idea would be to arrange old microswitches, perhaps from old mice even, under the D-Pad from an old game controller and mount it as a single unit.

The major problem I would foresee with this is that it might not fit in the tight clearances of the old joystick's location, so it may be required to be elevated somehow.

If somebody wants to tear-down their joystick and take plenty of pictures of it, or can part with one for a month or so to ship it out to me (I do have some free time out here) I could give a better assessment.

 

yes they are momentary contact microswitches. (tested with meter) size is going to be the problem
here is a pic of the back side

 

Photobucket's blocked out here at work... I got 3 more hours before I can check those out, but that much is promising. Space issues can be worked around if you're creative enough, or just relocating the controls completely... hell, with some real creativity and relays, you could remap them to the steering wheel controls. (No, I'm not going to design that circuit for anybody who may think to ask).

 

Here's my picture of the nav controls from the side. I think there is enough room to build something in there:

 

i took pics of the circuit board once you can view them you will see its tight in there. it would most likely have to be relocated if you were to do it. not saying it cant be done anything is possible

 

Just relocating the "Enter" key may be enough to solve a lot of the problems with it. There's more than enough room for a microswitch just up and to the left of the joystick, between it and the DEST button, on both 03-04s and 05+'s.

 

Okay, can check the pictures now. Looks like the entire joystick can be removed and wires soldered to the back for all 5 functions - up, down, left, right, enter.

Or just adding a new enter would be nearly trivial with that setup, and replacing all 5 with something in place of the joystick is doable too.

 

I don't think he was trying to come off as a g35 wiring expert but being that he has alot of experience wiring and changing g35 radios he is right to tell what he think is better for my money. I am happy he did that because he save me time and money. I have experience with wiring radios and system in alot of cars mostly older honda and being that this is a newer car I took time to ask. I did not know the g35 oem navigation was not touch screen nor did I know I need the oem nav wiring harness I thought it was just plug and play

Thanks to wrathernaut i didnt spend to much time and money for something thats not worth it

I also called the infiniti dealer and they also said I would need to buy the harness and 2005 nav system only so I think he is a expert in my eyes

P.S I will be going with the garmin for now until he comes out with the DDin faceplate cover Then I will upgrade to the DDin nav system

Please give him the respect for spending time and voicing his opinion because of his experience

 

Well, in a way it is plug and play, it's just you have to plug in a whole lots of harnesses and play around with your dash apart.

 

ok but at the end of it, its not worth it because its not touchscreen and from what im hearing it kind of a ****ty system so i think i will go for the ddin did you start the faceplate cover

 

Nah, still 4 months and about 4,000 miles from my car right now.

 

im not understanding this 4 months away from your car talk

 

are you in the army

 

Yep.

 

wondering if I can buy a joystick pad online (or from a scrapped '05 G35), and send it out to you, wrathernaut. I would not mind paying a fee, of course, for services rendered... I guess it all depends on what your time is worth (or what the headache is worth to me).

but at the very least, I'll start searching for that pad (and let me know if you need anything else), and send it out to you (at my expense, of course).

i'm sure that if you found a successful solution, many folks would be looking to hire your services....