I'm new here and have been searching for a diy way to add either an ipod or aftermarket stereo to an 04 Prius with the JBL system/amp (without losing any steering wheel volume control). I've found that the radio only sends a signal to the amp, and the amp does all the work. 1 idea I thought is to just cut the left and right audio signals and join them to my input device. Anyone out there think that will work fine or blow something up. Any other suggestions. Thanks
My other idea was if I could somehow find the cassette audio signal, and cut those wires and connect them to rca's (I will never ever use the cassette player, so no loss cutting the wire)
If your head unit has a cassette player (which in itself quite a piece of antique!) why not just use an iPod cassette adapter?
Most likely, you'll kill something by just piercing into those wires. The output impedance of the head unit (whatever it plays) will be too low to be rocked by ipod's preamp. Also, no control will be available. Why not just use those cheap and good plug-n-play ipod adapters made specially for toyota? Even I bought one on ebay (with shipping to RUSSIA paid!) in order to ease my life, despite I am a good radioelectronic engineer. Toyota is a WELL-constructed thing, don't try to break in - you'll make no good.
I used a relay to connect my EMPEG player to my 04. Still going strong! See thread here: http://priuschat.com/forums/audio-electronics/10466-empeg-installed.html edit: hmm, that link doesn't seem to work correctly, try cut and paste or search for 'empeg' and go to the empeg installed thread.
I'm not familiar with what US package # the I-tech corresponds to (or if it even does correspond to one), but there are several devices that jump into the signal path by plugging into an available port on the back of the factory head unit....the port is intended for an outboard 6-disc changer (I believe)...anyhow, many aftermarket devices like Ipod adapters & Satellite radio tuners are made to plug into this port. I've got a sat tuner plugged into mine. There are also ways to install an aftermarket radio, but none that I'm aware of that would preserve the interaction with the MFD & steering wheel controls. Hope this helps....
Same, no package numbers in Australia, only base and ITECH (with JBL sound) That sounds perfect, do you know of any diagrams or pics on where to add these audio signal / wiring to the back of the factory unit? And to play how do you change the input on your factory unit? Thats not a huge problem, it appears that the JBL amp controls the volume, so as long as I am passing the audio signal into the factory head unit the steering wheel controls should be fine (fingers crossed)
My Prius is a package 4 (in the US). It does not have the JBL system, but does have the CD player with MP3/WAV playback capability & the aux input in the center console. I'll attach a picture of what the back of the radio looks like so you can see the port I'm talking about (it's the middle one above the embossed "1"). In my system, the Sirius satellite tuner plugs into this port; to access it as a source you simply push the "AM" button on the head unit, this toggles you from AM radio presets, to Sat 1 presets, then Sat 2 presets, then Sat 3 presets, then back to AM radio.
