Steering wheel controls with aftermarket headunit

Thanks for the report. I wonder if this thing would work correctly if I wanted to have some of the steering wheel buttons continue to operate my JBL head unit, while having other buttons go to an aftermarket Alpine deck. I'm thinking of removing my amplifer, controlling volume with an Alpine deck that gets the signal from the factory system. It sounds like that would work okay and I could use the steering wheel volume for the Alpine but the track buttons for the JBL head unit.

So you didn't have to disconnect the steering wheel controls from wherever they are normally connected right? I'm assuming you just tapped in in parallel?

 

I assume your climate control steering wheel buttons still control the car's climate system, right? So it seems likely to me that there must be something else in the car reading the steering wheel controls at the same time as the JBL radio or PAC SWI is reading them... indicating that parallel connections work. I'm assuming the devices that read the controls have very high input impedances (resistances in this case) to allow parallel connections. Unless the climate controls are on a separate circuit.

As far as the sharing that shouldn't be a problem since when I disconect the JBL amp the JBL head unit volume controls get disabled.

 

The other problem with having an aftermarket HU along with JBL is handling the speakers. How are you going to work both the aftermarket AND the JBL? You can't just feed the aftermarket HU into the JBL amp. Well, if the aftermarket HU has line level outputs, I suppose you could make a switch to change the JBL amp input source. Just remember though, the JBL expects fixed line level, so in this configuration, you would have 2 volume controls.

 

My plan would be to send the JBL head unit signal into the aftermarket HU CD changer input. After all, that is what it is... a super duper changer with bonus of cassette and radio. I would adjust volume with the aftermarket HU (potentially with steering wheel controls using the PAC-SWI).

 

BrettRay: Would care to share some photos of the installation. I'm gonna replace the HU on my Prius when I get it (2006 EU-version).

And what I've heard from the dealer it's not the JBL system but the new mp3 HU I'm gettin as standard. BUT it doesn't have DAB radio and the Sony HU I've got at home does and I don't wanna loose that...

DAB is digital radio via groundbased antenna network abitl ike XM radio.

Cheers,
Zappa

 

LOL, sounds what I've planend todo, but I'm thinking of plastic... People of mp3car.com is really creative of molding up stuff soo in worse case I'll "just" pop by UK and have one of them help me out... LOL

But I'll wait until you got a clean and nice install untill I starts threating you until you put up some photos...

But plz do put up a photo before and after the finish up...

BTW is the stock HU a single din or a 2-din unit??? Or is it one of thoose fancy 1½ -din units???

/Zappa

 

I have just installed my SWI-ALP and the Prius steering wheel controls works well with my Alpine system. All is OK !
But I have a problem : I have removed the factory HU and now some information on the MFD is not working:
Upon hitting the power button, the info display comes up on the MFD. It displays NO bars.
The car works, it drives, the AC works and responds to the temperature up and down buttons.
Climate button on MFD bezel gives a "Check Air Conditioner Connection" message.
If I reconnect the 3 connectors of the factory HU, all is working again...
So it's seem that some informations transit thru the factory HU and the MFD... Removing default HU break an information link..

Someone can help me ?
Thanks

 

I believe you need to connect a resister between two of the wires. read the instruction in the Metra Kit installation guide.

 

Yup, a resistor, about 68 ohms to terminate the TX lines.

 

Just wondering, for those with aftermarket HU, what displays on the MFD when you hit the audio button? Any pics appreciated.

Also, I have '06 package #1 only non-JBL and non-Nav, can I just use the connect the aftermarket HU directly to the stock speaker wires? or I need to run the wires myself. Thanks.

 

You can use the stock wires if you dont mind cutting them. Otherwise get Metra 70-1761 which will connect to your stock wiring and then you splice to the new HU's wires.

I highly recommend you get new speakers first.

Also, there will be problems with just removeing the stock HU as the MFD requires the connection. I don't know the specifics but someone went through this recently here on Priuschat. Search for "Metra" and you should be able to find that post.

 

This is exactly what I've been looking for, since the stereo in the HK Priuses are rubbish (no CD/MD changer, etc). Now I can dump the stereo and get an awesome Alpine unit which will work with the steering wheel Man if only they had one of these that outputs to USB -- removes a huge barrier to the Mac Prius project I was considering.

BTW, how hard was it to install?

 

I don't know about macs, but you can get devices that let PCs be controlled from IR, so you could integrate with the IR output from this thing.

 

Good point! Might be one for the future, but the new iMacs and MacBooks have IR sensors and I assume the new Mac mini will too.