Radio Auxiliary Install?

I'm pretty sure most of the aftermarket adapters for iPods, etc., include an analog aux in. The DICE iPod adapter I bought (right here in the priuschat store) certainly does. You can search for my thread on "dice iPod thingy" for installation details; also search for related threads by mlibanio who found a different product easier to get working than the DICE. Typically they are small boxes with plugs to go in the back of the radio, plus cables/plugs to attach to an iPod or aux in source. There's plenty of space beside the radio or above the glove box to secure the little box inside the dash. If you know which connectors to feel for in the back of the radio, you don't even need to mess with the center finish panel or taking the radio out; you can reach the connectors from the side after taking the glove box out.

My DICE thingy identifies itself to the radio as a minidisc changer and can be operated via the MFD touchscreen and display album/artist/track info. You select the aux in by choosing a special "track" on "disc 5". It's a little odd but gets the job done. A nice feature is it has its own separate bass/mid/treble and gain adjustments just for the aux in, so when you switch between sources you can avoid having your aux source stick out with a different volume or eq. These adjustments are also "tracks" on a special "disc".

-Chap

 

I just installed an aftermarket radio for a customer. Rather than adapt an iPod to the factory radio just buy a $100 new radio from Crutchfield/Amazon with USB/Ipod/Iphone/Bluetooth etc. Install where the factory CD player goes. You'll need mounting brackets from the sides of factory CD, Make up an adapter harness that looks like the one linked below in the photobucket set and the clock in the factory radio and INFO buttons will still work. (but the factory RADIO will no longer work).



Aftermarket Radio Photos by 3prongpower | Photobucket

 

I installed that same stereo. I love it. Bluetooth, aux and usb inputs, Bluetooth audio stream, Ipod controls, what more could you ask for $100? It is a great deal.

 

Sorry, I'm a little dense this afternoon and don't quite understand:

• "clock in the factory radio" - I thought it was in the cassette tape player. Is the cassette tape player not involved?
• "INFO buttons" - as in the Prius touch screen, the multifunction display?
• "factory RADIO will no longer work" - I first thought because the antenna has gone to the new radio?

I like it and would be just as happy to get rid of all the old electronics.

Bob Wilson

 

The clock is technically next to the cassette but it is part of the "radio" hardware.
The physical INFO and MENU button to the right of the "radio" seems to get power from the Radio harness.
The factory radio no longer works because antennae moved and speaker harnesses are no longer connected to it. It will actually still power on, but no output.

Only risk in doing all this is some gen1 center dash panels shatter when pulling them off...this could add around $200 to your "upgrade" if this happens....mostly happens in dry climates where plastic is really brittle.
(you have to pull the center panel forward a bit to access the factory radio connectors)If you remove the glovebox you can access the back of the factory radio from the side and save the center dash panel from getting broken.

Lots of cool aftermarket radios with smartphone/ipod integration/USB charging for well under $150.

The DUAL unit in the photos was $89 delivered from Cructhfield.com My customer picked it out but I was quite impressed for $89. Easily mated to my iPhone4 for streaming music/bluetooth voice handsfree calling.

Dual XDMA6630 CD receiver at Crutchfield.com

 

I was recently looking into this. Did you have to remove the whole dash?/Did you use an amp?

 

Just the lower dash panel near the ashtray (easy) and the center panel has to be pulled out a bit. This is the piece that can break if you're not careful. (First slide the hazard switch panel away from the dash to access two 10mm nuts then remove the screws at the bottom of the panel).

Just lower/remove the glovebox and go in from the side to save damaging the large center dash panel.

I did not add an amplifier. The aftermarket radio was sufficient for my customer.

 

thank you.

 

check out this thread Gen 1 audio upgrade query | PriusChat

 

my bezel could be considered too big. Might consider not reapplying that lower half.

 

Paul,
Great post:

What's the risk of connecting the new HU to the R4 12 pin harness out of the Y harness that came with the factory CD ( 2001 prius Gen1)?

 

it's a little hard to see in this photo;
You need a Toyota harness adaptor and a reverse harness so you don't need to cut/splice any wires in the car. These two parts are on Amazon;
Amazon.com: Metra 70-1761 Radio Wiring Harness For Toyota 87-Up Power 4 Speaker: Car Electronics
Amazon.com: Metra 71-1761 87 - 94 Toyota Vehicle Harness: Car Electronics




You want to pull two connectors out of the radio, the larger one is power and front speakers, the smaller is for rear speakers.

This complete harness mates the aftermarket radio plug to the car harnesses and requires no cutting of factory wires in case you want to put car back to stock.

You then need 3 wires on the reverse harness T-tapped into the larger plug.
Plug the reverse harness with 3 wires connected back into the factory radio. This way the clock and INFO buttons on the dash will still work. The colors may be different but use the PIN positions from these photos and make sure they tap into the same positions on the other harness.

 

Thanks a lot Paul, I ordered the harnesses, will try it this weekend.

no need to hook up the antenna to the new HU ?
Also, I am trying to get to the radio from the glove box, as I don't want to risk breaking the dash. you think it's doable?

Please & thanks
Youssef

 

If your "radio" has a tuner yes you'll need to move the antennae wire also from the factory radio.
It has plenty of slack.

If you want to save the dash panel best to remove glovebox and work through that opening, it's tight but if you have small hands you can unplug the harnesses and antennae from the factory radio without removing main dash panel. (which will most likely break if you try to remove it)

Back of factory radio looks like this. Unplug the two plugs shown with blue tape. The release tabs are at the top of the connectors. Antenna is in lower corner, close to driver.

 

Paul,

You rock, Thanks a lot for the help.

I now have it up and running. I didn't have to remove the dash.
It was a bit hard but I managed to just do it all through the glove compartment.
for the back of the main radio, i was able to "feel" my way -based on you picture above- to remove the harness and antenna from the main unit. then putting one hand through the cd changer slot and the other through the glove compartment to put the 71-1761 10-pin harness in place

again a big thanks to Paul....

 

Thanks Paul.

 

It looks like the factory radio only gets:

• black - ground
• red - B+ from ignition
• yellow - battery memory B+

I am trying to understand where the clock and info buttons connect to the radio?

I did notice the separate, rear speaker connector in the stock connector has two extra wires and pins. On the circuit board they are labeled "comp+" and "comp-" and probably the computer interface.

Now the security LED flashes but I didn't see the clock display 'come on.' When I go back in, I'll take another look at the clock cable. It should have:

• black - ground
• red - B+ from ignition
• yellow - battery memory B+
• orange (?) - illumination? . . . missing from/to the aftermarket radio? . . . also your cable

Regardless, I'll try coming in from the glovebox side to see if I can get the OBD/amplifier (distribution) connectors in.

Bob Wilson

 

The clock and info buttons connect directly to the factory radio via the backside of the dash panel. Using the 3 wire "pigtail" allows you to feed power to that assembly so clock will still work. The orange wire makes no difference. I'll see if I have a radio/dash assembly out of car and post photos.

 

Here's a (broken) gen1 dash panel, you can see the radio buttons and clock are separate from the radio/cassette unit which has been removed from the dash panel. The connector on the backside of this panel connects into the radio unit via the cars harness, and that's where it gets power from. The 3 wire pigtail plugs INTO the original radio in order for clock and info buttons to work. The three white connectors in a row at the bottom are for the HVAC controls.