Hi all, new Prius C owner

At this point I'm pretty sure they didn't route a "reverse signal input" wire to the head unit for the 2012 TWO model...because it only has a basic radio. Makes sense...no reason to when no backup camera, etc... exists.

I have the AXWC-1 steering wheel controller. The directions specifically state that the LED should be on. Combined with the fact that it doesn't work...I think "it's dead, Jim".

The antenna has me a bit stumped. Probably similar to the "reverse signal input" wire issue where the wiring is different on the models with a basic radio. I tried splicing into what I think is the antenna wire on the main harness....but no luck.

Any idea where I can get the wiring diagram? It's probably lurking around here somewhere too I guess.

 

I called Crutchfield and they were a great help!

• They are sending me out a replacement AXWC-1 steering wheel controller. Tech support agreed it was DOA...especially since I verified that 12V is present on the harness that plugs into the unit.

• For the "reverse signal input" wire, they said to look for a 36 pin wiring harness behind the drivers side "knee panel" area labeled "3D". And then tap into pin #29...which should be a brown wire. I also found a PriusChat thread with a link to a PDF that seems to corroborate what Crutchfield said ( 2014 Prius C One reverse camera cable knee panel | PriusChat ).

• Edit : Adding another link to a picture of the "reverse signal input" wire ( Rearview Camera | Page 16 | PriusChat )

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• As far as the antenna goes...I completely screwed up. An antenna harness *does* exist....but fell down so I couldn't easily see it. Boy...I sure felt like an idiot on that one. Sure enough...the wiring harness they sent works just dandy now that I actually found a place to plug it in.

I was also able to route the backup camera cable all the way to the head unit...with about 6 inches of wire to spare. I ended up going through the hatch, then above the headliner to the drivers side door, then followed the bottom door moldings and then up behind the steering wheel to the head unit. I decided NOT to go the A pillar route because I didn't want to disturb the airbags. The backup camera is all connected and works great ( minus the "reverse signal input" wire hookup ).

 

Well...tapping into the brown pin #29 wire on the '3D' harness on the drivers side "knee panel" didn't seem to work as the 12V "reverse signal input" wire....sigh ( see bullet #2 in the previous post above ).

Reading other threads, it seems many gave up on what I tried to do and instead ran a wire out to the reverse light itself to use as the "reverse signal input" on their head unit.

So I went ahead and pulled another wire back to the hatch area. I intend to tap into the 12V wire of the reverse light and will use that as the 12V "reverse signal input" wire. Not sure what the easiest way to do that is though....any ideas?

This head unit project is driving me looney...but I'm determined to get the head unit to automatically show the backup camera when in reverse.

 

I gave up on the knee location...figured routing a wire back to the rear lamp cluster is 'easier', for better or worse, since I had already ran the wire for the backup camera and had most of the trim pieces out anyway. I just need to figure out how to remove the 'deck trim side panel' to get access to the rear lamp cluster wires ( I think that is the proper one to remove...correct )?

Looks like this post points to a nifty PDF that shows how to remove the trim :

Rearview Camera | Page 6 | PriusChat

 

I finally got the 12V "reverse signal input" wire on the head unit working by tapping the red/blue wire on the drivers side reverse light harness. The reverse camera now comes on automatically when I put the car into reverse. I can also view the camera on demand at any time via a button on the head unit.

The only tricky part was removing the 'deck trim side panel assembly'...but the PDF linked by the post above had a good picture on how to remove it :


Leaving a couple pics of the install here for posterity :

 

I finished up the install...and it's alive! The song playing is fitting...the install has taken waaaaaaay longer than anticipated.




Everything seems to work. However, I still need to install the replacement AXWC-1 steering wheel controller when it arrives tomorrow.

The sound is really quite impressive as well...even with the stock speakers. Affordable car stereos have come a LONG way since I installed one in our Mazda MPV way back when.

 

Anyone know of a a good ' clear sticker' type hood protector for the Prius c? Our Prius v came with it on and I like it. However, I can't seem to find one anywhere.

Edit : Poked around some on here and the other internets and ended up going with 'invisiblemask' :

• C HATCHBACK

 

Does your mechanic check the sliding pins on the front disc caliper bracket? That is often where the system goes bad...even if you still have pad left. And ironically, they go bad because the pads on the Prius last so long.

On our 2010 Prius, I had a rear caliper where one of the the caliper pins was rusted into the socket so bad it literally wouldn't come loose even with tremendous pressure. I ended up breaking the pin head off trying to remove it and had to buy a new caliper bracket!

Anyways...something you probably want to have done at some point. Or do it yourself! There are lots of videos out there on how to do it.

 

Thought I'd update. The Prius C is now 'out in the wilds of Minneapolis' and is being driven by my daughter. She is impressed at the MPG...she was excited to get 55MPG!

 

Hi all,

I'm trying to locate a set of steel rims for a set of snow tires. Seems like snow tires would bet the safest bet for my daughter driving everyday in Minneapolis over the winter.

My first thought is to have the snows mounted on a set of steel rims...and I would just bolt them on myself.

However, that got me thinking about the dreaded TPMS sensors. I'd like to leave the current tires as-is. So the obvious question is...what to do about TPMS on the snow tires, how to switch back and forth, etc...

I'm not too well versed in snow tires, etc...as we have always just went with 'good' all seasons.

Any ideas? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

True...our state doesn't have inspections...so having the light on wouldn't be a big deal. However, this is my daughter driving it...and she isn't the type to check this stuff....but would notice if a light was on. But maybe now is the time to strongly encourage her to keep tabs on tire pressure.

Auto shops like Costco must have a procedure for this...don't they? Heck...they only deal with tires. Seems like a big 'missing link' in their business model if they don't handle TPMS sensors while mounting a set of snow tires? BTW - Costco DID say I could bring in a set of rims and they would mount the tires. However, they said nothing about TPMS sensors...and I didn't think to ask at the time. I'll have to call again.

Edit : Costco will install the sensors for an extra fee ( around $30-$40 for each tire ).

 

Costco will install the sensors for an extra fee ( around $30-$40 for each tire - also edited my post above ).

Yeah..if it were me, I'd just go ahead and not get the TPMS sensors on the snow set. However, since it is my daughter driving...I think I might want her to have them. There has got to be a DIY way to 'reset' the sensors yourself...given the right gadget, of course.