New USB IPOD Kit DIY Install?

I'm trying to borrow our CTO's iPhone now but if that doesn't work out I will take you up on your offer. I actually live 7 miles west of Conifer but work in Louisville...51 miles one what which is why I have a Prius.

 

Louisville is real doable; I'm in the Brighton area. If I can help, let me know. --TK

 

Part# is PT233-47100
Description is "UBS CONNEC" (yes, UBS not USB)

 

The epilog on my USB iPod adaptor story:

A recap: Yesterday, the dealer (Burien Toyota) could get no help from Toyota Corporate after a day of trying. I had mixed sat radio & iPod sound thru the Toyota USB iPod adaptor installed by the dealership.

This morning: The service manager found a local Puget Sound area supplier of what appears to be a better USB iPod adaptor than what Toyota offers. After I spoke to the supplier, I authorized having him go to the dealership, remove the Toyota adaptor and install his at no charge to me. The cable goes into the console between the front seats instead of the glove box, which I find to be more convenient. This adaptor emulates another DVD drive (the Nav unit can have more than one!) rather than the sat radio, so I have the option of keeping the sat radio. I've seen other posts here suggesting that cancelling the XM sat radio account relieved the interference problem with the Toyota adaptor.

This unit (made by USA-SPEC in City of Industry, CA) works very well. It allows all content on the iPod to be searched, displayed and played under the DVD tab. I haven't learned all its functions yet, but it's relatively straightforward so far. You can see screen shots of iPod functions in MY Nav display (pictures taken today, 9/3/09) at Advanced Digital Concepts - Your Professional Partner

This is the company that did the install. For those of you in the Puget Sound area, the phone number for Walt, the installer is (253) 297-4570. Based on my conversation with him, he is very knowledgable about iPod adaptors.

I'd like to give Burien Toyota credit for really trying to resolve this problem, even going to a non-Toyota supplier for a solution. Nice!

Also, my iPhone 3GS plays (and charges) just fine thru the adaptor (I've seen some adaptors that won't charge an iPhone). I also have Bluetooth enabled. If I make or take a call, the system switches to the phone function then switches back to music afterward. There appears to be some confusion between Bluetooth link and the adaptor link which occurs if the iPhone is left connected to the adaptor thru a vehicle shut down and restart. Disconnecting the iPhone and reconnecting is one way to resolve the issue, and I won't be leaving my iPhone in the car anyway.

 

Dark_matter_doesn't, Great ending to your saga. Do you have any idea about cost if they had not been working with the dealership? --TK

 

I'll call & ask tomorrow. I got the sense the alternate was cheaper . . .

 

I just deleted the audio BT pairing and now mine doesn't have the problem of connected to BT instead of the USB. My phone does still disconnect from USB after a short time, a different problem. I've just gotten access to a iPhone 2G and will see if it works OK this afternoon.

 

Here is the response from Walt the installer:

As far as our installations go, since we're a mobile service and do the car wherever it's located, our install price will vary with the distance we have to travel.  Figure at a minimum (depending on the car of course), we'll install these for about $279, and that will include an AUX input for those cars that don't already have one (yours did). We sell the parts only for $169.  You might be able to find them cheaper online somewhere, but you can actually call me and get answers that other guys may not know (because I actually do the installations), so for the extra few bucks, I think you get a little more value...
 

 

Appreciate the offer but our CTO loaned me his. It disconnects just like my iPhone 3G. Toyota is supposed to get back to me Tuesday re a resolution. It seems to be down to a firmware update or a bad kit.

 

I am in Broomfield and have the USB IPOD kit installed on my...want to try to see if mine does the same (I don't have an Iphone, just a old ipod).

 

Learned alot about my Prius here. Mine was made before last Aug. so I don't have a USB connection. I was thinking about getting the USB kit and installing it myself, it seems really easy. For those who have installed it, I just have 2 questions:
Do I need the nylon pry tool to disassemble the center console? and from the instructions, what is this for, it says "If required":
7. [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Accessory Function Check
[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman](a) If required, remove the short pin from the storage location of the relay block in the engine compartment and install it in its original location. (Fig. 7-1)
(b) Connect a compatible device to the USB jack, and check to see that the USB tab is highlighted on the screen.
(c) Connect a compatible device to the AUX jack, and check to see that the AUX tab is highlighted on the screen.
(d) Touch the XM tab on the screen, and see if the XM controls are available.
[/FONT]NOTE[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]: Perform accessory function check with power switch in the accessory or on mode.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Later, it tells you to put the short pin back where it was stored. Can't I just power on and check to see if everything works?[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Thanks
[/FONT]

 

The pry tool is handy to get the rim of the cup holder off. You could probably get by with a screw driver with the end wrapped in electrical tap. I didn't do anything with a short pin, but pulled the cable from the 12 volt battery. This install is easy, I've done it twice.

 

Thanks, I think I'll get the kit. I've been using Bluetooth and my cell phone music player, but it drops the connection sometimes.

 

You should know that I don't use the USB interface with my iphone but with a USB thumb drive. In my opinion the interface with the iphone is pretty bad and on my car it only intermittently connects with my iphone 3G and a borrowed original iphone. The reason I have installed two kits is I installed a replacement kit which had the same connection problems. For me it was worth it for the thumb drive interface. I use my iphone through BT for music and for my tomtom navigator voice.

 

Well I got the "USB Interface Kit PT233-47100" and installed it.

The PDF instructions earlier in this thread were not perfect, but were sufficient to get the job done.

But I must say that I am disappointed in the USB interface kit.

It does not work with iPhone at all, and it is poor at interfacing with an iPod. I would look for a third party solution instead of Toyota's USB interface kit.

And as a disclaimer, I work for Apple. I expect the interface to work well.

 

You might want to use your influence to get them to support the AVRCP bluetooth profile more fully!