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2009 Pckg3 JBL Prius; Can I put my Kenwood Double Din in it?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by jfkaiser, Nov 3, 2008.

  1. jfkaiser

    jfkaiser Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Minneapolis, MN
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Hi Guys,

    First let me say what a GREAT site this is! I have already found so MANY great suggestions here.

    I have a 2009 Pkg 3 Prius with the lame JBL sound system.

    I also have a Kenwood DDX7019 (incl Bluetooth) Double Din DVD receiver AND a Kenwood 5-channel amp that I would love to replace the JBL stuff with.
    The DDX7019 has both a wired remote control wire (for steering wheel controls) and it also has a infrared remote control with it.

    It looks like PAC makes some great steering wheel interfaces that can ensure I will still be able to use my steering wheel buttons.
    They even seem to have one that will let me use the infrared commands so that I can reconfigure the steering wheel buttons to do any function that my old Kenwood infra remote control can do.
    The Kenwood infra remote has a phone button that can answer a call.

    Note: I REALLY like the bluetooth integration that the JBL/Prius have, so unless I can pretty much reproduce it I am not so sure this massive swapout would be worth the effort.

    Is there anyone that can comment on what I'll lose AND if I really can even stuff a double din into the factory radio position on the 09 Prius?

    Thx,
    Jon
     
  2. dman7

    dman7 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2008
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    Location:
    Concord, CA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    This is the question that I have been searching all over the web to answer, and have not had any luck.

    I went to a local installer who said he could make a Double-DIN work even though there is no install Kit available. He measured the opening, and looked at some online diagrams, and said it would work. However I wasn't happy with his equipment or install prices.

    Subsequently I bought a Pioneer AVICF90bt with Microsoft live cashback on ebay for $560 which is a ridiculous price.. The Cashback from Microsoft live search applies to other electronics as well...

    Now I need to figure out how to install this. It is ridiculous to me that the ONLY person that I have found n the internet that describes anything about installing an aftermarket prius head unit is FL8 on this forum.

    Can anybody help us with this?

    Thanks in advance
     
  3. Weirdo23

    Weirdo23 Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Looks like a nice unit, but, WOW, that is going to take some fabrication to get it in there. It's possible to re-route the speaker wiring and such to add amplifiers and make modifications, but I think all bets are off if you actually remove the original head unit. All audio, including MFD beeps, bluetooth, navigation and radio are routed through the amplifier. I believe I've read that if you actually disconnect the head unit the MFD will grey out any options, like Audio, that would have had controls through the MFD like balance and fader. It may be feasible that even with the head unit disconnected the MFD would pass the bluetooth audio through to the amp in which case you could run the left front woofer output of the jbl amp (I have the premium, Package 6, version, so I'm assuming the package 3 is similar) to the center speaker and you'd maintain your functionality. In essence, you'd have to separate audio systems. Take a look around on the site, I've seen a 5 minute dash tear down video. It may be worth your time to get behind your head unit and see what happens to the rest of the Prius audio with it disconnected.

    Weirdo
     
  4. jfkaiser

    jfkaiser Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2008
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    Location:
    Minneapolis, MN
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Thanks for all the responses, guys.

    I did notice that Scosche is FINALLY coming out with the official Double Din faceplate: TA2103B

    Just announced on 11/6/08 so not yet available.......but should be soon!

    Thx,
    Jon
     
  5. dman7

    dman7 New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Concord, CA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius

    Thank you for posting this. I guess that I will wait until this is available before chopping my prius into pieces:).
     
  6. jfkaiser

    jfkaiser Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2008
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    Location:
    Minneapolis, MN
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Hi Guys,

    Well being impatient, I decided to modify the Metra Prius kit that comes with the pocket and just basically used a clamp and combination square to cut the side Left and Right sections off of that Metra kit.

    I will probably install the Scosche double-din when that kit finally arrives, but for now this works and looks "ok".

    I started by simply using the TYTO-01 interface so that I wouldn't have to hack up my Factory radio harness for Power, etc.

    I was quickly disappointed to learn that although the Prius Bluetooth still functioned and dialed my cellphone........NO audio was heard thru the speakers even though the TYTO has an integrated digital amp turn on so I knew that the JBL amp was indeed turned on.

    I suspect that something in the switching of outputs OR the mute circuits does not function to allow switching of the Bluetooth signal to the JBL amp once you get rid of the JBL radio.

    So then I ended up going and buying the Kenwood Bt-200 Bluetooth adapter (had to flash it to newer firmware 1.60).
    I ended up only used the plastic dash harness connector from the TYTO-01 and NOT any other part of the TYTO-01 since I had already decided to put ina 5-channel Kenwood amp that I had sitting around from my old Ford Explorer.

    Be sure you look at Crutchfields wiring diagram as it talks about needing to have your aftermarket stereo's antenna wire go to a wire on the Prius harness that turns on the Prius antenna booster or something like that.

    I DID have to install the resistor as mentioned in the METRA kit instructions so that my climate control would work.

    I also hooked up the PAC SWI-Jack so I could use the steering wheel controls to control my Kenwood. Disappointed to learn that none of the telephone Bluetooth Kenwood stuff is controllable via the SWIJack/Kenwood combination.

    I had previously bought the Bazooka FAST harness which of course DOESN'T work at all with the JBL 3 connector harness in my 2009 Prius......BUT I just didn't want to cut any of the factory speaker wires......so I took a dremel tool to my FAST harness and basically left the middle section and cut off the two outside pieces.
    I DID end up using all three pieces but had to bend a couple of pins on one of them to allow me to grab the correct speaker wires........again the only benefit to this was that I didn't have to hack up the factory harness that plugs into the JBL amp under the passenger seat.

    I threw my 10" sub in the back. My Kenwook amp is under the back trunk storage area.

    It sounds GREAT and I am very happy with the changeout overall.

    Thx,
    Jon