Installing a Head unit...

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ekul

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Master Geek
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Topic # 171573 23-Apr-2015 13:01

Hi Guys

In the past when installing head units in older cars I've just had to rip out old one plug new one in, screw in and done...

It seems a bit more complex for newer cars, I've just purchased a 2010 Prius and looking on google I need a whole bunch of things to do a nice job of it and half the parts I required don't seem to be available in NZ, i'd have to import them.. I've purchased a Sony XAV68BT.

On a Prius forum I see some guys have created a PDF doc on how to replace, but it looks like a very complex process and even getting the parts I need looks difficult..

By the sounds of it I need the following

Toyota Head Unit Surround* Toyota part #: 55405-47080
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Genuine-Toyota-Prius-Radio-Surround-55405-47080-/360618116693?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item53f683c655

Metra trim pieces* part #: Metra 95-8202 (Toyota DDIN Kit 00-up).
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/METRA-95-8202-SCION-XA-XB-DOUBLE-DIN-RADIO-KIT-W-WIRE-/140285716116?hash=item20a9ae2694

Toyota wiring harness, part #: 70-1761 (Toyota 1987-up).
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Metra-70-1761-Wiring-Harness-for-Select-1987-2007-Toyota-and-Scion-Vehicles-/261831906623?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item3cf665d53f

PAC Steering Wheel Interface (SWI), part #: PAC SWI-PS
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PAC-SWI-RC-SWI-JACK-SWI-PS-STEERING-WHEEL-CONTROL-RETENTION-INTERFACE-ADAPTER-/161306751531?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item258ea1b22b

It looks like a complex long winded process and I'm more than happy to pay an auto electrician (in Wellington) to do this for me.

My question is do you usually have to buy all these parts for modern cars, and Should I get all the parts from eBay etc myself and then find someone to install OR are auto-electricians used to noobs like me buying a head unit then not having all the parts above and they can go ahead and order/install of this for me? Will ordering the parts through them, if even possible cost a fortune??

lxsw20

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Reply # 1290136 23-Apr-2015 13:10

Try Ed's Auto Services. They are a little old school so you have to call. Some cars the adapters are very expensive. The late 2000s Subaru Legacy adapter was over $700 as you had to replace the AC Controls also.

http://www.edsauto.co.nz/index.html

shk292

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Reply # 1290138 23-Apr-2015 13:11

2 people support this post

Good luck

I recently sold a car for the primary reason that my wife was sick of the Japanese radio and the unintelligible voice prompting her in Japanese

I spent many hours trying to source the parts to replace the head unit with a double-DIN one, but this proved impossible

I now only buy cars that have either a NZ-compatible radio or a standard DIN fitting

ekul

59 posts

Master Geek
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Reply # 1290145 23-Apr-2015 13:18

lxsw20: Try Ed's Auto Services. They are a little old school so you have to call. Some cars the adapters are very expensive. The late 2000s Subaru Legacy adapter was over $700 as you had to replace the AC Controls also.

http://www.edsauto.co.nz/index.html

Thanks mate, looking for something a bit more local more (wlg)

Good luck

I recently sold a car for the primary reason that my wife was sick of the Japanese radio and the unintelligible voice prompting her in Japanese

I spent many hours trying to source the parts to replace the head unit with a double-DIN one, but this proved impossible

I now only buy cars that have either a NZ-compatible radio or a standard DIN fitting

Damn, doesn't seem impossible.. Just painful and i'm lazy so would rather pay someone to do a pretty job of it..
I don't seem to have a problem sourcing the parts, they're all on ebay.. What did you struggle with finding? Was it an uncommon car?

Dratsab

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Reply # 1290146 23-Apr-2015 13:20

One person supports this post

I've been looking at the exact same head unit for a 2008 Ford Focus sport which has an after market reverse camera and sonic sensors fitted. For mine I'll have to buy (import) a new piece of trim and a double din cage but as there's no steering wheel controls for the stereo (they all relate to cruise control) I get a bit lucky.

There's a number of people here who would be able to give you some good advice - can you post a link to the .pdf?

EDIT: A friend of mine recently imported a Subaru from Japan and got Slap Car Audio to do some work which is similar to what you want. They have an outlet in Hania Street, Mt Vic.

ekul

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Reply # 1290149 23-Apr-2015 13:21

Here is the closet thing I found out a guide

http://priuschat.com/threads/2010-toyota-prius-model-ii-head-unit-upgrade.73884/
http://priuschat.com/attachments/2010-toyota-prius-package-ii-head-unit-upgrade-pdf.21895/

doesn't seem overly difficult, apart from you have to grind brackets

richms

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Reply # 1290156 23-Apr-2015 13:36

One thing to look out for with a lot of those install kits is they assume a certain depth for the head unit. Many new ones are only about 60mm deep, so dont actually go in far enough to engage both sets of screw holes on the brackets to hold them. Not an issue if they just use the cage to hold the head unit, but if they use the screw holes, and you can only get one in on each side, the unit will flop around quite a bit.

Richard rich.ms

ekul

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Reply # 1290162 23-Apr-2015 13:42

Looks like the parts alone , without shipping will cost around $245 NZD :/

Jaxson

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Reply # 1290166 23-Apr-2015 13:44

Funny, I was just reading comments around this recently, with regards for the need for open sourced head units.

Those that include cameras and sensors that are integral to some other aspect of the cars operation are the worst, where you can't drop something out without whole the dash taking a dive.
These things really are more complex than they ever used to be, good luck I say.

Actually old school way I dealt with this years ago was a second head unit, under the passengers seat.
Lets call that plan Z, but it worked well then, and with Bluetooth could work well again potentially.

NZCoderGuy

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Reply # 1290167 23-Apr-2015 13:47

ekul: Looks like the parts alone , without shipping will cost around $245 NZD :/

Have you rung Street Sounds in Newtown? They do all my car stereo related work. They probably have done that type of car before, or at least know how to do it.

Advice over the phone is free :)

--
Stephen
twitter/ NZCoderGuy / KiwiDevStudios

shk292

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Reply # 1290205 23-Apr-2015 15:05

ekul:
Damn, doesn't seem impossible.. Just painful and i'm lazy so would rather pay someone to do a pretty job of it..
I don't seem to have a problem sourcing the parts, they're all on ebay.. What did you struggle with finding? Was it an uncommon car?

It was a Honda Edix, the parts were meant to be available and the European equivalent has a DIN unit, but I never found anyone able to supply

RUKI

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Reply # 1290566 24-Apr-2015 08:52

ekul: .....

My question is do you usually have to buy all these parts for modern cars, and Should I get all the parts from eBay etc myself and then find someone to install

Hi,

To start with - do the business plan and consider your options to source the parts. Auto electricians or whoever will do it for you have to source them;

I know all wreckers in Auckland (plus one in Tauranga) who do Toyotas and all second hand Prius dealers in Auckland who import hybrids. I am keeping an eye on hybrids wrecks. There were no 2010 (model 30) Prius recently that I am aware of.

- as a first options - check Toyota NZ - you'll get the reference price;
- do direct inquiries with NZ wreckers ;
- getting parts from importers of second hand Priuses is of no use for you - those will be in Japanese
- parts for NZ and other English speaking countries you are after are most likely manufactured on Toyota plants outside Japan (e.g. in USA, Thailand. etc) and corresponding spare parts distribution centres are located outside Japan - better search on US / AUS parts sites or eBay.
- I know professional hybrid/ev specialists in USA who have access to much bigger wrecks then we do here in NZ. But factor in shipping, customs and their margin and it perhaps would be cheaper for you to source that yourself.

I can help you with the HV Battery issues when and if the need be (in a very distant future, perhaps 3-5 years). See my thread:http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumId=132&topicId=171572

RUKI

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Reply # 1290757 24-Apr-2015 12:29

Just had a chat with one of Prius Importers asking them if anyone was interested in modifications on those fresh imports (>2010) and what is their view on ordering relevant stuff in bulk from USA. Negative - no inquiries. In the past there were with NHW20 models (2004-2009) but not now with models 30 & 40.

linw

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Reply # 1290798 24-Apr-2015 13:20

Just a "for example". I recently replaced my 2009 Lancer head unit with a 2 DIN one with GPS, DVD, Ph etc. I found out how to do it from a couple of YT vids.

I did have to import a new fascia from the US - cost wasn't high, but postage was pretty steep. $NZ107 total. It also included a DIN to Lancer wiring harness. I did my own soldering to connect the head unit plug to the Lancer plug.

I also added a rear camera.

All went according to plan except for a problem with the radio signal strength. A lot of cars these days have an amplified aerial as they have very short car aerials. This overpowered the front end of my unit that was probably set up for the old long extendable aerials. I fixed this by attenuating the signal with resistors.

The long and short of it is, it is usually messy and would be expensive to get someone else to do it at full hourly rate. I am pleased with my little project, however.

Good luck with your project. I hope you can find someone to do it for you at a reasonable price. Interested to hear how you get on.