2000 Limited Stereo

wake_rider

wake_rider

New member
I'm tired of not seeing the radio display because there's no backlight, so I'm thinking that it's time to replace the stock double din unit.

I'm not looking to have a crazy setup, but I certainly am not opposed to having better output than the stock unit with the sad little stock amp. My problem is that I cannot stand most aftermarket units, primarily just the way they look. I think they look flashy and cheesy, and I'm definitely one of those guys that thinks stock looks better.

So, what are the suggestions of you 3rd gen experts? Btw, I just purchased one of those hd in car video cameras to mount up behind my rear view mirror, so a receiver capable of watching playback video might be in order. Idk. I'm open to ideas. I definitely don't want to do any hacking on the stock dash, though, nor do I want to slice up the stock woodgrain trim. Are double din units direct plugins for the Limited setup, or does cutting have to occur.

Thanks, gentlemen! :thanks:
 
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I put a Pioneer 4400 in mine about a year ago. Installed myself, all I had to do was buy a plug that plugs into the stock plug, then match up and solder the wires from the plug to the unit. Took the dash apart(SO easy), plugged up, screwed in, put dash back together and you're good to go.
It's ready for a back up camera, I don't have one so I don't bother.
Oh and I also added a relay so it can play videos or whatever while in drive, not hard and I can use my phone with it.
Also added a switch so I can put the antenna down when I want. Pretty neat setup, if I do say so myself.
 
Mine already had an alpine single din unit in it when I purchased it and the previous owner already bypassed the stock amp so I cant speak for wiring to that extent.

I'm running a pioneer double din unit. The AVH-P3100DVD to be specific. I find it blends in well, it has customizable led back lighting so I matched up the button colors and screen background to match the stock dash lights colors.

My unit has video input in the back specifically for the backup camera. IIRC there's even a lead on the wiring harness that can be ran to your backup light to auto detect to turn the screen to the camera input.

Also the e-brake bypass for watching movies while driving is very simple as well. One of the best investments I've made, its been in every vehicle I've owned. I even made a subaru->toyota adapter harness for when I moved it from my supra to my forester.
 
I have Pioneer double Din units in both my trucks. The 3rd Gen has an older AVIC-D3 unit, which is good, but not nearly as advanced as the AVIC-Z120BT I put in my FJ62. The D3 is older and I'm sure the entry level units are better now. My main complaint is the limited search features using the iPod. This is what it looks like.

Resize-of-Re-exposure-of-8-Toyota-Land-Cruiser_-Car-Cinema-Navigation-Pioneer-Avic-D3_zpsd5c1a723.jpg
~original[/IMG]

Now the 120 is awesome, I have had it almost 3 yrs, and it is still cutting edge. It has Bluetooth connectivity for my phone, very well thought out display, and properly hacked you can watch videos going down the road. This is what it looks like.

AVIC-Z120BT_pandora_large_zpsf84266ee.jpg
~original[/IMG]

On the 3rd gen the back up camera is automatic with reverse, on the FJ I wanted to be able to turn it on at will, so I wired it to a switch. OTRATTW has switches labeled "rear camera". I prefer the switched mode, but I'm too lazy to change the 3rd gen.

For me Pioneer is the Toyota/Chevy of the car stereo world. Can't go wrong!

:couch2:
 
I'd say if you don't like flashy, go with a double-din unit that is mostly screen. Keeps things nice and clean looking.
 
I've had really good experiences with a jvc double din. I like that it has a knob for adjusting the volume instead of buttons.
 
Hepar said:
I'd say if you don't like flashy, go with a double-din unit that is mostly screen. Keeps things nice and clean looking.
Click to expand...

Actually, the bigger screen is the flashier of the two! Costs more too. I always thought I would prefer the knob for volume, but all things considered I'll take the bigger screen and everything that goes with it.

:couch2:
 
Well, I found a good deal on a Pioneer avh-x3500bhs, so that should be here in the next week or so. Did you guys remove the factory amp and an aftermarket harness so that it plugs in using the factory clips, or did you just spkice it in to the factory wiring?

I like the idea of maintaining the factory plugs without splicing into the factory wires, but all of the wiring harnesses I'm seeing are for the factory system without the oem amp. If I can find the correct harness, I'll set that up with solder and heat shrink. I feel better about that than having a bunch of plastic splices haning behind the dash.

Also, did you guys install a back-up camera, and did you get the microbypass? Apparently any Pioneer manufactured after 2012 is programmed so that it's more difficult to bypass the parking brake sensor. I saw a microbypass for the new decks for about $19 that is supposed to remedy that issue, though I'm curious if there is another way to do it without buying another part. There's something about buying more parts that just goes against my "make it yourself" (read CHEAP) nature. :biggrin2:
 
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Yank the amp out. The aftermarket harnesses will then work perfectly. You won't need the amp as 99% of powered aftermarket stereos will be better.
 
wake_rider said:
Well, I found a good deal on a Pioneer avh-x3500bhs,

Also, did you guys install a back-up camera, . I'm curious if there is another way to do it without buying another part. There's something about buying more parts that just goes against my "make it yourself" (read CHEAP) nature. :biggrin2:
Click to expand...

Well I didn't use a microbypass, it's been a while but I remember I had to move a pin from one location to another. That puts it in "demo" mode and then you can view videos anytime. The back up camera was simple as grounding the wire through a switch/relay.

:couch2:
 
wake_rider said:
splicing into the factory wires
Click to expand...

Blood curdling rage every single time I open up a dash on a car and see this:
IMG_3781.jpg~original


wake_rider said:
Also, did you guys install a back-up camera, and did you get the microbypass? Apparently any Pioneer manufactured after 2012 is programmed so that it's more difficult to bypass the parking brake sensor. I saw a microbypass for the new decks for about $19 that is supposed to remedy that issue, though I'm curious if there is another way to do it without buying another part. There's something about buying more parts that just goes against my "make it yourself" (read CHEAP) nature.
Click to expand...

For mine all I had to do was install a relay that uses the remote wire to make it look like the parking break is on as soon as a signal comes from it. It looks like the newer ones use some sort of "double pulse" trigger. There's a youtube video of someone installing a switch between the parking brake wire and ground and you have to flip it on and off. But imo that's pretty ghetto, if you can get a proper bypass then do that.

I still really don't understand who would sit there in their car stationary and watch a movie. GPS isn't illegal and you have to pay far more attention to it not to mention having to interact with it on the fly at times. I guess its just one of those idiot proofing things.
 
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IBallEngineer said:
Well I didn't use a microbypass, it's been a while but I remember I had to move a pin from one location to another. That puts it in "demo" mode and then you can view videos anytime. The back up camera was simple as grounding the wire through a switch/relay.

:couch2:
Click to expand...

Nice! I think the newer (since 2012) units require a double signal to allow for use of the screen. Apparently, they expect you to set your parking brake, let it out, then re-set it. Seems pretty silly.

Canuckrz said:
Blood curdling rage every single time I open up a dash on a car and see this:
IMG_3781.jpg~original




For mine all I had to do was install a relay that uses the remote wire to make it look like the parking break is on as soon as a signal comes from it. It looks like the newer ones use some sort of "double pulse" trigger. There's a youtube video of someone installing a switch between the parking brake wire and ground and you have to flip it on and off. But imo that's pretty ghetto, if you can get a proper bypass then do that.

I still really don't understand who would sit there in their car stationary and watch a movie. GPS isn't illegal and you have to pay far more attention to it not to mention having to interact with it on the fly at times. I guess its just one of those idiot proofing things.
Click to expand...

I agree. I hate seeing factory wiring all plumbed into and spliced up. It just screams hack job, even if it was done with careful consideration. It just looks bad and raises red flags to me. Soldering and heat shrinking together the wires to a factory replicated plugin adapter simply looks professional and gives peace of mind.

From what I have read since ordering the Head Unit, the newer systems require the double pulse before activating the screen (other than for reverse camera usage). Also, I picked up that HD 170 degree camera that constantly records to an in-camera Micro SD card but also has an A/V output. I'm going to install it just behind the rearview mirror, and it has a rotating tip that allows you to face the camera forward, up, down, backwards or anyway in between those positions. So I was thinking about using a Y adapter on the a/v input for the reverse camera, and apparently there is a setting that you can select that keeps your reverse camera on the screen at all times rather than while just in reverse, and if there are two inputs, I could probably figure out a way to switch the power to the reverse camera off, then turn on the front facing camera and have it feed to the screen. I don't know what benefit it will serve, but just in case looking out the front window to see what's happening seems to organic for a passenger, they can get their tech fix while in the car and watch the screen.

I saw a few people that had used the toggle switch directly wired to the parking break input on the HU that they have to flip twice in order to bypass the new requirements, but I tend to agree with you.... That is JANKY! I like as few aftermarket switches in my car as feasibly accomplished as I like to keep that interior looking in is beautiful stock form as intact as possible. I think I'm just going to go ahead and order the $20 micro-bypass which is the size of a penny and can be ambiguously tucked away in the dash. Clean and unseen...
 
Do does the factory amp use the same connectors as the normal radio harness? Or does one have to lop off the amp harness and splice on a standard radio harness?

Also our rigs have two antennas? Where is the second one located?
 
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