Apple Carplay and install recommendations for 04 Limited

[FXFRunner]

Hi, I think im going to buy the Sony XAV-AX5000, since you had it for a while, do you have any pros/cons you would tell someone whos planning on buying it? Should i look out for anything specific? I have a 07 limited with JBL. Thanks!!

I installed the Sony XAV-AX5000 last night. The install was pretty smooth and it looks great. I expected a little more from the Metra dash kit, but it looks alright.

 

[Bluesky 07]

I have an 07 SR5 - NO steering wheel controls and just the basic in dash factory CD stereo NOT the JBL system.

I'm investigating installation of a Pioneer deck I already have or possibly getting a double din with backup camera.

several questions:

1 - I found one wiring harness that made it abundantly clear I would loose alert beeps provided by the 4Runner... are alert tones run through the sound system? The wiring harness my Crutchfield contact pointed me to appears to be a typical harness but he also included an audio Y adapter going from stereo female RCA connectors to an 1/8" male mini plug, is this to deal with alert tones? One scenario I can think of is the 4Runner has it's own amplifier so the Y adapter is to take the preamp outputs from the Pioneer as a feed to the amplifier.

2 - some folks mention a parking break bypass, is this a Toyota thing or an Alpine thing? What does the parking break have to do with the stereo?

1 - Not sure but in my experience I haven’t heard of alert beeps having anything to do with the sound system.

2 - This is considered a safety feature. The wiring is set up such that video playback in DVD-equipped decks and often some of the more-involved unit settings will not work unless the parking brake is applied (thus ensuring the vehicle is stopped).

FWIW to anyone going the CarPlay route, I recently installed a Pioneer AVH-2550NEX and it’s a great setup. Also, the stereo thread linked in my sig has useful installation info including the parking brake & backup cam wiring.

 

[Schnalan]

Very helpful. Looking to install Pioneer DMH-1500NEX in the next month or so. Will post a write up when I do

 

[Bluesky 07]

Finally got pics...as mentioned above, I recently replaced my Kenwood with the excellent Pioneer AVH-2550NEX & couldn’t be happier with it. I placed a magnetic phone mount as shown using one of those removable 3M strips, a solution I would have loved to have figured out much sooner.