Ultimate Scion Headunit (stereo) thread

[beklemmung]

There should be two factory connectors for the old factory radio. One is power etc, and the other is speakers etc.

If you have the factory amp remove it. Those plugs will plug into the AD and CH plugs. And the T1819 radio does not need the amp.

Unless the previous owner did a hack job and cut the factory connectors off it’s plug and play.

I did have a factory amp and I removed it. The PO had never touched the original system and it was completely stock. There are indeed two connectors that previously connected to the amp, the problem is that neither of them connects to either of the female connectors of the CH adapter. In the pic below, the two factory connectors are on the top and the two female CH plugs are on the bottom. As you can see, neither factory connector fits either of the CH plugs. (I thought maybe somehow I got the wrong CH adapter, but I double-checked the part number and it's the same as what the pics show on the Amazon listing, so it's the right part).

I wonder if I don't even need the CH adapter, and in order to get the Bluetooth to work, I just need to strip one of the AD wires and ground it, as described in the CH modification post I linked in my previous post. The T1819 radio currently works, so it has power and the speakers are connected, I just don't have Bluetooth. But I also can't understand why everyone else has needed the CH adapter and I wouldn't.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I don’t know what AD and CH cwble assemblies you bought but what you are showing is incorrect.

If you had the correct cable adapters one end would plug into the radio and split out the antenna power wire and the other would just plug in and you plug those two plugs from your 3rd gen into them.

It’s literally plug and play.


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[beklemmung]

I don’t know what AD and CH cwble assemblies you bought but what you are showing is incorrect.

If you had the correct cable adapters one end would plug into the radio and split out the antenna power wire and the other would just plug in and you plug those two plugs from your 3rd gen into them.

It’s literally plug and play.

Huh, I don't know how I messed up the parts. Here's what I ordered (and the part numbers on the plastic bags match what I ordered):

Tchfcantenna Convers - Toyota (PT546-00120-AD) | Toyota Parts

Audio CD Deck Conversion Wire Harness 20 TO 28 PIN - Toyota (PT546-00120-CH) | Toyota Parts

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Huh, I don't know how I messed up the parts. Here's what I ordered (and the part numbers on the plastic bags match what I ordered):

Tchfcantenna Convers - Toyota (PT546-00120-AD) | Toyota Parts

Audio CD Deck Conversion Wire Harness 20 TO 28 PIN - Toyota (PT546-00120-CH) | Toyota Parts

I don’t get it either. Those adapters were to adapt the new radio connections to the older standard. And I took my time ordering radios and both came with the adapters. So I never ordered them.


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[beklemmung]

I don’t get it either. Those adapters were to adapt the new radio connections to the older standard. And I took my time ordering radios and both came with the adapters. So I never ordered them.

I appreciate you taking the time to try to figure this out. I'll take a video later this afternoon when I have a chance to look at it again, maybe that'll help clarify. The fact that 1 of the 2 factory connectors directly connects to the T1819 and that the radio works fine leads me to believe that the CH adapter isn't necessary, but now I'm stuck without a clear path to getting Bluetooth to work, which was the primary reason I wanted to install a new head unit in the first place. The reason I bought a unit without adapters is that I bid 99 cents on ebay and won, and it was cheaper to do that and buy the adapters separately than to buy a unit that came with the original cables/adapters. I thought my way would help me avoid splicing things together and be more straightforward... sadly that's proven to be wrong.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Does the other connector plug directly into the radio. I kind of remember something about the one connector only being used to break out the antenna.


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[19963.4lsr5]

Does the other connector plug directly into the radio. I kind of remember something about the one connector only being used to break out the antenna.


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Look in your picture. It shows a connector under the Sub RCA jacks that is a direct connection from your harness.


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[beklemmung]

Look in your picture. It shows a connector under the Sub RCA jacks that is a direct connection from your harness.

Yes, one of the two connectors from the 4R connects directly to the head unit (I showed it in blue in the pic I posted last night). The other connector from the 4R connects to the AD adapter. The AD adapter also allows me to plug in the antenna, which is why I have radio. The result of this is that the unit is connected and the radio works (it sounds great!), but the CH connector isn't serving any purpose at all and I don't have Bluetooth.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Yes, one of the two connectors from the 4R connects directly to the head unit (I showed it in blue in the pic I posted last night). The other connector from the 4R connects to the AD adapter. The AD adapter also allows me to plug in the antenna, which is why I have radio. The result of this is that the unit is connected and the radio works (it sounds great!), but the CH connector isn't serving any purpose at all and I don't have Bluetooth.

You do not have Bluetooth without the mic. The mod doesn’t work. Spend the 54 dollars and buy it.

I think the one connector was to break out the antenna and it’s controls.


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[beklemmung]

You do not have Bluetooth without the mic. The mod doesn’t work. Spend the 54 dollars and buy it.

I think the one connector was to break out the antenna and it’s controls.

A few posters in the Scion thread said the Bluetooth mod worked, but it seems they all had 4th gen 4Rs and I'm guessing they were able to use the CH adapter. Do you remember whether you used the CH adapter? I looked through your build thread and the T1819 you bought came with it, curious if you remember determining whether it was unnecessary.

 

[beklemmung]

Well, I figured it out, and it was indeed stupid. The -CH adapter/cable needs to be plugged in to the head unit for Bluetooth to work, even if nothing is connected to it. I have it working now. Hopefully someone else sees this and is saved some confusion.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I don’t remember if the Mic plugged into the CH adapter or if the Mic had its own plug. I did use it.

You could create a new thread documenting it. There are a lot of pages here to find anything specific in a reasonable amount of time.


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[19963.4lsr5]

Is your cooling fan going bad? Mine in my Saturn is starting to get loud.


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[beklemmung]

Is your cooling fan going bad? Mine in my Saturn is starting to get loud.

It seems fine, but I think my unit is essentially brand new. The seller on ebay said it was pulled when the Scion was purchased and sat in storage, and the face is pristine. I did buy an extra fan and will just hang on to it in case mine ever starts acting up.

I don't think there's enough to this for a separate documentation thread, but I am going to PM the person who started this thread to see if they'll add a bit of info to their first post listing all the HUs.

Thanks again for your responses, appreciate the help!

 

[19963.4lsr5]

It seems fine, but I think my unit is essentially brand new. The seller on ebay said it was pulled when the Scion was purchased and sat in storage, and the face is pristine. I did buy an extra fan and will just hang on to it in case mine ever starts acting up.

I don't think there's enough to this for a separate documentation thread, but I am going to PM the person who started this thread to see if they'll add a bit of info to their first post listing all the HUs.

Thanks again for your responses, appreciate the help!

You’re welcome. This swap is great bang for the buck if one is not afraid to do a little extra work.

I did this to two 97 4Runners. And liked it so much I installed one in my Saturn S Series. With 4 good 6.5” speakers in that little car it rocks good enough for me.


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[beklemmung]

You’re welcome. This swap is great bang for the buck if one is not afraid to do a little extra work.

I did this to two 97 4Runners. And liked it so much I installed one in my Saturn S Series. With 4 good 6.5” speakers in that little car it rocks good enough for me.

Yeah, so far the price is right, though the "little extra work" is pushing my limits (I'm not in any way an experienced DIY guy).

Did you need to offset the head unit a bit toward the driver's side in order to fit it through the widened opening in the trim panel/bezel? I'm going to need to widen it by about 1" in total but there's not 1/2" of material to take out on the passenger side.

 

[az08t]

Ive read through a few different threads and see some people rigging up usb cables but Im trying to find out what ACTUALLY is supposed to fit this gray usb harness? PT546-00120-US is the part number

 

[az08t]

Ive read through a few different threads and see some people rigging up usb cables but Im trying to find out what ACTUALLY is supposed to fit this gray usb harness? PT546-00120-US is the part number

Didn't mess with it, I found out the t1818 bluetooth will pair with my phone without the mic cable and dont need to mod anything with the harness to make it work. Keeps the aux cable functional too. Smooth plug and play install. :nod:

Im just wondering now if there is a way to change the scion startup image? thanks!

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Yeah, so far the price is right, though the "little extra work" is pushing my limits (I'm not in any way an experienced DIY guy).

Did you need to offset the head unit a bit toward the driver's side in order to fit it through the widened opening in the trim panel/bezel? I'm going to need to widen it by about 1" in total but there's not 1/2" of material to take out on the passenger side.

Yes you need to slot the brackets and shift the head unit towards the drivers side to center it. I think my Build and Repair thread shows the brackets slotted.


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[IRONSHIEK]

My 4th gen has an after market alpine head unit but id love to convert to a Scion/pioneer. Am I looking at complications with splicing or will the install be straightforward plug and play with all proper harnesses? Thanks