wiring kenwood head unit to auto dim with light sensor and not headlight switch?

[randy88fj62]

I have a kenwood excelon head unit I installed months back and it works well with no complaints. I hooked up the orange wire and the radio dims correctly with the head light switch.

I use my headlights during the day and I don't like that the radio dims when it's daylight out.

I want to wire the head unit to dim based on the automatic headlight sensor. I read this thread and the question was never answered:

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-...-illumination-dimming-aftermarket-stereo.html

I looked through the wiring diagrams and the sensor connects through the body ecu to the combination switch. I could use a little help figuring out how to wire this and I'm hoping someone has the answer.

Thanks.

 

[KrazedJD]

Interesting concept, I am interested in following this as sometimes I have a trailer and run with my running lights on for visibility. I am wondering if any of those pins have a voltage when the sensor triggers and you could run that through a relay to trigger the wire for the dimmer in the head unit. Even if it grounds out a connection when it closes could still be used with a relay to do a 12v trigger.

 

[randy88fj62]

I have a spare sensor in my garage so I'm going to try and power it and see what the output does when grounded etc. If I can figure out the sensor's independent function then I could make this work without the Body ECU getting invlovled. I could probably even fab a harness using oem parts to make this a kit to use for people installing radios.

I was hoping someone has already beaten me to it and I wouldn't have to reinvent the wheel. I do the same thing you do, I like to be seen while on the freeway so less people make unsafe choices.

This could also be applied to anything you want to activate when the sun goes down.