Adding Iphone to OE Stereo (1 Viewer)

[turbophil]

I didn't find it on search, so thought to start a thread.

I didn't want to swap the stock stereo out.... I just prefer the OE look there...

We set out to add an iphone interface to the OE stereo, and wanted something more complete than just using the audio jack on the iphone. Found a cool toy on amazon from "Simple" that has a lightning connector, power leads, and RCA out jacks.

Cut the RCS jacks off and soldered in flying leads with shrink wrap, etc...

Pulled the center console and started investigating the wiring to the OEM 6 disk changer. We pulled the cover off the connector board ont he changer and found the pinout. The pics below tell the story...

The important gotcha is that the CD changer must retain switched power of the stereo won't allow you to select "CD" (which will now go to your iphone). So we T spliced into the gray wire for the power to the "Simple" device. We intercepted L1, L2, R1, R2, and ground and ran to the "Simple" device.

Everything worked just perfectly.

Hope the pictures help tell the story.

Knowing what we know now along with the wire colors, one could easily do this mod behind the radio to save the work of pulling the console.

-Phil

Pinout board on CD changer

• turbophil
• Jan 31, 2015

The pinout is right on the board. Made it too easy!

Signal wires from CD Changer

• turbophil
• Jan 31, 2015

We wired L1 and R1 to respective + and 2's to -

Lightning connection for iphone

• turbophil
• Jan 31, 2015

Working under the console

iphone connection

• turbophil
• Jan 31, 2015

 

[DARKNESS]

Is this on an LX450? I wasn't aware there was CD changer wiring for the Land Cruiser.

 

[hotwod]

You are some kind of va-genius Phil!

 

[DARKNESS]

Yeah this is awesome. I want to switch back to an OEM unit but this was my only hangup.

 

[Hornd]

The OEM head unit is about as useful as Hillary Clinton.
Stop convincing yourself it's a good unit and Deep6 that sucka.
You won't have Toyota Tires and you won't have a Toyota Head Unit
Alarm should be right behind it.

 

[hotwod]

My main reason for not jumping to the aftermarket, is I can't justify having a 500-700 dollar head unit covered in mud or submerged in water X-D

 

[DARKNESS]

I like the OEM look. I like that nobody will break into your car to steal a 20 year old OEM head unit. I listen to talk radio and audiooks so I don't need pristine sound quality or thumping bass. The OEM unit with an aux jack would be perfect for my needs.

I agree on the alarm, already replaced.

 

[turbophil]

I like the OEM look. I like that nobody will break into your car to steal a 20 year old OEM head unit. I listen to talk radio and audiooks so I don't need pristine sound quality or thumping bass. The OEM unit with an aux jack would be perfect for my needs.

I agree on the alarm, already replaced.

This is basically me too... I'm not an audiophile and really don't like the aesthetics of the aftermarket units... As far as I can tell, the stock stereo sounds as good as any aftermarket one (I know that's insanity to many!) and now that I have AUX in via a proper iphone jack, I'm tickled...

BTW- yes, this is a LX450 that had the 6 disc unit. By the sounds of things, you could probably about find a LX radio for free. I bet the main loom connector is common between the LC and LX radio. There's a second loom connector on the LX that is dedicated to the CD player. Might have to do some tinkering around to tricking the head unit into thinking there's a CD player attached, but I doubt it takes much more than 12v jumper....

-Phil

 

[Golgo13]

I like this kind of Tech Thread. Thanks, Phil!

This is an awesome example of taking something OE and upgrading it to use modern conveniences. I wish there was more of this.

 

[95ToyCruiser]

I also liked the OE head unit, but unfortunately I threw the one away from my 95, this was years ago when I installed a little sub and all new speakers...

The one in my 93 wouldn't shut off with my ignition, had to push the power everytime...

Figured it was the PO wiring it directly to the battery...

Pulled it to check, and the factory amp that powers the unit was not shutting off, so I broke down and installed a pioneer and it finally turns off with the ignition...

Do the factory amps fail often? Or could I find one at the junkyard or used somewhere and swap?

I do like the stocker for my needs...

 

[canman]

I'm not very tech savy when it comes to the latest electronics. Does this allow you to play music from your iPhone? If so, I'm guessing I could do the same with my iPad?

 

[retrofive]

I also liked the OE head unit, but unfortunately I threw the one away from my 95, this was years ago when I installed a little sub and all new speakers...

The one in my 93 wouldn't shut off with my ignition, had to push the power everytime...

Figured it was the PO wiring it directly to the battery...

Pulled it to check, and the factory amp that powers the unit was not shutting off, so I broke down and installed a pioneer and it finally turns off with the ignition...

Do the factory amps fail often? Or could I find one at the junkyard or used somewhere and swap?

I do like the stocker for my needs...

Check the classifieds, post WTB or just watch here. Enough people do dump the stock setup and go aftermarket and would be willing to bet enough left the amp in place and just unplugged. I removed mine completely years ago or you can could have it.

 

[sxwatson]

Another option from iSimple. I use this with my iPhone. This can be plugged inline with our antenna so no need to hack anything. Plug it inline with antenna, install the app and set to channel for the iPhone to play over. Like 89.9 for example, when tuned to this channel you will have bluetooth audio from your phone music and calling. Also has a microphone and button to answer, hang up or change songs when music is playing. Pretty slick. Also allows you to plug a 3.5mm jack into it and run that to a stereo that accepts that or you can split it to an RCA with an adapter.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0ZGAB7FYAMB2JK2NPZ0C

 

[canman]

I'm going to hook up my iSimple adapter tomorrow but I'm going to connect it to the rear of the head unit. I plan to use the iSimple adapter to play music from my iPad and to charge it as well.

Link to iSimple device on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Playback-Char...=UTF8&qid=1439084559&sr=8-31&keywords=Isimple

For the audio challenged like myself, here are a few points:

1. On RCA jacks; white = LEFT speaker(s) and red = RIGHT speaker(s)
2. On RCA jacks; outer shielded wire is negative and inner wire = positive
3. The iSimple white (LEFT speaker) shielded wire (negative) is connected to pin 7 (CLD-), white wire on the grey connector (R2) that connects to the rear of head unit.
4. The iSimple white (LEFT speaker) inner wire (positive) is connected to pin 2 (CLD+), red wire on the grey connector (R2) that connects to the rear of head unit.
5. The iSimple red (RIGHT speaker) shielded wire (negative) is connected to pin 6 (CDR-), blue wire on the grey connector (R2) that connects to the rear of head unit.
6. The iSimple red (RIGHT speaker) inner wire (positive) is connected to pin 1 (CDR+), green wire on the grey connector (R2) that connects to the rear of head unit.
7. The iSimple red (power) wire is connected to pin 3 (ACC = switched power), blue wire w/red stripe on the white connector (R1) that connects to the rear of the head unit.
8. The iSimple black (ground) wire is connected to pin 8 (GND), black wire on the grey connector (R1) that connects to the rear of the head unit.

Pics from EWD manual.

I will verify the above tomorrow. Hope this helps.

 

[sxwatson]

There is an option I believe it's an iSimple make and it plugs in line to the radio antenna and then you use the iSimple app to tune a channel on the radio to play bluetooth over. I think that may be more simple than an rca connection.

 

[Dave 2000]

Mine still has the OE unit but both the CD and cassette player gave up the ghost, having been thinking modern with sat nav for off roading but, this kind of thread makes you think twice, Dave reaches for android, nice one!

regards

Dave

 

[DARKNESS]

I used a different OEM radio (16814). They're readily available for cheap as they came in a ton of Toyotas from that time period. No amp required. Matching green illumination. They have a CD changer port which allowed me to use a USA SPEC bluetooth adapter. This is the perfect setup in my opinion if you want an OEM look with modern convenience.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/great-place-for-handsfree-mic.862014/

 

[Dave 2000]

I used a different OEM radio (16814). They're readily available for cheap as they came in a ton of Toyotas from that time period. No amp required. Matching green illumination. They have a CD changer port which allowed me to use a USA SPEC bluetooth adapter. This is the perfect setup in my opinion if you want an OEM look with modern convenience.

View attachment 1117818

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/great-place-for-handsfree-mic.862014/

Nice one!

regards

Dave

 

[canman]

Got it installed yesterday, but it took a while to get it all done. It's not easy to solder two wires together in a tight space when you need four hands. After hooking everything up, to my horror the unit did not work, and then only with the CD stuck playing a song from a CD. None of the buttons worked, and I thought that somehow I had screwed up the wiring. Pulled the connectors again, and pulled all the pins on the grey connector to double check everything. Nothing wrong with the pin placement, so I reinstalled everything, and fortunately it worked except the volume control. For some reason, the volume has to be maxed out to have a volume level that corresponds to the volume on half without using the lightening connector. Not sure why this is, but this is no good for me. Volume works fine with radio, CD, and tape. Some other comments:

1. Wiring pinout is correct as I mentioned previously.
2. I ran the lightening connector up the driver side A pillar and along the windshield as my iPad is mounted on the dash.
3. You need the CD changer box empty and installed with no CDs for the lightening signal to work.
4. When using the iPad to play music, it defaults to what is playing on the iPad itself through its speakers, but after a second or two, it defaults to the vehicle speakers.
5. It does charge the iPad while playing.

I decided to do all this because the tape adapter I had been using for years had stopped working intermittently. If anyone has any suggestions as to why the volume is not working properly, I would appreciate any feedback.

 

[canman]

While disconnecting my lightening connector from my iPad it seems I fried my CD player. I heard a weird noise and now my CD will not even turn on or eject. Good thing I had to remove my CDs from the player. Time for a new head unit.