Add Aux to Base Prius via Radio Upgrade

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Oneaxepony, Jun 3, 2009.

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  1. Oneaxepony

    Oneaxepony Junior Member

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    Many threads have appeared discussing how to add aux to a base Prius radio. Most approaches involve adding a 3rd party device to the CD changer connector on the back of the radio. As an alternative I opted to upgrade the radio to add aux. My 2007 base Prius comes with factory radio 51830 which does not have aux nor can it play MP3s. I purchased radio model 51824 from a salvage company for just over $100. This is similar to the base radio but has aux and MP3 capability. I used instructions on PriusChat to remove the existing radio which was relatively easy. I discovered the base Prius has no aux wiring whatsoever so this turned out to be a challenge.

    The first attachment shows a photo of the back of the Prius radio with the 20 pin connector which came with the upgraded radio. The wires are clipped because it was easier for the salvage compary to do this than pull out the connectors. By examining Prius radio wiring diagrams I determined which wires needed to be added for aux (shown in photo). I needed to connect a 3.5mm stereo cable to the 20 pin connector. To do this I used 4 of the pins in the clipped connector which came with the salvage radio. When soldering the pins to the 3.5mm cable, the left audio channel goes to the tip of the 3.5 mm connector; the right audio channel goes to the connector next to the 3.5 mm tip, and audio ground goes furthest from the 3.5mm tip. The aux sense input just needs to be connected to audio ground. The next attachment shows a photo of the 20 pin connector in my Prius after adding the 4 aux pins. Yes its ugly but connections are solid. The wire connecting aux sense to audio ground is very ugly because it was soldered in place in the dash. The last attachment shows how the 3.5mm female connector fits in the tray below the radio.

    The aux works fine with the salvage radio. A message even pops up on the MFD when aux is connected. This is somewhat surprising because the base Prius MFD does not expect aux to be there. This brings me to the MP3 player. This works perfectly fine except that the MFD does not display any information about the music. There is no Title or Artist nor is there any display of play time. You can advance tracks and folders via the steering wheel controls and using the radio controls.

    Now for a surprise ending. It turned out the salvage radio had a problem ejecting CDs so I returned it. By the way the company I dealt with was very good about it and even paid to ship it back. Instead of getting another radio I decided to put back the original radio and buy a 3rd party device. I will report on that endeavor soon.

    Edited to say photo in last attachment was taken after the original radio was put back in the car.
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 Oneaxepony, Jun 3, 2009
    NOLA_Akita, dlandersson, Mibee and 5 others like this.
  2. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Why not just upgrade the stereo?
     
    #2 F8L, Jun 4, 2009
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  3. Oneaxepony

    Oneaxepony Junior Member

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    I chose to use an upgraded Prius radio instead of aftermarket for several reasons. First, the Prius radio looks the same as the original and appears as if "it belongs". Second, except for adding the aux cable, installation was a simple swap of one radio for another. Third, the steering wheel controls continue to work. Finally, the price was reasonable.

    Installing an aftermarket radio is certainly a good option as you have pointed out (& done) before. However I thought this would be easier for me given my installation skill level and needs.
     
    #3 Oneaxepony, Jun 4, 2009
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  4. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    The aftermarket stereo will fit in the lower cubby hole and look completely stock. :)

    If you decide to go that route and are leary of the wiring I'd be happy to help walk you though the install procedure. :)
     
    #4 F8L, Jun 4, 2009
  5. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Forgot to add the picture of what an aftermarket stereo look slike in the cubby. :)

    [​IMG]
     
    #5 F8L, Jun 4, 2009
  6. Oneaxepony

    Oneaxepony Junior Member

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    Thanks for the offer of installation help. I'll pass for the time being as I'm testing another device. But I never say never...
     
    #6 Oneaxepony, Jun 4, 2009
  7. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    :) Anytime
     
    #7 F8L, Jun 4, 2009
  8. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Hey, that looks awesome. I can hardly wait. :)
     
    #8 hyo silver, Jun 4, 2009
  9. GaryGarland

    GaryGarland New Member

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    the aftermarket stereo install looks suprisingly great.
    i'd like to tap into the aux on the back of my radio to add my newly purchased xm radio (i have the ipod adapter, so i bought a stand alone after market xpressrc radio) - i saw the pins but i'm still a bit leery, can some kind soul tell me how i split my 1/8" aux cable to tap into the pins at the back of my radiio? i'd plan to use 4 taps (unless someone has a better suggestion) - i was originally going to run the wire to the console and drill a hole in the console - keeping it all in the dash will be much cleaner - many thanks!
     
    #9 GaryGarland, Jun 8, 2009
  10. Puriko

    Puriko New Member

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    Thank you for your excellent description and explanation. I have a question. Why couldn't you just add to the pins on the base radio?

    Thanks
     
    #10 Puriko, Dec 23, 2009
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  11. mpataki

    mpataki New Member

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    I'm trying to add an AUX to my base 2008 Prius using primarily what you have explained here. What my plan has been was to wire a switch to connect the Aux Sense to ground so that I can flip it on and off, and also wire a little pannel mount female phono connector to plug things into. In theory, this all work. However, the trouble I'm having is finding what kind of pins to buy to add to the existing connector. So that is my first question.

    Also, I tried just sticking a couple of wires in the holes and connecting them to see if the system would switch over to AUX even though there isn't an input wired yet, and it didn't. Do you know for sure that the Aux Sense just needs to connect to ground? Or does it speak some kind of serial language that I'll need some processing to use?

    Any info would be great. Thanks!

    Mat
     
    #11 mpataki, Feb 24, 2010
  12. PriusLewis

    PriusLewis Management Scientist

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    F8L is one of our aftermarket stereo gurus. Also check out seawolf's article on replacing the stock stereo:

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...pgrade-head-unit-kenwood-excelon-dnx6960.html

    Note that it is possible to get the steering wheel controls to work with an aftermarket unit. I wish I had gone that route instead of adding the VAISTech XM setup (although it works just fine), especially after seeing the full screen units. I'm afraid to price the unit seawolf used - it might be hard on my budget if I knew :D
     
    #12 PriusLewis, Feb 24, 2010
  13. Oneaxepony

    Oneaxepony Junior Member

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    When trying to hook up the Aux in my 2007, I first tried just adding 3 pins to the connector: audio left, audio right and audio ground. This did not work. I was forced to add a pin for Aux Sense and connect it to audio ground to get it to work. As far as the type of pins to use, I was lucky in that the salvage radio I bought had a plug in the connector so I was able to extract 4 pins with wires from it and re-use them. I honestly have no idea where you can get these pins or what you even call them.

    As a follow-up to Purikos question, the base radio has no Aux capability so even if you added the pins and wiring, there is no Aux button on the radio to enable it.

    Hope this helps.
     
    #13 Oneaxepony, Feb 25, 2010
  14. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Instead of spend a hundred for iPhone, a couple hundred on video input (lockpick), a couple hundred on new navigation with bluetooth, a hundred on amplifier, etc.. I decided to do all in one package with a bonus second touch screen. That's why I upgraded to DNX6960. I love the automotive grade Garmin Navi and eXcelon audio quality.

    This may not fit the case with OP if he is just looking for a simple Aux audio input.
     
    #14 usbseawolf2000, Feb 26, 2010
  15. staceyspncr

    staceyspncr New Member

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    Hey- that looks great! Does your after market installed radio have an AUX input? I want to be able to plug in my MP3 player in my Prius & I'd rather not have to take out the existing radio, just add AUX capability. Please help me!
     
    #15 staceyspncr, Mar 2, 2011
  16. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Any quality aftermarket stereo over $120 will have an aux input and USB input. Some will have iPhone/iPod input as well. Built-in Bluetooth can be had in the $180+ priced units. Personally I would look for USB and aux inputs that are placed in the rear of the unit via a cable that can be run into your glovebox. Having plugs and wires in the dash and dangling around is not safe and is fairly unsightly.
     
    #16 F8L, Mar 2, 2011
  17. imwoody36

    imwoody36 the prius parts guy

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    we added a chinese aftermarket radio
    see how it looks here
    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/user/imwoody36#p/a/u/0/vkIDaDaLsDk"]http://www.youtube.com/user/imwoody36#p/a/u/0/vkIDaDaLsDk[/ame]
     
    #17 imwoody36, Nov 8, 2011
  18. Sparky9292

    Sparky9292 Junior Member

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    Yes, after much research into single DIN units, and talking to three local audio shops, this is the best option:

    [​IMG]

    It's a great radio! Hands free, AUX/USB/Bluetooth. Works wonderful with any flash drive, iPod, iPhone. I love this stereo.

    Local shop wanted $270, but I got it for $160 on Amazon.:rockon:
     
    #18 Sparky9292, Jan 1, 2012
  19. Yuriy-1964

    Yuriy-1964 New Member

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    Hello! 51 830 in the radio, perhaps in this way activate the audio Auksė?sorri for my English, translated by Google ...
     
    #19 Yuriy-1964, Mar 26, 2012
  20. krunal

    krunal New Member

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    I bought myself a 51824 stereo also. I see that it has the disc/aux button. would this button work if I follow your instructions? And if not Do you or someone else have diagram for this 51824 stereo that explains which pins are connected to the aux input in the center console. By the way I dont have the aux in my center console. but I want to do wiring same way. I am attaching picture of the stereo i bought.

    Thank you.
    face.JPG back.JPG .
    face.JPG back.JPG
     
    #20 krunal, Mar 22, 2013
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