My factory 6 CD changer has been acting up for the last two months. It will randomly fade to the right and or fade all the way to the back. I was constantly changing it back to center. Just recently it decided to randomly change radio stations as well as skip forward on cds.
It was time to replace it. I wanted something that looked like it belonged and not out of place. I considered buying another 6 cd changer from ebay but then remembered my favorite radio from CES 2012. The Pioneer 2400bt.
To remove the sub dash simply pop the headlight switch out from the bottom and then the rest of it just pulls off. (unplug 4x4 switch from behind as well as cigarette lighter.
I only wanted to pull this all apart once so I plugged in Composite cables from input as well as output and just ran them behind the kick panel. This way I can easily add a second flip down screen in the back or plug in an xbox etc. without getting behind the radio again.
I then ran cables to the back of the truck for the back up camera. Under the plastic foot runners there are lots of plastic plugs that can be removed and used for getting cables from inside the truck to outside easily. I put the power box to the camera beside the back bench. (FYI Best Buy has these awesome quality Sony Cameras normally $125 on clearance for $34 in my area)
Now for the tricky part: finding a cable behind the fuse box that was hot ONLY when in reverse. This way whether i'm watching a movie or listening to music the reverse camera is automatically activated and switched on. The correct wire is pictured and is BLACK with a PINK stripe!
I only have GREAT things to say about this radio. I purchased it from a local retailer that matched crutchfied. $349 with all wiring harnesses and mounting plates for my truck. I like buying local so if I have a question I can go ask in person and get good help. (Lynn's Audio and Video in Northern UT) They also helped me bypass the emergency brake requirement for watching movies while driving
This particular head unit has blutooth and automatically finds my phone each time I get in my truck. I don't even need to pull it out of my pocket to press play on pandora. Skipping and album info is readily available on the unit with Pandora as well as the iPod. If I plug into the head unit it activates "App Mode" allowing me to give pandora songs thumbs up and down as well as change pandora stations. I can also launch Navi-X GPS and the HU will display the directions right on the screen for me as well as play music in the back ground at the same time. The screen is very crisp and looks stock. The lighting can be changed to any of hundreds of different color combos as well as random that will circle through a rainbow of colors.
An external mic is also included. I have it mounted against my windshield just behind my Edge screen. All my contacts were automatically transferred to the head unit so I can place calls without taking my phone out of my pocket. Alternatively I can just dial a number or browse quick dials and missed calls.
If you are embarking on doing this install just know that it took me 8 hours! and does require a little bit of cutting the back of the sub dash to allow the radio to fit. I'll try and help you out if you post on this thread. Good luck!
Purchase this radio:
Pioneer AVH-P2400BT DVD receiver at Crutchfield.com
Finally the pictures:
05-30-2012, 10:03 AM
Linear Mode
