Pioneer Double-DIN Head Unit Install (w/pics)

[custom Lftback]

Well yesterday all my shipments arrived for my new head unit.. Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/Source/AV-Receivers/AVH-P3100DVD)
Since I haven't had any experience installing a stereo, I had a buddy of mine help me out this afternoon. I bought the stereo from Amazon for $287, as well as the iPod cable for $45. I bought the Metra Double DIN kit and wiring harness from eBay (thanks SodiumDuck for the link!).
Alright on to the pictures (there is a lot but I tried to go through each process). Sorry in advance for the crappy quality of pictures, it was taken from my phone.

Here is the box that arrived:

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703538899_534693899_2357177_5979328_n.jpg

First things first, gotta take apart the dash:

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703438899_534693899_2357162_4057652_n.jpg

Here is my friend Tino who helped me install it. We did it at his fire station since they had tools :)

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703448899_534693899_2357164_4269036_n.jpg

They got fluorescent yellow fire trucks!

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703463899_534693899_2357165_4700202_n.jpg

haha I had all the doors and hood open:

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703543899_534693899_2357178_49902_n.jpg

Disconnect the negative battery cable:

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703483899_534693899_2357169_501894_n.jpg

Here is the stock HU:

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703468899_534693899_2357166_6327297_n.jpg

The cables left behind from the stock HU:

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703473899_534693899_2357167_226372_n.jpg

Here is the wiring harness:

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703478899_534693899_2357168_7761933_n.jpg

And the wiring process:

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703488899_534693899_2357170_176275_n.jpg
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703503899_534693899_2357171_4861691_n.jpg
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703508899_534693899_2357172_6816540_n.jpg

The new beautiful HU :cool: :

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703513899_534693899_2357173_836671_n.jpg

Connect it up to make sure it's working and that we did it right:

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703518899_534693899_2357174_8124488_n.jpg

And it does!!

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703528899_534693899_2357175_5062125_n.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703533899_534693899_2357176_5630090_n.jpg

We had to install a switch to bypass the "safety" feature:

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703553899_534693899_2357180_1393993_n.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703558899_534693899_2357181_5160600_n.jpg

It's pretty much invisible:

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703563899_534693899_2357182_3955787_n.jpg

Gotta put on the Metra spacers:

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703583899_534693899_2357185_1061682_n.jpg

Screw it back in:

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703588899_534693899_2357186_2122056_n.jpg

Put the rest of the dash back together:

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703593899_534693899_2357187_6468270_n.jpg

And turn her on!!!!

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703598899_534693899_2357188_4672270_n.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703608899_534693899_2357189_6745962_n.jpg
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703613899_534693899_2357190_7171738_n.jpg

oh yeah, gotta love the background :headbang: :

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2789_78703618899_534693899_2357191_2470828_n.jpg

Needless to say, I LOVE IT! my favorite purchase so far! comment please :smile:

[TinyGiant]

do you have to plug in the ipod and stuff in the front of the unit?

[custom Lftback]

yes unfortunately, that's one of the few flaws. but it's alright I just keep it in the left cubby right there. but a good thing is that it works with my iphone perfectly. :)

[AlexNet0]

What safety feature are you referring to?

[custom Lftback]

the fact that you must have the parking brake on to view any video. but trust me, i don't plan on watching any movies while driving!

[uncleyaris]

congrats DD is the way to go!!

[TheUnGroomed]

Nice DIY. And. . . Nice Rubix Cube!

[Sodium Duck]

Nice!

[custom Lftback]

Nice DIY. And. . . Nice Rubix Cube!

haha thanks :laugh:

[Pitt Yaris]

Great DIY, and looks awesome. I just searched this on Amazon and $287 seems like a good deal. I have no ipod and stock hu so I've though about just getting a PSP or Iphone touch instead of such a head unit, but thinkin it over.

[Slick]

:evil: I bought the same radio from Amazon for the same price. Came in yesterday and installed the same day :biggrin: My father is an instrument technician and suggested that I should wire the parking brake safety wire to the red ignition wire to bypass having to run it to the brake. He explained that the parking brake wire reads the positive current that is activated when the parking brake switch is pressed (switch is activated by engaging the parking brake). He says that the red wire to the ignition will always have the positive current because it is what turns on the radio with the key. I still have to run my RCA's and remote wire to it for my amp tomorrow so will try it out.

One question for the radio gurus and maybe for you custom Lftback is what did you wire the reverse senseing wire to?

Anyway, its a sweet radio and I hope you enjoy it, I know I am. BTW, the buttons on the left change color if you haven't already figured it out. I set mine to amber to better match the rest of the interior lighting.

[Slick]

Correction!!! I finished wiring up the speakers. Wiring the reverse wire to the ignition wire will not bypass the safety feature. We tried, its no good. So we ended up wiring it to the parking brake wire like it said and what do you know,it worked. idk.

[uncleyaris]

Just find a good ground to bypass.

[808_Yaris]

^ what he said :) you just have to wire the safety feature wire to any ground or negative wire.

-no need for switches :wink:

[kuyachris84]

Looks great! I wanna do this.. he he :thumbup:

[custom Lftback]

^ what he said :) you just have to wire the safety feature wire to any ground or negative wire.

-no need for switches :wink:

Tried that, still didn't work. so that's why we just put in a switch. it's no biggie tho. :laugh:

[leugimlegna16]

Hello Custom Lftback, looks great!!; one question, the aux in on floor console don´t work with this unit?

[Slick]

No, the stock aux plug and line is rendered useless once this radio is installed. Though someone with a little more know how may know how to rig it through the SAT plug or something

[808_Yaris]

Tried that, still didn't work. so that's why we just put in a switch. it's no biggie tho. :laugh:

Oh, well congratulations on a nice install! Any more upgrades to your sound system?

[IsLNdbOi]

If the unit has a RCA or 3.5mm auxiliary inputs, you can still use the Yaris's stock aux jack. There's a thread about it somewhere here.

[leugimlegna16]

IsLNdbOi you are right, the unit has RCA inputs

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/In-Dash/DVD-Receivers/ci.AVH-P3100DVD.Popup

I think it works with the source aux 2.

[IsLNdbOi]

Here are the threads w/ DIYs on using the stock aux jack w/ aftermarket HUs.

'09LB:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11849

'07/'08LBs:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=199347

[custom Lftback]

Oh, well congratulations on a nice install! Any more upgrades to your sound system?

not yet, this is the first part of the sound system. Taxes killed me this month, so the rest will have to wait a couple of months, but I'm in no hurry!
I am going to be getting a single Alpine Type R 12" subwoofer, and still looking for a fairly inexpensive amp to power it.
But I might tint my windows first before I do that, because it is starting to get hot!!! :biggrin:

As far as using the stock AUX input, I might have to play with it, because this ipod control wire that works with the HU doesn't allow my iPhone to play through the speakers of the car, it just takes over the iPod portion. So I could possible rig the stock input so I can have a sort of "handsfree" system lol.
I am currently watching Iron Man on the head unit, and the picture is awesome!! :thumbup:

[Pitt Yaris]

I just ordered this kit through Amazon. Might need to ask questions later, hah. Now I gotta get an alarm system.
Where can I get the spacers/harnesses that are also needed for install?
Another question.....if I have a flash drive with only songs loaded on it, would I be able to play them through the usb port on the unit?

[BailOut]

Have you had a chance to try playing any video media through it yet? It says it plays DIVX so that should mean that it can play most AVI files. Most music videos you can download come as AVIs.

[custom Lftback]

I just ordered this kit through Amazon. Might need to ask questions later, hah. Now I gotta get an alarm system.
Where can I get the spacers/harnesses that are also needed for install?
Another question.....if I have a flash drive with only songs loaded on it, would I be able to play them through the usb port on the unit?

for the spacers AND harness needed, I got em here: http://cgi.ebay.com/2007-Toyota-Yaris-DOUBLE-DIN-Radio-Kit-COMBO_W0QQitemZ200326813997QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item200326813997&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

Fast shipping and great price.

yes the songs from your flash drive will play on the unit.

[custom Lftback]

Have you had a chance to try playing any video media through it yet? It says it plays DIVX so that should mean that it can play most AVI files. Most music videos you can download come as AVIs.

yeah, I can play all my music videos that are loaded on my ipod on the unit. :w00t:

[Pitt Yaris]

for the spacers AND harness needed, I got em here: http://cgi.ebay.com/2007-Toyota-Yaris-DOUBLE-DIN-Radio-Kit-COMBO_W0QQitemZ200326813997QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item200326813997&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

Fast shipping and great price.

yes the songs from your flash drive will play on the unit.

That's awesome. Thanks for the link. Guess I won't need an ipod after all. I'll just load up my flash drive with songs and videos and play on the head unit.
It says 2007 yaris. Yours is a hatch, but I don't see much of a difference so I'm guessing this will fit my 2008 sedan?

[custom Lftback]

no prob! yeah it'll fit fine

[BailOut]

Well, my OEM deck finally crapped out. It's been on the fritz for a few months now, often refusing to read CDR media. Cleaning it helped for a while but not for long.

On the recommendation from other users here on YW I decided on the unit discussed in this thread, the Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD, just as the OP did. However, I did not like the idea of hitting a switch every time I key start (as a hypermiler I can key start several times during in-town trips), and I plan on playing everything as music videos rather than MP3s, so I wanted a relay-based solution.

I first tried a method involving a solid-state relay from Radio Shack but it simply did not work. Instead of acting as a double throw it would only act a single. That won't fool the "safety", aka NUISANCE, crap that Pioneer put into this unit.

I then tried another method that worked well for me:

http://www.hawkee.com/shop/review/179441/

I used Niehoff part number RL36621 (http://shop.oreillyauto.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=NIE&MfrPartNumber=RL36621) but any 12V SPDT 5-pin automotive relay should work. I also picked up some 1/4" insulated quick disconnect (spade) connectors so that I didn't have to worry about insulating anyththing.

It works like a charm but I still have to hit that stupid OK prompt each time I restart in DIVX mode, and there's a bug in that while a DIVX (AVI) movie will pick up where it left off it only it plays the video with no audio until the track/file is changed. I plan to call Pioneer tomorrow to see if there's a fix or workaround for that. I'll also ask them about a way to randomize/shuffle files on disc (that feature is grayed out).

It is also worth noting that the Metra harness given in the sticky in this forum does not match up perfectly with this radio. Go orange/white to orange/white despite the naming difference (one side is labeled Illumination while the other is Dimmer - ignore the Illumination label on the Metra side) and cap off the orange/black wire on the rear speaker connector on the Metra side as it does nothing.

[Soner]

Seeing those pictures made me think that if you can paint the silver plastic peaces to the exact same black color, your set up would look even better. Needless to say it looks MUCH better now than the stock set up.

Also, I know there is a price difference between the head units with navigation and without it however it could have been great if you had navigation on it.

[koala]

Do you have to buy Pioneer's overpriced USB cable for iPod support or can you use the cable the iPod/iPhone comes with?

[BailOut]

Do you have to buy Pioneer's overpriced USB cable for iPod support or can you use the cable the iPod/iPhone comes with?

If you only want to play audio from an i* then the cable you already have will do fine. It will also charge from the stereo's port.

If you want to play video from your i* then you will need Pioneer's overpriced cable.

[TinyGiant]

i have two of those overpriced cables :) need one?

[koala]

If you only want to play audio from an i* then the cable you already have will do fine. It will also charge from the stereo's port.

If you want to play video from your i* then you will need Pioneer's overpriced cable.

Awesome, thanks for the quick answer.