Pioneer AVH-P4400BH installed in 2012 WRX

[BWX]

Originally Posted by rex864

Cool, Hope everything goes good for ya on the install, I will be looking for some pics when you get it done..

I finally got around to installing it.. It wasn't really super easy.

I had to shave down the RCA type cable ends with a razor blade just to get it through the hole that the grommet was in behind the chrome trim piece (mine is painted), same with the 12v connector. I had to cut the grommet down the center (haven't uploaded that photo yet) so there was room for the wires. I'm not sure how they expected you to get the fat RCA plug through that little hole.

The license plate light receptacle had to be taken apart to get the thing off of there. Then after that I had to tap into the reverse light wires, which there was only about one inch extra space, so that was kind of a pain.

Then after that, I already had a free RCA cable to connect the video feed, I installed it when I did the rest of my stereo. So I connected everything up with just having the camera power up with reverse tail lights, thinking that I could make the head unit "detect" that, and come on automatically. Well that is not the case. It does not work like that. I thought that someone said you could get it to work like that. You can use the camera when it is hooked up like that, but it does not come on automatically when in reverse by the head unit detecting that the camera has power.. I wish it did, it would be a lot easier to install.

The only way to get it to come on when in reverse only, and then go back off by itself, is to run a positive lead from the reverse lights (or I guess a reverse switch on shifter or something) all the way up to head unit ad connect it to the violet and white wire. That's it, no "other way".


So I tore apart my car again after realizing that and connected a lead from the positive wire from backup light all the way to head unit. I had an extra subwoofer remote wire that was bad that I wanted to take out while I was doing that, and reinstall a good one in there too, so that took quite a lot of extra time.

Altogether it was several hours of work before it all was done, but it does work great now.

The reason I hooked the camera power up to the reverse light in the first place was because I thought the radio could detect that it was on and operate the rear view cam completely automatically.. It cannot, and if I had known that, I would have connected it to a switched power source from the get-go, so that I could operate the camera any time I want. That is what the "rear view" button is for in the "source" mode screen on the display. It is for just running the rear-view at any time. Anyone that has to hit that to get the rear view camera working, and it doesn't come on automatically when in reverse, doesn't have it hooked up right. There are two ways to run the rear-view cam, with that button, and automatically. It says it in the manual (that I couldn't find because someone threw it away, and so I read it on a downloaded pdf manual after I realized that was not working half way through the job).

The only downside to hooking up camera to constant power (when car is running, not battery) is that the camera is always on if car is running, and not just when you want to use it. I guess a way around that would be to let the head unit control when the camera was powered on with a relay, but there is no remote power lead from the head unit only when you ask it to display the rear view which would be when in reverse, and then also when you push the rear-view camera button which could be at any time. I guess the only solution is to have the camera powered on all the time the car is on.

I'll take some pics/ vids and upload them soon. It comes up in about 1 second or maybe even less when I shift into reverse, so that's pretty cool.


EDIT

I was thinking of ways to maybe hook up some LED lights on the other license plate light so that the color of the light is the same.. obviously the light from the camera LEDs is more blue-white and the regualr bulb on the other side is more yellow-white. I just had a funny idea, I may just buy another camera and hook it up and just use the lights. It's only $25 right now, and I'd get a big long RCA cable out of the deal anyways. I could just bunch up the other wires tightly, or cut them off completely, and hook up the lights. Then it would look like I have two cams, but only one would work, it would look "even" too- Symmetrical on both sides. Also I would have a backup right there if the first one leaks or quits working.

edit2
Oh look, here's the same damn thing for cheaper. Only $19.xx
http://www.amazon.com/Reverse-License-Parking-Forester-Outback/dp/B00GQZMYXO/ref=pd_sbs_misc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=17J9CFXYKS4G68EC00YD
-

The one I got that is $26.xx now.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ADHZWIK/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1?tag=citofgamonlco-20
-

Maybe I'll mount one behind my grill too, and then I could drive down the road if someone was shooting at me.. (ducking behind engine / firewall) - Like James Bond.



EDIT- pics


Here's some pics.. no vid of it working yet.

Used a towel to protect the paint from that trim piece.. Couldn't really just easily remove it altogether without messing with the other light.

You can see the grommet and how small that hole is and how little wire is left after you get the connectors off.





Close-up of the grommet - I cut it like that to allow the other wire to fit in there. I just smushed it back into the hole after that. I was going to use some liquid electrical tape to make it air tight, but after I got done it seemed ok without that.





Done..





I'll make a vid of it working sometime.


EDIT
I just checked and I paid $39.90 for this in Feb. which I thought was an ok deal.. I bought it from "ecityBuy"

-
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aag/details/ref=aag_m_fb?ie=UTF8&asin=&isAmazonFulfilled=1&isCBA=&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&seller=A33TAK023KU8F1nasioc was messing up link..

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aag/main?ie=UTF8&asin=&isAmazonFulfilled=1&isCBA=&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&orderID=108-3981914-4209038&seller=A33TAK023KU8F1

And when I follow the link from that "store", it goes to the product page and says "currently unavailable", but has all the same exact reviews.
http://www.amazon.com/Forester-Outback-Impreza-Reverse-Waterproof/dp/B00ADHZWIK/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&m=A33TAK023KU8F1
-

Then if I go to the "buy again" link under my purchase histort, it goes to a different link..
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ADHZWIK/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1?tag=citofgamonlco-20?tag=citofgamonlco-20-
And says $25.60, but still has all the same reviews but sold by "Sun Electronic"

Both say "by ChiLinR" though. It's just strange that there are Sooo many names and "people"... yet they all might be the same person, and the same exact product. Sometimes a listing with have two different cameras shown in the pics. Very similar, but slightly different.

Like this one..
http://www.amazon.com/Reverse-License-Parking-Forester-Outback/dp/B00GQZMYXO/ref=pd_sbs_misc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=17J9CFXYKS4G68EC00YD?tag=citofgamonlco-20Notice the first pic is a different camer than the second pic. Now this listing for $19.00 also says sold and shipped by "Sun Electronic".. but it says that in the main description where the others say "by ChiLinR".

Also there are tons of other "people" selling what looks to be the exact same thing all over Amazon, some as low as $17.xx, but in the pics, some of them look very close, but small things are different, and some look to be poor quality- judging by pics. I think I 'm going to get another one, but pay the $26 bucks, just to make sure I get the same one I got last time, and to try to get similar colored LEDs.. since there can be such a huge range in LED color. Also they could be of vastly different quality, and some may leak and others may not. The one I got looked to be pretty high quality and I don't think it's going to leak. I may take it back out and put some silicone around the edges where it clamps together just for insurance anyways. It's just strange to me so many people are selling the same exact looking thing, but when I look at the place I bought mine, every single thing that "person", "ecityBuy" sells, is listed as unavailable. Strange.

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[extrahumane]

Im reading this now, 2014 just wondering if there is a better HU out there now. I dont want to lose the controls or anything but I want to be able to replace it.


Sent from my iPhone using NASIOC

[DearDiaryJackpot]

Your issue is with adapters, not HU. So I would look for HU compatible with the cable you need to keep the controllers and take it from there. This thread was for a specific HU but it ended up covering a lot of ground regarding a new HU and how to install it. So I really suggest reading this thread completely.

[GAS KING]

Hello, sorry to drag up an old post, but I read through all of the pages and didn't really find an answer.

I bought an '04 WRX wagon with the AVH-P4400BH already installed.
Fairly new to aftermarket stereos. Actually my first.

I also browsed the manual, but there's so much extra information in it......sorta head spinning.

The previous owner had a female USB cable and mic velcro'd to the driver's side floor center console.

I don't talk and drive, so the phone/mic functionality isn't needed.



My official question is:
How do I hook up my phone (galaxy S4), or more importantly non-apple MP3 player (older Creative unit) to this stereo and have it play it's audio?

I do not see an 1/8" aux input......which would be the easiest.
Don't need any on screen functionality....just sound from a MP3 player to come through the speakers.

[slowhat]

Originally Posted by GAS KING

Hello, sorry to drag up an old post, but I read through all of the pages and didn't really find an answer.

I bought an '04 WRX wagon with the AVH-P4400BH already installed.
Fairly new to aftermarket stereos. Actually my first.

I also browsed the manual, but there's so much extra information in it......sorta head spinning.

The previous owner had a female USB cable and mic velcro'd to the driver's side floor center console.

I don't talk and drive, so the phone/mic functionality isn't needed.



My official question is:
How do I hook up my phone (galaxy S4), or more importantly non-apple MP3 player (older Creative unit) to this stereo and have it play it's audio?

I do not see an 1/8" aux input......which would be the easiest.
Don't need any on screen functionality....just sound from a MP3 player to come through the speakers.

for the galaxy S4, use bluetooth. it will give you onscreen functionality and audio info through most apps (google music, pandora, doggcatcher, overdrive, etc)

for the mp3 player: pull the unit, on the back you'll see an RCA input use a RCA to headphone adaptor and you'll have AUX audio. you can even use that for the GS4, if you insisted on not having onscreen info.

[GAS KING]

Thanks for the quick response!!

Got it. Easy enough.

[BWX]

That mic is for hands free. I'd use it!

[GAS KING]

Originally Posted by BWX

That mic is for hands free. I'd use it!

I agree.....it's the way to go, and much safer.

but, I 100% do not touch my phone in my car.
No previous incidents or anything.....I just don't do it.
Remains in pocket until I arrive at my destination or the car is off.

The HU's screen is pretty distracting and not really my thing.
For the most part, I've been turning off the screen while driving.
Nice HU, but I don't need anything so fancy.
Don't use the phone in car (so no bluetooth), don't subscribe to satellite radio, won't be playing DVDs or the photo functionality.......

Keeping it in because it's fine, works great, sounds good, has nice features....but had I had the choice I would have gone with something a bit more subtle.
All I really need is 6-10 radio presets, CD player, AUX in on the front of unit, & graphic EQ.

Just trying to deal with what I've been dealt.

[BWX]

Originally Posted by GAS KING

I agree.....it's the way to go, and much safer.

but, I 100% do not touch my phone in my car.
No previous incidents or anything.....I just don't do it.
Remains in pocket until I arrive at my destination or the car is off.

The HU's screen is pretty distracting and not really my thing.
For the most part, I've been turning off the screen while driving.
Nice HU, but I don't need anything so fancy.
Don't use the phone in car (so no bluetooth), don't subscribe to satellite radio, won't be playing DVDs or the photo functionality.......

Keeping it in because it's fine, works great, sounds good, has nice features....but had I had the choice I would have gone with something a bit more subtle.
All I really need is 6-10 radio presets, CD player, AUX in on the front of unit, & graphic EQ.

Just trying to deal with what I've been dealt.

I have a similar model, in fact in the manual it had the 4400 manual too, but couldn't find manual last I looked. It is really intuitive (the radio controls) once you figure out what you want to do. You can even set up a favorites function so all the mostly used functions are in one "folder". It is good not to be distracted by radio while driving though.

I never text while driving but I will take a call with hands free, but very carefully and slowly. If I miss it, no big deal if I am too busy driving to glance at screen.

If it is set up, you can just hit one virtual button on touchscreen when call comes in and have both hands and both eyes back on road in 0.10 second.

Still I'm not arguing against what you do, that's probably the safest thing to do.

[slowhat]

So, anyone having Bluetooth issues with this head unit after Android update to Lollipop? Metadata no longer shows on h/u since update. sucks