DIY: 2013 Sedan Aftermarket Headunit install

[VEGAS WRX]

I am all about writing up how I installed a certain part. While I do not claim to be an expert at it, I know on past forums it has helped some people and given people various places to look for pictures of certain installs.

Here is how I installed an aftermarket Pioneer Double Din headunit in a 2013 WRX Sedan without factory navigation. Thank you SVXdc (http://ae64.com/) for your wiring harness!!!

Opinion:

The stock sound system is garbage. I am big into a nice sounding system and will probably go 3 way active on this install with a small rear stage. The pioneer headunit works nicely for my needs. I am amazed how factory it looks in this car. I have owned cars where an aftermarket headunit looked way out of place. But this flows nicely and sounds much better than stock.

Parts used:

1. Pioneer AVH-P3400BH $275 about 1 year ago. example: http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-AVH-P3400BH-Multimedia-Widescreen-Bluetooth%C2%AE/dp/B006YBQ724/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1375048994&sr=1-1&keywords=pioneer+avh+p3400bh
2. Metra 95-8902 Double Kit $11.19 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JT03VM/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1You can also use a factory bezel from another Subaru, JDM replacement Bezel Subaru #66065SC130

3. Reverse camera $15.52 I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS ONE!! The wiring was garbage. It was so thin, I had issues stripping the wiring without breaking the wire. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049LBJ56/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
4/7/8. Axxess ASWC-1 to retain steering wheel controls from ae64.com $58 http://ae64.com/ASWC-steering-wheel-interface.htm
Yes that is slightly more expensive than some places, but it includes the latest firmware, and supports one of our own.

5. ae64.com Radio Install Harness $12 http://ae64.com/20-pinfwdharness.htm
GET THIS HARNESS. It has the added wires for the SWC. Highly recommended!!

6. Pioneer Video Bypass Module so you do not have to wire to your brake and can use GPS while moving and play videos while moving $9.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ANQ6P1E/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Tools:
Soldering Gun
Electrical Tape
Solder
Quick Connectors
Zip Ties
8MM Socket
Phillips Head Screw Driver
Needle Nose Pliers
Hanger
Beer

Time:
1 Hour for Harness
1 Hour for install

Pictures:

What I bought:


All the wiring. Most colors matched up nicely. ae64.com has a breakdown of what his wires are for, and the wires are labeled on the sides. Even if colors match, verify them with your book for the headunit to make sure they are correct.

You can see the Pioneer harness upper left, axxess harness upper right, ae64.com harness lower right, bypass module far right. The pioneer harness mute will not be used. The axxess harness will only use 4 wires. Listed here:

ASWC's RED wire to the other RED wires (my harness' and your HU's)
ASWC's BLACK wire to the other BLACK ground wires (my harness' and your HU's)
BROWN/BLACK wire on my 20-pin harness (pin 14) to the other BLACK ground wires (same as above)
ASWC's GREEN/ORANGE wire to the BROWN/RED wire on my 20-pin harness (pin 4)
ASWC's BLACK/GREEN wire to the BROWN/BLUE wire on my 20-pin harness (pin 13)



When soldering, twist the wires together, then let the solder flow on and around the wire. I usually use heat shrink, but I was all out and Oreillys did not have the size I needed. So I used tape



At one point you will have to solder together 5 ground wires.



All together:





Tapped up:



Cleaned up. I usually wire loom this, but was out as well.

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[VEGAS WRX]

Out to the garage to install it all. First things first, realize when you have three kids that the garage is not really yours. So clean all the crap off your work bench:





In the garage for the first time:



Low miles and ripping it apart:



Stock:



Pull with your finger nails or use a trim removal tool. Trust me, you cannot break anything. It will come off:



Back side of trim:



4 Philips head screws hold it in:



Pull it out:



Don't pull to far, the wires are not very long:

[VEGAS WRX]

What is left:



Old vs New:







I dropped the mic down the left side and it came out near the pedals. It was an easy shot. I then ran it under the steering wheel, behind the fuse panel, up the left trim, up the pillar and to the windom. I am hoping this works for sound clarity in phone calls. No need to remove any trim. Not as clean of a spot as I would like:







Run the rear camera wiring down the right side. I used a run of wire from the reverse signal in the pioneer adapter and a yellow video cable. Use a hanger to fish the wire through the dash:





I did not solder this wire. If you do, you will not be able to just pull the harness and all out. I wanted plug and play:

[VEGAS WRX]

These cables are not used. I think they are for the USB/AUX. If you have a different headunit. ae64.com has adapters for these. My headunit has the usb and aux on the front:



I left the axxess hanging out so I could verify everything was installed right. And it was not. Somehow I forgot to attach the axxess red power wire to the harness. Of all things to forget. So I pull it out, soldered it in, fired it back up. Everything worked except the bluetooth buttons. I followed the directions of the latest firmware update, but it did not work. All other buttons work perfect. Guess I will just have to touch the screen to make a phone call. No biggie:



Matching the colors to the dash:





Headunit done:





I do not have many pictures for the rear view camera. My wife grab the camera from me. I ran the wires down the right side, tucking under the trim. I got to the trunk and followed the stock harness up to the trunk lid. Pulled the liner off the trunk lid:





Use an 8mm socket to remove to license plate lighting trim:

[VEGAS WRX]

Ran the wires through the grommet on the left:





Ran the wiring down the right side of the trunk with the factory wiring. Tapped into the reverse bulb positive. I think it was black with a stripe. I grounded to the bolt above it for ground.

And installed:

[turmoil]

Thats legit! I'm doing a stereo upgrade at some point, but really want to leave the stock head unit in tact. I might have to re-consider.

[dan2510]

Is there a way to retain the use of the factory BT buttons on the steering wheel?

[VEGAS WRX]

Originally Posted by turmoil

Thats legit! I'm doing a stereo upgrade at some point, but really want to leave the stock head unit in tact. I might have to re-consider.

I highly reccomend it. The amount of customization you gain will make the system sound much better. And it is all 100% able to be returned to stock. I imagine I could rip out the headunit and have the stock unit back in, in less than 10 minutes.

[VEGAS WRX]

Originally Posted by dan2510

Is there a way to retain the use of the factory BT buttons on the steering wheel?

Yes there is. I am sure I could play with it more and get them working properly. I just haven't done it yet. I might mess with it this weekend. According to axxess and SVXdc, they should all work.

[BMAN130]

nice write up

[VEGAS WRX]

Thank you. And to anyone looking at a rear view camera, buy a nice one. This one worked for one day!!!

[Frosty19]

Thanks for the write up Vegas, I'll be using this for my install. I have a 2011 STi and want to upgrade the stereo ASAP.
I just need to choose what components I want to use.

[BMAN130]

link to the harness u need to keep the USB/aux?

[MacAlert]

Here you go: http://ae64.com/aftermarket-HU-insta...Impreza-BT.htm.

[blkstar15]

great write...I will also be using this for my install. My only concern is mixing up the wiring...are the instructions straight foward or can someone possibly post up a wiring diagram

[VEGAS WRX]

Thanks everyone. The instructions are pretty straightforward. The harnesses come with a diagram that tells what colors go together. For added comfort that it is correct I match what ever the manual for the headunit says the wire is for with whatever the harness says the wire should be. Other than in my one BMW, it has always been correct.

[blkstar15]

Originally Posted by VEGAS WRX

Thanks everyone. The instructions are pretty straightforward. The harnesses come with a diagram that tells what colors go together. For added comfort that it is correct I match what ever the manual for the headunit says the wire is for with whatever the harness says the wire should be. Other than in my one BMW, it has always been correct.

thanks vegas!!

[BMAN130]

I think my girl getting me a pioneer for my bday today :-X


if she does I'll be ordering some goodies from that guy

[ksantarina]

nice job. have you been experiencing any issues with axxess? I did mine a couple months back on a pioneer and for some reason, for the first 10 minutes of the car being started, the steering wheel controls work but 10 minutes later, they reset and aren't functional. if i restart the car and do it again, same thing happens. i'm wondering if i have a loose connection somewhere? thoughts?

thanks

[couvar]

Do all your steering wheel control buttons works? I'm not sure if I have a problem or not but only my volume controls work.

[mattymess]

Nice write up, thanks

[mattymess]

Did you happen to find a better backup camera that you would recommend?

[VEGAS WRX]

Originally Posted by ksantarina

nice job. have you been experiencing any issues with axxess? I did mine a couple months back on a pioneer and for some reason, for the first 10 minutes of the car being started, the steering wheel controls work but 10 minutes later, they reset and aren't functional. if i restart the car and do it again, same thing happens. i'm wondering if i have a loose connection somewhere? thoughts?

thanks

I haven't had any issues. Well the ones for the phone (the bottom three to make calls) have never worked for making calls. All three of them change the source. But I was told I can program them, but have never done it. I do not use my phone in the car.

[VEGAS WRX]

Originally Posted by mattymess

Did you happen to find a better backup camera that you would recommend?

Not yet. I have not even looked. I should, but have been lazy!

[mezdup]

thank you for this