2011 Level II, Sony XNV-660BT Install Adventure

Thanks to the voices of experience here, I'm about to enter the ranks of DIY upgrade adventurers

Goals (edited to make it more clear to new readers)
* Simple non-distracting physical button access to basic elements (very important to my sweetie!)
* No/minimum wires showing (this eliminates JVC )
* Better BT phone/mic
* Great iPod connection
* Good Android connection
* Easy navigation nationwide without the distractions of using my phone for that. Ideally with traffic but oh well [gave up on traffic, unless/until Sony/TomTom supply traffic in the US]
* Backup cam would be nice
* Much more affordable than OEM ($3k upgrade to III with Nav to get iPod?!! No Way.)
* Close to OEM look [chose Sony/TomTom features with Toyota DIN face, over Advent face]

What I ordered

Source // What
Crutchfield
// Sony XNV-660BT head unit
// Sony RC202IPV iPod Video Cable (optional on the 660BT)
// Sony X-AR800C Backup cam (GREAT deal now: $20 instead of $199!)
// Posi-Products Car Stereo Connector Kit 16 connectors (much nicer than other wiring methods!)
// (Should have also ordered some Posi-Products T-taps... ~6?)
// (Also includes wiring harness, instructions, and non-OEM mount kit -- ignored)

Amazon
// Metra ASWC steering wheel interface

electoTronix.com (incl FirstOrder discount)
// Metra 70-8114 - SWC Harness

DiscountToyotaParts.com
// 55405-47080 - OEM double-DIN trim
// 86221-52050 - OEM side 10mm filler
// 86221-52060 - OEM 10mm filler

TOTAL: $787 including shipping

Other purchases later
- Several T-taps
- (Was not needed: Molex .062 2-pin connectors to make connections removable on reverse, speed, etc.)

Shipping Notes
Crutchfield -- 72 hr delivery (shipped same day, free ground shipping)
Amazon -- 36 hr delivery (shipped next day, paid for 2 day ship)
electoTronix -- 20 day delivery (expensive, delayed shipping, lost it in warehouse, did not follow through on promises)
DiscountToyotaParts -- 9 day delivery (shipped after one week, site didn't say parts were backordered, nor that ship to must match bill to)

Other Tools Needed
* 10mm socket wrench with at least 6" (150mm) extension. If installing a backup cam, it must be a deep socket to remove back door/hatch exterior trim for best installation.
* 12mm socket wrench if installing backup cam (to remove trim near left rear seat)
* strong fingers for pulling plastic near head unit
* trim removal tool. I could not initially find plastic tools, so used a PC back-slot cover (smooth metal about .75 inches wide, 5 in. long, with a 90 degree bend and another 1/2 inch.) Works perfectly to help pull of the main hatchback interior trim, but not for other things.)
* Plastic trim removal tool a necessity for backup cam and/or mic overhead. I borrowed one at first, then discovered a Harbor Freight outlet nearby. They are among the few that have plastic tools. (See pic #2 of this comment for another example)

Install Documentation and Links
- Crutchfield supplies Prius-specific sheets with photos showing how to remove trim/OEM radio, and very clear wiring info for their adapter harness.- For the ASWC steering wheel control: there are Prius details in the included very-thick Application Chart, but going to this site and picking out my Prius takes me to a vehicle-specific page with a simple wiring summary. plus a link to this detailed guide which contains all the Prius-specific instructions needed, including setup. Just print the PDF at that last link and you should be set unless something has changed. (A generic harness comes with the ASWC. I purchased the Toyota-specific Metra harness, which simplifies installation and enables AUX audio input from the center console connector.)
- The C'field supplied harnesses do not help with AUX inputs
- Best mic wiring example, and other good practical info on wiring, particularly for mic and iPod
- Best illustrated guide to backup cam installation
- Gaining access to inside/under the console box: PriusChat post,
- See here for an important note about care in removing map light assembly (will become part of my story )

Wiring Summary
- So far, all wiring harness colors match exactly between 660BT and adapters. NICE!
- Need at least 13 "crimp caps" (4x2 speakers, 3 power/ground, dimmer/illum, antenna power...)
- Need some T-taps. Should have bought them at the same time. (Reverse, Speed, and if you use the ASWC harness, 2 ASWC signals...)
- ASWC black, red combine with radio black, red for harness connections
- If you use the ASWC harness instead of the 70-8114 harness, you must hand-wire the ASWC green/orange, black/green, tapped into car wiring (20-pin connector pins 7 [red], 8 [green]). Requires T-taps.
- car 20-pin connector pin 6 [pink] is SWC reference ground and needs grounding. Another T-tap?
- ASWC "stereo plug" goes into "Remote In" on back of 660BT
- (All other ASWC wires are unused)
- 660BT "ATT" [light blue] ignored: only for a wired-in car phone (Attenuate == mute)
- 660BT Brake [lt green] grounded i.e. connect to black. (This is 'official' in instructions, for use with rear-seat video)
- 660BT Speed In [pink/silver] -- As noted in this post, "L50 20 pin connector attached to radio. SPD signal wire should have a violet color at pin 3." -- that's the same connector we're using for pins 6-8 above. (I wish the 70-8114 brought this wire through!)
- 660BT Reverse In [violet/silver] -- Pin 29 on 64 pin connector behind kick plate. Thicker of two red wires. Needs T-tap. See here and further comments.
- I did the switched backup cam/reverse signal, so you can choose reverse-only or always-on cam (nice for pulling into garage or parking spots). I love it! Use an SPDT switch, connected as follows: common = to reverse signal wire going to HU and to cam; terminal 1 = from prius reverse wire (see above); terminal 2 = switched +12v on HU.

- GROUND (H/T mainemanx ) "There's a convenient grounding screw on the bridge (small Phillips-head) just forward and to the right of the shifter."


Other Inputs Available
- TomTom Nav connection (external box that goes in glove box, plus antenna connection)
- Mic in for BT phone - mic included
- USB/iPod In - cable included with 770BT, optional with 660BT
- AUX1 Audio/Video (iPod video uses up AUX1 video input)
- AUX2 Audio/Video (used for XM sat radio tuner if you have it, otw available for anything. I connected the 70-8114 AUX input here so I can connect the center console audio if I ever want it.)
- Bus Control input (for other fancy Sony devices; also uses up AUX2 audio input)
- Backup cam input

Other Outputs Available
- Rear Seat Video Out
- 4.1 line level RCA to amp if you have one

Discoveries
+ Unlike most non-phone Nav units, this one allows me to edit the maps in simple ways!
+ Nice speed limit database (which I can also edit)
+ Very nice alternate-route creation and selection
+ There's a free Color Scheme Editor that will eventually let us create our own (right now the XNV firmware only supports user-defined POI's. Others to follow.)

Changes
18 Nov - turns out free iPod on site was a typo on one page (it is optional elsewhere). They gave it to me free but will update the site. I do appreciate their service. Resolution: 770BT includes iPod cable. 660BT the iPod cable is a $40 option.
19 Nov - Starting a section with helpful install documentation and links (the ones I'm actually using), plus sections on wiring and built-in additional inputs
21 Nov - edited "goals" to make it more clear for new readers. Added sections on add'l tools and parts needed. Add section on surprises/discoveries.
27 Nov - added notes about trim removal tools, caution on map light assembly removal.
5 Dec - final wiring notes including 70-8114 wiring harness.

 

VERY reasonable questions ... here's my thinking. Feel free to poke at me on this!

* Ensuring non-distracting use (ie easily usable for the Important Stuff using physical buttons on the unit or on the steering wheel) ended up one of my highest priorities.
* On balance, traffic became lower priority once I realized that none of the Traffic systems are all that great compared to what I get in my phone from Google or Waze. Where we live, none of the Traffic systems provide any data at this time. I'm vaguely hopeful that TomTom will eventually supply HD traffic in the USA on their built in units like the Sony. But for now... why bother making Traffic a high priority if it offers me nothing for now.
* The other aspect of that: the Traffic units have serious downsides from my perspective: Kenwood is very slow on startup; JVC has front USB which my wife hates (she's sick of wires everywhere ); Panasonic nav not so great (I've used TeleAtlas before).
* The hardest tradeoff was Sony vs Advent. As a techie at heart, I was attracted to the WinCE-based Advent... but the IQrouting of TomTom sounds handy for me and for my wife, and (as noted above) perhaps TomTom will eventually add HD traffic. I'm hoping this will have been a good decision.
* Obviously, the real OEM-look units have plenty of physical buttons because they can take advantage of the angled sides... and that was quite attractive. To get the same thing in a double-DIN unit, I had to find a solution that had at least an easy volume control on the unit itself, so I can repurpose my steering wheel controls for BT phone functions.
* My "backup" OEM idea is to at least use OEM-look and OEM-quality surround for a double-DIN unit. That's why I spent the $90 to purchase real Toyota double-DIN surround plastics.
* Finally, the backup cam. Honestly, I may not have investigated this enough. I took the Sony cam because it was only $20. I expect to learn more once I'm ready to install. If it won't work, at that price I can eBay it and get something else

 

Whoops! My bad. I meant Pioneer not Panasonic

As you infer, navigation is more than just maps. My issue with TeleAtlas is partly the maps (particularly updating!) and partly the baseline software packages.

From what I've seen, TomTom is doing a nice job of working to get dynamic updating into standalone GPS units... something that is easily done with online maps (eg Google and Waze) but not so easy in GPS for cars. For the places I go, I very much like the idea of being part of a community that keeps the maps updated.

Traffic is another area where TomTom is working hard to make the feature more useful. Regular (TMC, XM) traffic is updated only a few times an hour, which makes it not worthwhile in my context. TomTom's HD traffic is updated dozens of times each hour; far more helpful. Of course, it is not available at all right now on the Sony unit, so that's not any better... unless/until they come out with an HD support update. (Thus, my bottom line: no useful traffic available now; maybe someday my Sony will have TomTom HD and I'll gain that benefit.)

 

Updated top post. Crutchfield sales rep double-sold the iPod Video cable. They include it free with the HU. Returned for refund, no problem. Now under $800 total! Nice.

 

"The downside is that the unit also feeds your position, average speed etc back to TomTom, I believe, to keep the traffic data current. It's a bit like a "spy in the cab"."

Get used to it. Cell providers feed that data to the highest bidders everywhere. "Location based data" is a large and hidden profit center for cell providers. It happens all the time, wherever you are, and you can't turn it off because it does not require GPS. (GPS gives even more accurate data of course...)

 

Turns out the free cable is a typo on only one of their pages (optional elsewhere). They gave it to me free and will update the site. Top post updated.

 

My Big Box arrived! Now to find some tinker-time.

The Sony XA-R800C backup cam looks like it ought to work nicely. less than 1" cube (22mm). Very small, includes universal adjustable bracket etc that ought to easily fit the prius and many other vehicles.

I will take photos and document how it works out as I assemble.

 

Someone said there's too much information on this site... how right they are. I have a big pile of documents, but only a few are actually helpful and correct for my situation. I think I'm gonna start a new section of the top post listing the documents / web links that are actually useful for setting up my new HU.

 

QUESTION: Searching the various threads, I've not yet found information on where I connect the Reverse In and Speed In wires. Anyone have an idea?

(I also vaguely recall seeing instructions on wiring in a switch so I can choose whether the backup cam is reverse-controlled or forced-on. Now I don't see it )

 

Information and status update:

Bootup time: other seem pained by the startup sequence on the Sony. My car entry sequence seems to make it not a problem at all for me:
* Get in car
* Tap the Ready button **first thing** before anything else (without pressing the brake) to go into ACC mode.
* By the time the door is closed, my seatbelt buckled, etc, the HU is ready for me to tap "OK"... maybe 10 seconds.
* I then press Ready with my foot on the brake, and off we go!

NOTE too: I have made my backup cam be switched and often leave it in the "forced on" position when exiting the car. That way, I get the cam as soon as it's available, even before I shift into reverse. Handy in some situations!

Blessings,
Pete

PS I'm now working on assembling a new "how I installed" document, with many additional photos at all the points where previous instructions didn't quite give me enough info. I'm doing it over on the Prius Wiki, FWIW...

 

I took pictures, sorry have not had time to post it all. (Real Life got complicated )... Anyway, here's a text answer:
I thought it would be difficult; it took 15+ minutes, 90% of that getting part of the "fish it through" aspect done.

What I did that worked and worked well:

- Carefully pop out the headliner clips at the upper rear of the car. There's one very near where the rubber boot connects, plus one on the left side. These are easy to break. My relative who is a Subaru mechanic said they are cheap and easily replaced. He was right: I broke one; mentioned it to Toyota at the next oil change; they replaced it free. But even buying one is not costly.

- Find a length of plastic weed whacker / string trimmer "wire". I used about a meter of the orange stuff... perhaps too stiff in retrospect. Needs to confidently push through the rubber boot, AND go around bends, AND be felt through the boot so you can guide it around those bends.

- Use (black electrical) tape to solidly connect the end of the cam wire, with connector, to one end of the string trimmer wire. Needs to be strong, a smooth "bump", as skinny as you can make it, flexible, and somewhat oil resistant, as you will see...
- Get some spray lubricant (WD 40) and a nice chunk of cardboard to protect the car when you spray.
- Put shop paper towels above the headliner and below the boot to catch any lubricant drips.
- Spray a bit into the rubber boot from the lift-gate end, and spray the loose end of the string trimmer wire
- Carefully feed it through the boot, from the liftgate down to the headliner. This is what took most of the time. Just trial and error until it is through.
- Now spray the lumpy taped "joint" you made with lubricant, plus several inches in each direction of the string trimmer wire and the cam wire coming out each end of the joint...
- Gently pull the assembly through the boot.
- Wipe off all lubricant (including cleanout of the boot as best you can.)
- Take apart the lumpy pull-through joint
- place the cam wire and reassemble headliner
- continue with your project...

BTW, the Sony cam controller box fit nicely above the left-rear wheel well on the left side of the car. Again, I have photos but have not had time to post. Will try to get there ASAP... maybe this weekend...

 

String - can't push it
Stripped copper wire - unstripped probably better because the insulation is not as slipper (tape needs to stick)
Metal wire in general - seems hard to find the right kind that would both bend and spring back again. Something with "spring" to it would be perfect...

Did not paint the cover. If you do, remember that the tail end gets all the road gunk. Do a good job of priming so the paint won't immediately peel off!

Another hint: I took the built-in Prius cam-hole-cover and machined it so the Sony cam fit. Very nice look.