Hello all,
Noob questions, but thought I'd run it by the group to get some input on others who have gone before: I am putting a new head unit (Alpine iLx-507) in my 2007 Cayman base, non-
Bose
. I bought the EuroMotorSpeed kit and the Microbypass switch so that I don't have to wire the handbrake sensing wire.
I'm wiring up the kit to the HU and thought I'd try to sort out the little questions before I get started as well, so any help or input would be greatly appreciated.
First, the Alpine HU doesn't have an illumination sensing wire, and it seems that the light or dark sensing is built into the HU via a little sensor on the Alpine front panel, so no illuminating wire is indicated. Does this sound right?
Second, I am not installing a backup camera. Is that the only reason that one would run a wire to the backup light wiring, to sense when the car is in reverse to activate the screen and the backup camera? Is there any other reason that wire would need to be run if I'm not installing a backup camera? Can I safely assume that it's not necessary for my instance?
Third, there's a blue/white wire on the EuroMotorspeed kit and a blue/white wire on the Alpine HU. The HU blue/white says it's for the amp or equalizer, but the EuroMotorspeed kit has the wire, but makes no mention of it for my installation. I have read various posts on here where the new unit did not play sound until these wires were connected. Has anyone any experience with this. It seems like I'm reading that they "say" there is no amp in a non-
Bose system
, yet there is and it won't work unless the blue/white wires are connected, despite the kit not saying anything about it.
I know my questions might seem a little trivial, but I'd really like to try to make sure all questions are answered and everything is properly wired before getting started on the actual install.
Thanks in advance!
I think you're on the right track with the illumination wire and the reverse wire. I'd certainly leave those out as it sounds like you don't need them... but I can't promise that. Modern HUs are getting fancier and fancier so who knows what each is used for (unless they tell you in the manual, which it sounds like they don't - manuals have gotten worse and worse over time as well, unfortunately!).
For the blue/white, again, I think you're on the right track. I can't tell you if you have an amp or not, but if you do then you will need to wire that in. Again, crappy manuals. Does the kit have other variants with different manuals? They may identify what the blue/white is for. Chances are, it's for an amp... if so, I'd wire it up anyway because if the amps need it, they'll have it... if not, it's likely not connected anywhere anyway.
I recommend wiring everything up and leaving the HU out of the dash and powering it all up at that point... this way you can know that you're all working before you slide it all in and have to pull it all out again. In the end, it just takes a little trial and error sometimes...
I like that the ambient light sensor is build into the head unit. I added an external sensor to my
Pioneer
rather than connect to the vehicle's light wiring so the display wouldn't go into night mode if I turn on my lights during the daytime (such as when it is raining).
AFA the EuroMotorSpeed kit, I don't know the answer of your blue/white wire question. Try contacting them at
[email removed]
. Since I lived nearby, Loi (the owner) helped install my Pioneer. But I haven't communicated with him for a long time.
AFA your question about the reverse sensor - I can only infer from my experience with my Pioneer NAV. A quick look at the Alpine product listing doesn't mention a built-in GPS. So without GPS or a backup camera, I don't see why you'd need a reverse signal. A head unit with GPS usually uses the inertial, speed, and backup sensors to estimate (dead reckoning) your position when there's no satellite signal (like in a parking garage or tunnel). So it is a good idea to connect.
I'm thinking of updating my head unit. My Pioneer is going on 13 yrs old and doesn't support Android Auto. The built-in maps are no longer updated (since 2017), so I often need my phone's maps. So let us know how the Alpine works for you.
Update: Somewhere I've got my old installation instructions but I've recently moved and can't find most things. I think the blue/white wire might be just a trigger to allow the head unit to turn on any external devices (such as an amp). Since you had the basic radio (CDR-24?) I doubt you'll need it. Disclaimer: I have a 987.2. There were actually 3 stock head units: basic -no external amp or rear speakers, SPP with rear speakers and amp, and Bose. I had the most basic head unit. I believe 'S' model 987 came with the SPP. So you'll get different info from posts depending on which head unit the car had.
Thanks Schwinn, The HU manual does say that the Blue/White is for an amp or equalizer AND the EuroMotorspeed kit plug that plugs to the Porsche OE plug has a blue/white lead on it as well. So, logic says connect like colors... but the instrux with the kit completely omit any reference to this wire. Odd... but again, there seems to be some confusion about 'non-amplified' and 'sound package plus' cars not having an amplifier... and then finding out there seems to be an amplifier.... just not the
Bose
set-up.
I called EuroMotorspeed this morning and the guy said go ahead and connect the two blue/white wires anyway. It won't hurt if there's no amp. (Same thing that you said above... Thank you!) He surmised that I likely have an amp because I have the Sound Package Plus as evidenced by the rear speakers.
So, that's what I'm going with!
I called EMS this morning... dude picked up the phone and knew his stuff right off the top of his head... nice. He says go ahead and connect blue/white to blue/white. Can't hurt, he said. So I will. He thinks I have the SPP anyway because of the rear speakers. So.
I have factory nav in my Tahoe and it's no-bueno... always needs updates, isn't accurate, can't find stuff, etc. Frankly, my
Samsung
with Google Maps is FAR better and more convenient, so I always use Android Auto for nav anymore, leaving behind factory nav years ago. I can also easily pull up locations I might have researched on my laptop before I departed.
The Alpine unit does not have navigation, yet still includes a
GPS
antennae. (??) So, I'm still looking for a reason why I should even connect the
GPS
antennae, tbh. The EuroMotorspeed kit suggests to not even bother with the speed sensor as its need is limited for higher
GPS
accuracy, but the risk of effing something up is too great. Lousy risk/benefit ratio, and with no HU nav system, it's likely pointless anyway.
Of the accessories included, the external mic might be the only one that's useful for me, I think for using hands-free calling when I'm only on Bluetooth and not actively using Android Auto.
Anyway, not a fan of hooking up things I don't need. Saving the leftover bits and labeling them well for future mods if needed might be the best course of action.
If anyone knows of a solid reason that the non-nav Alpine HU needs a
GPS
antennae, I'm all ears (eyes?). Is it possible that Android Auto appropriates it?
