Es300 98 Bluetooth Install Help!

[funglenn]

Hello.

Anyone know where I can get info on how to install a parrot ck3000 or similar bluetooth carkit in my Lexus? Many of the online harness places do not have a harness for anything older than an 01. It looks like I will have to splice wires. However anyone know if this old of a car would work well with a bluetooth kit? Does it have a mute wire?

Thanks

[1990LS400]

I see this is your first post. Use the advanced search function and you will find a number of past threads on installing phone kits. It might take some effort to find the information. There has been lots of information posted on Clublexus.com too.

A phone kit, bluetooth or otherwise, will come with instructions. The attached 98 ES300 audio system wiring diagram shows a mute point. I don't know if the 98 ES was completely prewired for a phone like the LS of the same year, but the LS has an easily accessible mute pin in a six pin connector under the console.

A good way to attach the power wire of a phone kit is to use an inexpensive adaptor that plugs into the fuse box. It is possible to use an external speaker with a Parrot kit so you don't have to splice into a door speaker. I once posted a link on this forum to instructions on how to do this. External phone kit speakers can be found on ebay or on Google Products (formerly Froogle) for less than $10 or you could probably buy one from a phone kit installer. There appears to even be a speaker made to fit Parrot kits: http://roccstar.com/catalog/Parrot-SPK3100...70?currency=USD

If you don't want to go to all the trouble of installing a kit, some people swear by the portable Bluetooth kits that attach to a sun visor. However, it sure is nice to have the radio mute automatically when a call is in progress.

1998_ES300_audio_systemva.pdf

[jainla]

The ES should have pre-wiring for the Lexus phone; on the diagram you can see the wiring for the "Telephone Transceiver" which is lexus-speak for the trunk-mounted phone ECU. There are these great connectors that will let you tie the mute wire of the kit to the mute wire on the back of the harness without cutting into it; radio shack has several.

Depending on what kind of radio you have and how comfortable you feel soldering these guys might be worth a try:

http://www.quickconnectproducts.com/Find/find.htm

They have a harness for a 98 camry but I'm not sure if that will fit an ES of similar vintage; also it will depend if your car has a separate amplifier (Nakamichi systems usually do) or not. You'll probably have to pull the radio and take a peek to see what's back there.

I concur with Jim's suggestion that you go with an external speaker; for a car this old it's doubtful that you'll be able to find the necessary connectors to make your own wiring harness, which is what you'd have to do. If you don't want to splice wires you'll have to run wires all the way into the trunk to get to the phone/ECU connection point (ick). I think it would be a difficult job.

But if you insist on plodding ahead I can direct you to my tutorial on how I bluetoothed my LS430; it may give you some helpful hints (thanks again Jim for info and encouragement!).

I used a Parrot 3200LS; which is a fantastic kit.

You might want to consult the Chilton guide for that year Camry/ES at your local library; it should give you the physical location of the connectors for where the OEM phone would have been connected. Also if you can find an old ECU on ebay or something you might be able to pirate the connectors for your own nefarious purposes....

I see this is your first post. Use the advanced search function and you will find a number of past threads on installing phone kits. It might take some effort to find the information. There has been lots of information posted on Clublexus.com too.

A phone kit, bluetooth or otherwise, will come with instructions. The attached 98 ES300 audio system wiring diagram shows a mute point. I don't know if the 98 ES was completely prewired for a phone like the LS of the same year, but the LS has an easily accessible mute pin in a six pin connector under the console.

A good way to attach the power wire of a phone kit is to use an inexpensive adaptor that plugs into the fuse box. It is possible to use an external speaker with a Parrot kit so you don't have to splice into a door speaker. I once posted a link on this forum to instructions on how to do this. External phone kit speakers can be found on ebay or on Google Products (formerly Froogle) for less than $10 or you could probably buy one from a phone kit installer. There appears to even be a speaker made to fit Parrot kits: http://roccstar.com/catalog/Parrot-SPK3100...70?currency=USD

If you don't want to go to all the trouble of installing a kit, some people swear by the portable Bluetooth kits that attach to a sun visor. However, it sure is nice to have the radio mute automatically when a call is in progress.