Paolo9 Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 OK, so I'm replacing the stock head unit with the Pioneer AVIC, but I can't find a Metra TYTO01 anywhere. Is there a way to use the stock amp WITHOUT the Metra? All the searches I've done show that the amp turn-on is not 12v, thus the aftermarket unit won't turn on the amp. There's GOT to be another way... Has anyone done this? Paul 2002 IS300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo9 Posted May 12, 2008 Author Share Posted May 12, 2008 I called Metra, and here's what they told me: The stock radio and amp communicate via two wires in the harness; a red and a red/orange. This 2.4 volt line is actually a communication bus that the Metra interface sends a software code to in order to turn on the amp. You can't just simply put a voltage on this line and get the amp to work. (Yeah, but I tried anyway) If you cut one of the lines, the amp stays on, but you can no longer change the volume on the radio. I even tried reversing the two signal lines just to see what happens, but the amp doesn't even turn on. Looks like it's bypass time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flop170 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 i did a bypass on mine... i wasn't satisfied with the result... i lost a lot of volume... so i got me a 4 channel amp and tada.... it sounds even better now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djspawn00 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 You'll get much better sound doing a bypass and pushing your components with a decent 4 channel amp.... I added a Soundstream 4 Channel amp to my car and the sound was phenomenal... even so new 6.5" components in the front and rear are being worked on as I type this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smooth1 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Yeah, keeping the stock amp is somewhat a pain. You can keep the stock speakers, but if you change out the head unit, I would change the amp out also and direct wire everything. You'll be much happier that way with the stereo and the sound you'll get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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