Pioneer Nav/bluetooth Integration

[ANDREASLS400]

I PURCHASED A PIONEER/NAVI BLUETOOTH UNIT. I WANT TO HARDWIRE TO MY 1995 LS 400 LEXUS THAT HAS AN OEM RADIO WITH OEM AMP AND 6 CD CHANGER IN GLOVE COMPARTMENT.

1. I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO MUTE THE SPEAKERS WHEN THE PHONE RINGS.

2. I WISH TO USE THE FRONT DRIVER OR BOTH SPEAKERS FOR SOUND.

PLEASE ADVISE.

[1990LS400]

I don't understand what your "PIONEER/NAVI BLUETOOTH UNIT" is. If it is an radio/nav/bluetooth replacement for the Lexus radio, it should have a telephone mute built-in and it should play the phone call through the door speakers after all wiring in completed.

If it is something that needs a connection so that it mutes the existing Lexus audio system when a phone call is in progress, then look at this thread from Blake918 which shows a photo of a connector containing a mute pin on his 95 LS400 -- on the driver side, under the vent you see when you raise the center armrest: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...061&hl=mute

It takes a little disassembly to get to this connector.

If you want to provide more detailed information about what you bought, we might be better able to help.

Also, some people get offended by the use of ALL CAPITAL letters -- using capitals on forums is traditionally a way of shouting or expressing anger.

[ANDREASLS400]

I don't understand what your "PIONEER/NAVI BLUETOOTH UNIT" is. If it is an radio/nav/bluetooth replacement for the Lexus radio, it should have a telephone mute built-in and it should play the phone call through the door speakers after all wiring in completed.

If it is something that needs a connection so that it mutes the existing Lexus audio system when a phone call is in progress, then look at this thread from Blake918 which shows a photo of a connector containing a mute pin on his 95 LS400 -- on the driver side, under the vent you see when you raise the center armrest: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...061&hl=mute

It takes a little disassembly to get to this connector.

If you want to provide more detailed information about what you bought, we might be better able to help.

Also, some people get offended by the use of ALL CAPITAL letters -- using capitals on forums is traditionally a way of shouting or expressing anger.

I WISH TO KEEP THE EXISTING LEXUS PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM WITH BUILT IN OEM AMPLIFIER. THE PIONEER I PURCHASED IS NOT A RADIO. IT IS ONLY A NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH BLUETOOTH PHONE CAPABILITY. I WISH TO INSTALL IT IN MY CAR AND MUTE THE RADIO WHEN THE PHONE RINGS. I AM GUESSING IT WILL ALSO MUTE WHEN THE NAVIGATION SPEAKS? PLEASE ADVISE.

[BillyShaft]

Also, some people get offended by the use of ALL CAPITAL letters -- using capitals on forums is traditionally a way of shouting or expressing anger.

/sigh

[ANDREASLS400]

I don't understand what your "PIONEER/NAVI BLUETOOTH UNIT" is. If it is an radio/nav/bluetooth replacement for the Lexus radio, it should have a telephone mute built-in and it should play the phone call through the door speakers after all wiring in completed.

If it is something that needs a connection so that it mutes the existing Lexus audio system when a phone call is in progress, then look at this thread from Blake918 which shows a photo of a connector containing a mute pin on his 95 LS400 -- on the driver side, under the vent you see when you raise the center armrest: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...061&hl=mute

It takes a little disassembly to get to this connector.

If you want to provide more detailed information about what you bought, we might be better able to help.

Also, some people get offended by the use of ALL CAPITAL letters -- using capitals on forums is traditionally a way of shouting or expressing anger.

I WISH TO KEEP THE EXISTING LEXUS PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM WITH BUILT IN OEM AMPLIFIER. THE PIONEER I PURCHASED IS NOT A RADIO. IT IS ONLY A NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH BLUETOOTH PHONE CAPABILITY. I WISH TO INSTALL IT IN MY CAR AND MUTE THE RADIO WHEN THE PHONE RINGS. I AM GUESSING IT WILL ALSO MUTE WHEN THE NAVIGATION SPEAKS? PLEASE ADVISE.

Sorry about the capital letters. I have purchased the Pionner AVIC F500BT combo navi/bluetooth.

I do have a car phone already installed in my lexus. I believe it was installed by the dealer; verizon analog phone in center console. Since it is not active, I am not sure if it works with the car speakers. I am not even sure if it mutes the car radio.

How can I test this?

[1990LS400]

Again, I'll mention that you are typing in all capital letters and that is discouraged.

What is the model number of the Pioneer navigation product that you bought?

The navigation/bluetooth combination products I've seen that attach to the windshield or sit on top of the dash on a beanbag cannot be connected to automatically mute the radio when a phone call is in progress. Some of them can play the phone call through the radio using an FM modulator when the radio is tuned to an unused frequency -- but that is not very useful since using that feature inhibits the use of the radio while driving.

If you provide the exact model number and description of your Pioneer product, I or somebody else can likely determine exactly what capabilities it has and how it can be connected to your car.

[ANDREASLS400]

Pioneer AVIC F500BT which comes with the a car kit installation. My friend has installed it in his BMW and works great. I was not sure if I need to connect to my OEM amplifier or just locate the mute on the amplifier.

I am a novice at this and appreciate your help.

[1990LS400]

Pioneer AVIC F500BT which comes with the a car kit installation. My friend has installed it in his BMW and works great. I was not sure if I need to connect to my OEM amplifier or just locate the mute on the amplifier.

I am a novice at this and appreciate your help.

Well ... so far I'm seeing that the installation of the AVIC F500BT requires an additional product -- the Pioneer ND-G500 4-channel Gateway Amplifier -- in order to connect it to the audio system of your car ... that is, if it can be connected at all.

Your friends BMW probably has ISO connectors on its audio system. The ND-G500 amplifier uses ISO connectors. Take a look for yourself: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/StaticFi...sManual0410.pdf

Your 95 Lexus LS400 is not at all compatible with ISO. The ND-G500 and the F500BT were previously sold in Europe -- where many or most cars have ISO connectors on their audio systems.

I think you need to speak with a car audio system specialist -- did you buy your AVIC F500BT from a shop that can install it for you?

This looks like a very, very interesting product and I hope it can be made to work on your Lexus.

I will try to find more information but I can't promise anything. It would be great if you could let us know when you have made progress getting all this installed into your car.

[ANDREASLS400]

I will definately keep you updated. I am pretty sure that the NDG500 cannot be installed with the factory OEM amplifier.

I am hoping I can at least mute the radio by tapping into the mute on the amplifier. I am not sure how the speakers will work. In some cases, they have disabled the CD changer and wired in this fashion. At this point an IPOD connection is also available.

I am curious myself and thank you for your help.

[1990LS400]

I will definately keep you updated. I am pretty sure that the NDG500 cannot be installed with the factory OEM amplifier.

I am hoping I can at least mute the radio by tapping into the mute on the amplifier. I am not sure how the speakers will work. In some cases, they have disabled the CD changer and wired in this fashion. At this point an IPOD connection is also available.

I am curious myself and thank you for your help.

I agree with you. Based on the manual for the ND-G500, it looks like it provides the amplification for the AVIC F500BT while the existing Lexus amplifier continues to be used with the OEM Lexus radio.

It is still quite possible that the mute pin under the center armrest - meant for the Lexus phone - can be used for the ND-G500's mute wire. But I suspect that the mute is the least of your challenges and that it may take substantial wiring to connect the ND-G500 to your LS400's speakers.

From the diagram in the manual for the ND-G500, it looks to me that it allows for only four speakers -- I wonder if it is possible to connect it so that all seven speakers in your car work.

It sounds very interesting. Good luck to you.

[ANDREASLS400]

Maybe the NDG 500 only gets wired to the front speakers for navigation voice and bluetooth phone.

Sounds quite complicated. I am starting to believe that the simplest way is to probably de-energize the CD Changer and let the Pioneer take its place. This would work automatically including all the speakers since it will be seen as part of the system.

[1990LS400]

Maybe the NDG 500 only gets wired to the front speakers for navigation voice and bluetooth phone.

Sounds quite complicated. I am starting to believe that the simplest way is to probably de-energize the CD Changer and let the Pioneer take its place. This would work automatically including all the speakers since it will be seen as part of the system.

That is a nice idea but I doubt that the CD player can be completely eliminated. Here is a thread on ClubLexus about hacking into the CD cable to connect MP3/iPod players: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/lexus-audi...oem-stereo.html With this method, the CD player must remain in place and play a blank CD in order for the radio head unit to accept a signal from the MP3/iPod player.

With the work installing the AVIC F500BT and ND-G500 and the inconvenience and theft risk of having the rather large F500BT unit mounted somewhere on the dash, I suspect that one of the in-dash double DIN Pioneer AVIC projects (e.g. Pioneer AVIC Z3) would easier to deal with. I think some of the in-dash AVIC's include Bluetooth or have an add-on Bluetooth module. There are also in-dash audio/nav/Bluetooth products from other manufacturers.

There are installation kits from Metra that allow a double DIN head unit including an AVIC Z3 to be installed in the center console and replace the Lexus radio. I think there are installation harnesses available to connect the LS400 speaker wires to a new head unit or at least to reduce the amount of wiring cutting needed. You can see speaker harnesses and installation kits for the 95 LS400 here: http://www.metraonline.com/fit.aspx

An indash nav screen where your radio currently is installed is a little low for good visibility but many people, me included, rely primarily on voice directions from the nav and rarely look at the screen to see the map.