CarPlay CarPlay Pioneer NEX Tips and Tricks

[JT2002TJ]

Now that we have a home! Yay!

The NEX models are both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ready head units. This is what I did:

1. There are 2 USB ports, CarPlay or AA in port 1, and a second port. I used the included USB extender in Port 1, so I have the option of using either without removing the head unit. I hooked a lightning cable directly to USB port 2 for charging a second device.

2. I grabbed a HDMI cable, connected that to the HDMI in port on the back. I connected this to an HDMI to Lightning adapter (also connecting the USB port 2 lightning cable as the adapter requires both). You can mirror the screen and watch videos if you want. I did not bypass the Video In Motion brake thingie.

3. I connected a male to male 1/8" earphone cable in case I want to connect to an earphone jack.

With these I found that I shouldn't have to remove the head unit. I have the option of using everything in the future.

 

[convergent]

Thanks for sharing... I like the idea of the HDMi to lightening... may have to pull the head unit and add that. I left the second USB port attached to a USB extension cable that I put in the glove box. I can throw on a lightening if needed but wanted the flexibility to use it for whatever I wanted.

I would definitely encourage you to do the brake bypass. It takes about 5 minutes to do if you order the correct device for your head unit.

Did you customize the graphic that comes on when you power it on? I did that with a nice full screen Ford logo to match my F150. I also installed a cheap license plate attached backup camera that works great with the NEX.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Thanks for sharing... I like the idea of the HDMi to lightening... may have to pull the head unit and add that. I left the second USB port attached to a USB extension cable that I put in the glove box. I can throw on a lightening if needed but wanted the flexibility to use it for whatever I wanted.

I would definitely encourage you to do the brake bypass. It takes about 5 minutes to do if you order the correct device for your head unit.

Did you customize the graphic that comes on when you power it on? I did that with a nice full screen Ford logo to match my F150. I also installed a cheap license plate attached backup camera that works great with the NEX.

Thanks. I did not do the brake bypass, I have the NEX 4100, it was my understanding that it was a little more complicated as it was not a solid ground, but a pulse ground then solid ground (apply brake, release then apply again). Do you know if this is true? Which bypass did you use? If you he the same pulse, which retailer did you use?

How did you do the customized graphic? though a USB flash drive?

I had a backup camera before I got this unit that displayed in the rear view mirror, so what I did was put in a video splitter, so I see the image on both my rear view mirror AND the NEX unit... It is AWESOME this way, as sometimes there is a glare on one, but rarely on both.

 

[convergent]

This is the one I used - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VKQ6ECQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have a 4200 and it worked fine... description says 4100. I installed it exactly as instructed and it worked fine. The complicated installation you are talking about is if you actually hook the unit to the parking brake, not install a bypass like this one. I think you have to cut into the harness or something to connect to the parking brake. If you install this thing, its pretty simple... just attach 3 wires to the Pioneer wiring harness and you're done. My wife and daughter watched a DVD on a recent trip. But for me, there were other things that wouldn't work without this bypass being installed.

For the customization graphic, I used an SD card. It took me some time to finally get it to work and I can't remember now what the problem was. The file has to be in the right format, and in the right directory if I remember correctly. There is an option in the menus to view media and once I got to where I could view the files, I was able to install it.

 

[Bioknight11]

1. How hard is it to remove the head unit and attach the HDMI cord? Any video recommendations?

2. With the HDMI, is that what I can use to play a DVD in the head unit and display on a second screen?

Thank you