New Stereo Questions

Hey guys, I've been going through pages and pages to see what is needed to replace my stereo but had a few questions. I'm going with a Pioneer MVH-2300NEX with a Maestro RR. I see I will need T02 and a UT02. I have a non-JBL unit.

-Just to verify, the UT02 will retain the USB on the dash?
-It's been about 10 years since I installed one of these, the T02 will splice into the stereo wiring? Then from the Maestro I connect to the HU?
-Will I be able to retain the stock mic?

Anything I missed would be great to know. Thanks

 

I don't think there is a way to retain the factory mic. Most head units will come with their on mic and you just mount it where ever you want. I just put a Kenwood in mine and just decided to forgo the mic because I never use bluethooth calling or the "hey siri". It will retain the factory USB in the dash with that harness... No splicing. Just remember to flash the Maestro unit when you get it, you can select which steering wheel buttons control which actions etc. Once you flash it, it will give you a page of instructions on how to connect everything. The TO2 is a giant harness that will mostly connect directly to the factory wires on one end. The other end will connect to Maestro and there is a junction towards the middle where you will join the main head unit harness to the Maestro harness.

 

The maestro with TO2 makes it all plug and play, lots of wires but it all makes sense once you start to plug everything in. Unfortunately you'll have to install the new mic, I wish someone would make a unit to integrate the OEM mic. My kenwood mic kinda suxks. People say it echos and seems delayed, OEM was perfect. The usb should work fine with that adapter, however its hit or miss if that usb will allow for plug in CarPlay or android auto, some head units require the use of the usb port on the back of the head unit.

 

I have taken apart the factory mic and it is possible to wire it up to aftermarket wiring, but not worth the effort. The aftermarket mic is way better if u route it to the roof by the sunglasses holder and and thread it out the side there, stick it on the plastic.
People can hear me better even with big ass MT’s making a noise, with the windows open. I will try take a pic for you to see but similar to what others have done on here.

 

The wire on my mic wasnt nearly long enough to reach my center area. I made it to pretty much right front of my face. Maybe there is a alternate route to run the wire cuz I seem to be the only one with this issue

 

Agree with others on having to run a new mic. I had to run a new mic however it was with a Kenwood 9903 and not Pioneer. I didn't even bother to give it a second thought.

 

Like others said, the stock mic won't work with aftermarket head units, at least not easily. I just routed my Pioneer-supplied mic to the overhead console and replace the factory one. Haven't heard complaints on sound quality.

The only other adapter you may want is the STO2 for the factory XM and GPS antennas if you want to keep those.

 

Mine was also a pioneer, I routed it through the dash up the pillar and along above windscreen. It should be a smaller headphone jack port - u might be able to get an extension cable of Amazon or something if u need.

 

Also, I used crutchfield to determine what I needed, than shopped around for the parts - although they were still pretty much the cheapest - unless you don’t mind waiting a week or two for the parts. I recently did the similar install you are doing - pioneer, no amp, usb, steering wheel controls, Sirius xm and antenna etc

 

Do I still need the Sirius tuner if I have the T02? That will connect to the factory Sirius antenna correct?

 

Yes, you'll still need a separate tuner. The STO2 adapter just connects the aftermarket tuner to the factory antenna. The aftermarket head unit will not have a built in satellite radio tuner (unless you've got a very specialized model, maybe)

 

Thank you, last piece to the puzzle I believe!

 

Do I need to connect the blue/white which is system remote control? Guessing that is for the included remote? Also, what about the purple/white which is reverse gear signal input? Is that what triggers the backup camera?

 

The purple wire, i think, can just be grounded to the head unit with one of the screws on it. I think that's what I did anyway, in had 2 wires in that area and one of them I'm grounded to the headunit, it's possible I'm thinking of the other wire and you'll need to connect the purple to the reverse switch, there should be a purple wire in your adapter harness/maestro harness.
And the blue wire if it's what I am thinking, is "remote" amp turn on wire, basically it turns the amp on when you turn the stereo on / start the truck, needs to be wired to an aftermarket amp "remote" terminal, usually near the power and ground terminals.

 

Found a pic. Purple reverse wire got wired to a purple wire in my TO2 harness for maestro

 

Awesome, thanks! What about the factory antenna for local FM? The T02 does not seem to have a plug for it?

 

Did the kit you bought not include the antenna adapter? This came in mine:

 

These are the items I purchased for my install, the antenna adapter was a separate part from the t02 and maestro. Also a pic of where I mounted the mic.

 

Thanks, I didn't realize it was a separate part.

 

Yup need separate part metra40lx11

 

Man, I really lucked out by cheaping out in my install

 

I hear that, this is crazy! I miss the old days of a regular wire harness, I can't tell you how many times I changed the stereo out in my Ranger and F150. It was so simple!