How to Install Pioneer Stereo in 2015 Prius V With JBL Bypass

Factory stereo was rebooting randomly, I tried get part on Ebay but failed. Best Buy won't install because of the JBL. And my local car stereo shop just hung up on me. DIY again. Sigh...

Unfortunately a lot of the needed install information is missing. Crutchfield stopped supporting this model, and it wasn't clear from all the posts on Prius chat what exactly is needed. Also Pioneer is rightfully famous for poor instructions.

In hindsight I could have used the Axxess harness to use the factory amplifier. But I didn't want another computer to deal with, and it is straightforward to bypass it. Also passed on the backup camera harness, as 5 mins and two wire nut connections will save you the cost of it.

These instructions are for Prius V 2015, Five, with Navigation and 8 speaker JBL system.

Was able to get Pioneer AVH-1550NEX, to work with steering wheel controls, backup camera, Bluetooth calling with microphone, and Apple car play. But not Android. I didn't use the factory USB connector.

Note the factory speakers are 6 ohm, and are safe for head unit amplifiers.

Overview of the install parts:

Pioneer AVH-1550NEX
Axxess ASWC-1 steering wheel controller
Metra 40-Lx11 Antenna Adapter Cable
12 to 6 Volt Power voltage converter.
Metra 95-8243B double din dash bezel kit

Overview of the install.

Remove old radio
Verify basic physical mounting
Connect power and a speaker
Remove the JBL amplifier
Cable the radio to the speaker wire connector.
Test and enjoy
Connect steering wheel controller
Wire up the backup camera
Wire up the microphone
Fixup the Metra bezel

Supplies

Wirestripper, Wirecutter, Small Wire nuts (get a kit), Twisted Pair cable, hookup wire

Socket set. Security bit set. Multi-meter. , Clear Coat spray paint.

Dremel tool with cutting saw disc. Safety goggles.

Drill set, Power drill. Brother Label maker.

No soldering necessary!

Step 1: Remove Factory Radio

Pull out the plastic upper glove compartment. Pull out the housing around shifter. Pull out housing around the center AC vents. Remove 4X bolts around the radiowith 10mm socket. Disconnect all connectors. There are lots of youtube videos...

Step 2: Identify 4 Connectors

There are only four connectors necessary. The 8 pin connector, which has the power, 28 pin connector which has most of the control lines, the 24 pin connector which as 4 wires for the backup camera. And the antenna. All the other connectors are unneeded, i.e. Sirus XM, GPS antennas.

The pinout is described accurately (except of the wire color):

Toyota Prius (2015-2018) Navigation Head Unit Wiring pinout diagram @ pinoutguide.com

Step 3: Verify Fitment

Verify that the double din unit fits with the bezel in is spot. See picture above for where to connect.

TIP: Can not reuse factory metal brackets. Have to use cheap thermo-plastic Metra supplied ones. Be very careful handling the radio or they will snap right off.

Step 4: Connect Up Power

Cut sheathing around the cable to allow for extra room. Cut each wire near the connector. Strip back the insulation on the wire coming from car. Twist the appropriate wires together, and use wire nut to secure.

On the 8 pin connector,

connect pin 3 ACC to RED factory

connect pin 4 BAT to Yellow factory

connect pin 8 GND to Black factory

Connect up the AM/FM radio adapter. Note the blue wire of the Metra 40-Lx11 Antenna Adapter Cable must be connected to the blue/white striped wire of the Pioneer that is marked with "system control". This provides 12 Volts to the RF antenna amplifier.

Connect up test speaker to Gray/Black & Gray factory

Turn on the car. Unit should power up. Audio functions should work.

Else return the headunit.

Step 5: Remove Amplifier

Move drivers set forward. Remove the plastic cover under the drivers seat. Use the Trox security bit CR-VT-10 , and unscrew the rear. Move seat back, and unscrew front. Remove the connectors.

Step 6: Wire 4X Bypass Cables

Here I ran 4 twisted pair cables from the head unit to the woofer/tweeter pair connector. I drilled a hole under the cigarette lighter bezel, and ran the cables along the center console to under the drivers seat. They are exposed, ugly, but I wanted to get the job done fast. You may do better.

This can take a while be patient, but remember I had to run a test signal into all the writes to see which speaker the wires were connected to. See my wiring diagram.

The wiring for the speakers is not described very well in the Pioneer manual.

I found this diagram:

https://myaudiolover.com/pioneer-avh-wiring-diagram/

Gray/Blk & Gray Front Right

White/Blk & White Front Left

Purple & Purple/Blk Rear Right

Green & Green/Blk Rear Left

The pinout guide is not complete for 8 speakers. But here for reference:

https://pinoutguide.com/Car-Stereo-Toyota-Lexus/Toyota_Prius_2010-2017_St_pinout.shtml

Wire the tweeters in parallel with the main speakers.

Test it should sound great. Verify left-right and fade back front.

Step 7: Connect the Steering Wheel Controller

There are no instructions for 2015 !! I called and the tech said unchanged from 2014.

https://metra-static.s3.amazonaws.com/swc/ASWC-1_INST_604.pdf

pin 21 SW1- connect to Green/Orange

pin 22 SW2 - connect to Black/Green

pin 23 SWG - connect this to ground

Connect three wires from the 28 pin connector.

The ground wire might now reach directly, so add can an extension.

After these wires are connected. Plug the 3.5 mm jack into the upper left, 2nd from left connector. Pin 2 in factor diagram.

Test. The volume control, mode - switches between inputs, and Up/Down buttons (switch tracks on CD) should all work with. Nothing to do on the SWC box, works out of the box !

Step 8: Wire the Backup Camera

Refer to 24-pin connector. You need 4 wires on the right hand side.

Pin 11 Camera +6 volts to OUTPUT of the converter

Pin 23 GND to the GND,

TIP: (strip off more wire because wrap around existing connections, and use larger nut)

Pin 12 Video out + to the center conductor of RCA male

Pin 24 Video out - to the shield wire of RCA male

Connect Pin 2 of the 28 pin connector to the head unit wire marked REV.

Test. Put the car in reverse and the rear camera display should appear!

Step 9: Wire Microphone

I used the microphone that came with the Pioneer instead of attempting to use factory microphone. Used foam double sticky tape to connect microphone to my Ez-Pass already mounted above the mirror.

Push the wire under the ceiling cover, into the side pillar housing, and pop it out around the vent molding.

Pull down molding left of the shifter, which allows the molding above steering wheel to be pulled out.

Unscrew molding on the left air vent. Pull down on molding beneath. Then pull the air vent molding out.

Now pass the microphone cable across and into the radio housing area.

Connect to Pin #1 on the Pioneer diagram. (First jack upper left, looking from the rear)

Make sure phone is paired and test with a call.

Step 10: Fix the Metra Bezel

The bezel does not fit the Prius V 2015 is NOT an exact fit and must be trimmed.

It is also curved, whereas the top molding is flat. (Can't fix this)

Furthermore it doesn't lock into place as the factory molding does. (Can't fix this, but the factory molding around it will hold it down)

There are two hooks on the top plastic. Leave them, but use Dremel with cutting wheel.

Put on eye protection. Watch your fingers ! Don't multitask.

Cut off the smaller plastic notches so that the top is flat. Trim around the two hooks as well.

The bezel is matte, whereas the factory radio is glossy.

Spray a couple coats on.

Put everything together and enjoy!

Introduction: How to Install Pioneer Stereo in 2015 Prius V With JBL Bypass