Rx400h 2006 Cost effective bluetooth

[Keeling54]

If you don't want to spend the money on a Grom Audio Bluetooth solution I found this works really well.

You need to remove the CD/tape unit first which is pretty easy. There are loads of youtube videos available to show you how. You then remove the little 12 pin plug on the back of the unit, insert the Y cable, plug the original plug into one of the Y cable connectors, plug the adaptor into the other. Tuck it all behind the centre consul and put it all back together.  I have added a few photo's below if you can't be bothered to look up the video. 

Bluetooth Adaptor from eBay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bluetooth-Audio-Freisprechfunktion-Toyota-Corolla-Prius-Auris-Avensis-T25-T27/264460236746?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

It's from a German supplier but arrived up in a couple of days.  I had to buy a Y-cable as my adaptor wouldn't work without one. I tried it without but the sat nav screen wouldn't work. 

I got my Y-Cable from amazon but they are available from the ebay seller. 

Y-Cable from amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00DJ3MHI8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I could be bothered to pull all of the trim apart to fit the microphone either so I bought a jack plug extension cable and mounted the outlet between the cigarette lighter and the headlight washer button. If I'm on a long journey and expecting a call I'll just plug the microphone in and clip it to my shirt. Most of the time I ignore the phone while I'm driving. 

Microphone Extension Cable

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5mm-Stereo-Panel-Mount-Socket-to-3-5mm-Jack-Plug-Cable-Lead-1m-007404/262633150655?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

The CD function still works and the sound quality is really good. 

Remove the trim around the gear stick. Use a blunt screw driver, I used my fingers. 

Use the shift lock button and move the lever to drive

 

Pull out the heated seat switch panel, you can do this by pulling from the cigarette lighter and from below the heater switches. 

Set the panel to one side.

 

Using a 10mm socket and extension bar remove the 4 bolts holding the CD unit in place. There are 2 bolt directly below the unit and 2 more higher up to the sides of the unit. All 4 are easy to get out but the top 2 are a pain to get back in. 

Pull the unit from below and it will slide out.

Remove the small plug, shown on the right in this picture and fit the Y-cable, plug in the adaptor and the original plug into the Y-cable.

. 

I then fitted the extension cable and drilled a hole in the lower switch panel to accommodate it. Drilled a small pilot hole from the rear to get it centred, used a 6mm drill to get the socket to fit. 

I used a drop of thread-lock to keep the collar in place. 

The finished job, took me less than 30 minutes.