Naviplus - Android Auto / Apple CarPlay Add On

[Prado_The_2nd Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado_The_2nd]

Hi all,
Thought I'd share my experience on the Naviplus Android Auto / Apple CarPlay integration, installed in my 2012 Prado 150 Altitude (ie: same head unit as VX and Kakadu)
[2008-2013] Toyota Prado Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Integration (naviplus.com.au)
Thanks to

Starbuck

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Starbuck for also giving me some advice and assistance before my purchase.

I installed it 2 days ago, so it's very new, but I have a reasonable feel for it. Overall impression is really positive, car feels much more modern now!

How does it work ...

• When you start the car, switch to AUX and press and hold the hang-up button for three seconds. Android Auto starts automatically and opens default music and navigation apps (I use Waze)
• It is a full Android Auto experience, including voice assistant.
• Touch screen works better than I thought, The Prado has a resistive (single touch) screen but you can still drag the screen (eg: dragging a map). Requires a small amount of pressure.
• Love having real navigation (Waze announcing red-light cameras, traffic jams etc).
• Phone works fine (I think it uses the supplied microphone) and steering wheel controls all work for calls, volume and even next track on Spotify.
• If you exit out of Naviplus (press and hold the hang-up button again), normal functionality of the head-unit returns.
• Reverse camera works (even when using Android Auto)
• Starts quickly

Radio

• Two options:
• 1) When in the AUX input, run a radio app on your phone (iHeartRadio, Radio Australia etc). Or use Spotify etc.
• 2) Remain in the FM/AM function on your headunit, but start Android Auto by holding down the hang-up button. You get all of the Android Auto functions (maps etc) but the audio is playing through your normal radio. The only limitation is that sound is from your radio, not Android Auto so you no longer get voice-prompts such as traffic alerts.

Limitations

• Android Auto doesn't support ALL apps (including Hema and Australia Topo Maps). That is a limitation of Android Auto, not Naviplus. It does support Gaia though.

Installation ...

• Took a few hours and reasonably straightforward if you're comfortable pulling your dash apart (taking the centre-stack equipment out). Most of the cables are just piggyback (unplug the original, plug in the new cable and plug the original cable into a female plug on the new cable). The touch-cable required access to the circuit board, but it was still a relatively simple process of disconnecting a ribbon cable and connecting a new one. Reasonably good instructions were provided.
• Naviplus did a good job of pre-configuring the unit and marking any unneeded sockets.
• I had a few questions and Naviplus responded to my emails very quickly.

Hope this helps anyone contemplating the same setup.

[Woollyman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Woollyman]

Hi Prado_The_2nd - nice to see the install and description of operation.
I have an Android headunit to install in my 2011 150 VX which has the non-JBL,but amplified system - with NO navigation.
I'm trying to figure out the main wiring - I've done a few headunit swaps in other vehicles before but it appears in the Prado the headunit wiring is all triggers / signals for the amp ... ?

Can anyone shed some light on this please - and is there a harness to suit ? The Harness that came with my headunit (apparently for a 150 VX) doesn't match up with the largest plug - which is all speakers and power - this is the only plug plugged in, in the pic below.
Below this is the head unit.
Thanks team

[Woollyman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Woollyman]

Hi again team have made progress but need help with the REAR Speakers... android head unit sorted with a new harness including the 20 pin plug. Everything works except for rear speakers as the plug for them has nowhere to plug into and I cannot isolate rear speaker wires.
Testing with ONLY the main 20 pin plugged in to the factory headunit = produces sound front and rear - therefore the amp must do the splitting front/rear with all the info from the headunit signal.
I'm doubting it's possible to "add-in" a rear speaker feed to the amp from an Android headunit as all 4 channels must be carried over the 4x wires within the factory 20 pin plug.
Pics above of my interior and below of the 20 pin plug and 4 wire plug which is carrying the Rear speaker output...
Would appreciate any advice as there's so many Android headunits out there in 150s someone must have made it work.
Many thanks

[James Breed Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close James Breed]

Hi, do you have the DVD player that retracts from the roof? If so, Does this still work with the new head unit?