[BRADLEY]

Hi All!

We bought a 2019 Ford Transit Passenger Van today. My wife loves the mid-roof, 15 seats, and backup camera but what she doesn't like is the basic radio.
The radio does have the 4.2" inch screen for the factory backup camera and simple display information but what she really needs is the phone/handsfree/Bluetooth feature.

My concerns are the following:
1. I don't want to lose any factory features.
2. I don't want to end up with multiple components. (IE: Aftermarket Camera in addition to the factory camera that would end up disabled/unplugged)

Went to Crutchfield and it looks like they sell the required items:

1. Metra 99-5835G Dash Kit - Dash kit allows you to install a new single-DIN (2" tall) or double-DIN (4" tall) receiver in your vehicle's dash panel, while maintaining all factory controls.

2. Axxess ASWC-1 Steering Wheel Control Adapter - allows you to connect your vehicle's steering wheel controls to almost any brand of aftermarket stereo, including Alpine, Clarion, JVC, Kenwood, Pioneer, Sony, and more. (Note: your new stereo must have a 3.5mm steering wheel control or wired remote control input.)
Installation is a straightforward process. You usually have to connect a few wires to your factory wiring. In most cases, the adapter automatically recognizes the vehicle it's been connected to. If not, you can manually program the adapter for your vehicle by following a step-by-step process with LED confirmation. Once connected, the adapter's memory retains its programming even if battery power is interrupted. A USB slot allows you keep the ASWC-1 current when updates become available. Warranty: 1 year.

3. Axxess XSVI-5524-NAV Wiring Interface - lets you connect your new high-powered car stereo to the factory wiring plug in your 2011 or later Ford vehicle. This adapter provides you the electrical, ground, and speaker connections you need, including a 12-volt accessory power lead for your new stereo. It also retains the Retained Accessory Power (RAP) and offers the reverse, parking brake, and Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) outputs needed for installing a new navigation receiver.
The XSVI-5524-NAV interface also includes a pre-wired harness for the Axxess ASWC-1 interface (sold separately), in case you'd like to integrate your factory steering wheel audio controls with your new car stereo.

4. Metra 40-EU10 Antenna Adapter - The adapter lets you connect an aftermarket receiver to the factory antenna cable. It offers a male Motorola plug on one end and a female OEM antenna jack on the other.

5. Axxess AX-FDSYNC-SWC Steering Wheel Control Harness - harness allows you to connect the steering wheel audio controls in select 2015-up Ford Transit vehicles (if equipped) to a new car stereo without having to splice into your factory wiring. This cable also lets you keep your factory-installed backup camera when you install an aftermarket car stereo in these vehicles. Once installed, you'll see images from your rear-view camera on your new receiver's screen.

What am I missing? What can you recommend?

HERE IS THE COMPLETE SHOPPING LIST

TOOLS

1. Heat Shrink Butt Connectors - I own a heat gun already ($16.99)
2. Crimping Tool - I have a crimp tool but it's old and rusty so it was time to upgrade ($17.99)

PARTS & RADIO

1. USB 3.0 Flush Mount Ports - I wanted to add charger/direct connect ports for universal connection even though the radio offerers wireless Android and Apple CarPlay functionality ($10.80)
2. Metra 40 EU 10 Antenna Adapter - I needed this to convert the vans antenna to cable to the new radio ($11.88)
3. Axxess AZ-FDSYNC-SWC Metra - I needed this to I can use the factory camera on the new radio's display. ($9.85)
4. Metra 99-5832G Audio - I needed this so the van dash could hold the new 2 din radio. ($45.95)
5. Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX 2 Din - This was a splurge but wanted to be sure the most wireless connections possible and offer room to expand the system later. ($539.99)
6. Metra Axxess ASWC-1 Universal Steering Wheel Control Interface - I purchased this just in case it's needed for the build. I'll send back if it's not needed. My Van does not have the steering wheel controls but this part may still be required. ($44.99)
7. Metra XSVI-5524-NAV - I purchased this just in case it ends up being required to get rid of the 4.2" screen, might return if not needed. ($49.99)

TOTAL MINUS RADIO & TOOLS: $173.46 ($123.47 if I ended up not needed the XSVI-5524-NAV)
GRAND TOTAL UPGRADE: $748.43

Thanks again!
Brad

 

[BRADLEY]

Thanks for the response Boboxx! What bezel do you recommend for this type of configuration? I don't mind moving to all black instead of silver.

 

[BRADLEY]

Looks nice! @asdrew !
@Boboxx, thanks for the feedback. I wasn't aware that I needed to keep the 4.2" screen hidden in the dash. I went shopping yesterday and came up with the following list which ended up being quite a bit cheaper than Crutchfield and would arrive quicker too. I am trying to get it all done before my wife heads out with the kids on a 700 mile road trip in 2 weeks from now.

TOOLS

1. Heat Shrink Butt Connectors - I own a heat gun already
2. Crimping Tool - I have a crimp tool but it's old and rusty so it was time to upgrade

PARTS & RADIO

1. USB 3.0 Flush Mount Ports - I wanted to add charger/direct connect ports for universal connection even though the radio offerers wireless Android and Apple CarPlay functionality
2. Metra 40 EU 10 Antenna Adapter - I needed this to convert the vans antenna to cable to the new radio.
3. Axxess AZ-FDSYNC-SWC Metra - I needed this to I can use the factory camera on the new radio's display.
4. Metra 99-5832G Audio - I needed this so the van dash could hold the new 2 din radio.
5. Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX 2 Din - This was a splurge but wanted to be sure the most wireless connections possible and offer room to expand the system later.
6. Metra Axxess ASWC-1 Universal Steering Wheel Control Interface - I purchased this just in case it's needed for the build. I'll send back if it's not needed. My Van does not have the steering wheel controls but this part may still be required.

I think this will do everything I need it to do, most importantly, keep the factory camera and allow hands-free calling and offer some room for growth soon.

Additionally, my wife joined a Facebook Mom group which several folks owning the transit highly recommended brighter reverse lights. I purchased these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NPIUFMM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[BRADLEY]

Looks great! How did you get the Ford Logo on screen? Also, my van doesn't have the Passenger AirBag light, is there any way to add it easily?

I purchased the part below. I will send it back if not needed for the build.

https://www.amazon.com/Axxess-ASWC-1-Universal-Steering-Interface/dp/B00B4PJC9K/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Axxess%2BASWC-1%2BSteering%2BWheel%2BControl%2BAdapter&qid=1589305013&s=automotive&sr=1-1-catcorr&vehicle=2019-54-23983------------6&vehicleName=2019%2BFord%2BTransit-350&th=1

 

[BRADLEY]

Ok I ordered the Metra XSVI-5524-NAV. Amazon says it's not compatible with my van; however, Crutchfield recommends it. I'd rather have too many parts here than not enough.

 

[BRADLEY]

Parts are starting to arrive! Turns out my wife is leaving a little earlier than first planned. We'll see if I can get all the parts in and installed before she leaves on Thursday 5/21. If not, we'll have to wait a week or so for her to return before I can start the project.

Original Dash showing basic radio and 4.2" screen.

Original 4.2" screen showing the radio status, temperature, clock, etc functionality.

Original 4.2" screen showing backup camera functionality.

Metra 99-5832G DIN/DDIN Dash Kit Instructions (Page 1) for 2019 Ford Transit Passenger 350

Metra 99-5832G DIN/DDIN Dash Kit Instructions (Page 2) for 2019 Ford Transit Passenger 350

WHATS IN THE BOX Metra 99-5832G DIN/DDIN Dash Kit for 2019 Ford Transit Passenger 350

I briefly looked at all the parts and compared them with the originals that remain in the vehicle. Colors, shapes, quality all appear to match up. I think it will be hard to tell that it was not done at the factory by the project is complete! In the storage container (bottom left of picture/black), there are the screws and clips needed to fasten the radio to the rails and clip in the kit plastics. I read the instructions which also seem to be complete and self-explanatory. There is one part of the sub-dash that needs to be "cut" out. I assume it's all abs plastic and I can just use a hack saw blade to get through it. Excited to get started but still have to wait on more ports. More to come soon....

 

[BRADLEY]

You should be able to do this for $300-400. I ended up going with a higher-end radio. You can spend $100 or $1000 on the radio.

TOTAL MINUS RADIO & TOOLS: $173.46 ($123.47 if I end up not needing the XSVI-5524-NAV)
GRAND TOTAL UPGRADE: $748.43 (with Radio and Tool Upgrades)

 

[BRADLEY]

The Pioneer head unit that I purchased, Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX 2 Din, claims to have a >10 second boot time and 50W's per channel. I'll time it and then report back once I have it installed and working. My 2010 F150 Lariat takes about the same amount of time with its factory navigation radio.

 

[BRADLEY]

The new radio is installed and working great. It took a little longer than expected and completed in about 8 hours from prep to clean up. I took my time and made sure everything was perfect, including running the hands-free microphone up by the driver map light/rearview mirror. The instructions were a bit confusing as in not all the wire colors from the harnesses to the radio wires matched up but other than that it was relatively straight forward if you've installed a radio before. The handsfree mic wire was a bit short so I had to splice in some extra length and I did have to rig up a way to hold the microphone in place. There isn't a lot of room behind or under the radio so I am kind of am dreading pulling the radio back out to add wires when/if I expand the system. I am still not sure why the system requires the 4.2" factory screen to be plugged in for the aftermarket to power on? This seems very strange to me. Also, I wasn't impressed with the metra dash kit clips and ended up using the factory clips. I pulled the metra dash kit lid off and dropped 3-4 clips down in the radio area, they wouldn't stay clipped to the plastic lid. Additionally, if you solder, remember to use rosin core solder. It hit me 15 minutes of struggling to solder the wires that I was not using rosin core solder, rookie move! The rosin core solder will adhere quickly and easily to any type of wire.

Hindsight, here is what I would order if I had to do it again:

TOOLS

1. DO NOT BUY THIS - Heat Shrink Butt Connectors - Instead, solder every connection and shrink wrap them. The connectors weren't very reliable and the smaller gauge wires connecting to the larger gauge wires would pull out fairly easily. I lost quite a bit of time undoing the butt connectors and soldering/shrink wrapping it but it was worth every minute!
2. DO NOT BUY THIS - Crimping Tool - It's nice to have but not necessary if you solder and shrink wrap.

PARTS & RADIO

1. BUY THIS! USB 3.0 Flush Mount Ports - I wanted to add charger/direct connect ports for universal connection even though the radio offerers wireless Android and Apple CarPlay functionality
2. BUY THIS! Metra 40 EU 10 Antenna Adapter - I needed this to convert the vans antenna to cable to the new radio.
3. BUY THIS! Axxess AZ-FDSYNC-SWC Metra - I needed this to I can use the factory camera on the new radio's display.
4. BUY THIS! Metra 99-5832G Audio - I needed this so the van dash could hold the new 2 din radio.
5. BUY THIS! I love this radio, so many features and a massive amount of room for growth! Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX 2 Din - This was a splurge but wanted to be sure the most wireless connections possible and offer room to expand the system later.
6. DO NOT BUY THIS. I Ended up not needing this since I didn't have steering wheel controls. Ill return for a refund. Metra Axxess ASWC-1 Universal Steering Wheel Control Interface - I purchased this just in case it's needed for the build. I'll send back if it's not needed. My Van does not have the steering wheel controls but this part may still be required.

FACTORY RADIO REMOVAL

SAWING OUT CROSS BEAM TO MAKE ROOM FOR DDIN. *SCARY/PERMANENT

FINAL PRODUCT. *the plastic sits flush, I took this picture before I seated it evenly,

Let me know if you have any questions I'll be happy to offer any insight or advise as needed, Overall, I am super happy with how it turned out.

 

[BRADLEY]

Did you end up leaving the factory 4.2” screen in there somewhere? If so how did that wiring work in conjunction with your wiring harness for the backup camera? They both source out of the same 12 prong plug right?

Yes I left the 4.2" underneath the new radio. The harness has T. I tried not plugging in the 4.2 and leaving the second part of the T unplugged but couldn't get video on the new DDIN radio.
Base of T goes to vehicle wire harness, 1 side of T goes to new radio, other side of T goes to 4.2" screen. Worked like a champ.

 

[BRADLEY]

Thanks, parts are ordered, I’m hoping to get it done this next week. We’ll see how it goes, I always seem to find some unexpected hiccup no matter how hard I plan and research...

Bolejake, how did the install go? Did you run into any hiccups? Would love to see a pic when you get a chance.

 

[BRADLEY]

I was surprised that my new head unit had a setting that will do the following depending on how it is set:

1. Turn on Camera only when in reverse
2. Turn on Camera when in Drive and Off when in reverse.

I thought I had reversed some wiring but really ended up being that setting. I wonder if your head unit may have a configuration that is set to not behave as expected?