[Talley8]

So I embarked on this journey as well, and I gotta admit, I have found it frustrating. Trying to find information on the right wiring for the system, it's a bear.
In my case, I found that on of the wires off the connector to the original faceplate for the radio (I have the 4.3" screen) did work perfectly with ignition.
(Maybe too perfect, it shuts off instantly when I turn off the vehicle, not the "1 minute delay" or "until I open the door delay")

As recommended, I purchased AX-FDSYNC-SWC 2015, although since I have no steering controls, I am using only the RCA Video jack off the harness with the rest plugged into the 4.3" display.
What I noticed is the harness doesn't send the video feed to the display at all. But the little head unit knows when I put it in reverse and provides and error indicating there is no video. I was actually surprised to find that the camera doesn't even seem to shut off. It seems there is always an active video feed when the vehicle is on (I tested by activating the reverse wire manually).

My question is, did any one successfully locate a functional wire for reverse in the radio bay? I noticed one person sourced from the interior fuse box. I am making an assumption, either one of the wires that run into that unit are providing the "reverse signal" and Metra (annoyingly) didn't account for it in their harness. OR - there is no wire for the reverse signal in that compartment, and the "signal" is instead logical rather (with the control modules) rather than physical.

I don't want to make any permanent alterations down by the fuse box, I have hacked up the factory radio cabling badly enough. So I may use a fuse tap and wire it up there. But if someone has figured our the magical key to this, I'd like to know!

So I embarked on this journey as well, and I gotta admit, I have found it frustrating. Trying to find information on the right wiring for the system, it's a bear.
In my case, I found that on of the wires off the connector to the original faceplate for the radio (I have the 4.3" screen) did work perfectly with ignition.
(Maybe too perfect, it shuts off instantly when I turn off the vehicle, not the "1 minute delay" or "until I open the door delay")

As recommended, I purchased AX-FDSYNC-SWC 2015, although since I have no steering controls, I am using only the RCA Video jack off the harness with the rest plugged into the 4.3" display.
What I noticed is the harness doesn't send the video feed to the display at all. But the little head unit knows when I put it in reverse and provides and error indicating there is no video. I was actually surprised to find that the camera doesn't even seem to shut off. It seems there is always an active video feed when the vehicle is on (I tested by activating the reverse wire manually).

My question is, did any one successfully locate a functional wire for reverse in the radio bay? I noticed one person sourced from the interior fuse box. I am making an assumption, either one of the wires that run into that unit are providing the "reverse signal" and Metra (annoyingly) didn't account for it in their harness. OR - there is no wire for the reverse signal in that compartment, and the "signal" is instead logical rather (with the control modules) rather than physical.

I don't want to make any permanent alterations down by the fuse box, I have hacked up the factory radio cabling badly enough. So I may use a fuse tap and wire it up there. But if someone has figured our the magical key to this, I'd like to know!

I am in the same boat. Did you find a reverse wire in the radio bay?

 

[Question Guy]

I finished this months ago now. We had to probe for backup wire at the tail light. For an aftermarket radio, you really need to but one of those $40 axxess boxes too. I don't know if I can be any more help bc I finished the project about 8 months ago.

A pro tip, do not dispose of the factory radio. You have to put it back in to set your display clock. An aftermarket radio does not adjust the 4" screen in any way if you need it.

 

[Tijoe]

An accessible back-up wire off of the BCM is discussed here.

backup cam install - 2 questions

Hello, I've got a license plate mount backup camera I want to install. 2 questions. i've found my reverse light wire inside the van, but I need to run wire from that, into the door. whats the easiest way to do that? the rubber around the loom connecting to the door seems sealed up very very...

www.fordtransitusaforum.com

 

[Showtime3]

In my 2019 350 xlt passenger the airbag light comes on when that wire is plugged into the Metra 5835g kit. But goes off when I leave the airbag wire unplugged. Odd. I'll either order that ford part for the separate airbag light that my 2019 lacked or leave it unplugged.

I assume if the instrument cluster airbag light is off there should be no faults in the airbag system caused by leaving that light unplugged.

My backup cam does work fine. Weird that you have to leave the old small screen plugged in. But at least it works.

Also for anyone looking to put a stereo in.....Wago 221 connectors are your friend. Worlds better than crimps.

 

[ElementZero]

I'm trying to wire up my ATOTO S8 Premium radio with this. I've been reading these posts for a while so I have all the stuff for the steering wheel controls and the display but I'm unsure how it works with the 26 and 24 pin connectors to the radio for the speakers. I feel like I'm missing some information here. I saw on one post here that they used the Metra 70-5524 wiring hardness - is that what you need for this? Nobody ever seems to talk about what they are using for the wiring harness for the speaker wires so I'm unsure how they are getting to these unless they are cutting them (surely not)?

 

[Calothrix]

I'm trying to wire up my ATOTO S8 Premium radio with this. I've been reading these posts for a while so I have all the stuff for the steering wheel controls and the display but I'm unsure how it works with the 26 and 24 pin connectors to the radio for the speakers. I feel like I'm missing some information here. I saw on one post here that they used the Metra 70-5524 wiring hardness - is that what you need for this? Nobody ever seems to talk about what they are using for the wiring harness for the speaker wires so I'm unsure how they are getting to these unless they are cutting them (surely not)?

Just wondering if you ever got your ATOTO up and running and what you think of it?

 

[ElementZero]

Just wondering if you ever got your ATOTO up and running and what you think of it?

I did, it was a bit of work to figure it all out (mainly because I had never done a custom radio install before) but Crutchfield was really good about spending time on the phone helping me figure it out. I was even able to get the steering wheel controls working although I had to custom program them all (the auto program will not work).

As to what I think about it - first off, I wish I would have gotten the one that does the Apple Auto wirelessly as that's what my wife wanted. It's more money, but in the end it would have worked better for my wife.

The rest of it works about how any other custom radio works. You have to use a hotspot to get it on the internet (or buy the much more expensive model that has this built in but then you have to pay for a mobile plan). It works really good except I've noticed that IF I have Amazon Music playing AND Google Maps going then sometimes it can like get stuck and the screen stops responding. I think it's either a bug or just too much for the system so that's kind of a bummer. Luckily we only use the Google Maps on longer road trips. Also I notice there is a Generation 2 of this radio now so maybe they fixed these issues - not sure what's different.

Anyways, I'm kind of just nailing on the cons but overall I'm very happy with it. I also bought the little wireless wheel remote control so that you can turn the volume up and down with the wheel and that works really good. I don't regret buying it vs paying hundreds more for a pioneer or some other big name brand. I'd buy it again, before I thought about buying other brands, although if I had to do it over again I'd probably splurge for the Ultra.

Let me know if you have any other questions

 

[Calothrix]

Thanks ElementZero! After playing with my Sync a little more today, I think I'm just going to make a stand for my iPad and set it in front of the 4.2" screen. I can plug it into the van's USB port and use it for navigation and to play music through Spotify. Won't help with the small backup camera but I'll see how it works out and then decide if I should replace the radio.

 

[Joe Andolina]

@ElementZero @Calothrix,
I am pretty far down the install of the ATOTO S8 V2. As part of the install I decided to add a 3rd brake light camera. My problem is that I don't know where to get the backup signal from to make the head unit switch over to the new camera.

I know there is a way to pick up a reverse light signal from elsewhere in the van, but I was wondering if there was something in the dash, specifically from the 12-pin connector behind the 4.2" screen.

If you have more information on either solution, or you make up your own, I would love to hear about it.

 

[asdrew]

 

[Joe Andolina]

@asdrew Thanks for the response. I wound up grabbing the reverse signal from the wiring harness going to the reverse lights. That coupled with your camera feed and I am good to go.

I responded in another post, but which wires in the sync bundle should I hook to the ATOTO to use the steeringwheel keys?

 

[docdave]

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
View attachment 135137

SAWING OUT CROSS BEAM TO MAKE ROOM FOR DDIN. *SCARY/PERMANENT
View attachment 135138

FINAL PRODUCT. *the plastic sits flush, I took this picture before I seated it evenly,
View attachment 135139

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.

Did your back up camera maintain DYNAMIC parking guide lines (the ones that curve and show your trajectory) like on the OEM 4.2" screen, or did the new radio change them to static square guide lines? Thanks for your input!