Installed AVIC-Z2X system!

[dshealey]

I spent all weekend installing a new Pioneer AVIC Z2X system in my 2000 AC truck. So far I REALLY like it. I have a DVD based factory system in my 2001 BMW 740iL, and this is a leap in technology from that. Of course it is several years newer, so that would be expected.

I did the 2 wire bypass right out of the box, worked exactly as advertised.

Sure was fun running wires all over the truck. I put the microphone in the little drop down door where the garage door opener is. The blue tooth unit on top of the headliner near that.

I put the rear view camera on top of the cab just in front of the cargo/high stop light, ran the wire out through a groove cut in the top of the light housing. Going to seal the light back with some Permatex Ultra Black gasket maker so that it will be removable later if needed.

One thing caught me by surprise, took me a couple hours to figure it out. I had removed the trim panel with the heater controls, and unplugged the harness to get it out of the way. When I finally got everything hooked up to the system harness, powered up the truck for the smoke test and got nothing from the AVIC! Hmmmm. Checked the supply voltages, and only the illumination wire had voltage when the lights were turned on. Nothing on the battery + or ACC wires. Looking at the wiring diagrams could not figure out what the heck was wrong. The dome and acc fuses were good.

Finally I plugged the heater control panel back in, voila! Power. Strange that that panel has to be plugged in to get power to the radio! No hint of that in the Toyota wiring diagrams that I could find!!!!!

Now, if someone would come up with a hack to get rid of the nagging "Nanny" screen! At least on the BMW systems that have not been modifed it goes away after a short time. This Pioneer one just stays there forever. Don't know why they do that, NO ONE is going to read that after the 73rd time.


The AVIC fits great, no trim kit needed for the 2000 truck.

[Tundrav8yamaha]

Originally Posted by dshealey

I spent all weekend installing a new Pioneer AVIC Z2X system in my 2000 AC truck. So far I REALLY like it. I have a DVD based factory system in my 2001 BMW 740iL, and this is a leap in technology from that. Of course it is several years newer, so that would be expected.

I did the 2 wire bypass right out of the box, worked exactly as advertised.

Sure was fun running wires all over the truck. I put the microphone in the little drop down door where the garage door opener is. The blue tooth unit on top of the headliner near that.

I put the rear view camera on top of the cab just in front of the cargo/high stop light, ran the wire out through a groove cut in the top of the light housing. Going to seal the light back with some Permatex Ultra Black gasket maker so that it will be removable later if needed.

One thing caught me by surprise, took me a couple hours to figure it out. I had removed the trim panel with the heater controls, and unplugged the harness to get it out of the way. When I finally got everything hooked up to the system harness, powered up the truck for the smoke test and got nothing from the AVIC! Hmmmm. Checked the supply voltages, and only the illumination wire had voltage when the lights were turned on. Nothing on the battery + or ACC wires. Looking at the wiring diagrams could not figure out what the heck was wrong. The dome and acc fuses were good.

Finally I plugged the heater control panel back in, voila! Power. Strange that that panel has to be plugged in to get power to the radio! No hint of that in the Toyota wiring diagrams that I could find!!!!!

Now, if someone would come up with a hack to get rid of the nagging "Nanny" screen! At least on the BMW systems that have not been modifed it goes away after a short time. This Pioneer one just stays there forever. Don't know why they do that, NO ONE is going to read that after the 73rd time.


The AVIC fits great, no trim kit needed for the 2000 truck.

i've had my z1 a wile now same as your z2 been a great system for me too

[joe.phillips]

I'm shopping for a Double Din DVD/NAV/Bluetooth system. Do either of you know how the AVIC stacks up to the Kenwood DNX-7100? Do you pay for the NAV sys? Can you watch DVD's while driving if you put headrest monitors in? I've been reading a lot of posts but they're a little too technical sometimes. I just want to figure out which one to spend my money on....

[Delirious187]

Along with the two wire bypass you may have to upgrade the Z2 software to internally bypass the unit. search this forum. i started a thread called avic Z2 bypass. also check avic411.com. I dont have any nagging nanny screens? I was thinking about returning this unit untill i was able to completly unlock all the features. Def. worth it! awesome unit.

oh ya i had the same problem with my install. i didnt know why the unit wouldnt turn on untill i pluged the HVAC controls in...that was weird and ate up an hour or so troubleshooting the problem.