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Plug N play harness to relocate USB port.

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by mutely, Sep 16, 2017.

  1. Sep 16, 2017 at 10:03 AM
    #1
    mutely

    mutely [OP] Well-Known Member

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    As I’m sick of seeing my ipod in the center console, I wanted to move the headhunit USB port from the dash to either the armrest or glovebox. I absolutely hate bastardizing trim panels and cutting / splicing into factory wiring so I wanted to do this without any modifications and make it look completely stock. Obviously the easiest way would be to simply move the OEM USB port to the glovebox, but then that leaves me with a gap in the console and only one switch I could find that would be a perfect match for that hole. (Fog light switch from Scion). Yes I know about CH4x4 switches, but they are a terrible match IMO, only the size shape matches, color and ilumination are way off. (Ilumination can be fixed but color / texture can’t)
    So I decided to see if I could come up with a better plan, below is what I pieced together. It replaces the 12v cigarette outlet under the arm rest with 2 USB ports, 1 for the headhunt and the other for fast charging, plus also converts the dash USB port into a fast charging USB port.

    Parts I used.

    A) AXXESS AX-TOYUSB. (To convert OEM dash USB port to standard USB port connector). The exact inverse of below
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QF01H2E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    B) USB female Retention Adapter for Axxess AX-TOYUSB (Standard USB port to headunit connector). The exact inverse of above
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H1A4L06/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    C) Dual USB 3.0 Male to USB 3.0 Female (cigerette style port with 2 USB connectors)
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MY1WDIU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    D) Hard Wire Power Cord Cable Car Charger Dual USB (12v to 5v DC/DC converter for USB fast charge)
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y4CHT5L/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    This is how it all looks.
    [​IMG]
    Tacoma USB Harness.jpg

    Install is super easy, less than 1 hour. Plug the harness together as in the above pic. Remove headunit & trim. Loosen and partly remove center console and armrest (you don’t need to take it all out, just unclip it all to gain access see pic below), remove cigarette socket from armrest. Slightly widen the hole that the cigarette socket was in, as the dual USB is about 1mm bigger in diameter.
    Put two spade connectors on the 12v to 5v DC/DC adapter and plug that into the factory harness that was once run to the cigarette socket.
    Now run the whole loom along the drivers side of the center console following the factory wiring and up to behind the AC controls. All the USB connectors should end up in behind the AC controls. Now run the wires A & B up to the headhunit gap, and plug everything in as before, except now the new cable B plugs into the headunit and new cable A plugs into the factory wiring harness.

    Now you should have :-
    Fast charging factory USB port (Note the 3.5mm line in audio connection is still here).
    Fast charging USB port under the armrest.
    USB port that runs to headunit under the armrest.

    [​IMG]
    IMG_0011.jpg IMG_0014.jpg
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2021
    Kolohe07, Dam325, HNLSFO1 and 20 others like this.
  2. Sep 16, 2017 at 10:31 AM
    #2
    Axxra

    Axxra Well-Known Member

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    This looks interesting!
     
  3. Sep 16, 2017 at 12:37 PM
    #3
    jpham

    jpham Well-Known Member

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    Nice job
     
  4. Sep 16, 2017 at 3:52 PM
    #4
    sigrooms

    sigrooms Well-Known Member

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    All that work and money for one's annoyance. To each their own.
     
    RIX TUX and abodyjoe like this.
  5. Sep 16, 2017 at 4:07 PM
    #5
    Guapo Taco

    Guapo Taco Yut life!

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    Does this switch the data port from the head unit to inside the center console or are now both capable accepting iPods?
     
  6. Sep 16, 2017 at 5:03 PM
    #6
    mutely

    mutely [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It switches the port, so only available under arm rest now. You can't duplicate USB without a USB hub, and I'm not sure the heatunit can support a hub. If it does support a hub you could easily plug one into that harness, but you'd need to test if it can support a hub first.
     
  7. Sep 16, 2017 at 5:12 PM
    #7
    Guapo Taco

    Guapo Taco Yut life!

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    Gotcha. Good job by the way.
     
  8. Sep 16, 2017 at 6:09 PM
    #8
    jmar180

    jmar180 Well-Known Member

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    This looks like as good a post as any to hijack... Has anyone found a kit to convert the USB outlet in the truck to a USB-C?
     
    pjason23 and blackrifle76 like this.
  9. Sep 16, 2017 at 6:19 PM
    #9
    mutely

    mutely [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Do you want to send video over the USB-C to the headunit, or just make use of the USB-C to power for a device? Either can be done, but no kit I know of, you'd have to piece it together, and it'll get quite complicated for the video feed and require making your own cables. It wouldn't be seamless integration for the video and no way you could use the headunit touchscreen, it would be display only.
     
    corgimas likes this.
  10. Sep 16, 2017 at 6:31 PM
    #10
    jmar180

    jmar180 Well-Known Member

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    Power only. My phone uses USB-C. I've got a cord that is USB-A to C, but it doesn't provide as much power that a USB-C would provide resulting in slower charging.
     
  11. Sep 16, 2017 at 7:24 PM
    #11
    mutely

    mutely [OP] Well-Known Member

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    USB-C power can be up to 20 volts at 5 amps, and as low as 5V 3A, Do you know the charging consumption phone you want to use? If it's 5v 3A (usual for a USB-C phone) then simply use cable A above and a 5v 3a supply. But that will stop USB woking to the headunit. If you want to keep USB function to he headunit, then use cable A and B above, with a USB power splitter (Y cable), and a 5v 3a supply.
    So cable
    A & B from above,
    This for power
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y4PD3N3/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
    and a USB power splitter. (something like)
    https://www.amazon.com/SinLoon-5271...1505614767&sr=1-2&keywords=USB+power+splitter

    (You'll still need the USB to USB-C adapter cable you already have), but it'll charge 4x faster than the OEM setup. (3a vs 750ma) and keep the OEM location for USB.

    All above is for a maximum of 5v 3a, if the voltage is higher than 5v, it'll require a bit more work.
     
    saylae, mtip and jmar180 like this.
  12. Sep 16, 2017 at 7:28 PM
    #12
    jmar180

    jmar180 Well-Known Member

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    Awesome! Thanks for the help!
     
  13. Sep 16, 2017 at 8:20 PM
    #13
    dman100

    dman100 Well-Known Member

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    I like the idea of adding "fast" (2 or 3A) USB charging ports hard wired to 12V, instead of plugging in a cig-lighter USB adaptor in the console, which adds one more connection to get loose when I cram stuff in the console. And I like fast USB right on the dash too. But if you only use Bluetooth devices, do you even need to keep a USB head unit data port? Is it important for anything other than an older non-BT iPod? Can one play music from one directly connected device (say my wife's phone) and have my phone connected via BT for voice calls, at the same time?
     
  14. Sep 16, 2017 at 8:46 PM
    #14
    mutely

    mutely [OP] Well-Known Member

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    If you use Bluetooth only then the only reason I know of to keep the USB connected to the headunit is for a manual software upgrade. Maps are done from the sd card in the headunit, and software upgrades are done over your phone internet connection. But if for some reason you want to do the software manually, you need the USB.
     
    dman100 likes this.
  15. Sep 18, 2017 at 7:24 PM
    #15
    seadog99

    seadog99 Well-Known Member

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    Sound quality is better with the USB connection FYI.
     
    speedtre likes this.
  16. Sep 18, 2017 at 7:39 PM
    #16
    dman100

    dman100 Well-Known Member

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    Plugging in helps the battery too I suppose, even if it only charges at 0.5 or 1 Amp, at least you're not drawing more power for the BT radio.
     
  17. Sep 18, 2017 at 7:43 PM
    #17
    seadog99

    seadog99 Well-Known Member

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    @mutely, GREAT writeup! I've only had my Tacoma a couple of weeks but this has been driving me insane and I've been waiting for someone to come up with a better solution.

    2017 and it only comes with a single USB port? Even the service writer at the dealership thought I was nuts when I told him there was only one in the pickup.

    Components are ordered! Thanks again.
     
  18. Sep 18, 2017 at 8:17 PM
    #18
    theed

    theed "Light Offroader"

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    Good find on the 3A power unit. I'm just gonna add 2 fast charge ports sticking out somewhere arbitrary, though. ;)
     
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  19. Sep 18, 2017 at 11:08 PM
    #19
    danyo_saan

    danyo_saan Well-Known Member

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    What iPod charger is that called? Do they have one for the lightning cable?
     
  20. Sep 19, 2017 at 5:33 AM
    #20
    mhtacoma

    mhtacoma Well-Known Member

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    So I can change the cig lighter in the armrest to a dual usb charger with the same couple of cables? Converter and dual outlet.
     

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