2020 Tacoma Media port Relocation

Sweet! Thanks!

 

Its not a scam, it does work. It doesn't work nearly as seamlessly as a wired CarPlay connection does, but it works.

I've found that your phone learns to prioritize connecting to the carplay2air device over a week or so, and then it works better. At first I was constantly unplugging/ plugging back in to get it to boot.

This thread has me thinking though... the only reason I purchased CarPlay2air was to avoid the annoying cable coming out of the dash.... now I wish I would have found this thread first.

 

Look when he posted this though, this was almost a year ago. Carplay2air didn’t work at first on the 2020 Taco when the truck came out. When the truck came out they didn’t use OTA updates to update it either. You had to put a microsd in and pray to god it updates, mine never did. So when we bought it, we had a nonfunctional device. I tried to return it but returning it meant a huge shipping and handling fee and a restocking fee that almost made it the cost of the device. So I called my credit card company to help dispute it.

Well they eventually released OTA updates and mine started functioning just fine.

 

ah ok, my fault. I didn't realize this was a revived thread. Glad its working better now than a year ago.

 

Yes I have since gotten it to work. Few things don’t work. The buttons on the steering wheel won’t change tracks. Phone calls have a huge delay. There is another update but I’m afraid it will become inop after the update

 

I’ve done every update so far and no bricks, works about the same. I don’t have much delay in mine.

 

Do your steering wheel buttons work?

 

mine do

 

I decided to order the AliExpress cable. I'm not sure why Toyota didn't put the CarPlay ready plug in the armrest box instead of the dash, but if it works, my OCD cable management with finally be satisfied.

 

I'm also looking to relocate my dash media USB port to the center console using the AliExpress cable. Anyone know where I can find a blank OEM cover for the stock location of the dash media USB port?

 

You could leave it as-is and just disconnect from the head unit, running the new plug from the head unit to wherever you want.

 

This is what I did. Used the aliexpress cable and an extension to get it to a port in the center console. I don’t believe there is a switch or even a blank that can fit in the media port hole in the dash. It’s a weird size.

 

Same here. The original cover keeps the switch panel looking stock but is an empty socket. I have a low profile charger in the 12 V socket to keep some power in the dash.

 

Ok cool, yeah that makes sense. Did you guys cut a hole in the center console for the new cable then? If so, I'm guessing a dremel tool or something like that was used?

 

I actually connected a USB extension cable to the OEM cable and ran it behind the stereo to my DMM phone mount.

From what I saw earlier in this thread it looks like you can pull up enough panel pieces to run your cable under the center console.

 

I did cut a hole with a razor blade for accuracy to add a usb port next to the stock ports. I was hoping to find a switch or even a switch blank that would replace the stock console usbs but it is a bit too large.

 

I just popped the usb port behind the dash. Installed/plugged in an extender:

$10 BSHTU USB 3.0 Flush Mount Cable - USB 3.0 and 3.5mm Aux Extention Mount, Flush, Dash, Panel Mount Cable 1/8 AUX for Car Bike Boat Motorcycle Radio Stereo Android (2 Meter/6Ft)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072LZRB1D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and then drilled a hole in the side of my glove box to relocate.



I'm sure you could put it in the console if wanted.

 

Hey @hcenteno21, Since you have taken it apart: if I don't care about the port on the dash working when it is done, but do want it to look factory, can I somehow plug in a USB cord behind the dash to that port and use it that way?

I saw there is a cord from aliexpress, but it shows a late April arrival, which is a bit extreme.

 

For anyone who has done this mod, how safe it is to drill straight down through the “box” under the armrest? What’s down there? I want to fish two wires into there from my drivers side pillar area to the USBs but have no idea what’s under the “box” and definitely don’t want to drill into anything electrical or and harnesses. :/

Any input or pictures of what’s down there?

 

I found a solution to the now disconnected USB on the dash after using the AliExpress female port adapter mentioned above. While buying that, I saw a potential matching male adapter to Toyota's crappy proprietary port, so I took a gamble, bought it, and IT WORKS!

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001319423923.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27be4c4dqGFJub


Now my head unit connects to my phone mounted on the dash with hidden wires thanks to the previous adapter, and this adapter lets me connect the dash's USB port to an always-on USB charger mounted by the dash fusebox. (Actually, it's a triple 12V socket hardwired to the fusebox: 1 socket always-on with 12V-to-USB charger, and 2 sockets on via ignition with one empty and the other powering my radar detector, but all that's a different story.) The key thing is that the dash's oddball switch shape and proprietary USB connector can now be converted to a regular USB plug.

Note that the adapter above is really short, so you'll need an extension cable to route it somewhere useful.

Enjoy!