Aftermarket Head Unit Illumination

Okay so I've searched and searched and can't seem to find the right answer. I'm installing a new Kenwood DNX7190HD in my 2009 and I'm using the ********* kit to retain the JBL speaker system in the truck.

I've figured everything out except for the illumination wire. I want the thing to dim when I turn my headlights on. The HU has an orange and white wire for this but there is no orange and white wire in the factory harness in the dash.

I realize the non-JBL harness has this covered. But this is a JBL system and I can't figure out what to tie my orange and white wire to. Surely one of the wires in the factory harness is for this.

Anyone run into this?

 

I just read that this unit has NAV-Sync where it will dim when the Navigation goes into night mode. Anyone had experience with this? Sounds like I can use this and just forget about the illumination wire.

 

My Garmin units change the display from a light background to a black background between sunset and sunrise, but I've never heard of a unit that will dim the LED control lighting that way.

Being a Kenwood... and not this specific model... but the most common complaint about Kenwood units in reviews is they are too effing bright with no way to dim.
I had one in my '93 Blazer and opted for a Sony in my Suburban. Neither dimmed, but the Sony was tolerable at night.

 

Give it a try, and report back to us....

Worst case you don't like it and have to run a wire to an illumination wire somewhere.

I know that several apps on my Razr phone have a "Night Mode" to them and they work well... but I'm sure that they're using the front camera to determine how light it is around it and it makes the switch that way. I doubt the Kenwood has some sort of light sensing unit or camera, but who knows. If it has a GPS antenna it might but....

 

Well I went ahead and installed it without connecting the illumination wire. I can't tell if it's dimming with the navi-sync or not...which probably means it isn't.

The nav does switch to night colors in the evening somehow but it doesn't seem to dim much if at all. Even if I dim it myself all the way down, when I get back in the truck later it's raised is brightness back up. I think I just need to find a power source that comes on with the headlights to make this work. Anyone have an idea what to tie into that's easily accessible?

 

go straight to the dimmer switch... it will have both a dimmer and a parking illumination wire, which is what you really want to use.

 

There's a parking illumination wire at the gauge cluster dimmer switch? What purpose does it serve? Just to provide power to the dimmer when the parking lights come on? I think I just answered my own question. I'll give that a shot tomorrow! Thanks!

 

Do not hook up your head unit to the dimmer switch!! I've read a few threads on here that yo will burn up the dimmer and your cluster backlighting will not work at all.

 

Well I think if I tap into the power supply of the dimmer switch and not the dimming output I'd be okay...as long as I steal from the power before the switch. What do you think?

 

That's a good idea.

But here's the schematic for you. Looks like the green wire is the illumination Positive side circuit.

 

Is that gauge lights or interior lights like dome lights? Don't want to tie into that.

Edit: uh check that, I can't read. I should be able to find that guy in the harness. Perfect! I'll check it before I tie into it. Thanks!!!

 

No problem. Good luck!!

Edit:

Just some extra info, here's where those illumination wires go to.

 

Does your cluster come on with the headlights?

On my '08, the cluster lights are on with ignition, the radio and HVAC controls come on with parking. Everything dims with the dimmer.
I agree that you don't want a dimmed source, but I'll bet the dimmer has power with ignition. You want the parking lights source.

 

It's a 2009. I didn't think about that. The green illumination wire to the back would dim with the gauge cluster and I don't want that.

 

I'm still having a little trouble following that. After thinking about it more, I need to find a source that powers up when the parking lights come on but doesn't dim with the dimmer wheel. If I tie into the green illumination wire behind the radio, it may cause the problems everyone is having when tying into the dimmer. I may just go back to finding the power source to the dimmer wheel itself.

 

Ya, I was watching my displays this morning.

Radio and HVAC are off and on with parking lights.

Cluster and odometer are on with ignition.

Parking lights on, clock and passenger airbag indications dim, HVAC and radio lights turn on.

Dash dimmer controls all but the clock and passenger airbag indications.

 

Looks like you'd be good putting an add-a-circuit on the taillight fuse.

 

Well the green wire worked just fine. Just got done with it. I plugged my little tester light into it first and turned the dimmer wheel and it stayed on solid. Hooked it up to the HU and we're good to go! I read in a toyota prius forum that there is a second wire that sends a pulse that dims the radio...google search, ha.

That didn't make much sense to me so I just tried the tester light. It's simply a 12V source when the lights are on. Thanks for the help guys! This will be good info for the next guy looking to do this!

 

Glad you got it figured out!!

 

JH thank u so much for figuring this out! I'm not gonna use the wire you did,I'm gonna use the wire that runs the lights for my shifter in the center console. Like u said,simply a 12 volt source when the parking lights/ headlights are turned on. Thanks again!