How to auto connect to iphone, charge, and hear music from iphone? - Nicole

Howdy,

I got a hand-me-down tacoma from my pops. Here are my current goals. May I please ask what are my best options?

Specs: 2007 Tacoma PreRunner TRD Sport. 225k miles. No mods.

1. I have a CD player and FM. No Aux and no aux button.
   
   
2. When I step into the truck, I would love to mount my iphone.
   
   
3. This will wireless charge the phone.
   
   
4. No need to wire connect to iphone bottom port.
   
   
5. And automatically connect to speakers. Bluetooth or how?
   
   
6. Also, I would love to auto connect.
   
   
7. No need to press or click on anything.
   
   
8. I would rather not connect to FM bluetooth.
   
   
9. I would rather not install a full aftermarket headunit.

Would the above be possible? How? What products should I buy that will last a long time? And are there any installation shops in Orange County, CA?

Thank you in advance for your help, I really appreciate it!

- Nicole

 

I THINK you would need to go with an aftermarket head unit to accomplish some of that. There’s plenty of good options, browse through crutchfield.

Off roam makes an excellent mount specific for tacos. Love mine.

With my aftermarket head unit, I do have to plug a wire into the charge port. Music is amazingly clear, navigation, hands free text & phone calls.

 

Pretty sure Waasheem is correct, your headunit is too old for a wireless carplay adapter, there's a Chinese company named Autoabc that makes wireless carplay adapters for factory toyota stereos, you might look and see if they offer anything for the '07 but I think you need a more modern Entune stereo for that. Those adapters typically don't do the wireless charging since that's a separate function and there's no physical connection required for carplay. A separate wireless charger would accomplish that pretty easy and it isn't dependant on a more modern stereo, just a connection to power, ether USB or 12V depending on the charger. I bit the bullet and updated the headunit to a more modern on from Crutchfield for the same reasons and I'm glad I did, it's got the modern features that are standard in most modern head units and newer cars.

 

Why do you not want to install an aftermarket head unit?

 

Seems like you could just have a wireless charger mount and have a bluetooth adapter that outputs directly into a preamp->amp-> speakers to achieve this. Then maybe have a toggle switch on the dash to the blue wire on the amp to activate/deactivate it.

No car stereo needed, and you can leave the stock headunit in place if you like it there.

 

Check these on Crutfield.
https://www.crutchfield.com/shopsea...muvrsKdLIAwflL_lXRVmQbW4kObTyOGoaAnVSEALw_wcB

Out of those, this one seems like it could be promising, and it even comes with a charming phone mount to boot. If your head unit has an output on the rear for more CD changers, then maybe. Came up when searching for 2007 Tacoma. If you contact their support team they are very helpful. I saw one review saying they installed it on a 2007 Toyota Tacoma (this is prob the one right here for you)

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_249BTSTY2/Crux-BTS-TY2-Bluetooth-Interface.html

If that one does not work then you may be limited due to no Aux and Do not want to use FM, you are likely limited to needing a new HU in the truck.

 

@Waasheem @ridefreak @545 @tacoma_ca @nudavinci64

Thank you all, I appreciate your help! I don’t want a headunit because “my iphone can act as the ultimate headunit”. I understand I will be limited to iphone small finger touch experience.
Here is what Im thinking:

1. In the back of my factory headunit, is there a connection that I can connect…
   
   
2. …To a bluetooth transmitter? Not connected to the radio, not aux.
   
   
3. This transmitter connects to a power source in the back or cigarette lighter.
   
   
4. Transmitter is able to send audio sound to speakers.
   
   
5. Transmitter connects to my iphone bluetooth.
   
   
6. The iphone car mount will be connected to a power source in the back OR cigarette lighter.

Any other ideas, guys?

 

Yeah, it can’t

Do you think Apple and Google spent billions of dollars for CarPlay and android auto development when it’s the same as a tablet in your dash?

Good luck on your non standard adventure, the uncommon path is always the more difficult

 

call Crutchfield and ask them about this unit I linked you to earlier https://www.crutchfield.com/p_249BTSTY2/Crux-BTS-TY2-Bluetooth-Interface.html this connect to the back of the HU and some reviews from people noted using it on a 2007 Tacoma with the stock headunit. If you call them up they will discuss and walk you through it. This sounds like exactly what you want. It includes a charging phone holder, too. If it works cant get any better based on the ask.

 

For a cheap option you can get a Bluetooth receiver to plug into the cigarette lighter, which will broadcast the signal on an FM channel.

 

To me this sounds like a headunit speaker level output converter to RCA to BT transmitter. Then a BT receiver into a preamp into an amp into speakers for sonic transduction. Either the iPhone or the head unit BT transmitter is then chosen to connect to the BT receiver and everybody wins.

Disclaimer: I left the stock headunit in my 1st gen and unplugged it from the harness. For sound, I had a BT receiver into a Rockford Fosgate barbeque amp. I used the Fosgate blue wire to a switch on the dash to activate. Worked great.

 

In #5, why does a transmitter connect to iPhone BT? Is iPhone supposed to receive here?

 

Is your #2 supposed to be a receiver instead of a transmitter? Ie to try to bypass the headunit preamp and feed sound straight to the amp? That takes a tape or radio adapter.

What yoy need is a separate amp with a BT receiver driving it.

 

With my pioneer aftermarket head unit, using bluetooth works but the sound quality is GREATLY diminished.

 

I was just going to suggest that...lol. Not the best, but definitely the most "cost effective" way to do it.