iPhone (lightning), iPod and Aux connector for RX400h

Hi,

I've just come across your tutorial. I have already tried a similar integration and came upon a problem.

My car is a Lexus RX400h 2008, Mark Levinson sound system.

I bought a generic Bluetooth, usb, 3.5, adaptor. I also bought a Y splitter. I installed everything and the Bluetooth worked just fine. Didn't actually try usb etc.

Then I connected the existing connection, which I now know includes air con at least. The outcome is that I cannot connect both. One or other work if connected alone, but connect both and the Bluetooth doesn't work.

My previous research suggested it was just the CD changer that would be affected, something I could live without, but air conditioning is another thing. The screen goes blank and tells me the 'system' is not connected.

Is this because I got a generic (cheaper) Bluetooth?

I just wanted to thank Mike for his tutorial which gave me the courage to attempt my own installation in my recently purchased 2006 RX400h.

I also used Mike's splicing technique to complete the installation and simply routed my device cable into the glovebox from the rear.

The second reason for me to post was to make other members aware of the particular product I installed, which has far exceeded my expectations. The Connects2 CTALXUSB001 is widely available on eBay and cost me £55. It has a line in auxilliary socket, USB socket, SD card slot, Bluetooth port, and (despite not being referred to anywhere I had seen) an iPod socket. Optional cables are required to use the iPod and Bluetooth sockets. Steering wheel and head unit controls work for the USB and SD card inputs and I would expect the same for the iPod connection. Line in auxilliary requires control from the connected product, although volume can be steering wheel / head unit controlled.

Despite being told by Connects2 that the unit had a 4Gb capacity limit, I have it working perfectly (with text support) on a 16Gb SD card loaded with 110 different albums, totalling some 1340 individual tracks. The fitted six disc multichanger still works as normal and I have found I can create a maximum of 15 CD folders (CD01 to CD15) and load each with up to 99 audio files. I have also had it working quite happily reading audio files from a 32Gb USB drive (although only loaded with 6Gb of data).

The only thing I have noticed is that the volume from the Connects2 box does need increasing slightly to achieve the same output as that produced by the fitted head unit.

I hope the above proves to be of help to other members as I am "over the moon" with my "Lexus Jukebox".

Mick Hughes