How To: Install a 2018 4C (UAQ/UAS) Radio in 2013 - 2017 RAM

Jsne0244 said:

How much would you charge to do it again and can you post a picture of it?

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DeereGuy said:

For the 2018 model year RAMS, the 8.4 Radios were changed from the previous VP3/VP4 Harman radios to the 4C/4C-Nav radios made by Panasonic. The biggest advantage of these new 4C Radios is the support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The radios themselves fit the same mount as 2013-2017 RAMS and the radios require no special programming to work. They read the BCM of the truck just like the VP3s/VP4s. However there are some known issues and components that need to be changed to make it work 100%.

Thanks to MPGRIMM2, RICKS RAM, 00R/T, and STDECO for volunteering to test these radios in their trucks. As a result, we have had them working in a 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 trucks. We have tested seats, backup cameras, cargo cameras, android auto, apple car play, and most of the radio's standard functionality in these models.

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There are two distinct versions of the radio. The 4C (Sales Code: UAS) and the 4C-Nav (Sales Code: UAQ). The only difference between the radios is that the UAS does not have built in navigation and the UAQ does. Both units support CarPlay and Android Auto. However, unlike the previous VP3 radios, Built in navigation cannot be purchased and added to the 4C radio.


Components Needed

RADIO: 68331631AH (UAQ) or 68331635AH (UAS)
MEDIA HUB: 68328704AC (RAM) or 5XG28DX9AC (Compass)
MEDIA HUB CONVERSION HARNESS

RADIO
It is important that you get a radio that has the correct mount as the mount is now forged as part of the radio housing. Even though a radio out of an 18 Charger/300/Durango/etc will technically function the same as the RAM radio, the mount will not fit the RAM. Can these radios be modified to fit in a RAM.. Maybe, but I wouldn't recommend it. I broke a screen trying to transplant a UAQ radio into an existing VP4 mount.

It is also important that you get a MY18 radio. All MY18 radio part numbers start with 683.... The RAM themes are only available on MY18 year radios and the firmware must be at least version 18. There is a round colored dot on the top of each radio that has a number in it that reflects the firmware version that the radio had on it when it shipped from the factory. Anything less than 18.7 may have functional problems. It is possible to upgrade radios with older versions of software (I have upgraded to 18.14 all the way from 15.5 on one radio) but I also had one fail the upgrade process. Be wary of "AA" revision radios as they are really a crapshoot of what you are actually going to get.

As of now the radio can be purchased brand new from FCA. The cost is around $1200 for the UAQ, and about $100 for the hub.

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MEDIA HUB

The media hubs in pre 2018 RAMs will not work with the 2018 Radios. Unfortunately RAM changed the form factor of the media hub in the 2018 RAM Trucks. The 2018 hubs are oblong in shape compared to the square 2013 - 2017 hubs. The closest compatible hub that will fit the existing opening is the compass hub. It is not an exact fit, but it generally fits. Changing the hub in a center console truck is easier than changing it in a jumpseat equipped truck.

2018 RAM HUB

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The connector on the rear of the media hub is also different, so a conversion harness will need to be built to adapt the current 6 pin connector to the 8 pin on the new hubs.

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Jump Seat Insert Replacement
Trucks that have a jump seat can order part number 68376066AA which is the insert with the correct cutout for the 18 RAM USB Hub. The cost is around $95. MPGrimm2 has recorded several videos showing how to change the insert.

See his full post here: Jump Seat Insert Replacement.


Known Issues

Radio Soft Keys for the Heated/Vented Seats and Heated Wheel will not work on 2013 and 2014 trucks (They will be on the screen but will be grayed out).

Radio Soft Keys for the Heated/Vented Seats will be missing on trucks that added factory heated/vented seats.

Settings menu may not reflect correct setting options on 2013 trucks.

Backup Camera button may be missing on 2016 and 2017 trucks. (Camera will work when in reverse, button on radio is missing).

There is no way to factory reset a radio.

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crookedmosquito said:

I mean I can print one for you, I assume black is cool. Just pay for shipping. One of the guys in this forum designed it and made it available for anyone on thingiverse. You’ll have to do a little trimming to get it to fit. I’ll find the original post and share it tomorrow. I can also take a picture of how I trimmed mine so it would fit. I made mine yellow, cause I’m a Steelers fan.

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crookedmosquito said:

I mean I can print one for you, I assume black is cool. Just pay for shipping. One of the guys in this forum designed it and made it available for anyone on thingiverse. You’ll have to do a little trimming to get it to fit. I’ll find the original post and share it tomorrow. I can also take a picture of how I trimmed mine so it would fit. I made mine yellow, cause I’m a Steelers fan.

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NYMustang50 said:

I'd take one as well in Black please if possible.

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crookedmosquito said:

I bought this one, 68397098AE, off of eBay for about $40 along with the adapter harness from mpgrimm2. 3D printed the surrounding and it works like a champ. Plus I can use usb-c or regular usb.

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vhmike73 said:

One further option for Floor Console owners who want to avoid hacking up their inner console lid tray to fit the Chrysler 200 hub, or don't want the gap left with the Compass hub- I can guarantee that the inside tray from a 2020 1500 Classic will replace the inner tray of a 2015 Ram 2500 Limited. And given that the consoles only changed in '16 to have the new "phone holder" functionality, I'd guess this would most likely work on ANY '13-'17 Ram with the Floor Console.

How to do this: get on Car-Part.com (or any other used/salvage parts site you like), pick the designation for your vehicle (though 1500s will supply a part for 2500/3500 models as well), search for "Front Console" and set your year limits to 2018 and up. In the interchange box, choose the "no sliding lid" option, because you'll get many more hits that way. Then just find the lowest priced console lid from a floor console-equipped truck that the selling vendor included pics of the vehicle. In my case, I managed to find a yard (in MN I think) that offered the console lid (the whole thing, plugs included in the pic) for $55, plus shipping. You might want to ensure pics so you can see what radio the vehicle had: in my case, the radio shown for the truck was a UAQ, so I felt much more certain that the hub would work properly.

Upon its arrival today, I did the swap. I pulled my 2015 wiring harness, swapped in the 2020's harness and inside tray, and in about 15 minutes, I have a 2020 "console lid" with the 68328704AC hub (the last letter of my actual part might be different, but it's the '18-up Ram hub now) in my 2015 2500 Limited. I lost the "cigarette lighter" USB power only port, but I never used that to begin with. And because I'd set the USB connections to USB + AUX + extra USB for the C200 hub, both ports work exactly as they did with the Compass hub: AAwireless on the left port, my thumb drive on the right port. I have not yet tried the AUX; but I feel confident that would work fine too.

This method sure is cheaper than buying a whole new Limited console lid assembly: though it would be nice if Mopar would just make that inner tray available as a standalone part! So now I have a C200 dual USB hub and KADtech adapter harness (not needed any longer, since the 2020 donor harness is correct for the newer Ram/Compass/Chrysler 200 hubs) verified working if someone is in need and can't source it yet due to the backorder on the 68283703AA part. Maybe that backorder has been fixed- but I wouldn't be asking "new" money anyway.

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Mpgrimm2 said:

Make sure your 2018 USB hub backlighting isn't stuck constantly on/illuminated & draining your battery which will happen if you use the console lid wiring from the 18+ trucks in a 13-17.... See references in post 5.

Basically one wire changed in the Lid connector on the back near the hinge ...
On 13-17 trucks it's a constant 12v at pin x
On 18+ trucks it's the USB Hub illumination signal

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Athlium said:

are you using AA or CP?

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crookedmosquito said:

AA or CP? Lost me.

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vhmike73 said:

Android Auto (AA) or CarPlay (CP).

I THINK the question related to getting one of the apps working with the hub...or at least which you used.

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raceghost said:

Hi guys, found this forum after lengthy searches. Also have almost read through this entire thread. I am getting conflicting information.

Truck is a Ram 2017 3.0L Eco Diesel, Big Horn SLT with dual climate, backup camera and NAV(Nav not activated at current)
I am the second owner of the truck.
My current Chrysler Part Number is: 68270657AH RA3 RSD RS7
I am told this is one of the Android Auto units capable from 2017 verified through (2) different Dodge Dealer Services and Parts Departments.
Uconnect customer service just states it is not Wireless.
It has the latest Firmware, 18.45.01 I believe, but I did the latest update from the Uconnect page utilizing my VIN.
Since I am weary about having Dodge Dealers tell me it is Android Auto Capable, but Uconnect doesn't give me clarity that it is also. I asked the Dealers if I had to replace the Uconnect unit, or if I wanted to hypothetically replace if my unit is bad(other issues, but staying in context), to guarantee and gain Android Auto capabilities, they give me this part number as a superseded to ALL 2017 units. New Chrysler Part Number is: 68270657ZH UAS UAQ UAV for a whopping $2k...

Like so many others, I just want access to Android Auto. I have even scoured the internet for a parts (Uconnect) Database with cross check of what model and features are active for all the various part numbers I have found.

I have also seen that a company out of Sweden sales modules that supposedly plug into these earlier models and activates the Car Play/Android Auto features.

Any clarity to be had by some guru's?

Thanks in advance,

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Mpgrimm2 said:

Last 2 letters of Mopar PNs don't matter (in most cases... Stay away from used AA units that may be engineering samples). Basically it sounds like the dealer wants to sell you a newer identical 17 RA3 VP3-NA radio. Your RA3 & ALL 13-17 Harmon 8.4 radios are NOT Android Auto/ Apple Carplay capable... Period. Asking a dealer about this kind of upgrade is pointless.

For your particular truck, you need the 2018/classic RAM 4c Panasonic radio as mentioned in the thread, a new USB Hub, and our hub adapter harness as discussed in the first 5 posts. Forum vendor AllMoparParts it's actually familiar with the upgrades we do here and can help with getting new parts.

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Last 2 letters of Mopar PNs don't matter (in most cases... Stay away from used AA units that may be engineering samples)

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18harvest said:

King of poland.i don't know the seller personally.but the radio I got from him was a brand new ucq.of course it is old stock so it will have a sl o1 screen that has had issues with delaminating.but the radio I got was brand new never installed and in a mopar box.

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