The Many Pieces of a Head Unit Install

[kkoenig]

Hi everyone. I am new to this form and a proud, new 2012 Ram 1500 SLT Big Horn owner!

I removed my JVC KW-AVX740, double DIN touchscreen head unit from my 4Runner and want to install it in the new RAM. But before proceeding, I needed to answer some questions. After spending hours reading this and other forums, I am getting more confused and hope someone can help. My new Ram is a quad cab with a stock (non-alpine) radio with Sirius Satellite radio.

• Which harness/radio replacement interface? The PAC C2R-CHY4, Metra Axxess XSVI-6522-NAV or another? - The PAC unit talks about retaining all the warning chimes and other things. Does the Metra unit also do the same?
  
• Which Steering Wheel controller? PAC SWI-RC, Metra Axxess ASWC or other? - The PAC unit is more expensive and needs to be manually programmed. The Metra programs itself. Is the PAC worth the extra money?
  
• Should the harness and steering wheel controller be a ‘matched pair’?
  
• The helpful tech at Crutchfield said I needed a Metra E500 relay. Any idea what this is for?
  
• What else am I missing? I don’t want to pull the dash apart for the install only to find that there is something else needed (I got REALLY good and fast at pulling my 4Runner apart!)
  
• My truck has the ‘security group’ and that is stated on the stock radio. Will I be losing something when I replace the head unit?
  
• The” in dash” LCD display currently tells me what the radio is doing – will I lose that with the new unit and adapters?

I will also need to purchase the satellite receive for this JVC unit also. There are two pieces (KS-SRA100 interface & SC-C1 tuner) and of course they aren’t cheap! With the addition of the steering wheel control and the radio replacement interface, where inside the dash is there room to put all these electronic control boxes?

Thanks in advance for all your guidance and insight!

 

[TexasRammer]

Welcome! Ive got no idea on those, Im sure someone else will chime in that knows

 

[WhiteExpress]

Welcome to RF! I'm really hoping someone has something very similar to your planned setup. I think it's going to be pretty unit specific.

As for the headunit outputting the track title to the truck, I'm almost positive you'll lose that functionality.

 

[countryboy92]

Dang that's a lot of questions but from what I am able to understand but from what I can tell I would use the Metra Axxess harness because I have used it a couple of times and haven't had any problems with it.
- I can't tell you about the steering whee controller I am not really sure on that one.

- I generally try to get a match pair

I am sure others will help out but thats all I can really advise on.

 

[Skyjockey]

Anyone else verify the Axxess XSVI-6522-NAV will work with the 2012 Express with the low end radio?? It was recommended by Sonic but when I checked with Metra the RAM wasn't listed??

 

[Etroze86]

The PAC unit is the one I used and there is another harness that you will need to retain steering wheel controls.
You will loose connection with the Evic but it hasn't bothered me yet.
Couldn't tell you about the security stuff but I have a little LED in my dash that lights up on start up that I believe is part of that but again couldn't tell you what you lose since I don't have that activated.
For a double Din you will have to cut some of the bracing on the side of the radio slot and are plenty of write ups here to help ya out.
Good luck with the install and search for deals like on Amazon for the harnesses that you will need they get to be about half as expensive.