Ok boys and girls, I just installed a Pioneer AVH-P5700DVD into my bros car (no its not a Scion but this pertains to anyone whos tryin to install something) and I ran into a problem, but soon found a remedy.

If any of you have tried to install a DVD player into your cars and the player had a Brake wire thingy and it wont let you play while driving, here's some info. Maybe you already know this and theres a post somewhere about it or something but I just thought I would share my experience.

When installing a DVD player, have the eBrake wire (the one from the DVD player unit) wired up to a ground anywhere around, preferably not on the same ground as your player though. Go buy a switch (Off and On switch, go to Wal-Mart and you can find one for $1.99 in the Car section) and cut the wire where you want to have the switch showing. Wire it up and there you go. To use this method, when driving switch the "Switch" on and it will act like a brake ground allowing you to play DVD's while driving, and Off when you get pulled over by the cops.

F.Y.I. - The unit will reset the dvd switch after you turn off the car and back on, but it will not reset your Unit settings (i.e. Radio Stations, EQ, etc...) When this happens, just switch the "Switch" off and on and it will be back on.

This has been a message from your local/Non-local BSP (Represent!!!) tC owner.

 

I alwase used the dimmer ground, since its already in the wiring harness, and if you get pulled over all you have to do is turn your dim **** all the way own and the screen shuts off.

 

Ooh... that's a good idea fajita. If I ever getting around to getting a real head unit I'll try that. Question though - is the dimmer connected to the head unit? You say it's already in the wiring harness. Why would it be? Just so you can adjust the brightness of the screen on the head unit? Any idea which wire it is? If I recall, a few of the wires on our harness are marked, but I didn't see that one.

 

moved

 

i think what he means is that the ebrake wire for the headunit (for the dvd player unit) would go to the dimmer line. since the dimmer line cuts off when turned down all the way (in essence) it would cut the line. nice idea, was thinking about this too but I thot it would be too much of a hasle to wire it behind everything.

 

Well you're going to have to wire it to something (probably to some other ground back there) assuming you don't want to leave it connected to the e-break. So it's not much harder to tap into that one, I'd assume. I'm just not sure where that one runs back to. I'll worry about it when I have a few grand to put toward Nav. When that's my biggest problem, I' m ok.

 

I would be careful hooking the parking brake wire of the head unit to the dimmer ground wire. most of the dimmer grounds rest at 0 volts (ground) but as you turn the dimmer they go up to 12 volts. not sure but there might be some radios that don't like 12 volts thrown to a wire that supposed to see ground. just ground the wire and be done with it. if you get caught watching a movie while driving then you deserve the ticket. just use common sense.

 

Ground it to the chasis or anything metal. I don't use a switch but you can just wire one in if you need it. I don't see the purpose of a switch. Just switch to audio if you're worried about cops seeing you w/ flicks on.

 

Old post but sometimes, i dont know about your case, the switch comes in handy because the DVD Unit will reset the playability for DVD in Motion whenever the car turns on and off. Again I dont know about your case but this is a very cheap bypass, some $1.19 at local wally-world (wal-mart, we slash prices and the hobo's outside slash tires damnit!)

 

so do you keep the ebrake wire connected to the ebrake and just take the wire that came with the hu and ground it??