Kenwood DDX318 to work with Stock Steering Wheel Controls

[bmfarmer.85]

Hey guys new to the forum and recent new pathy owner, just 3 months ago. Just a week ago installed a new Kenwood DDX318 Double Din in the dash. By far the most simple deck swap from stock to aftermarket that I have ever done in my entire life. But, I have a few questions for you.

#1. Does anyone know a good aftermarket kit to connect the stock steering wheel controls to the new deck I just installed? I have researched a couple but was unsure about compatibility with my new HU and the stock controls.

#2. Has anyone out there used the new microbypass pre-wired video bypass switch that doesn't require hooking up a relay with a diode to catch back flow built in relay coils?

For being a "base-model" double din deck I love this thing so far. I hear Pioneer runs a little faster but, got the Kenwood deck and all install parts for as much as I would have paid for the Pioneer alone. Will post pics of the pathy and deck later, at work now just wanted to pick a few people's brain since it's the weekend and I'm sure you'll all be on.

[Towncivilian]

Assuming your head unit has the necessary port, you'll need this adapter.

I have no idea what you're talking about regarding your second question.

[bmfarmer.85]

Sounds like that one will work with my HU, thanks.

The second question to clarify and hopefully receive better feedback is regarding a video-in-motion bypass. I really don't want to use video while I am driving I just don't want to tear everything apart to hook the parking brake sensor wire up to the parking brake. Older Kenwood models just need the parking brake wire grounded out but that is not the case with this one. I have found a couple options to accomplish it.

First one being a 3 wire pre-made switch seen here http://www.amazon.com/Kenwood-Override- ... 409&sr=8-8

And my second option being taking a regular 12v relay and using that method. Was just curious as to whether anyone has tried those pre-made switches.

[Towncivilian]

There are complete wiring diagrams for our vehicles found in the EL section of the factory service manual. No need to waste money on some pre-made workaround, I'd imagine. I'm not sure what exactly the head unit wants (whether it's power or ground from the parking brake switch), so you'll need to figure that one out yourself.

If it needs power, you can tap into one of the wires on the harness that was previously used for the 6-CD changer as that harness will probably never get properly used again. That way you can have +12v supplied to the HU's parking brake wire at all times that the ignition is set to "ACC" or higher.

[bmfarmer.85]

It is a "switch" effect that the unit wants, I forgot to list the 3rd alternative which is to hook the parking brake wire on the deck to positive side of a toggle and ground the negative side of the toggle which would just require me flipping a switch to utilize the function however I'm not partial to drilling any holes to put a toggle in an easily accessible location even though the small cubby hole under my stereo is next to worthless as nothing seems to stay there, lol.

[Towncivilian]

Is it really necessary to have access to a physical switch? You can always wire one in, enable the switch, and keep it behind the stereo cluster. Or is there some downside to doing that?

[bmfarmer.85]

If I use a toggle switch it has to be accessible because the head unit needs to sense a "switch" effect so to access that option on the deck I would have to flip the switch each to time to simulate the parking brake being set essentially.

[Towncivilian]

You could route a switch into the glove box area, perhaps. It would be reasonably accessible that way.

[bmfarmer.85]

The glove box isnt a bad idea, should be able to locate a place in there to put a toggle that isn't horrible to access and doesn't hurt the look. Also, seems that toggle switch is the "safest" option for my head unit as that gives it the switching effect it needs with no possibility for backflow from the relay.

On a side note unrelated to this topic, you seem like a knowledgeable guy on Pathys, what is a good muffler swap to gain a better growl and possibly gain but at least not hurt on preformance. I don't really need to do a full replace as I've found no cat-back systems and don't need to shell out cash for full replacement if possible because I have little to no rust.

[Towncivilian]

Sorry, I know very little about exhaust systems. I believe there have been several threads related to exhaust in the past few weeks, scan the first few pages of this subforum.

[body80]

This is the one I used for my Pioneer HU.
Works great.
http://www.axxessinterface.com/