RX450h Audio query Bluetooth, etc.
Discussion
My 2009 RX450h audio unit has some kind of dry joint or loose wire inside and from time to time switches off/on or randomly changes source or station. It mainly does this when travelling over bumps in the road but not always.
A used unit will be around £500 and there’s no guarantee it will be any better
I’m looking for an audio service that may be able to service the unit, one I tried said that they cannot power the unit up on the bench as it needs to communicate with the car. Or…
Alternatively, I’m interested in readers views on setting up a Bluetooth receiver that I can wire directly into the car’s amplifier and thus do away with the faulty head unit.
A used unit will be around £500 and there’s no guarantee it will be any better
I’m looking for an audio service that may be able to service the unit, one I tried said that they cannot power the unit up on the bench as it needs to communicate with the car. Or…
Alternatively, I’m interested in readers views on setting up a Bluetooth receiver that I can wire directly into the car’s amplifier and thus do away with the faulty head unit.
You may have something else in mind, but the Bluetooth adapter I've got in my LS460 emulates a CD changer, and I believe that's how all the off the shelf solutions for Lexus and Toyota work.
It only works when the HU is switched on, and the HU routes the audio signal to the amps.
Re the repairs, have you asked if they can take it out and clean/inspect the boards, and reflow anything that looks off? It would be at your cost without a guarantee it fixes it but it's better than nothing.
It only works when the HU is switched on, and the HU routes the audio signal to the amps.
Re the repairs, have you asked if they can take it out and clean/inspect the boards, and reflow anything that looks off? It would be at your cost without a guarantee it fixes it but it's better than nothing.
donkmeister said:
You may have something else in mind, but the Bluetooth adapter I've got in my LS460 emulates a CD changer, and I believe that's how all the off the shelf solutions for Lexus and Toyota work.
It only works when the HU is switched on, and the HU routes the audio signal to the amps.
Re the repairs, have you asked if they can take it out and clean/inspect the boards, and reflow anything that looks off? It would be at your cost without a guarantee it fixes it but it's better than nothing.
Thanks donkmeister, I’m going to find a local electronics repair place and ask them to do that. The HU is the issue and by the looks of it a PITA to remove. I think I’m going to bite the bullet and pull it out.It only works when the HU is switched on, and the HU routes the audio signal to the amps.
Re the repairs, have you asked if they can take it out and clean/inspect the boards, and reflow anything that looks off? It would be at your cost without a guarantee it fixes it but it's better than nothing.
Find some YT guides on how to do it. There will be screws in places you aren't expecting them. You might have luck looking for "RX450 Grom install" as people often show the HU removal as part of installing a Grom.
Get some plastic trim tools also (the levers for popping trim up)
They're not too bad, once you know where all the screws are.
Good luck!
Get some plastic trim tools also (the levers for popping trim up)
They're not too bad, once you know where all the screws are.
Good luck!
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