Confusion wiring up my Sony XAV-AX8100 to my 2017 Honda Pilot LX

[franzcatch]

My factory receiver is the smaller display version, and doesn't have carplay or android auto. So, I'm upgrading to the Sony XAV-AX8100.

I bought an install guide from Crutchfield, but it either has information I wasn't expecting, is missing info, or is confusing.

Basically, to answer the below questions, I need the pinout of all of the wires coming into the Honda factory wiring harness because it seems I will have to tap into some directly as they didn't come into the Metra wiring harness I got.

*** Question 1 - The backup camera ***
The Crutchfield guide says "Reverse (+) - below dash fuse box, 14-pin plug (D), pin 21 - brown".

I have a wiring harness for this. Ground to ground red to red, and then it has RCA cables coming out of it. I capped off the Red and White, and the Yellow just goes into the Yellow video-in jack on the receiver.

The Sony unit has a purple/white-stripe "Reverse In" wire. If my vehicle already turns on the factory backup camera when I shift to reverse, wouldn't this wire be in the incoming factory wiring harness? Which wire is it?

*** Question 2 - The steering wheel ***
The Sony unit has a 3.5mm input for this, and included a 3.5mm wire with 3 connections - Input 1, Input 2, and Ground. Where do I connect Input 1/2 to the incoming factory wires?

Also, with this, it seems that there is no need for a Metra Steering Wheel Control Interface, right?

*** Question 3 - The speakers ***
Googling the Pilot LX, there is come confusion about exactly how many speakers the LX has. It seems there are 6 speakers, though.

The Sony unit only has a 4 channel output. But I figured I could just wire the front 2 dash tweeters and the front 2 door speakers in parallel with the first 2 channels. Then I could hook the 2 back speakers to the 2 back channels. There is a sub - which I am hoping maybe the car has a built-in amp already for?

Any help/ideas with this would be much appreciated.

Thanks!!!

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[administrator]

Bump. Not sure why the bot didn’t try to help out.

 

[administrator]

It's great to hear you're upgrading your car audio system! Let’s address your questions one by one and clarify the installation process for your Sony XAV-AX8100 in your Honda Pilot.

Question 1: Backup Camera​

The reverse wire for your factory backup camera should be tapped to trigger the camera’s function in the Sony unit. In most Honda models, including the Pilot, the reverse signal comes from the vehicle's transmission harness and is typically found in the 14-pin plug you mentioned.

Since the factory system turns on the backup camera when you shift into reverse, the purple/white stripe wire you found on the Sony unit is for the reverse trigger. You need to connect this to the reverse signal wire from the factory harness. The specified wire in the Crutchfield guide (brown wire, 14-pin plug, pin 21) is indeed likely the reverse signal you should use. This will enable the Sony unit to automatically switch to the camera feed when you shift to reverse.

Question 2: Steering Wheel Controls​

The 3.5mm wire from the Sony unit you mentioned is for steering wheel control. However, whether or not you need a Metra Steering Wheel Control Interface largely depends on how your Honda Pilot is wired:

• Input 1 and Input 2 on the 3.5mm connector will correspond to signals coming from the steering wheel, which typically involve more complex wiring than simply connecting to the stock wires directly.
• If the factory harness does not have the designated connections for steering wheel control (not just bare wires to tap into), then you will need the Metra Steering Wheel Control Interface. This interface converts the signals from the steering wheel buttons into something that can be read by the Sony unit.

Check the Crutchfield guide to see if it mentions any specific models or part numbers that match the steering wheel controls for your Pilot.

Question 3: Speakers​

Regarding the speakers, most versions of the Honda Pilot, including the LX model, usually have 6 speakers unless they are part of an upgraded sound package. Here’s a general guidance on how to manage that with your 4-channel Sony unit:

• Front Dash Tweeters & Front Door Speakers: As you mentioned, you can connect these in parallel on the front outputs of the Sony unit (Output 1 and Output 2). Ensure you use appropriate impedance calculations (ideally both the tweeters and door speakers are 4 ohms each, check your specifications).
• Back Speakers: You would connect these to the remaining two channels on the Sony unit (Output 3 and Output 4).
• Subwoofer: If there’s an existing subwoofer, you need to determine if it’s powered by an external amplifier or if it's a passive sub running off the head unit. If it’s powered, you might not need to do any additional wiring where the sub is concerned, but if it’s passive and relies on the head unit power, you might need to add an external amp to ensure proper functionality and sound quality.

Additional Tips​

• Before proceeding with the installation, double-check every connection and ensure your wiring matches the provided factory schematics.
• Use a multimeter to confirm wire functions and avoid any potential confusion.
• Make sure you’re grounded properly to avoid any feedback or audio issues.

If you need further clarification on any specific wiring diagrams or installation steps, don’t hesitate to ask!