Upgrading a 2005 Tiffin Phaeton Radio With CarPlay

[oldwildman]

We have a 2005 Tiffin Phaeton. We would like to upgrade the stock radio/cd player with a new unit with at least carplay and bluetooth. I took out the existing unit and here's the model number. 4L2T-18C815-DA. It's a Ford product that was installed in many 2001-2005 Ford cars. You'd think there would be an wiring harness adapter like they have for cars. But, if there is, it's keyed to the make and model of car, not the model of the radio. I doubt that Tiffin ordered a special radio instead of just using an off the shelf unit. But I've been wrong before. I've talked to Crutchfield and Best Buy and no joy. The only solution that they suggest is to cut the RV harness and figure out all the wires. That ain't going to happen! Especially when they say the pin out of the radio is a bit vague. Has anyone done a successful swap?

 

[mountainkowboy]

Did car audio for 23 years. Ford doesn't change much, post a pic of the connections in the moho and I'll tell you what to get.

 

[Larry N.]

I didn't find much to help, but this link shows pinouts for many models, and there may be a link that could help you:

car radio 4L2T-18C815-DA pinout at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

I searched with this entry: car radio 4L2T-18C815-DA pinout

Perhaps it may help.

 

[mountainkowboy]

This is what I found......

 

[oldwildman]

I did find a good pin out diagram. However, I don't want to do any wiring. I'm looking for a 'plug and play' solution. I need a source for a radio with the correct plug adapter. They make them. However, like I said, it's keyed to the make and model of the car. Say a new Sony model ABC going into a 2005 Explorer XLS. No problem, they just look it up on their chart and take the harness adapter off the shelf. Plug the adapter into the radio and then into the dash connector. Tiffin just isn't listed.

Maybe if someone knows for sure what Ford model that particular radio was normally installed in. Apparently, there are at least two, maybe more, possibilities for the adapter depending on the car model. At least according to the one person I spoke to at Best Buy.

 

[Ex-Calif]

I googled your model and "car compatibility."

Here's what came back...

 

[oldwildman]

I googled your model and "car compatibility."

Here's what came back...

View attachment 2503120

Ah! Now that was very helpful! Thank you! It makes sense that it was installed in SUVs and vans. I'm going to run that by them and see if I can get a match.

 

[Ex-Calif]

Ah! Now that was very helpful! Thank you! It makes sense that it was installed in SUVs and vans. I'm going to run that by them and see if I can get a match.

I hope you find a cable kit.

I recently put an android smart radio in my Ram truck. Transformed it completely with a 7 inch screen + all the bells and whistles that come with carplay.

About $220 included 100% plug and play harnesses and a new facia to accommodate the screen.

Looks totally factory.

 

[Ex-Calif]

Ah! Now that was very helpful! Thank you! It makes sense that it was installed in SUVs and vans. I'm going to run that by them and see if I can get a match.

Here's more screen shot of the search.

The 1 Factory Radio link might be useful. I extracted it...

Redirect Notice

 

[oldwildman]

Here's more screen shot of the search.

The 1 Factory Radio link might be useful. I extracted it...

Redirect Notice

Now that's what seals the deal. I'll use the ford ranger, I think. I like how it says that if it's not that exact model number, it probably won't work. Thanks again! I bow to your superior googling skills!

 

[Ex-Calif]

Now that's what seals the deal. I'll use the ford ranger, I think. I like how it says that if it's not that exact model number, it probably won't work. Thanks again! I bow to your superior googling skills!

I am a ditz...

Forgot the snips..

 

[oldwildman]

I am a ditz...

Forgot the snips..View attachment 2503156View attachment 2503158

The important thing is that I have a ford vehicle that uses that particular radio. So, I just tell them that that's what I'm I am going to install it in. Now, to do some shopping. The RV is in storage right now so I might not get to it right away. But our snowbird trip is coming up in a few months and I want it done before then. I'm going to pull out the existing radio and take it with me shopping.

 

[John From Detroit]

We have a 2005 Tiffin Phaeton. We would like to upgrade the stock radio/cd player with a new unit with at least carplay and bluetooth. I took out the existing unit and here's the model number. 4L2T-18C815-DA. It's a Ford product that was installed in many 2001-2005 Ford cars. You'd think there would be an wiring harness adapter like they have for cars. But, if there is, it's keyed to the make and model of car, not the model of the radio. I doubt that Tiffin ordered a special radio instead of just using an off the shelf unit. But I've been wrong before. I've talked to Crutchfield and Best Buy and no joy. The only solution that they suggest is to cut the RV harness and figure out all the wires. That ain't going to happen! Especially when they say the pin out of the radio is a bit vague. Has anyone done a successful swap?

There are a couple of "We very likely got what you want' companies that come to mind. Let me search very old memories.... (Now where did I put that can of "mental WD-40?... Oh yes.,. Spray Spray CREAK)

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-uH7oRftgtOl/m_266150/Car-Stereos.html

The other one (Memory worked there too) Went out of business 12 years ago.,

Last time I searched the Crutchfield catalog they had a lot of different radios and "Adapt-a-kits" that is cables with a plug to fit the new radio on one and and a socket for the cable that fit the old one on the other... SO the install was plug and play.. Also new bezels if needed. But often they are not as these days the "Front" is often DIN, DOUBLI DIN and so on (I think I've seen up to PentaDIN) DIN is if, memory serves French (But European in any case) Standards commission. Any "DIN" of the same number should fit.. Physically.

 

[oldwildman]

There are a couple of "We very likely got what you want' companies that come to mind. Let me search very old memories.... (Now where did I put that can of "mental WD-40?... Oh yes.,. Spray Spray CREAK)

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-uH7oRftgtOl/m_266150/Car-Stereos.html

The other one (Memory worked there too) Went out of business 12 years ago.,

Last time I searched the Crutchfield catalog they had a lot of different radios and "Adapt-a-kits" that is cables with a plug to fit the new radio on one and and a socket for the cable that fit the old one on the other... SO the install was plug and play.. Also new bezels if needed. But often they are not as these days the "Front" is often DIN, DOUBLI DIN and so on (I think I've seen up to PentaDIN) DIN is if, memory serves French (But European in any case) Standards commission. Any "DIN" of the same number should fit.. Physically.

Yep, it was a toss up between Best Buy and Crutchfield. Best Buy because there's a store not far away. Just came from there. Service wasn't good. And that's when I'm looking to buy, not deal with a problem. An old picky friend liked Crutchfield a lot. So, looks like catalog shopping with them.

 

[8Muddypaws]

When I switched my Ford radio out the wiring was the easiest part. The new radio was just slightly larger. I nearly wore out my dremel tool making notches in seemingly random places to make it fit in the hole.

That was around 2012. It still works but the faceplate is held on with Velcro and occasionally falls off. Not exactly looking forward to replacing it again.

 

[oldwildman]

When I switched my Ford radio out the wiring was the easiest part. The new radio was just slightly larger. I nearly wore out my dremel tool making notches in seemingly random places to make it fit in the hole.

That was around 2012. It still works but the faceplate is held on with Velcro and occasionally falls off. Not exactly looking forward to replacing it again.

When I took out my old radio to investigate how to change it out, I found the hole was cut too small. Had to remove the panel to push it out from the backside. And, even at that, I thought I was going to break the panel. Took my multitool with coarse sandpaper and enlarged it slightly. It slid in easier. But, I still can't remove it with the special tool designed for that. At least it will come out easier this time.

I decided to wait until November to change it out. Crutchfield has a 60 day warranty. We're going south in late December. Before that, it will only move once or twice to blow the cobwebs off it. Not enough to give it a good shakedown. Going to window shop in the meantime.

 

[BBintheMountains]

Contact Crutchfield online. They can assist you.

https://www.crutchfield.com/

 

[msrdo]

I agree with contacting Crutchfield. I did a changeout for wireless CarPlay in a 2018 Forester with the Ford E450 chassis. The one thing I would recommend though is, when choosing a radio, choose one with manual controls as opposed to digital buttons on the screen. I regret not choosing manual vs touch controls. Seems to me that all the new electronics in all modes... airplanes, cars, etc are utilizing touchscreens. Fine when you are static, but a real pain looking where to touch when going down the road. Hard to operate in the real world...Manual buttons and knobs for mode and other input is invaluable and won't cost you any features in new equipment. It will cost a bit more, but worth it.