[audioholic]

Our 2020 Innova Crysta pre-facelift did not have Apple CarPlay and few months after we purchased it, they decided to launch a facelift with a completely new head unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Had earlier planned to change the head unit to the facelift version but realised the entire wiring was different and it was not a direct fit. Only one installer in Goa has done this so far and has worked with their own custom connectors.

But now, the long pending problem has been solved with this amazing product I found out which was popular in other countries with Toyota head units. Turns out my cars head unit came with a similar interface and operating system. Found the supplier in China and ordered this product and installed it as soon as it arrived. Was overjoyed by the results.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now on my stock head unit with complete functionality:





More details about the product - Its called CarAbc and available here https://carabc.cn - Direct from China and of course, I have no affiliation to them.



The control unit is a palm sized box which has a piggy back interface between vehicle and the head unit. In addition to that it has a dedicated USB port for wired CarPlay and an optional interface with rear camera which is not required in my case since the stock camera is used:


It comes with a vehicle specific harness which will connect to the Toyota harness at three T connectors that then head to the stock HU. The connections hardly take time. We remove the three connectors from the stock HU, connect that to the harness provided and then connect the opposite pins on the harness to the head unit.



Once that's done, the ignition can be powered up and the head unit takes a while to boot since its power is disconnected. After this, to trigger the CarPlay box, we have two options:
1. Switch to FM and then Aux,
2. Hold the Voice command button for 2s and release.

The CarAbc box immediately fires up with its own interface. For initial setup, we can pair our phone with this box(and have to delete the pairing with the stock HU to avoid clashes). Wired car play will work straight away while wireless needs connection to the Wifi Access point.

Turns out, the head unit allows external devices to connect two way and be able to even access touch screen actions, which allows the Carabc box to offer full CarPlay functionality and for the user to use the Head unit touch screen to navigate. This is common in German cars but given how Toyota electronics is ancient, it was a surprise to me.


As a part of the device settings, there is also a dedicated multi band EQ that's pretty nice to tune.



I had plans to fit the box right under the stock head unit but couldn't find double sided tape and had to install it inside the glove box for now. But will be moving it out of sight soon.



All panels fit back and no sign of the modification:



To summarise:
Pros/Features:

• Superb integration and installation
• Seamless switching between the stock Head unit sources and the CarAbc interface
• Stock reverse camera can be used as usual and the box switches without any loss of audio
• Very good sound quality and customisable settings
• Offers both wired as well as wireless ACP and AA as well as a host of other functions, typically rendering the stock HU functions redundant
• Touch screen lag is comparable to the stock head unit and is only noticeable during scrolling or moving maps
• ACP graphics performance is very good with good frame rate

Cons:

• Screen resolution is slightly lower and since the stock HU does not have very high resolution, ACP somewhat looks low res especially since I am used to crystal clear rendering on my Slavia 10 inch display
• Incoming call display on instrument cluster is lost even though steering calling controls continue to work

Here is a short video showing the performance of the interface and the comparable lag between the stock interface and that of the Carabc box

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv33-BZeghQ

On a sidenote, the head unit was sourced from Denso for my car however, the facelift even though having a Denso head unit, had its complete connector layout changed which was unlike earlier Toyotas.

[g_sanjib]

Our 2020 Innova Crysta pre-facelift did not have Apple CarPlay

Thank you for posting this audioholic, I have been searching for a similar solution for the past several weeks at JC Road shops, but everyone said that it is "not possible" without changing the head unit itself . I have a 2017 Crysta and it will be very helpful if you could please answer the following questions for me:

If it has worked in your 2020 car, I am hoping that it should also work on my 2017 Crysta? I can see the headunit of your car and mine to be very similar in looks...

I had plans to fit the box right under the stock head

I hope that the box can easily be concealed at the back of the head unit itself and doesn't have to be stored inside the glove box?

[martand1400]

Originally Posted by audioholic

Our 2020 Innova Crysta pre-facelift did not have Apple CarPlay and few months after we purchased it, they decided to launch a facelift with a completely new head unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Hey audioholic, can you send me a personal message for this? I also was about to change my fortuner's head unit but since this is a more afforable alternative would love to do this!

Thanks and regards.

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by g_sanjib

If it has worked in your 2020 car, I am hoping that it should also work on my 2017 Crysta? I can see the headunit of your car and mine to be very similar in looks...

I hope that the box can easily be concealed at the back of the head unit itself and doesn't have to be stored inside the glove box?

It definitely should. The operating system is called Toyota Entune v2.0 and any head unit with this will work except Pioneer as per the website. So if you want this you can order it off their site or on Alibaba. Shipping is through Fedex and I received it in four days flat.

The original plan was to conceal it below the head unit itself since its a single DIN unit with a double DIN fascia. However at home I had run out of stock of double sided tape. Hence for now I have left it in the glove box. Some day soon I will move it to the area behind the infotainment unit itself. Only the USB cable will stick out, for which I am not planning anything.

Originally Posted by Innysta

1. Can i go ahead with same brand and tyre profile?
2. Can i change it at ASC or Tyre dealer or purchase it online?
3. Is there any rebate given for the old tyres?

I would suggest checking out any reputed tyre shop and also enquiring about buyback of the tyre. If the tyre has some life left you might get something like 500-1000 per tyre based on your negotiation skills or worse you can sell it on your own in Olx if you can manage all the spam calls that come as bonus.

Originally Posted by martand1400

Hey audioholic, can you send me a personal message for this? I also was about to change my fortuner's head unit but since this is a more afforable alternative would love to do this!

Thanks and regards.

Hi I won't be able to send PMs to you, so if you have any queries you could post it here directly so that it benefits everyone.

[martand1400]

Originally Posted by audioholic

Hi I won't be able to send PMs to you, so if you have any queries you could post it here directly so that it benefits everyone.

Hey,
So I would have questions some people wouldn't even have thought of apparently, but since I own a fortuner I understand the whole OEM thing and thus I know this deep.

1. I don't know about this but you mentioned about the car store in Goa, you didn't mention their name but I know who they are, because they have done wonders in this field. I wanted to ask in this case how did they help you? Did you procure and order it yourself?

2. From CarAbc website, I saw the kit listed for ₹16,000. Did you get it for that price only?

3. What source does it show on the MID when you are using CarPlay?

4. Can we change the side of the CarPlay dock? Because it is set to Left Hand Driving which is understandable because the kit is Chinese and China has LHD.

5. Please show us using wired CarPlay from the kit.

6. Trigger the kit from the second method you mentioned (the voice control button for 2 seconds one)

7. Does the OEM microphone work?

8. Show us using the steering mounted controls. Can we seek tracks and pick up calls from it?

9. Does the reverse parking camera take over when using CarPlay?

10. How does the EQ of the kit work?

This is enough for now, I guess.

Originally Posted by g_sanjib

I hope that the box can easily be concealed at the back of the head unit itself and doesn't have to be stored inside the glove box?

No one does this but out of curiosity I have once opened up the infotainment system for some reason. Found out that it's single din looking like a double din. Yeah definitely it can be done of course. Only the USB will need to be sticking out as audioholic mentioned.

Thanks and Regards.

[audioholic]

No worries, questions are welcome no matter how deep it is.

Originally Posted by martand1400

Hey,
So I would have questions some people wouldn't even have thought of apparently
1. I don't know about this but you mentioned about the car store in Goa, you didn't mention their name but I know who they are, because they have done wonders in this field. I wanted to ask in this case how did they help you?

2. From CarAbc website, I saw the kit listed for ₹16,000. Did you get it for that price only?.

The store in Goa is Clarity Car audio. I bumped into this video on Youtube but after I ordered the Carabc adapter. However they do sell the harness in case you want to convert from old head unit to new one.

https://youtu.be/a-zBEsKkX8E?si=CvXRQSfvMDe8N9JJ

2. The website had it listed for 16k but through Alibaba I got it for 11k + 2k fedex charges for duty advancement.

3. Source will be shown as Aux in.

4. Haven't figured out if the dock can be moved to the right side even though I have set RHD in the settings.

5. Wired Carplay is simple. Just connect via the USB port of the box and it will pop up on screen automatically.

Will post a video for both 5 & 6.

7. And 8.All steering controls as well as OEM Mic work perfectly, no need for another mic.

9.reverse camera works as before like I mentioned earlier. Both turn on and off is seamless.

10. Since the final audio is routed from the box to head unit via Aux, the EQ acts like a pre EQ and the head unit EQ follows, even though it only has basic settings.

[martand1400]

Originally Posted by audioholic

No worries, questions are welcome no matter how deep it is.



The store in Goa is Clarity Car audio. I bumped into this video on Youtube but after I ordered the Carabc adapter. However they do sell the harness in case you want to convert from old head unit to new one.

The point here is, I have talked to the owner regarding the conversion and he quoted me ₹18,000 for a clean used Head Unit and ₹6,500 for the harness to convert it, but since this CarAbc kit costs less than half of that, I am having a confusion now. What do you suggest in this case?

[Aditya]

Using CarAbc to run Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on stock head-unit of 2020 Toyota Innova Crysta - Posts moved to a new thread.

[martand1400]

Hey audioholic,

Just got to know from the owner Yash that you are selling CarPlay head unit. Is it true? If yes then for how much? Let me just save the costs as much as I can.

Thanks and regards.

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by martand1400

Hey audioholic,

Just got to know from the owner Yash that you are selling CarPlay head unit. Is it true? If yes then for how much? Let me just save the costs as much as I can.

Thanks and regards.

No there is some miscommunication I believe. I was not intending to sell any head unit rather buy one Now I will stick to this setup for a while at least.

[martand1400]

Originally Posted by audioholic

No there is some miscommunication I believe. I was not intending to sell any head unit rather buy one Now I will stick to this setup for a while at least.

I agree, there has been some miscommunication. Anyways, thanks.

[audioholic]

The Carabc unit did not become my dad's favourite. Switching in and out of the CarPlay module v/s regular infotainment was something I could easily manage but he had trouble especially when the phone was paired via bluetooth with the infotainment and the Carabc would switch to Aux in as the source. Hence, decided to bite the bullet and get the OE music system of the facelift Crysta. As I had mentioned before, I was parallel in touch with Yash Harmalkar of Clarity Car audio in Goa and he had a few units with him. Along with the unit they also had a harness which would work coupler to coupler in real sense. However there was some functions not working such as bluetooth phone connection and the track name and control via the instrument cluster.

We had to figure out the exact connections to match the previous head unit with the new one and as of now, everything works as it's intended to. It took a few hours of deep dive for me to compare the wiring schematic of Entune 2.0(old head unit) and Entune 3.0(new one). With this, the project is complete and also got the acceptance of my dad who in fact is the primary user of the Crysta anyway. This unit is far better with a larger display and crisp clarity in Apple Car play. The original unit costs a bomb and this was taken off a car which got an ICE upgrade hence managed to get the entire setup for around 24k.

Originally Posted by martand1400

I agree, there has been some miscommunication. Anyways, thanks.

Sounds pretty hard to believe, but this ended up becoming true.

[martand1400]

Originally Posted by audioholic

As I had mentioned before, I was parallel in touch with Yash Harmalkar of Clarity Car audio in Goa and he had a few units with him. Along with the unit they also had a harness which would work coupler to coupler in real sense. However there was some functions not working such as bluetooth phone connection and the track name and control via the instrument cluster.

Can you please tell me how you convinced your dad for this because my dad isn't ready to. Didn't celebrate my birthday, yet he doesn't want to get it. Our fortuner is barely used in the city, it's a road trip car. I really want Apple CarPlay on it considering our Verna and Alto both have it, and I use it in the city. Also please make a whole video on what functions were not working in the IC because Yash recently made a new reel (linking below) retaining the Source controls and the music information on the IC while playing on CarPlay. In the new models of the car, there is no sign of something called Apple CarPlay in the instrument cluster, so it thinks like it is an iPod playing so it simply shows the music information.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6GcR8UveNY/

Just for fun, can you go into the OEM IC settings and change the colour? I want to see what happens in the system because of course changed settings.

Originally Posted by audioholic

Sounds pretty hard to believe, but this ended up becoming true.

Thanks, but if one's dad doesn't agree then it's not the best. So I am not going to buy.

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by martand1400

Can you please tell me how you convinced your dad for this because my dad isn't ready

Also please make a whole video on what functions were not working in the IC because Yash recently made a new reel (linking below) retaining the Source controls and the music information on the IC while playing on CarPlay. In the new models of the car, there is no sign of something called Apple CarPlay in the instrument cluster, so it thinks like it is an iPod playing so it simply shows the music information.
Just for fun, can you go into the OEM IC settings and change the colour? I want to see what happens in the system because of course changed

Not sure if I can help you with tips to convince your dad, but in my case the absence of CarPlay was something both of us loathed about most of the times. My dads only concern was warranty and integration when it comes to aftermarket head units. But beyond that, all experiments and research and installation is in my hands and that’s something he doesn’t meddle with unless I need additional hands or mess up something that will render the car unusable.

Regarding the cluster display and control, in the initial harness that they prepared, there was a missing link between infotainment unit and the IC. I helped him out with the pin outs of the old head unit and new one and this was sorted out. Now things work like before on the IC except you can’t view navigation info or compass since the new head unit doesn’t offer navigation. But the display of caller, active track, track change as well as source change works. I am yet to do the same in my car because I’m waiting for him to ship the pins to connect.

[martand1400]

Originally Posted by audioholic

Regarding the cluster display and control, in the initial harness that they prepared, there was a missing link between infotainment unit and the IC. I helped him out with the pin outs of the old head unit and new one and this was sorted out. Now things work like before on the IC except you can’t view navigation info or compass since the new head unit doesn’t offer navigation. But the display of caller, active track, track change as well as source change works. I am yet to do the same in my car because I’m waiting for him to ship the pins to connect.

Well that's good enough, but as I mentioned before even our new Alto has CarPlay now, and Verna (2018, 1.6D) from the same year also had it since, but not our fortuner.

For the convincing part, my dad thinks wires will be cut to install even this. He is not ready to accept that no wire cutting is involved here, that's the reason. When I said I will install it myself, he said that I will brick the electricals of the car.

Also, please just send a video, go to the IC settings, and change the theme. I really want to see what happens in the Entune 3.0 system when we try putting Entune 2.0 themes in it.