Metra Upper dash kit

[ikethegreat]

The dude interviewing the Metra guy said, "and I see these are illuminated" while gesturing to the buttons. 

And the guy replies "Yes, it has an illuminated display".

I asked the guy on DA about his so we'll see.

[ikethegreat]

I sent metra an email about the buttons and the Auto thing.  Lets see what they have to say. 

[Icebox]

with the old single din upper kit there was a orange wire you had to hook up in order to get the illumination.  did this kit have any wires hanging out the back or did it just plug up with a harness?

[ikethegreat]

It had an orange wire, which I connected.  I assumed it was used for lighting up the display. 

[ikethegreat]

Here is a picture of said wire that I forgot I took.  This is the only part of the wiring harness that came with the kit that I used. 

[ikethegreat]

"Connect the Orange wire to the
illumination wire of the aftermarket
radio. If the aftermarket radio has
no illumination wire just tape off the
Orange/White wire."

"Connect the Yellow wire to the
radio’s 12-volt battery or
memory wire."

I connected the orange wire to the HU's illumination wire and taped off the orange/white wire. 

[ikethegreat]

The install manual for the Metra kit lists directions to "Change the display back light color". 

If the buttons light up too, wouldn't they have been included?

[CrackerTeg]

That's confusing as hell. They say to connect the orange wire to the radio's illumination wire and tape off the orange/white wire if the radio doesn't have one? I'd venture to guess the orange/white wire would be your kit's illumination wire. If not, its the other way around.

[Icebox]

the orange/white wire is typically for a dimmer and the orange is illumination. i always tape off the orange/white and hook up the orange.

[ikethegreat]

^^ Yeah that is what I did.  The directions were confusing so I'm glad to see I got it right. 

I begrudgingly took the kit out of the dash and inspected the wiring again.  Everything is hooked up correctly as far as I can see.  I even managed to fix my steering wheel controls.  The little module box just needed to be reset and it works perfectly now.  

I inspected the buttons very closely and I'm 99.9% sure they definitely do not light up.  It looks like the lettering is just plain white paint.  

Even with this kit's shortcomings, I would purchase it again.  Why?  I fucking LOVE this new head unit.   The head unit is at the perfect height to easily see the GPS directions on screen.  

[ikethegreat]

Here is one pic.  There are a couple others in my profile thread.

[cna]

Looking good nice work it looks nice

[timot_one]

That would be kind of odd that the new kit doesn't have illuminated buttons, but the old one does.  Doesn't make any sense.  I'd call Metra about that one.

[cna]

From the autotoys website they do state "The new design with rubber backlit buttons " maybe its a wiring thing

[timot_one]

I think they fucked up on the instructions.  I'd try running 12v to that orange wire.  If the buttons light up, then you should wire that to the dash harness side of your radio harness.