I have a Pioneer AVIC-X930BT in my 2010 Mustang. This unit has a wire that you can connect onto the headlight switch so when you turn on your headlights, the stereo will go into 'Night Mode' and become more dim. When I got my unit installed, they may have left this part out, so I took it in this morning to see if they would connect the two wires. The installer told me that they can do it, but that that wasn't a mistake on their part. He said that new Fords don't have a headlight harness to which you can connect said wire from the head unit, so they would have to put in a new harness. He asked me if I can bring the car in later, because they have to bring in that harness from another shop the owner has and that they would do it free of charge. Now, when it comes to cars, I'm not the brightest person there is, but aren't all electric components supposed to have wires and harnesses that make them do their job? I mean, if the headlight switch doesn't have a wire that plugs in to the headlights, then how the hell does it make the headlights turn on?! The place was kind of packed with customers that were bringing their cars back in because they were having problems after they got some work done by these guys. A thought that ran through my mind was that they may have asked me to bring it in later because they wanted to fix their mistakes with the other customers before they worked on something as 'easy' as connecting two wires on my car. Any thoughts and answers from you guys? And would you recommend that I just try connecting the wires myself?

 

I wouldn't take it back to them, my motto is if you dont do it right the first time you will never touch my car again, so we are just talking about a wire that connects to your headlights so that when you turn them on the reciver goes into night mode. you can tap into the headlights from behind the switch, or run that wire to your smart junction box and put it into the fuse that controls the headlights.

 

There is no dimmer or equivalent line run to the radio harness, in fact the only easy option is to run one from the dimmer switch itself.

Now if your ok with it being a set fixed value for when you turn on the lights you can rig up something else, but it would still need to be run from that circuit somewhere if you wished it to be triggered from turning on your lights.

 

I have my boost gauge wired into my headlight switch so it illuminates when the headlights are on. Im going to tap into the same place with my 930bt... Whenever I get around to pulling it back out... That nav screen is ridiculously bright at night lol.

 

Depends if the HU needs 12v or a ground for sensing lights-on operation.
Either way, they should be able to tap into the the proper wire at the switch.

The 05-10 switch uses a brown wire (iirc) at the switch that gets 12v when lights are on.
I tap into that to dim my gauges.

 

My pioneer 4300 has the same dimmer wire, I soldered it up to what was labled dimmer on my harness I ordered however it will constantly pulse between day/night modes.
What is the easiest way to setup a switch that I can hide to alternate between these modes manually?

 

I read online that the dimmer wire needs to be wired onto a 12V. I don't know if I should just try it myself or take it back to them. I hate having to go over there only to be asked to come back later. That's just unacceptable.

 

its a piece of cake dude, just take out the knee panel, take a look behind the headlight switch, find that brown wire, grab your self a t connecter or one of the inline piggybacks and just tap it in(5 bucks says you read that in chubbs voice).

 

lETS SEE, HOW DOES IT TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS.
fricken caps lock.
The stang GROUNDS the headlight request wire.
Your Pioneer wants to see +12V.

http://iihs.net/fsm/?dir=40&viewfile...0Autolamps.pdf