aawid Posted April 2 Report Share Posted April 2 Does someone recommend an aftermarket radio for a 2019 Dodge Journey? My requirements: Working climate and heated seat control from radio (all functions from original) Working aftermarket or original backup camera CarPlay Android Auto Bluetooth audio and hands-free calling which works unlike the original which doesn't connect half the time Any help would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivrance Posted April 10 Report Share Posted April 10 I've done a fair amount of research on the topic and have concluded that the necessary modules, harnesses and bezels end up being too costly even before picking a head unit. I don't want to lose climate control or steering wheel control functionality and that requires an expensive module. Personally I'm now looking more in the direction of just getting a background carplay/android auto module that integrates with the OEM screen and retains all normal stock functions. I believe some or most of these units have everything you're asking for. I've seen a few of them badged by western companies but I could tell they weren't manufacturing them themselves so I started digging around on aliexpress and found the unit(s) they're rebranding. I'm considering ordering one myself soon. They're not cheap but compared to the cost of getting everything else to go aftermarket, it seems like a good option. I'm leery of linking aliexpress urls on my first ever post in the forum, but I'll attach an image of what I'm referring to. I've seen them for $300-$400 on aliexpress and up to $800 from a western vendor who rebranded it. If I pick one up soon I'll make a post about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivrance Posted April 11 Report Share Posted April 11 as a small update, I bit the bullet on one of those above units. I'll post a review once I get it in and installed. larryl 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aawid Posted April 13 Author Report Share Posted April 13 Thanks for the answer! I've done some research too, and saw that radios with full CarPlay, AA, and climate control support like this one: https://allegro.pl/oferta/radio-junsun-dla-dodge-journey-fiat-freemont-carplay-android-auto-1-32wifi-15359483711 (polish site) What do you think about this hardware? I'm open for suggestions. Also, if someone used this type of radio, please let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealFloopyGuy Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 I was looking too and apparently nobody has one or knows how to make it work. I figured, why not, and bought one. I actually uninstalled it and couldn't get it to work initially. Now, I understand it pretty well. I installed one in today for my wife's 2017. I paid $230 for it. It came with everything. It wasn't the cheapest, I just wanted the 8 core 4gig memory one. It controls the AC and all. There are quite a few of them on Amazon and eBay. I'd guess most people give up and never get them installed. In the custom fit ones there is a setting buried in the menus to set up the AC controls. It doesn't just work, you have to figure it out. Unfortunately there are no directions and the sellers don't put the information in the listings. It is a little odd to do but works pretty good to be honest. I made a video today of everything working and showed the settings. It actually does a great job with wireless android auto. Immediate connection and no issues. All the steering controls work, all the AC controls, it shows the doors(and trunk) are open by a picture on the screen. Youtube worked great without any issues. GPS was good. I haven't installed the camera because my wife needed to go somewhere. I did plug the cable in the back of the radio(that is the wifi/bluetooth antenna apparently for some reason) and it brings up the camera screen when backing up. There are a lot of options that you can adjust for the car from the radio. Overall, I'm pretty happy. The fitment to the dash isn't perfect but it isn't bad. I'm going to post the video in a little bit here. I can drop a link if anyone is interested. 2late4u 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealFloopyGuy Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealFloopyGuy Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 I posted a video. Please like or whatever if you check it out and it is helpful. This is the first video I made for something like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjrhdv75w5I 2late4u, aawid and 5rebel9 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5rebel9 Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 9 minutes ago, RealFloopyGuy said: I posted a video. Please like or whatever if you check it out and it is helpful. This is the first video I made for something like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjrhdv75w5I Nice work for such an upgrade AND to make such an informative video.....all above my work grade level....LOL 2late4u 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 36 minutes ago, 5rebel9 said: Nice work for such an upgrade AND to make such an informative video.....all above my work grade level....LOL I don't even use my radio and also the Bluetooth as well...just old school I guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealFloopyGuy Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 (edited) On 4/13/2024 at 7:13 PM, 2late4u said: I don't even use my radio and also the Bluetooth as well...just old school I guess lol. My wife wanted all that. Watching cartoons as we drive keeps the kids in check. I'm thinking I might do screens in the headrests for that. The radio has outputs to do it. It really wouldn't be bad if someone had explained how the canbus worked in the settings beforehand and that the CD player part had to be removed to get all the plugs put in. I could do it in 10 minutes now. It was really easy. The hardest part was guessing through the canbus part. That is why I made the video. It is pretty much exactly the one in your link I'd guess but I couldn't say for sure. It has a different canbus box for sure though. There wasn't any splicing or cutting or anything to install. This is the CD player if anyone comes here and wants that EXACT one. https://ebay.us/cZeQt7 As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase” to this post or delete it? Edited May 31 by jkeaton larryl 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted April 14 Report Share Posted April 14 4 hours ago, RealFloopyGuy said: lol. My wife wanted all that. Watching cartoons as we drive keeps the kids in check. I'm thinking I might do screens in the headrests for that. The radio has outputs to do it. It really wouldn't be bad if someone had explained how the canbus worked in the settings beforehand and that the CD player part had to be removed to get all the plugs put in. I could do it in 10 minutes now. It was really easy. The hardest part was guessing through the canbus part. That is why I made the video. It is pretty much exactly the one in your link I'd guess but I couldn't say for sure. It has a different canbus box for sure though. There wasn't any splicing or cutting or anything to install. This is the CD player if anyone comes here and wants that EXACT one. https://ebay.us/cZeQt7 sounds like you could make some $$ from the manufacturer to use your video and help with their sales...........congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealFloopyGuy Posted April 14 Report Share Posted April 14 That'd be nice. lol. I don't know why I always find myself with a car with funky hard to upgrade stuff or wanting something that requires me to build a skillset. I might have to look them up and see. I wasn't entirely sure it'd work at all with the AC stuff. Turned out pretty good though. The same seller has a slightly bigger Tesla screen that appears to keep the ac controls on the bottom at all times. Maybe if I make him a series of install videos with more professional camera work and more effort he will give me one free 😛 2late4u 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealFloopyGuy Posted April 14 Report Share Posted April 14 (edited) 7 hours ago, 2late4u said: sounds like you could make some $$ from the manufacturer to use your video and help with their sales...........congrats That'd be nice. lol. I don't know why I always find myself with a car with funky hard to upgrade stuff or wanting something that requires me to build a skillset. I might have to look them up and see. I wasn't entirely sure it'd work at all with the AC stuff. Turned out pretty good though. The same seller has a slightly bigger Tesla screen that appears to keep the ac controls on the bottom at all times. Maybe if I make him a series of install videos with more professional camera work and more effort he will give me one free. Edited April 14 by RealFloopyGuy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aawid Posted April 18 Author Report Share Posted April 18 On 4/14/2024 at 12:23 AM, RealFloopyGuy said: I posted a video. Please like or whatever if you check it out and it is helpful. This is the first video I made for something like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjrhdv75w5I Thanks for the answer and video! I'm planning to buy this type of headunit, when I install and configure it along with a backup camera, I'll let you know. 👍 RealFloopyGuy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kash Posted April 28 Report Share Posted April 28 I ordered one for my 2014 DJ SXT 3.6 L from ali express for $210 CAD and installed by myself. Installation went fine and it came with module to control everything on board. Backup camera/ steering / climate control functions all work. It’s been over 6 months, no complaints. larryl 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aawid Posted April 29 Author Report Share Posted April 29 On 4/28/2024 at 5:21 AM, Kash said: Installation went fine and it came with module to control everything on board. Backup camera/ steering / climate control functions all work. Is the backup camera original or aftermarket? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealFloopyGuy Posted April 30 Report Share Posted April 30 (edited) On 4/27/2024 at 11:21 PM, Kash said: I ordered one for my 2014 DJ SXT 3.6 L from ali express for $210 CAD and installed by myself. Installation went fine and it came with module to control everything on board. Backup camera/ steering / climate control functions all work. It’s been over 6 months, no complaints. There is a couple different ones. A lot of the cheaper ones have less memory. You can get cheaper ones on eBay and Amazon too. I've ordered from Temu, Wish, Ali, etc. I prefer to order from US sellers when I can due to shipping times and return options. This one is fairly snappy but depending on your usage the lower amount of memory might make it a little laggy. The radio itself is available separately from the installation kit and can be had for around $100 online if someone wanted to install it in their factory dash but it won't come with the canbus adapter or other ones and will require wiring. I assume the canbus options would still be in it as it is a semi-universal radio. Edited April 30 by RealFloopyGuy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealFloopyGuy Posted April 30 Report Share Posted April 30 On 4/29/2024 at 5:58 AM, aawid said: Is the backup camera original or aftermarket? I used the one that came with the radio. It works well enough. However, the one that came with the radio runs on TV and the backup lights are not 12v in the vehicle and won't power the camera. You will have to run power from somewhere else. The front and rear cigarette lighters are a good option. You can use the orange control wire that is on the RCA as your power wire since you don't need it to hook to the radio for a signal as the canbus automatically does that. I ran power using the orange wire from the front simply so I didn't have to run another wire through the hatch. The factory radio should have power and everything to do it and it shouldn't be an issue. IIRC there is an adapter for the factory backup camera to hook to the radio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjfsu331 Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 On 4/13/2024 at 6:23 PM, RealFloopyGuy said: I posted a video. Please like or whatever if you check it out and it is helpful. This is the first video I made for something like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjrhdv75w5I Does this support the heated steering wheel as well? Sorry if asked or answered already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealFloopyGuy Posted May 6 Report Share Posted May 6 17 hours ago, pjfsu331 said: Does this support the heated steering wheel as well? Sorry if asked or answered already. Yes, it does. On the screen where I showed the options at the bottom with the heated seats it actually swipes left and right for all the other options like heated steering wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelTown Posted June 7 Report Share Posted June 7 Curious about the 2nd row DVD screen, Bose system amp and sub (i think) as well as the 2nd row video inputs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aawid Posted June 22 Author Report Share Posted June 22 I've bought and installed the radio, but the climate control app and the volume\tune knobs don't work. Also steering wheel controls don't work. On 4/14/2024 at 12:23 AM, RealFloopyGuy said: I posted a video. Please like or whatever if you check it out and it is helpful. This is the first video I made for something like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjrhdv75w5I My radio has a different canbus selection screen, and Oudi canbus list doesn't include Journey or Freemont. There's a Higround Dodge, but only the reverse signal works. Everything else works, just the steering controls, volume knobs and the onscreen climate controls. If someone knows how to make it work, please let me know. By the way, I had a UConnect 8.4 before this radio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aawid Posted June 24 Author Report Share Posted June 24 Update: I got it working, I will post a review in a couple of days. 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aawid Posted July 5 Author Report Share Posted July 5 On 6/7/2024 at 10:25 PM, SteelTown said: Curious about the 2nd row DVD screen, Bose system amp and sub (i think) as well as the 2nd row video inputs. The DVD screen should work, because there was a harness for it in the kit, The Alpine (not Bose) amp works, the sub too, and the video inputs, I don't know. Maybe there's an additional wire or something Here's the review: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealFloopyGuy Posted July 5 Report Share Posted July 5 2 hours ago, aawid said: The DVD screen should work, because there was a harness for it in the kit, The Alpine (not Bose) amp works, the sub too, and the video inputs, I don't know. Maybe there's an additional wire or something Here's the review: The one I installed is Android 13. I was so impressed I got one for my F150 with the same software. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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