F149 California 2008-2014 factory head unit upgrade (DIY) step-by-step

here we are again on the topic. Got a new F149 MY2009 coming without the backup camera, the Cry-sler head unit and need to integrate the latest features of smartphones.

I am going to change the radio unit for a kenwood 2DIN head unit. Doing it DIY because I like to do it and because I am not keen to spend 2000 USD for this kind of job. Being unable to find any supportive material in the forum, I am taking the hard way and learning while doing it. My Cali is not fitted with a separate amplifier but with an iPod connection, today useless due to the change of the plug-in socket.
For the disassembling of the dashboard, few video on the tube are comprehensive and easy to follow:

Pay all the attention you can when removing the fasteners and the screws, some of them in a very uncomfortable position and hard to reach by hand. if something breaks, JB epoxy and carbon cloth can recover the damage, almost.

First step is the understanding the mapping of the wiring and the radio sockets pinout. In the back of the factory radio, there are 3 sockets, largely used by Chrysler and fundamentally the same you can find in a Jeep WK, Cherokee, Patriot and similar cars. Indeed, the wiring colours and arrangement may change model by model.

a view of it here https://pinoutguide.com/Car-Stereo-Chrysler-Fiat/chrysler_ret_car_stero_pinout.shtml

In the Cali fitted with the iPod/iPhone connector, the Pins 3,4,5,6,14,15,16,17,18 are wired to the apple connector installed in the glove-box.
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The smaller 10pin socket is dedicated to the microphone, active type and connected through the phantom-power active harness (p/n 245789 J113), shared in the 458 and FF vehicles. (Ref. https://share.google/images/Q0MIMlBV4oyqEQO7I ). The MIC is connected to the CANBus and is interfaced with the voice commands the head unit is capable to work with. Upgrading the radio, two are the options: keep the active mic or connect a new passive mic usually supplied with the new head unit.

 

How to power on the new head unit? Not a silly question, since the factory unit is turned on with a canbus signal. Well, two are the options:
1. use a canbus power-on adapter (i.e.: https://pac-audio.com/products/ign-3)
2. connect the ACC (red wire of the radio) to the cigar lighter circuit, normally off when ignition is off. As alternative, the foot-light of the passenger side.

 

my bad: the GPS and the FM/AM plugs are inverted in the picture. The GPS is BLUE, the FM/AM antenna is white.