Pioneer AVH-120BT Multimedia Receiver Wiring Diagram

Pioneer AVH-120BT Multimedia Receiver Wiring Diagram

Pioneer AVH-120BT Multimedia Receiver Wiring Diagram

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Complete diagram

Every cable and connector on the unit and where each one goes.

Complete diagram
REAR PANELAVH-120BTR/SWFPOWERTo the input of anexternal power amp10 A−+BATTERYPARKING BRAKE SWITCHSPEAKERSVEHICLE ANTENNATo the steering wheelcontrol interfaceR.C INTo the rear viewcamera video outputAUXMini-jack AV cableUSB (FRONT)To an AndroidsmartphoneILLUMINATION(Orange/White)To the lighting switchREVERSE(Violet/White)To the backup lamp leadSYSTEM REMOTE(Blue/White)To the amp system remoteBATTERY(Yellow)ACC (IGNITION)(Red)IGNITION KEYGROUND(Black)CHASSISPARKING BRAKE(Light Green)POWER SUPPLY SIDE(White)(White/Black)+−Front left(Gray)(Gray/Black)+−Front right(Green)(Green/Black)+−Rear left(Violet)(Violet/Black)+−Rear rightREAR/SUB OUTFRONT OUT

Terminals and components · 18

  • Battery +
  • Switched 12 V
  • Ground
  • Signals
  • Illumination and preamp
  • Speakers
  • Video and camera
  • Connectors
  • Antenna and devices

About This Diagram

These diagrams are redrawn from pages 22–24 of the Pioneer AVH-120BT Multimedia Receiver manual, and we offer them completely free and in English. We have also categorized it in the Car Audio & Stereo (Automotive) section on Diagramverse, and it has been rated by 1 user with an average rating of 5.0. If you have any specific questions about the Pioneer AVH-120BT Multimedia Receiver Wiring Diagram, we suggest checking the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section.

Printable Pioneer AVH-120BT Wiring Diagrams

Complete

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Pioneer AVH-120BT Multimedia Receiver Wiring Diagram – Complete
Pioneer AVH-120BT Multimedia Receiver Wiring Diagram – Power
Pioneer AVH-120BT Multimedia Receiver Wiring Diagram – Speakers
Pioneer AVH-120BT Multimedia Receiver Wiring Diagram – Power amp · Without internal amp
Pioneer AVH-120BT Multimedia Receiver Wiring Diagram – Power amp · With internal amp
Pioneer AVH-120BT Multimedia Receiver Wiring Diagram – Camera and video · Rear camera
Pioneer AVH-120BT Multimedia Receiver Wiring Diagram – Camera and video · External video

Wiring Instructions

Before you start

The Pioneer AVH-120BT is made only for 12 V negative ground vehicles whose ignition switch has an ACC (accessory) position. If your vehicle has no ACC wire or circuit, do not install this receiver. The unit runs on 14.4 V DC (10.8 V to 15.1 V allowable), draws up to 10.0 A, and has a 10 A fuse in its power supply. If the fuse ever blows, replace it only with a fuse of the rating printed on the unit.

Tools and materials: a digital multimeter or 12 V test light, wire strippers, crimp connectors or solder and heat shrink, electrical tape, cable ties, and the supplied mounting screws. A vehicle-specific adapter harness and dash kit save you from cutting factory wiring. The manual gives no wire gauge. Splice to wire of the same gauge as the receiver's power cord, and don't extend the power leads with thinner wire.

Pioneer recommends professional installation. Get an experienced mobile-electronics installer if the job means drilling, working near airbags, connecting to a factory backup camera (that needs an adapter, sold separately), or wiring a steering wheel control interface. Before you begin, disconnect the battery negative (–) cable.

Choosing the right diagram

The Complete tab shows everything. Power and Speakers cover a basic install. On Power amp, choose Without internal amp if the external amplifier drives all your speakers. In that case the speaker leads are not used. Choose With internal amp if the receiver still drives the front and rear speakers through its leads while an external amp runs extra speakers or a subwoofer. On Camera and video, choose Rear camera for a backup camera on R.C IN, or External video for a player on the AUX input.

Step-by-step wiring

  1. Make sure the battery negative cable is disconnected and kept away from the battery post.
  2. Connect Black: ground first. Run it to clean, bare metal on the vehicle body with its own screw. If you also fit a power amp, ground the amp on a different screw.
  3. Use the meter to find a terminal that has 12 V all the time and connect Yellow: battery + to it. Do not run the yellow lead straight to the battery. Engine vibration can wear through its insulation at the firewall and cause a short.
  4. Find a terminal that has 12 V only with the key at ACC or ON, and connect Red: ACC (switched 12 V) to it.
  5. Connect Orange/white: illumination to the lighting switch terminal so the screen dims when the headlights are on.
  6. Connect Light green: parking brake to the power supply side of the parking brake switch. Never ground it, bypass it or tie it off.
  7. If you are adding a camera, connect Violet/white: reverse signal to the backup lamp lead whose voltage changes when the shifter is in REVERSE (R).
  8. Connect the speaker pairs to FL, FR, RL and RR, keeping + and – correct. Use speakers rated over 50 W and 4 to 8 Ω. With only two speakers, leave the unused speaker leads unconnected and tape each one separately.
  9. For external amps, run RCA cables from FRONT OUT and REAR/SUB OUT, and connect Blue/white: system remote to the amp's remote terminal. Blue/white supplies 300 mA max, so use a relay for heavier loads.
  10. Plug the antenna cable into ANT. Connect the camera's RCA cable to R.C IN, and only a rear view camera goes there. Power the camera from an ACC circuit. Connect an external video player through a mini-jack AV cable to AUX.
  11. Insulate every unused lead with tape. Do not shorten any lead, because that can defeat the built-in protection circuits.

Testing and start-up

Test everything before you screw the unit into the dash. Reconnect the battery negative and turn the key to ACC.

  • With the key at ACC, you should measure about 12 V or more on red. Yellow should still read 12 V with the key off. Ground should show near-zero ohms to the body.
  • Turn the key off and press RESET with a pen tip. Do this before first use. Then start the engine and pick the language.
  • Check that every speaker plays and that Fader/Balance moves the sound to the right place. With a two-speaker system, set Front and Rear to 0.
  • Set Preout to Rear or Subwoofer to match your amp wiring. Turn on Back Camera Input and AUX Input if you use them.
  • With the parking brake on and your foot on the brake pedal, shift into reverse. The camera image should appear. If it shows while you drive forward, change Camera Polarity.
  • Check that the amp turns on and off with the key.

Safety notes

The 12 V system can deliver very high current. A bare yellow lead touching metal can melt wiring or start a fire, so fuse and insulate everything. Don't tap the receiver's power cord to feed other devices, because that overloads it. Route cables away from the steering column, shifter, pedals, seat tracks, airbags and hot surfaces, and secure them with clamps or tape. Leave about 5 cm of clear space behind the unit for ventilation. Never open the receiver: it has high-voltage parts and a laser inside.

Troubleshooting

Symptom Probable Cause What to Check
The receiver won't turn on at all Blown 10 A fuse, no 12 V on red or yellow, or a poor ground With the key at ACC, measure from red to chassis and from yellow to chassis: each should read about 12 V. Check the black lead's screw is tight on bare metal. Replace the fuse only with the rated value.
Clock, presets and pairing are lost every time I turn the key off Yellow is on a switched circuit, or yellow and red are swapped With the key off, yellow must still read 12 V. Move it to a constant 12 V terminal and put red on the ACC terminal.
The stereo stays on with the key out and the battery goes flat Red is connected to constant 12 V or joined to yellow With the key off, red should read 0 V. Move it to a terminal controlled by the ignition switch.
AMP Error appears and there is no sound A speaker lead is shorted to metal or to another lead, the speakers are below 4 Ω, or an unused lead is bare Disconnect the speakers and check each pair for shorts to chassis. Confirm the speakers are 4 to 8 Ω and tape unused leads. If the error remains after an ignition off/on cycle, see a Pioneer service station.
Video never plays and a caution message covers the screen even when parked Light green is not connected, or it is on the ground side of the parking brake switch Move it to the power supply side of the switch. Then, with your foot on the brake pedal, apply the parking brake, release it, and apply it again.
Screen doesn't switch to the camera when I shift into reverse Back Camera Input is Off, the RCA cable is loose at R.C IN, or violet/white is on the wrong lamp wire Turn Back Camera Input On, reseat the RCA cable at R.C IN, and check that violet/white goes to the backup lamp lead whose voltage changes in reverse. Confirm the camera is powered from ACC.
The camera image pops up while I'm driving forward Camera Polarity doesn't match how the reverse signal behaves Park safely with your foot on the brake, shift into reverse, and change Camera Polarity between Battery and Ground.
Black screen when I reverse, and no camera is installed Back Camera Input is set to On Set Back Camera Input to Off in the system settings.
External amplifier never turns on Blue/white is not connected to the amp's remote terminal, or the amp ground or power is missing With the key at ACC, measure about 12 V on blue/white. Check the amp has its own ground screw. If blue/white also feeds an antenna booster, keep the total under 300 mA or add a relay.
Rear speakers on the amp are silent but the subwoofer works, or the other way round Preout is set to the wrong mode for your REAR/SUB OUT wiring With the source off, set Preout to Rear or Subwoofer to match the amp connected to REAR/SUB OUT. Turn Subwoofer On if you use a sub.
Thin sound with very little bass One speaker is wired with + and – reversed Check each pair: the solid color goes to + and the color with black stripe goes to –, for example white to + and white/black to –.
Screen doesn't dim at night, or picture or sound is bad from AUX Orange/white is not on the lighting switch, or AUX is wired with a non-matching cable Check for 12 V on orange/white with the headlights on and set Dimmer Trigger to Auto. For AUX, use a mini-jack AV cable (yellow video, red right, white left) and turn AUX Input On.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


Where can I find a wiring harness for my Pioneer AVH-120BT stereo?
The receiver connects through its own Pioneer power cord, so to replace a lost or damaged one, contact a Pioneer dealer or Pioneer customer support at 800-421-1404. To connect that cord to your car without cutting factory wires, buy a vehicle-specific adapter harness for your make, model and year from a car audio retailer. You join the adapter to the Pioneer cord color to color on the bench. Then it plugs straight into the factory radio connector.

What are the color codes for the wires in a Pioneer AVH-120BT wiring harness?
The power wires are yellow for constant 12 V, red for ACC (switched 12 V) and black for ground. Orange/white is illumination, violet/white is the reverse signal, blue/white is the system remote (300 mA max) and light green is the parking brake. The speaker pairs are white and white/black for front left, gray and gray/black for front right, green and green/black for rear left, and violet and violet/black for rear right. In each pair, the color with the black stripe is the negative.

How do I identify a wire by its color?
Read the main insulation color first, then any stripe: "white/black" means a white wire with a black stripe. On this receiver, a stripe on a speaker wire marks the negative side. On the vehicle side, colors vary by manufacturer, so never trust color alone. Use a multimeter to confirm each car wire. Constant 12 V reads voltage with the key off, ACC reads voltage only with the key on, and ground shows near-zero ohms to the body.

Can the red and yellow wires go together on a car stereo?
No, not on this receiver. Yellow needs constant 12 V to keep memory, and red must be switched by the ignition's ACC position so the unit turns on and off with the key. If you join them, the receiver never fully powers down. That can drain the battery, and it also defeats the ACC-based behavior the unit depends on. Pioneer states the AVH-120BT must not go in a vehicle without an ACC circuit.

What speakers can I use with the AVH-120BT?
Use speakers rated between 4 Ω and 8 Ω that can handle over 50 W maximum input power when you use all four channels. Never connect 1 Ω to 3 Ω speakers, because the internal amplifier can overload and go into protection. The built-in amplifier gives 14 W RMS × 4 channels into 4 Ω (CTA2006), or 50 W × 4 maximum. For more power, add an external amplifier on the RCA outputs.

Should I choose the ”Without internal amp” or ”With internal amp” layout?
Choose Without internal amp if your external amplifier drives every speaker. The receiver then feeds the amp only through FRONT OUT and REAR/SUB OUT, and its speaker leads stay unused and taped. Choose With internal amp if the receiver still powers the front and rear speakers through its own leads while an external amp runs extra speakers or a subwoofer. In both layouts, blue/white turns the amp on.

Can I connect a subwoofer to this receiver?
Yes, through an external amplifier connected to REAR/SUB OUT. Set Preout to Subwoofer and turn the Subwoofer setting On. The subwoofer output is mono, with a low-pass filter at 80, 120 or 160 Hz and a normal or reverse phase switch. The maximum preout level is 2.0 V, so set the amplifier's input gain to match. With Preout set to Subwoofer, that output no longer carries a rear-speaker signal.

Can I use the AVH-120BT with only two speakers?
Yes. Wire the two speakers to the pair you are using, usually the front leads, and connect nothing to the other speaker leads. Insulate each unused lead separately with tape, because a bare speaker lead touching metal can short the output. Then set Front and Rear to 0 in Fader/Balance so the sound isn't shifted toward the missing speakers.

Will my steering wheel audio controls work with this unit?
They can, but you need an extra part. The receiver has a Wired remote input meant for a steering wheel control interface that suits your vehicle, sold separately. You don't connect the factory steering wheel wires directly to the receiver. Ask a Pioneer dealer or car audio retailer which interface fits your make and model, and follow that interface's own wiring instructions.

What kind of backup camera can I connect?
Connect only a rear view camera to R.C IN, for example the Pioneer ND-BC8, using its RCA cable. Pioneer recommends a camera with a mirror-reversed image, otherwise the picture may look backwards. Power the camera from an ACC circuit and wire violet/white to the reverse lamp signal. If your vehicle has a legally required factory backup camera, keep that view: connecting to it takes an adapter, sold separately.

Can I power other accessories from the receiver's wires?
Only from blue/white, and only small loads. Blue/white supplies 12 V with ACC on, up to 300 mA, for an amp remote terminal, an auto-antenna relay or an antenna booster. Never cut into the yellow or red power leads to feed other devices. That exceeds the lead's current capacity, overheats the wiring and bypasses the receiver's protection. Feed other accessories from their own fused circuit.

What fuse does the AVH-120BT use?
The receiver's power supply has a 10 A fuse, and its maximum current draw is 10.0 A. If the fuse blows, replace it only with a fuse of the rating printed on the unit, never a larger one. A replacement that blows again right away points to a short in the wiring, often a bare speaker lead or a pinched yellow lead. Find and fix the short before you fit another fuse.

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