2018 PIU Radio question

[MisterWizard]

Anyone have a picture or drawing of the back side of this radio? I'm looking to hook up the USB and Line in connections from the aux panel I have, just need to see what the connections look like for the USB and Line cables.
And yes, it appears the unit has sync. Says software version 5.11

Thanks in advance.

 

[Steve8316]

That's not the radio - it's the accessory protocol interface display module (APIDM). The "radio" (RTM) is about the size of granola bar, and it's under the RHR window. The APIDM is just the screen for the APIM (Sync module) which has a common mini-USB socket inside a proprietary opening that allows a special Ford USB cable to lock in. But you can shove any mini-USB connector into - it just won't lock onto the APIM.

The AUX wiring goes to the main APIM connector, which is part of the dash harness. So it should already be there. How did you end up with a not-connected aux. panel? Have you looked for a loose USB cable & line connector hanging there?

 

[MisterWizard]

That's not the radio - it's the accessory protocol interface display module (APIDM). The "radio" (RTM) is about the size of granola bar, and it's under the RHR window. The APIDM is just the screen for the APIM (Sync module) which has a common mini-USB socket inside a proprietary opening that allows a special Ford USB cable to lock in. But you can shove any mini-USB connector into - it just won't lock onto the APIM.

The AUX wiring goes to the main APIM connector, which is part of the dash harness. So it should already be there. How did you end up with a not-connected aux. panel? Have you looked for a loose USB cable & line connector hanging there?

View attachment 463967

View attachment 463968

RTM, APIM, APIDM.....you say tomato....
But seriously, I bought the panel on eBay. It came with the USB cable. I haven't started digging into the under dash wires yet (I hate working in the cold, and the Midwest is a bit unpredictable in the spring), so I don't know for sure what's under there. If the line in connector is hiding in there somewhere that will be even better. Thanks for your help!

 

[syncceduppp]

The radio transceiver module (RTM) located below the RHR window is for communications with TPMS sensors and RKE fobs (if equipped); it has nothing to do with infotainment. The AM/FM/SAT radio receiver is part of the audio control module (ACM) located behind the center console display/interface.

 

[Steve8316]

The radio transceiver module (RTM) ... is for communications with TPMS sensors and RKE fobs...

I assumed it was the "radio" module because it's in the same place as the Sony amp in the '15 Ltd. that I got my roof rack, hitch receiver, & climate front seats out of. And when I pulled that amp, I didn't notice an identical module for its TPMS/RKE. Maybe it's the black one here, and it's just different because it's older. I've seen some documents that I thought showed a different configuration, so I'm gonna do some deeper digging into it when I have time.

I haven't started digging into the under dash wires yet..., so I don't know for sure what's under there.

I compiled these for my '16, which I think is laid out very similarly to your '18.

 

[syncceduppp]

Yes, higher trims and options of Gen 5 Explorers do stash an audio amplifier/DSP module in the right rear. That module takes raw audio outputs from the ACM and does various processing/amplification before sending the audio to the speakers. Lower trims (including all PIUs that I've seen) have the speakers directly connected to the ACM. Regardless, nothing that's back there has anything to do with AM/FM/Sat radio reception - that's all done by the ACM behind the center console in the dash. The radio transceiver just does TPMS and RKE (for vehicles without intelligent access) communications on 315 MHz or 433 MHz depending on region.

 

[Steve8316]

...TPMS and RKE (for vehicles without intelligent access)...

That's the condition I was missing.

But I'm still unclear... If 1 module receives all 4 TPMS signals, how could it identify the position for each pressure?

 

[syncceduppp]

That's the condition I was missing.

But I'm still unclear... If 1 module receives all 4 TPMS signals, how could it identify the position for each pressure?

Each TPMS sensor has a unique ID code, which it transmits when it sends out a beacon. The vehicle's body control module (BCM) stores the unique sensor ID for each sensor. During the TPMS sensor learning procedure, the car has you walk around to each tire and trigger them one at a time so that it knows which one is in which position. If you connect to the car with FORScan or a capable scan tool you can also see and change the TPMS sensor IDs in the BCM.

 

[Steve8316]

During the TPMS sensor learning procedure, the car has you walk around to each tire and trigger them one at a time so that it knows which one is in which position.

I've done that on other vehicles. But I just bought a used set of wheels with tires, bolted them on, went for a test drive, and got pressure readings without doing any procedure. Since those readings remained visible for the whole drive (most of which was FAR out of range of the original wheels), I assumed they were active from the "new" wheels' sensors. That assumption led me to assume that the module had also figured out their positions. It's also why I didn't look for or perform a TPMS learn procedure.

 

[syncceduppp]

There is a TPMS auto-learn function that attempts to listen for sensors that are always moving with the vehicle. Auto-learn can be enabled or disabled in the BCM settings using FORScan.
I have no clue if or how it knows accurately which wheel is which when auto learning. I suspect that it actually doesn't know and just guesses somehow. If you inflate or deflate a tire, do the displayed pressures match up to the correct spot?

 

[Steve8316]

If you inflate or deflate a tire, do the displayed pressures match up to the correct spot?

I only put them on last Friday, just before taking a trip out of town in another vehicle, so I haven't tried that yet. And I wasn't planning to, until last night when you described the normal learn procedure. But it's on my mind now, so I'll probably try it soon; especially if I get a TPMS warning or if the displayed pressures disappear next time I drive the PIU.

Some other (much-older) vehicles I've worked on professionally have had a TPMS antenna for each wheel, allowing them to always show the correct pressure for each position, even immediately after rotation, without any "relearn procedure". So I had hoped & assumed that these had some similar capability.

 

[Steve8316]

When I got about 5 miles away from the original wheels, I got this warning. After ~20 more miles and several key cycles, it hasn't auto-learned. So unless there's a way to trick the sensors into transmitting on command (I tried inflation, deflation, & magnets), I gotta getta trigger tool.

 

[MisterWizard]

That's not the radio - it's the accessory protocol interface display module (APIDM). The "radio" (RTM) is about the size of granola bar, and it's under the RHR window. The APIDM is just the screen for the APIM (Sync module) which has a common mini-USB socket inside a proprietary opening that allows a special Ford USB cable to lock in. But you can shove any mini-USB connector into - it just won't lock onto the APIM.

The AUX wiring goes to the main APIM connector, which is part of the dash harness. So it should already be there. How did you end up with a not-connected aux. panel? Have you looked for a loose USB cable & line connector hanging there?

View attachment 463967

View attachment 463968

View attachment 463969

 

[MisterWizard]

That's not the radio - it's the accessory protocol interface display module (APIDM). The "radio" (RTM) is about the size of granola bar, and it's under the RHR window. The APIDM is just the screen for the APIM (Sync module) which has a common mini-USB socket inside a proprietary opening that allows a special Ford USB cable to lock in. But you can shove any mini-USB connector into - it just won't lock onto the APIM.

The AUX wiring goes to the main APIM connector, which is part of the dash harness. So it should already be there. How did you end up with a not-connected aux. panel? Have you looked for a loose USB cable & line connector hanging there?

View attachment 463967

View attachment 463968

View attachment 463969

Well, finally I got this project finished. Just too many other things going on to give me a chance to dig into the dash a bit.
And you were absolutely correct, when I pulled the center panel out, there were the aux/line and USB cables staring me in the face. Plugged them in and everything works just fine.
Thanks again for the assist and the pictures.