2016 Outlander MMCS to SDA Head Unit Swap
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 4
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 12
My guess is that those modules are on mismatching software versions to what the SDA expects hence why it can’t communicate with the HU which is unfortunate. It would be good to know if anyone has MUT3 on a SDA vs MMCS car and could shed some light on whether that is the case?
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Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 12
Hi, Thanks for your notes. With regard to the MICROPHONE : I got it working but I wondered if the unit you have is different from mine.
Mine is the 2016 Smartphone Link Audio Display Unit (MXL015ELG4) - which I got from a breakers yard with no cables at all. The old connectors were plug and play and worked fine except no mic, and no usb (so no CarPlay) .... so then it was the DIY to make it work....
I found the HFM (the unit with a green label below the MMCS) pins used for the microphone were 14 & 28 Mic Signal, and 27 Mic Shield (3 of the 4 required, the 4th is a ground which you use pin 57 on the 16pin connector of the SDA)
On the SDA it was the 16pin connector, which is numbered 51-66. So here 57 SNSE (Mic detect) - is Mic Gnd - which can attach to a headunit case screw or other ground. HFM pin 27-> 56 is Mic Shield, and 63, 64 are Mic Signal. Important to note polarity of signal is important ie 28 -> 63, 14-> 64. If you connect the other way round it simply does not work.
Other NOTE .... you can wire directly for the USBs, far cheaper than buying the elusive Mitsubishi cable cable (8755A296- £140 from a main UK dealer, and 3 week wait). It is a four pin connector same as you find inside a computer PC for USB. You can therefore get a USB extension cable then remove the computer end of it and rewire with connectors straight onto the pins. It works a treat. Looking at the 4 pin usb socket on the sda... it goes top left 5V (Red), top right Gnd (Black), Bottom left White, Bottom right Green.
The DAB/DAB+ appeared to work but kept saying NO DATA and dropping sound. I think it was interference so moved the DAB (FAKRA) cable away from the other cables and wrapped the other cables in electrical insulation tape and that seems to work fine too.
The ONLY THING NOT WORKING is the TIMED AIR CONDITIONING & TIMED CHARGING on the SDA. It says "No item found" (or something like that) and no option to make any settings. The remote app still connects and appears to make the settings but the SDA doesn't. All the other PHEV information such as energy monitor etc all works fine - plug and play. Does anyone have any ideas with this ?
Mine is the 2016 Smartphone Link Audio Display Unit (MXL015ELG4) - which I got from a breakers yard with no cables at all. The old connectors were plug and play and worked fine except no mic, and no usb (so no CarPlay) .... so then it was the DIY to make it work....
I found the HFM (the unit with a green label below the MMCS) pins used for the microphone were 14 & 28 Mic Signal, and 27 Mic Shield (3 of the 4 required, the 4th is a ground which you use pin 57 on the 16pin connector of the SDA)
On the SDA it was the 16pin connector, which is numbered 51-66. So here 57 SNSE (Mic detect) - is Mic Gnd - which can attach to a headunit case screw or other ground. HFM pin 27-> 56 is Mic Shield, and 63, 64 are Mic Signal. Important to note polarity of signal is important ie 28 -> 63, 14-> 64. If you connect the other way round it simply does not work.
Other NOTE .... you can wire directly for the USBs, far cheaper than buying the elusive Mitsubishi cable cable (8755A296- £140 from a main UK dealer, and 3 week wait). It is a four pin connector same as you find inside a computer PC for USB. You can therefore get a USB extension cable then remove the computer end of it and rewire with connectors straight onto the pins. It works a treat. Looking at the 4 pin usb socket on the sda... it goes top left 5V (Red), top right Gnd (Black), Bottom left White, Bottom right Green.
The DAB/DAB+ appeared to work but kept saying NO DATA and dropping sound. I think it was interference so moved the DAB (FAKRA) cable away from the other cables and wrapped the other cables in electrical insulation tape and that seems to work fine too.
The ONLY THING NOT WORKING is the TIMED AIR CONDITIONING & TIMED CHARGING on the SDA. It says "No item found" (or something like that) and no option to make any settings. The remote app still connects and appears to make the settings but the SDA doesn't. All the other PHEV information such as energy monitor etc all works fine - plug and play. Does anyone have any ideas with this ?
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 4
My guess is that those modules are on mismatching software versions to what the SDA expects hence why it can’t communicate with the HU which is unfortunate. It would be good to know if anyone has MUT3 on a SDA vs MMCS car and could shed some light on whether that is the case?
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 4
Sorry .... which cables ? The connectors from the MMCS went into the SDA..everything worked except the mic. The old USB was connected to the HFM to the central arm rest USB in the car but not to the new headunit (SDA). Once USB cables connected to that then it all worked with CarPlay. Once I went into the secret menu and defined the car as the PHEV all the PHEV info appeared. Therefore everything then worked as expected. My only and last missing link is the TIMED AIR CONDITIONING and TIME CHARGING via the SDA. It simply says 'No item found', however the process can be run via the Remote Control app and works fine, there simply isn't a link in the SDA headunit.
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2
Can you point me to the right website to purchase the DAB adapters?
Last edited by Theo Gibson; May 23, 2020 at 04:26 AM.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2
So earlier on doctorbob said he patched into pins 11 and 12 On the 16 pin connector for mic signal but you said you patched into 63 and 64 which is pin 13 and 14. DID you try patching in pins 11 to 12? I take it when we are talking numbers we start top left and count right then down to second row on the connector. Just making an adapter cable. Any idea what the HFM unit does. If we are re routing the USB cable do we need to keep the 28 pin connector plugged into. Is it needed anymore with a new SDA?
Cheers
Cheers
Last edited by Theo Gibson; May 23, 2020 at 04:37 AM.