Hello everyone! I just installed the Kenwood DDX373BT double din stereo in my WRX. Along with it I got the metra 70-7552 wiring harness (harness that you splice with the harness coming from the stereo that plugs into your factory harness), and the Axxess ASWC-1 steering wheel control interface. This write up is to help people with an 11-14 wrx/sti (instructions may be used for other model years with steering wheel controls) install the ASWC interface as the instructions aren't the easiest to follow.
Here is the wiring harness I ordered. Worked perfectly. Metra 70-7552 Receiver Wiring Harness Connect a new car stereo in select 2007-up Infiniti, Nissan, Subaru, and Suzuki vehicles at Crutchfield.com
Here is the steering wheel control interface. Axxess ASWC-1 Steering Wheel Control Adapter Connects your car's steering wheel audio controls to select aftermarket car stereos at Crutchfield.com
Now onto the instructions. Note that this will be done after you connect all the wires from the new stereo's harness to the 7552 harness. All the wires on my car were identical in color which made it very easy to connect everything. Depending on your brand stereo though, ensure that the wires match via your instruction manual.
Before you start install of the ASWC-1: While connecting the harness wires from the stereo to the 7552 harness, whether you are soldering or using some other kind of crimping tool, be sure to leave the following connections open(do not tape or shrink wrap), as you will need them to slice the ASWC-1 SWC wires into.
Leave connection open BLACK/Chassis Ground and RED/12 volt - accessory wire
Ok, those are the only two wire connections that need to be left open for the steering wheel control interface. You close up all other wire connections with shrink wrap, etc.
Step 1-
Connect the black wire from the ASWC-1 to the Black ground/chassis wires you left open on the harness. Once connected, make sure to leave the ground wire connections open as they will be needed again in the last step.
Step 2-
Connect the red wire from the ASWC-1 to the Red 12 volt accessory wire you left open on the harness. Once connected, seal it up, you are done with step 2.
Step 3 (Kenwood or JVS stereo specific)-
Connect the 3.5mm male jack that is attached to the ASWC-1 to the included 3.5mm female jack. There should be two wires coming out of the female end. One BROWN and one BROWN and White. Tape off the Brown and White wire as it will not be used. Now look at the harness coming from the stereo. There should be a wire labeled Steering Wheel Control, or something close to that. On the Kenwood radio's this wire will be BLUE and YELLOW. Connect that wire to the Brown wire coming from the female end of the female 3.5mm jack. Once connected you are done with this step.
***Please note that this step is Kenwood and JVC specific, other brand radios may be different and are in the instructions.
Step 4- **note that the last three steps will all be done using the factory harness inside the car
Connect the Green and Orange wire from the ASWC-1 to pin 4 of the factory harness. What I did here was go about one inch back from the factory harness, cut the wire, then spliced into the wire from there. Doing this will ensure that if you ever want to go back to stock that the wire going to the pin is still there to splice into. This method will be used on the last two steps as well. You are don't with this connection
Step 5-
Connect the Black and Green wire from the ASWC-1 to pin 13 of the factory harness. Use Step 4 instructions to splice into factory wire.
Step 6-
Connect pin 14's wire to the black/chassis ground wires you still have open. Once that is done you can wrap it all up as you are finished with the wiring.
**Refer to manual of the ASWC-1 to make sure the auto-detect function recognizes your vehicle and the stereo it is connected to. You are done!!!
Here is the wiring harness I ordered. Worked perfectly. Metra 70-7552 Receiver Wiring Harness Connect a new car stereo in select 2007-up Infiniti, Nissan, Subaru, and Suzuki vehicles at Crutchfield.com
Here is the steering wheel control interface. Axxess ASWC-1 Steering Wheel Control Adapter Connects your car's steering wheel audio controls to select aftermarket car stereos at Crutchfield.com
Now onto the instructions. Note that this will be done after you connect all the wires from the new stereo's harness to the 7552 harness. All the wires on my car were identical in color which made it very easy to connect everything. Depending on your brand stereo though, ensure that the wires match via your instruction manual.
Before you start install of the ASWC-1: While connecting the harness wires from the stereo to the 7552 harness, whether you are soldering or using some other kind of crimping tool, be sure to leave the following connections open(do not tape or shrink wrap), as you will need them to slice the ASWC-1 SWC wires into.
Leave connection open BLACK/Chassis Ground and RED/12 volt - accessory wire
Ok, those are the only two wire connections that need to be left open for the steering wheel control interface. You close up all other wire connections with shrink wrap, etc.
Step 1-
Connect the black wire from the ASWC-1 to the Black ground/chassis wires you left open on the harness. Once connected, make sure to leave the ground wire connections open as they will be needed again in the last step.
Step 2-
Connect the red wire from the ASWC-1 to the Red 12 volt accessory wire you left open on the harness. Once connected, seal it up, you are done with step 2.
Step 3 (Kenwood or JVS stereo specific)-
Connect the 3.5mm male jack that is attached to the ASWC-1 to the included 3.5mm female jack. There should be two wires coming out of the female end. One BROWN and one BROWN and White. Tape off the Brown and White wire as it will not be used. Now look at the harness coming from the stereo. There should be a wire labeled Steering Wheel Control, or something close to that. On the Kenwood radio's this wire will be BLUE and YELLOW. Connect that wire to the Brown wire coming from the female end of the female 3.5mm jack. Once connected you are done with this step.
***Please note that this step is Kenwood and JVC specific, other brand radios may be different and are in the instructions.
Step 4- **note that the last three steps will all be done using the factory harness inside the car
Connect the Green and Orange wire from the ASWC-1 to pin 4 of the factory harness. What I did here was go about one inch back from the factory harness, cut the wire, then spliced into the wire from there. Doing this will ensure that if you ever want to go back to stock that the wire going to the pin is still there to splice into. This method will be used on the last two steps as well. You are don't with this connection
Step 5-
Connect the Black and Green wire from the ASWC-1 to pin 13 of the factory harness. Use Step 4 instructions to splice into factory wire.
Step 6-
Connect pin 14's wire to the black/chassis ground wires you still have open. Once that is done you can wrap it all up as you are finished with the wiring.
**Refer to manual of the ASWC-1 to make sure the auto-detect function recognizes your vehicle and the stereo it is connected to. You are done!!!
