Skip to content

Depinning the TCU connector

Ted Salmon edited this page Jun 8, 2024 · 3 revisions

Preface

This guide will walk you through removing the requisite wires from your TCU adapter in order to make use of the "depin adapter". This process is intended for those who are comfortable with wiring and do not want to use a BlueBus plug and play telephone adapter.

The 54 pin connector will always be found in the trunk, and will usually be on the left hand side of the vehicle with all the other I.C.E. Go ahead and locate the connector first.

Procedure

Now, find a small flat head screw driver to depress both tabs seen pictured below in the center of the housing:

Connector Housing

As you press those down, pull on the wires to slide the contact housing out. After a couple of minutes, you should have them apart. If you're having trouble, try using one of your nails to hold one clip, while pulling the wires taut with the same hand. Use your other hand to release the other tab.

Housing Removed

Now, you will find that the grey housing slides on the black one. Slide them all the way apart:

Slide Apart

Now, take note of the pin number indicators on the housing:

1-18:

One Through Eighteen

19-36:

Nineteen through thirtysix

37-54:

ThirtySeven Through FiftyFour

Next, inspect the markings on the provided six pin connector. The side colored in silver (top) has pins one through three, and the black (bottom) side has four through six.

Top Side

Bottom Side

Now, find a small pick tool, like the one pictured below and use it to press down and out on the large opening that reveals the individual wires:

Pin Tool

Insert the pick exactly where shown below on the six wires of interest and push down and out. Use your fingers to pull the wire taut while pull it out of the housing. Repeat for all six wires.

De-pin

Pin Mapping

Closely inspect the six pin connector provided to find the number guides (1, 3, 4, 6). Use the table below to uninstall the wire from the 54 pin connector (TCU) and into the BlueBus. Take note of the fact that each wire only slides in one way as the contacts have a "key" that slides into a "keyway". You'll know the wire is installed once you hear it click and it can no longer be pulled out.

I have done my best to ensure that the table below is accurate for all vehicles, but you should really check TIS to ensure that I'm right.

WARNING: If any of the wires removed from the 54 pin connector are either: All Brown (Ground), Thick Red mixed with another color (12v), or Wire and red with yellow specks (IBus), YOU HAVE THE WRONG WIRE. All the wires you'll be removing are passive signals that carry no current, so they will all be 24 AWG or so. If you're doubting yourself, send me a picture of your connector once it has been populated but before plugging it into the BlueBus.

TCU BlueBus Signal
51 1 Telephone -> Radio Mute
19 2 Microphone Negative
38 3 Telephone Audio Negative
33 4 Telephone On
1 5 Microphone Positive
37 6 Telephone Audio Positive

The same process can be taken with the 26-pin blue SES (Voice Control Module) connector

TCU BlueBus Signal
22 1 Telephone -> Radio Mute
8 2 Microphone Negative
12 3 Telephone Audio Negative
18 4 Telephone On
9 5 Microphone Positive
13 6 Telephone Audio Positive

Here's what the connector should start to look like as you work your way through the wires:

Populated

Finishing

Once all wires are mapped, go ahead and slide the six pin connector into the BlueBus with the silver side of the connector facing up. Be careful not to install it upside down as nothing will work right:

Done

Clone this wiki locally