Added the USB-A / USB-C / SD card reader to my 2020 Custom Trail Boss

[Railroad_Jim]

After seeing @Semedar's post here:

 

I decided to order part number 13525431 and upgrade the USB port on my 2020 Custom Trail Boss, to the part which has a USB-A, USB-C and SD Card slot.  Since we are apparently limited to the IOR stereo system, any upgrades to the audio system are good.  I ordered the part from eBay for about $29 shipped, and it arrived in under a week.

 

To remove the original USB adapter, I first looked at the new part to see the plastic retention clips on the top and bottom.  I then used my plastic trim tools to pry around the existing part.  I was able to get the skinny trim tool under the bottom to open up a gap, then I placed a bigger trim tool in the gap.  

 

Next, I used the skinny trim tool on the top to work it out.  Knowing that I had to release the two clips up top, I pushed down in those areas who pulling out on the USB assembly.  It made a somewhat sickening sounding snap when each of the retention clips released, but to my surprise, nothing was broken.  Keeping the top pulled out, I then moved to the bottom with the small trim tool and clicked those clips in, until the entire assembly was released.  I then removed the USB assembly from the dash.

 

To my relief, the parts were the same size and the connectors were the same.  

 

 

 

The difference on the connectors being that the USB port is upside down, requiring you to invert the somewhat tight cable.  But it was no problem and both connectors were able to clip into the new assembly.

 

Before inserting the new USB assembly into the dash, I first tried out the USB-A connector by plugging my phone into it and verifying that I could still launch Android Auto, which it did.

I then pushed the new USB assembly into the dash until it clicked, and all was well.  I didn't try the USB-C connector yet, but I assume it will work.  I'll have to get my wife's iPhone to try that, since I don't have any USB-C cables for my Android devices.  Here's the new part installed:

 

I tested out the SD card reader by copying some songs onto an older 1GB SD card that was formatted as FAT32.  I inserted the card into the reader and on the radio, I could select the SD card with the buttons on the left were AM and FM were.  I had two files in the root directory and other songs in folders, but it scanned the whole card and seemed to play them in a shuffle order by default.  Hopefully that can be changed, so I can play specific folders.

 

This was a great cheap upgrade to add some additional functionality to our IOR limited vehicles.
 

Here's a comparison shot between the old and new parts installed:

 

 

Thanks again to @Semedar for pointing me in the right direction!

 

[nolte]

Hey thanks for posting this.... I saw on the other thread where someone was saying that their replacement panel would not charge their android device but would maintain it.
What is your experience here?
I'm a Pixel user and definitely want to maintain charge-ability. I have 2020 Custom Trail Boss as well.
I'll order the same part number that you did if yours charges as well as the original did.

 

Thanks!

[Railroad_Jim]

7 minutes ago, nolte said:

Hey thanks for posting this.... I saw on the other thread where someone was saying that their replacement panel would not charge their android device but would maintain it.
What is your experience here?
I'm a Pixel user and definitely want to maintain charge-ability. I have 2020 Custom Trail Boss as well.
I'll order the same part number that you did if yours charges as well as the original did.

 

Thanks!

 

Hey nolte.  I saw how the other person said that their phone wasn't really charging via the USB port after installing this, but that hasn't been my experience.  It's such as low cost modification, I figured that I didn't have much to lose!  Plus I keep an SD card (ejected) in the slot with some tunes on it, as a backup music option.

 

I finally bought a USB-C to USB-C cable to try, and I've had no problems with charging my phone via the USB-A or USB-C ports on this adapter.  And my ancient LG V20 is a battery sucker, so I'd know if it wasn't putting out enough.  (But it has a user removable battery and an IR blaster and I can't find a new phone with these features....)

 

Last weekend, I had my phone hooked to the USB-A port and my son attached his new Motorola phone to the USB-C port and it seemed to let either one of us launch Android Auto!  It was sort of confusing though, as I think the bluetooth connection was to my phone, but the screen attached to his phone....

 

And if you haven't seen this thread, it's possible to add the steering wheel controls to your truck too!

 

[nolte]

1 hour ago, Railroad_Jim said:

 

...

 

I'll order the part!
I really liked the older LG phones as well. Had G2, G3, and G5. Really liked the ones with power/volume in the middle of the back, and liked the swappable batteries as well.

I did see the thread but haven't read through it. I'll check it out.

 

Thanks again.
 

[Aaron Diggens]

I have a 2020 Elevation. I already have the USB A and C ports. However, my C Port popped off the board. I'm going to try that part number however my part has two USB connectors in the back(see 2nd pic). Only one is hooked up. Makes me wonder what the second would be for. 

Edited February 15, 2024 by Aaron Diggens

[BlackJack997]

On 2/15/2024 at 6:03 PM, Aaron Diggens said:

I have a 2020 Elevation. I already have the USB A and C ports. However, my C Port popped off the board. I'm going to try that part number however my part has two USB connectors in the back(see 2nd pic). Only one is hooked up. Makes me wonder what the second would be for. 

Did you find out what the extra port is for? I saw the same on mine when i pulled it out. Wondering if I can run an extension to the center console port I'm adding.

[IllumiRoggie]

On 5/10/2024 at 1:51 PM, BlackJack997 said:

Did you find out what the extra port is for? I saw the same on mine when i pulled it out. Wondering if I can run an extension to the center console port I'm adding.

I can tell you what the difference is between the 2 ports. Key A and Key B is in reference to the polarization spec of the connector. You'll notice the little triangle corner cut off on different corners between the 2. This is to ensure you don't plug it into the wrong one. I'd wager that the USB assembly is used it different cars that require either key a or key b. Since our vehicles will only have 1, either A or B plugs, plug it into the appropriate socket and disregard the other one. Can you run another data usb off it? I'm not sure the data would work given that the polarity will be reversed. 

[Railroad_Jim]

As an update to this, the SD card reader seems to have stopped working....

 

The USB-A and USB-C ports still work great, and I have my wireless Android Auto adapter plugged into the USB-C port all of the time.

 

I had an SD card inserted for over a year, without using it for probably that long.  When I went to play music from the card, the stereo didn't see the card.  I brought the card into the house and it worked fine on a computer.  I tried a different SD card and it to didn't work in the Silverado.  Weird. 

 

Maybe it broke, or maybe I changed some settings in the stereo somewhere and don't recall doing it!

[GETGONE]

I don't know how you ever got it to work. I bought one with the SD card before you did and it never recognized any SD card I tried so I swapped back to my original USB A & C piece. I tossed the SD card one in my tool box I think.

[Railroad_Jim]

Okay, maybe I just forgot how to operate my IOR stereo system, as the card reader worked for me yesterday.

 

I went to the screen which shows the buttons on the left for AM, FM, XM, etc, and when I inserted the SD card, one labeled "USB" showed up.  I clicked it, and the MP3s from my SD card started playing.  Sweet!

 

[GETGONE]

Maybe I'll try to slap mine back in and see if it works if I look for USB. I think I was expecting SD Card to appear.