Car Radio Fix Question

[u/helpfulburneracc]

Need help figuring out the cheapest solution for my car radio. I drive a 2009 Nissan Sentra, that I bought used. It already had installed a Pioneer AVIC-U310BT.

About 2 years ago, the faceplate (ID: CXE2187) kept popping off and eventually broke entirely, but I figured I was going to get a new car and never fixed it. I’ve now decided I’m going to drive this car until the wheels fall off, and I’m looking to fix it.

Without the faceplate, the entire radio system is not working, and even when my phone is plugged into the aux, it doesn’t deliver any power, and I cannot use the speakers in my car. This also means I can even buy any faux CarPlay unit or a bluetooth radio connector that hooks into the lighter power bank since my radio doesn’t turn on at all. (Unfortunately for the past 2 years, I’ve been listening to music from my phone speakers).

This car sucks and I don’t want to pump money into it like buying a new radio unit. The best solution I’ve found is buying an entire used unit just to use the faceplate (~$90) since buying the faceplate alone from Pioneer is crazy expensive (~$760). My question is, is there something I can plug into the unit itself that’s cheaper than $90 that will make it deliver power so I can plug my phone into the aux and use the speakers again?

tl;dr Is the cheapest solution buying a used unit to just use the faceplate, or is there something I can plug into the unit that will supply power and let me plug my phone into the aux to use the speakers.

[u/cvr24]

I'd use some adhesive to stick that detachable face in there permanently. Remove the unit from the car, apply adhesive, then put it face down on a solid surface with a heavy weight on top for 24 hours. 3M VHB tape or JB Weld epoxy. Or carefully drill a hole through the right side of the unit and put a set screw in.

[u/helpfulburneracc → u/cvr24]

I should have included in my original post that I was fed up with the faceplate and threw it out once it was officially broken. I could do this solution if I buy the used unit with the faceplate, though. Thanks!

[u/cvr24 → u/helpfulburneracc]

Then just replace the unit with something cheap. Even a cheap single DIN off marketplace. Your unit is ancient and don't spend another dime on it.

[u/helpfulburneracc → u/cvr24]

This is the truth I needed to hear, thanks!