Upgraded my 2016 Maxima to an aftermarket Kenwood stereo with Android Auto...is there a way to adjust the clock on the instrument cluster with an aftermarket stereo?

 

I don't think so. You have to do this through the aftermarket head unit. Do your steering wheel buttons work at all for the added stereo?

 

They work, however, when you go to the clock it says to set with the head unit.

 

I’ve been considering doing something similar. I really miss Apple CarPlay more than I thought I would (I’ve got a Pioneer NEX head unit in my 08 Sentra SER that I added a few years ago). I’ve been wondering what an aftermarket stereo would look like in the Maxima dash. Can you post some pics?

As far as retaining the built in controls, I lost them on the Sentra when I did the swap. I was told later that an iDatalink Maestro attachment would’ve let me keep them (or some of them). I’m no stereo guru, so not sure if would be the case for you or not.

 

Installing an aftermarket stereo also loses navigation on the instrument cluster/HUD, correct?

 

seeing as CarPlay doesn’t do this, you don’t “lose” anything.

 

Well it'd be a "loss" relative to the built-in Nissan navigation. The notifications of upcoming turns (with the built-in nav) and such on the HUD/cluster display are helpful. Although when considering how out-of-date Nissan's maps often are, it's perhaps not much of a loss. Especially when the aftermarket units should still provide audible notifications.

I have an installation of a Kenwood DNX997XR scheduled for Friday. So hopefully will soon bid adios to the limited factory system. And hello to an unadjustable clock on the HUD/cluster display. Ah well...

 

Report back on what you see with the new head unit. Thanks!

 

I can verify that the clock on the instrument cluster is non-adjustable. The instrument cluster's / HUD's audio display of course doesn't work. And its navigation display is entirely non-functional -- not even a compass display (disappointing but oh well). The volume, track +/-, and voice buttons on the steering wheel do work. And the USB ports are actually capable of charging my Samsung Galaxy Note 20, unlike the near-useless factory ports. So far so good but it's too early to say anything more.

 

The 2019-2020 Maximas have a USB "C" ports that do work as charging links, front or rear.

 

My 2016's factory USB ports couldn't handle anything much more than an iPod Classic. Good to know that Nissan has finally addressed that limitation.

 

My iPhone X charges just fine in my ‘16 Platinum.

 

pics (please)?

 

Maybe it's a limitation of the charging voltages/rates supported by Samsung. My Note 9 and Note 10 claimed to charge from the factory ports but the battery would drain faster than it was charging. I didn't test with the Note 20 - had found a reliable cigarette-port adapter by that point. I've forgotten whether my old Huawei Mate 9 Pro would charge from the factory ports.

 

This is driving me nuts - I think Car & Driver (or R&T, or MT) used to test USB port charge voltage/wattage.
I cannot find it for the life of me.

 

I have a 2018 Maxima and I think the USB ports are garbage honestly. I've had bad luck with them when it comes to using a flash drive and using a charging cable for Android Auto. I'm not a fan of the infotainment in the Maxima which is a big reason why i'm not getting another one come early next year.

 

I haven't had seen current/power-related issues with using a USB flash drive. But I have had the usual annoyances with the stock (Clarion?) head unit insisting on re-scanning the files on the USB drive every time the car is powered on. Apparently whomever wrote the software didn't understand the ages-old concept of actual storing the results of the scan for later re-use. With a 128GB flash drive that could lead to a several-minute delay every time the car is turned on while the head unit repeats the prior file scan cycle. Perhaps that's not surprising given the apparent reliance on the (relatively unreliable but cheap) SD card for all persistent storage. Nissan's infotainment system is very disappointing.

 

My issue with the USB ports is that (1) phones will disconnect randomly - on 2016 and refreshed 2019, (2) devices are arbitrarily recognized as USB audio and not CarPlay, (3) scratchiness on phone audio, and (4) entire system will reboot/lock up.
Since it's occurred on two vehicles - and across multiple phones - I blame Nissan.
No other car - not Honda, Ford, Porsche, Audi, recent Kia, or otherwise - has experienced such bad luck.
(Toyota and older Hyundai had issues, but those have been sorted 2019+)

 

The ability to use the steering wheel to activate Google assistant is awesome! Google maps, Audible, Amazon music, Pandora all work via touchscreen with Android Auto, so worth it despite instrument cluster clock not being accurate.

 

I like the dash kit. Looks pretty factory. Is the head unit fairly flush mounted, or are there big gaps?

 

Is it my eyes or is the replacement systems screen an inch or so smaller than the factory unit?

 

There isn't a gap, but it is beveled.

 

Yes it is. IIRC the factory screen is approximately 8 inches. The Kenwood DNX997XR has a 6.8 inch screen.

 

OK Thanks. Good luck with the new head unit