The Great HU Install of 2023

I was just telling my wife last night back in the day I only needed a vehicle wire harness and antenna adapter to install a radio. Now you need an adapter to plug into a harness to plug into an adapter to connect to another adapter.

 

Ha, I had that same conversation with my wife as I was ordering shit today.

 

@RainMan_PNW - thanks for organizing all of the ramblings! Hopefully it gets people going in the right direction. Too bad you can’t delegate OP duties to people to help!

 

no worries - lots of good info and I'll do my best to keep it organized. Your flow chart and wire diagrams skills are much appreciated!

 

So even though I don't usually do surveys cause every single freaking time you do anything they ask you to do one. But the Crutchfield guy was cool, so I did. It asked if he should get coffe or lunch and I clicked lunch. Looking back, did I just pay a tip on top of the already fairly high prices? I'm feeling a little stupid, even more so than usual.

 

OK - Poll is up...for giggles.

 

don’t forget the scosche TA2116B

 

It's in there...just sort of buried in the Amazon images (not sure why it's not pulling an image).

 

Winning!

 

As I've mentioned, this will be my first time using the Maestro thingy. Currently I have the stock Nav HU run through the stock wire harness to an Alpine 5 channel amp and the to the speakers trough the stock wire harness from the Alpine and of course seperate wires to the sub.
I will be running RCAs this time, but the Maestro supposedly "keeps" the stock amp. Do I just not bother connecting the speaker outputs from the new HU to the Maestro, or hook them up anyways and let the new ilx-f500 figure it out? I also am guessing that I will lose my dash speakers as they are powered by the stock HU without any help from the amp, although this isn't a big deal.

 

Just run the Maestro harness as-is and it’ll let the HU keep powering the front speakers, assuming you want to keep them. Run RCAs to your amp using the pre-out harness included with the Alpine. There’s a dedicated port on the back of your alpine for it.

 

Nice, thanks!

 

I bet I know who started the franchise.

 

Thanks for this thread!

 

I'm going to be the stupid question guy for this forum... Crutchfield's website, and I presume any other configurator, asks if I have the JBL system. I do, but that's what I'm going to replace. If that amp isn't getting the job done with the stock HU, why would I want to keep it? If I'm going to replace it anyway, should I just tell the configurator I have a non-JBL and add an amp to the mix? What difference does it make to the HU, anyway? Just making sure I don't make some kind of mistake.

 

I thought I read in the past that the JBL system isn’t that bad - that it’s more Toyota’s shitty HU. I’m not really an audiophile though. Those few years on the radio may have messed up my hearing a little bit.

 

Updated:

• Revised bypass diagram with example Maestro as this is most typical and included note upon termination of parking switch wire.
• Added photos of an example of Kenwood bypass termination.

 

Satellite Radio

In order to add or retain SiriusXM satellite radio, you are required to purchase the "

$44 SiriusXM SXV300V1 SiriusXM SXV300 Standalone Vehicle Tuner (Replacement-Antenna not included)

SiriusXM SXV300V1 Tuner" at a cost of $70 US. Typically there are promotions that essentially negate the cost of the physical tuner.

If you vehicle is equipped with a functioning SAT Antenna, you can utilize the antenna adapter that is included with the Maestro ACC-SAT-T02.

If your vehicle is not equipped with a functioning SAT Antenna, you will have to utilize the SAT antenna that is included with the aforementioned tuner.

-JS

 

Following here! Thanks everyone just got one of the Kenwood DMX-1037S today. Should be here in just a few days. Also I think I will be getting this Dash Cam to go along with my new HU setup. anyone have experience with Kenwood DashCams integrated to the HU? Kenwood DRV-N520 Dash Cam https://amzn.to/3OTaOP8

Or does anyone know much about DashCams? like there is a Dash plug in the back of these HUs so I'm guessing its a universal fit and I could get any one I want that has the same type of plug?

 

If you aren't installing right away and haven't ordered the camera yet, I found it for $151.55 after Texas Tax with free shipping on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256189470037

 

Thanks! I think I'm actually going to go with the VentureN4 pro. https://amzn.to/3YMufgN
It won't tie into the head unit which sucks, however seems to be the best one on the market right now. Here is a great YouTube video for 2023 Dashcam reviews that just come out this week and I found it very informative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzdxCOvPq5Q
Hopefully I will be able to plug it into the hdmi(does not look like the camera has a hdmi out though) or pull the SD card and plug it into the HU that way If I really need to review footage I can in the truck. The Kenwood DRV-N520 would be ok but it seems pretty old, however if you get it and start using it please let me know if you like it as I probably won't order a dashcam for a few weeks and as its half the price it still might be a good option for me.

 

Is the wire that needs grounded on the Kenwood (ko1)adapter the short blue and green one with the purple connector on the end? Went with the plug and play option from the flow chart using the HRR TO3.

 

Happy to help, can you post a picture so we can be sure we’re talking the same language?

 

By the way I am using this HDMI port and it fit perfectly.

HDMI Socket Mount Cable +USB Audio Input Audio Relay Use for Toyota https://a.co/d/fDNbPNc

 

That's only because we got old and do things properly now. Back in the day, we cut that shit up with a pocket knife and used enough electrical tape to circle the globe twice

 

The harness on the left is the Ken1 adapter. Right is what came with stereo. Looks like it is the light blue one that is 6th from the left. Do you just fish/cut that out and then ground?

 

Or just run it off the app on your phone thru Carplay or Android....

 

See https://www.tundras.com/threads/the-great-hu-install-of-2023.129229/#post-3294527

I would cut the light green wire coming out of the back of the H/U harness and tap into ground and then insulate the remaining wire coming from the Maestro Harness.

 

Doesn't work when cell phone reception is zilch out the wild wild west...

 

I'm sorry, I've never had that problem running in 4 states..

So my suggestion is only for those that live and drive in civilization...