XM in my my new Tacoma? Help

drcollie · Oct 30, 2010

Black Sheep[OP] said: ↑

Thanks Dr. The dealer did quote about 4 hours. They want $400 for the install. It is good to know that my radio is XM-ready and all I need is the receiver and fit kit. I have become too used to having XM. I don't want to go without it for that long. But why is the sound not that good? is it the stock head unit? I don't really want to go the route of putting in an aftermarket head unit. I want to keep the stock look.

So from what you are saying, the radio will not have to be reflashed or reprogrammed in any way after the install of the receiver and fit kit? That is what the audio store wanted me to find out before they would do the install for me.

Again, thanks for the info. That helps a lot.
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The install is actually quite easy, and it comes with an excellent instruction set. You don't need much in the way of tools, mostly its just pulling off plastic and putting it back on. If you have a couple of spare hours, you can easily do it yourself and save the money of having the audio store install it. Changing a wheel is harder than installing this, it just takes time to pull off all that plastic and put it back on.

In my truck (2010 Access Cab) the speakers are just marginal, and a CD in the player will sound richer and deeper than the XM radio, Just the equipment is all. Its adequate, but don't expect high fidelity. You only have the two door speakers and the two small ones in the headliner (Access Cab).

You do not have to re-flash or re-program the stock radio. Its ready to go as soon as you plug in the two wires near the fusebox area. Everything you need for XM is in the Fit Kit. If you want to do the Sirrius unit, then you have to spend about $ 60 for an antenna mod connector, but for XM its plug n' play.

Best prices are out of Texas for the unit and fit kit, mail order. $300 for everything from www.toyota4U.com

-Duane

stevcde · Nov 29, 2010

I recently got a '11 Tacoma Access cab. It came with the XM ready radio, but I know it needs the receiver. My question is about the antenna. I doesn't have the usual antenna on the roof near the top brakelight. I'm thinking about getting the OEM receiver and kit but I'm worried about how to run the antenna?? And why didn't mine come with it?

SmoothFox · Nov 29, 2010

Black Sheep[OP] initial post: ↑

I just picked up my new Tacoma this afternoon. I was a little upset that it did not have XM. I was under the impression from the salesman that it was XM ready. But, since I did not get to see the truck before I bought it because they had to bring it in from about 300 miles away, I could not see the window sticker. It is not XM ready. It does not have the JBL or 6 cd unit. But, it does have the AM/SAT button. Does this mean that it is Satelite capable and that I can have the receiver and fit kit installed and have the ability to have XM service? I had service in the car that I traded in so I can just transfer it to the Tacoma if so.

Also, if this is the case and I can install the receiver and fit kit, will the radio need to be reflashed or anything else from the dealer? I don't reall want the dealer to do the install. They want $400 for he install. I can get it done at a local audio shop for $50 They said that it will only take about an hour.
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Black Sheep · Nov 29, 2010

Well I decided to have the stock unit taken and went with the new Sony head unit that has nav/dvd/xm/bluetooth and remote. I am even able to stream music from my blackberry to it through the bluetooth. I love it. This might be the best decision I will make with my Tacoma.

rme · Nov 29, 2010

Take it to Best Buy...they'll know how to run it....

BPachom · Nov 29, 2010

drcollie said: ↑

Your Tacoma is XM-Ready, and has the Satellite Antenna already mounted. You will need to buy the XM Receiver and the Fit Kit for your truck. The "Fit Kit" has all the cabling, you can't install the factory unit without it.

It will take more than an hour to install, I'm an experienced mechanic and it took me around two hours in my 2010 Access Cab, mostly because you have a lot of plastic panels to pull off. Most Dealerships quote four hours to install.

The XM Receiver itself fits under the storage compartment, by the jack, in the rear seat behind the passenger seat. Its held there with 2-sided tape supplied in the Fit Kit. To run the cable from the Receiver requires you pull out the rear console, all the storage boxes in the back, the rear seats (if Access Cab) and though they tell you to remove the main plastic panel in the back, you can do it without it. Then the sill panels on the Drivers side have to come off and you route the wires under them. Remove the 'dead pedal' and the fusebox cover in the drivers footwell, and the wiring access is there. Simply plug everything in using the supplied cable and your power hookup and antenna will be operational. From there you button everything up and you're good to go.

The XM is very easy to use on the steering wheel controls once you program in your favorite stations. You have (5) presets for XM1, XM2, Xm3 for a total of (15) stations you can preset. Trying to scroll through the stations using the main display is an exercise in futility, however. That's very poorly done and only the station numbers display on the scroll. So if you don't know what's on Station 147, you're out of luck. Also, the sound from the XM Compression is tinny at best, so don't expect superb music quality.

Good luck.
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Did you try the "Audio Adjustment"..... see attached.

Xewkija631 · Dec 1, 2010

I just got the 2011 off road tacoma and it came with xm and I have a trail for 3 months... everything works fine.

hgfontana · Dec 2, 2010

After the 3 months trail, it will deactivate, so the only way to get it back is by pay the xm fees??? Any other suggestion, any idea how to use a factory JBL xm, with out use your wallet??

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XM in my my new Tacoma? Help

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Attached Files:

TOYSC1-HONSC1 Audio level.pdf

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XM in my my new Tacoma? Help

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Attached Files:

TOYSC1-HONSC1 Audio level.pdf

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