Installed Metra Ipod/MP3 adapter

[tylerp]

I've been reading over the post about the metra you can buy for the Tacoma's. I haven't had my truck for long, and quite frankly I'm clueless as to how to go about getting behind the radio. Does the radio actually have to be taken out, or is there a way to get in behind it? Is there a website with this info, or maybe it's simple enough for someone to just tell me.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[rooster_20]

Originally Posted by wwarnke

Anyone using the Metra or Axxess having volume issues? I am using the 1/8" plug rather than the Ipod cable. I have the MP3 player turned all the way up and still have to max the factory volume to get as loud as the regular radio stations at 35 volume. Is it a faulty adaptor? I bought it a circuit city so i have 30 days to return it.

I would make sure the two ends of the cable are plugged in all the way. I know it sounds dumb but I actually thought my mp3 player was messed up until I noticed this problem lol..

[rhoppas]

Originally Posted by tylerp

Does the radio actually have to be taken out, or is there a way to get in behind it? Is there a website with this info, or maybe it's simple enough for someone to just tell me.

Yes, you have to take out the radio, but it is very easy to do. There is a sticky at the top of the Audio forum, by 007Tacoma, that details how to remove the radio. Good luck...

[dillkawi07tacoma08]

I bought the metra adapter for my 08 tacoma and plug it in!! No power went to the adapter and i could not get any sound!! Any suggetions on a better adapter or what i did wrong!!!

[namariegaudi]

So does the adapter work on stereos that don't have the "SAT" or AM/SAT" button? I have a 2006 Tacoma TRD...So I wan't to know if I can use the Metra solution with my current stereo.

[Justin626]

Originally Posted by namariegaudi

So does the adapter work on stereos that don't have the "SAT" or AM/SAT" button? I have a 2006 Tacoma TRD...So I wan't to know if I can use the Metra solution with my current stereo.

Which head unit do you have? I'm not sure about all of the setups but it worked on my Jbl indash 6 disc. You use the disc button to switch between cd and cd1 on my setup. Hope this helps.

[namariegaudi]

I have the regular single disc stereo...not sure if that's a good reference for you

[Justin626]

Originally Posted by namariegaudi

I have the regular single disc stereo...not sure if that's a good reference for you

I'd assume that if your HU has an AUX button, then it should have the same plug slot as mine to plug in an auxillary cd changer. If that is the case, i would think it would work. I haven't really seen anyone discuss much about the single disc HU's.

[namariegaudi]

Nope, no AUX button...just the regular buttons (AM, FM1, FM2, DISC)...hope I'm not already screwed as it is....
Thanks man

[Justin626]

Originally Posted by namariegaudi

Nope, no AUX button...just the regular buttons (AM, FM1, FM2, DISC)...hope I'm not already screwed as it is....
Thanks man

Well, I would think that once the adapter is plugged in, you would push the DISC button to switch between cd and cd1. Pulling the HU out is real simple to do. Follow the instructions for removal on this link and check to see if there is a spot for a small nearly square connecter to plug into. I would say the spot for the connector would measure about 3/4" wide by 1/2" tall. If its there it should work. Circuit City carries this adapter, atleast they do via their website.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/aud...w-2nd-gen.html

[wing103]

http://www.xcarlink.co.uk

This is a good device and I have it on my Tacoma, it also have bluetooth functition, USB connection, you can use any flash drive, usb drive to play your mp3, also it come with the AUX in, so you can connect your ipod or mp3 player too.
It is a very good device, check it out, hope this can help you.

[namariegaudi]

well, once I'm back home (in about 2 or 3 days) I'll go and look...thanks for the help...I'll let you know how it goes

[rhoppas]

Originally Posted by namariegaudi

So does the adapter work on stereos that don't have the "SAT" or AM/SAT" button? I have a 2006 Tacoma TRD...So I wan't to know if I can use the Metra solution with my current stereo.

The Metra will work with your stock radio. You simply press the DISC button to toggle between your CD and your Metra unit.

[Kyouto42]

I've been lurking long enough, figure I'll give some helpful hints to those looking at the Metra for a solution. I picked this up as a promise to myself to save up some cash down the road to install a 7" touch nav/dvd setup and full audio to go around of course. Coming from a G35 with a 6CD in dash MP3 player (bose, even though I hate it... way better than the stock non-JBL taco stuff), I needed more tracks at my finger tips. Enter the Metra... for $50 it's WELL worth the investment IMO.

I used the guide linked several times here by 007Tacoma
However, I was still confused by a lot of stuff. Like, where to run the plug, how exactly it worked, cable lengths, ect. Well, I spent about 3 hours tonight installing it and playing around with diffrent ways to run it... here's what I came up with.



That's for the IPod (obviously). I also ran a 3.5mm RCA cord into the glove box so I can hook up my laptop, friends non-ipod mp3 devices, ect:


Granted, they're not the most 'professional' or cleanest of installs, but they work well for what I need. I dont' really want to start drilling holes only to rip it out later and have useless holes lying around when I rip the stocker out.

This is where I stored the actual metra unit itself (this is behind the glove box). Just zip-tied the top of it to that main cable trunk there, did a quick tarmac road test and no rattles I could hear yet. I could have done better securing it, but again temp install.



So that's about it for where I installed stuff. Pretty basic to install, once you get the deck out it's pretty obvious how to run it. Pass side of the radio you can run the cable through (start from glovebox side if you're keeping the metra box there. From there connect the 3.5mm RCA and iPod conector to the metra... run it under and along the console (again no holes or anything), re-install the glove box. Dishes are done on that side. The fun part is connecting to the back of the deck. There is very little playable room here now (I put the metra adapter here to maximize the lenth for the ipod cable).



As up can see it's pretty tight. What I did was lean the radio up, hold it up with one hand (front face you read/insert discs facing the sky) and plug it in with the other. Then just set the deck down, run a quick test to ensure all connections are back (like the antenna... lol). Pop it all back together and done. Now that I know where/how to run stuff, I could probably do it all in a cool 20min easy.

Now for a few extra things that'll help out people nervous about it that I think 007Tacoma could have added myself...

When pulling off the a/c control plate.. gently pull on the dials near the edge to slip a flathead in (or putty knife). My gap was extremely tight and I didn't do this, put a small minor nick in the wonderfully high grade rubbery-plastic crap our dash is made out of (gotta really look though).

When he talks about lifting the deck slightly up when intitally removing it... this is why:

Notice how the bracket slips inside... if you try to pull straight out, well good luck.

Now for the part that had me stumped a bit... only because I paid zero attention to when I removed it... the glove box. I was cursing out the engineer that designed it until I realized I was screwing up


Note where the air-shock goes. There is a clip on bracket that holds the strut in place (I was trying to hook it onto the smooth shaft that is a guide for it opening/closing.... it just kept slipping off and man I was annoyed). Also if you ended up accidently poping it off or taking it off... this is the position of the air strut's other connection:





That's pretty much all I have for the install... hopefully someone can find it useful. Now for a bit of what I noticed about the sound quality/general comments on the stock setup itself.

I've been extremely dissapointed with the stereo. I wasn't expecting much, but paper cones and extremely underpowered horrible deck wasn't helping the issue. Thank Jebus for the great community support from Scosche and Metra for the cheap adapter plates that work well. I look forward to using them. That being said, even using CD's it was pretty shallow sounding. Well, now that I have the Metra hooked up, I was playing around with the settings. I was using some Diesalboy (Drum N Bass) to test it out with. High highs, low lows. Stocker deck settings is +5 bass, +5 treble, +2 fade front. On the iPod IQ, I used "Treble Booster" as the stock setup is desperatly lacking good high end response. To my amazement, it actually sounded pretty solid. I took a (crappy yes) video testing the setup at 2:30 am, but if you have some decent headphones or speakers you can tell it's fairly clear. Pretty much all of the highs and lows are present, won't rock your socks off great... but it's actually enjoyable to drive to.

http://auniverse.net/sumomo/ipodtest_taco.SWF

Some other points that there seems to be some confusion on:

• Charging - The metra adaptor WILL charge your iPod. This is a good thing! The ipod will act like normal, if you were in headphone mode. It does not prevent you from using any of it's controls
• To access the iPod: press the disc once (for my 08 at least), press disc twice for in-dash CD. I've heard it's the other way around, my unit could just be 'custom' to poke fun at that e-bay guy
• You can have both the ipod connection and 3.5mm RCA hooked into the metra at the same time. I have not tested "running both at the same time" yet. I will with my laptop when I get a chance.
• The only controls that work on the steering wheel is volume, and of course the mode button. Same goes for the deck.
• Controlling the volume on the ipod does nothing when hooked up via the ipod cable... the deck fully controls that. I'd recommend keeping the volume lower so when you unplug it for phones you don't kill your ears.

Hopefully someone can find any of the info useful. If it's a repost on some stuff, I tried to look before hand but didn't find the info myself. Peace, feel free to hit me up with any questions/comments.

[rhoppas]

Good addition to the thread... Thanks Kyouto42!

[taconinja]

I have an 08 4X4 Base Regular Cab with the stock AM/FM/CD headunit. Will the Metra from Circuit City plug right in? Thanks!

[spp]

Originally Posted by wing103

http://www.xcarlink.co.uk

This is a good device and I have it on my Tacoma, it also have bluetooth functition, USB connection, you can use any flash drive, usb drive to play your mp3, also it come with the AUX in, so you can connect your ipod or mp3 player too.
It is a very good device, check it out, hope this can help you.

What year is your Tacoma and which factory HU do you have?
I looked at the link and the stock unit I have doesn't match any of the pictures on their site. Mine is an '07 access cab SR5 5-lug.

[wing103]

Originally Posted by spp

What year is your Tacoma and which factory HU do you have?
I looked at the link and the stock unit I have doesn't match any of the pictures on their site. Mine is an '07 access cab SR5 5-lug.

It work on the 2008, but it won't work on the 2009 model.
You can send a photo of your stero to them, than they will tell you will it fit or not... at that point if not work after the purchasing, you can return it back and get refund.

[spp]

Originally Posted by wing103

It work on the 2008, but it won't work on the 2009 model.
You can send a photo of your stero to them, than they will tell you will it fit or not... at that point if not work after the purchasing, you can return it back and get refund.

The 2009 comes with an Aux input jack. So back to my question which year and stock unit do YOU have?

[SHunter080703]

Originally Posted by taconinja

I have an 08 4X4 Base Regular Cab with the stock AM/FM/CD headunit. Will the Metra from Circuit City plug right in? Thanks!

I was wondering the same thing. Will the Metra work with a Single Disc HU? I have an AUX button on my HU.