Head Unit upgrade Advice

I have a 2009 Double Cab TRD sport with JBL radio. I want to upgrade my head unit, However, I want to retain the following

-JBL speakers and factory amp
-Factory XM antenna if possible
-factory auto dimming mirror with backup screen
-steering wheel controls.

My wish list for the upgrade head unit

-XM radio
-screen that is capable of projecting a review camera
-the ability to have diagnose engine trouble codes and tire pressure etc.
-Ability to make phone calls from pushing a button on my steering wheel
-Ability for text messages to be display and read by the head unit

questions

Can my factory tailgate camera be simultaneously be displayed on the mirror and radio or if I make it connect to the radio will my mirror use functionality? Can I keep the current tailgate to mirror display and have a second review camera mounted on license plate to the radio at the same time.

What radio would you recommend?


What wiring harnesses and interfaces such as maestro will I need to make everything to come together.

 

Good luck. Retaining anything JBL is asking for impending issues down the road. The system is just designed horribly and all of it relies on another piece to work correctly. You are much better off scrapping all of it and starting fresh with a 4 channel amp for the speakers, a small monoblock amp for a subwoofer. Your choice of speakers either in 4 or the 2 ohm variety and a headunit of your choice. If you scrap everything but the amp or you scrap the amp and keep the factory headunit you will not be able to use volume controls on the steering wheel or the headunit itself.

You don't want to retain factory stuff, trust me I've been there. You'll only end up spending more trying to keep it and you'll cry more in the long run. The only thing worth anything is the wiring.

 

If the whole system is scrap, will I have to get rid of the steering wheel controls too? I really need to at least keep the steering wheel controls.

 

No, the steering wheel controls operate via CAN and are capable of being retained using a PAC unit. I can send you info on that if you like, though it is pretty easy to find. The system is incredibly responsive too. No glitches and auto identification to specific vehicle capable.

It just really depends what you want to do with the setup. If you want to keep your subwoofer setup in the back I can show you what I did with mine and show you how you can run a pretty formidable 8" subwoofer setup using the OE location and some fairly high powered amplifiers doing minimal modifications.

 

Check out Maestro, you can retain most your stuff and have some awesome extras

 

Crutchfield?

 

Crutchfield has been my go-to place over the years. Makes installation pretty simple with the wiring kits you can get from them.

 

I guess I will check out crutchfield. I posted this thread here hoping to get insight of people who have actually made the upgrades themselves to their personal Tacoma's rather than dealing someone sitting in a cubicle at a call center. I was also hoping to get some recommendations of brands to steer towards and brands to avoid.

Hopefully, they can answer all my questions that I have asked in this thread most especially about the one I had regarding the factory tailgate camera. I was wondering if it could be simultaneously be displayed on the mirror and radio or if I make it connect it to the radio will my mirror use auto dimming will functionality?

Can I keep the current tailgate to mirror display and have a second review camera mounted on license plate to the radio at the same time.

 

My suggestion is to spend the money on a good head unit. Dont go cheap. Get one that supports android auto or apple car play. All the functionality of your phone will be transferred to the radio. They make lots to connect steering wheel controls to connect to the aftermarket radio.

I literally did everything you are trying to do. It is doable but it takes time to install and money on the right components.

There is one thing I would advise against. Do not mess with the stock backup camera if it is already hooked up to the mirror. If you want it hooked up to the radio, disconnect it from the mirror. You will experience a wealth of problems by trying to tap into it and get the video on the radio too. If you want a separate backup radio, it is really easy to hook it up to the radio, most good ones come with decent instructions.

As far as stock speakers, I tore mine out, ran new speaker wire, installed a crossover in my door (splits the highs for tweeters and lows for component subs), and installed new speakers with speaker mounts, cushion tape, and a speaker baffle (prevents door/window rattle). I also installed a sub/amp combo under my passenger seat, low profile fit perfectly after I took the seat out to wire and mount the unit. My best advice for any kind of amplifier installation is that you make your own ground. Do not use a seatbelt bolt or any existing bolts or grounds. Also, when you do make your ground connection, sand the paint for good contact. A weak ground causes 90% of all amplifier problems.

 

I recently upgraded my JBL unit in my 2012 to a Pioneer with autoplay. I had considered myself decent a wiring before I started. I now think otherwise.

There's at least 3 "harnesses" that you will need. I don't remember which exactly, but the one's recommended by crutchfield is what I used.

- A steering wheel controller interface - this looks more like a processing unit, about the size and a little thicker than a cell phone. This will not only translate your steering wheel controls (Toyota's controls are a bit weird), but it will also bet the "middle man" between your truck's speaker wire harnesses and the new stereo wiring

- A power antenna harness - JBL antennas are powered, so you can't just plug the antenna directly into the new head unit

- A backup camera harness - my old camera was in the head unit. Since yours is in the mirror, I'm not sure what you will need. The one I had needed to be tied somewhere into the backup lights because it needs a signal that the truck is in reverse.

- If you use a Pioneer head unit, you will either have to wire the unit to your parking brake, or get a parking break bypass harness

- there may be something else I'm missing.

- you will also need an aftermarket microphone if you plan on using voice at all. Even if your truck currently has a microphone, you won't be able to use it with the new head unit. You will have to figure out where you want it routed.

- not to mention that you also need a new surround, regardless if it's 2 din or not

I worked on mine for about 2 weeks. It was a pain in the rump. My suggestion - pay best buy or car toys to install it for you.

 

Crutchfield will make your life much easier. They can provide all the interconnection harnesses and miscellaneous parts, including a new surround. The Alpine kit I got included steering wheel controls interface, microphone and a backup camera (purchased separately since my 2007 didn't have one). Their instructions are very thorough and tailored for your vehicle.

Their service after the sale it outstanding, too. There was one wire on the harness that wasn't identified so I called and the guy pulled up the Tacoma wiring diagrams and spent about 30 minutes walking me through what it was, where it went and how to connect it. Turns out it was for a signal from the parking brake that enabled putting the head unit into setup mode.

 

Crutchfield, we'll definitely make your life easier.
As for the camera displaying you can buy adapter cables from what I understand to connect the factory camera to your aftermarket head unit. There are other threads in here as well where people have connected multiple cameras through a switch and can select what camera they want to see.
And from what I've read, the maestro unit does some nice tricks along with keeping your steering wheel controls.

 

I only suggested Crutchfield because they are the pros for automotive audio and electronics, any electrical need you have or want they can solution - wasn't meant as a slight in any way.

 

I recently ordered a Kenwood Dnx996xr, Maestro, and all the necessary adapters and wiring harnesses for install from Crutchfield. It's a tight fit but it works. My rear camera anytime mod is useless now since I can turn the camera on anytime via the HU. Also displays the dash cam and has input for one ore camera.

You'll need the Maestro to view tire pressure and use the steering wheel controls.

 

The Pioneer 4400NEX is a great head unit that I recommend. Just installed one in my 4Runner and it has it all.

 

Are you still running your stock backup camera or aftermarket unit?
Thats a baller headunit you're running in a tacoma lol.

 

The NEX8000 (I don't know about the newer units) had a software bypass that was done by tapping invisible boxes on the screen. I get the feeling the newer units are the same and don't require additional grounds or hardware to perform the bypass.

 

I am running the stock backup cam.

I justified the cost when I looked at the replacement cost of the broken JBL entune nav that it replaced. I would have rather spent the money on something else for the truck but when the stock stereo failed I didn't want to have regrets with the replacement.

 

I already had a nice Kenwood/JL/Focal system in my 1st gen and moved it into my 2nd that had JBL setup. I found the JBL to be a really decent sounding factory setup.

To do the steering wheel controls and make connections a little easier I used a Metra

$63 Axxess ASWC-1 Steering Wheel Control Interface

Axxess ASWC-1 universal steering wheel kit and AX-ADTY01 wiring harness. Had Mr Marv build an enclosure for the sub and a mount panel for the amp, as well as baffles to install speakers.

The factory wiring is a pretty significant bundle running to behind the passenger rear seat and should be pulled if you want to make it easier to run wires down that side. Otherwise, a little sound mat behind the drivers and sub and it is a pretty straight forward stereo install. Still need to swap a mic into the factory rear view mirror location and splice in my backup camera.

Installed in the middle of winter in the freezing cold. Do not recommend. Was a bit shocked when I first fired up the head unit and everything just worked.

 

Yeah that makes a lot of sense. I'm in the same boat of replacing my headunit, so many options.....