Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX Installation and Review

Capacitive touch screen (like an iPhone) versus resistive (like Toyota HU) is a main benefit, plus 8400 has built in Nav. 4400 does not.

 

The capacitive touchscreen was big for me. A real GPS (not a cellular app) was big. Compare the features and what they’re worth to you.

 

Also the 8400 with its GPS NAV set up has a mph speed warning so you won't go faster than set speed limit and risk a ticket

Bottom right corner of the screen illuminates with a yellow orange icon with posted speed limit

 

does wireless mirroring work while the truck is in motion?

 

I just finished installing the same HU in my 3rd gen. I wish it only took me 4 1/2 hours... The anytime backup camera mod, running the HDMI and USB2 cables from the center console, and Kyleinator's inline mic adapter added some additional challenge and time to the process. I'm really happy with the result, and I like that I didn't need to install the aftermarket mic. Thanks to Kyleinator and friends for that!

I never did figure out the "wired remote" part. I found an alternate wiring diagram (for same model/year truck, same Maestro T02) that showed using the "data cable" instead of the "wired remote", so I used that. Seems to work fine, except the "on hook/off hook" buttons on the steering wheel don't work. I don't think I care, as I never really used them, even with the factory HU. But for the next soul looking to ditch Entune, who might also be searching TW for help doing this, are there any gurus out there who know where the blue/yellow wire goes that's coming out of the Maestro wired remote (along with the 3.5mm jack)? The Maestro wiring diagram just shows it pointing towards the HU, and not going to the HU wiring harness. No other mention of it anywhere I could find.

A couple other things of note, that would've been nice to know before I started, and that weren't recommended by Crutchfield (or any other research I did ahead of time):

• To keep your factory AUX port, Pioneer says you need Pioneer part CD-RM10 (to connect the Pioneer harness to the Maestro T02 harness). Pretty sure the 3rd gen factory AUX port only supports audio, and if so you could get away with a 3.5mm stereo to RCA adapter.
• If you want to use the factory GPS antenna, you need the Maestro Acc-SAT-T02 adapter kit.

 

Are you a tester for Kyleinator or did he start producing the adapter already? How does it work for you overall?

 

I'm one of the testers. It's working great. It's only been installed less than a day, so I haven't called too many people with it yet, but for the few calls I have made, the call quality has been very good. As good, if not better, than with the factory HU.

 

I never permanently mounted my aftermarket mic hoping this would pan out. Any comments on the installation?

 

Luckily, most cameras have gridlines built in (and a wire you can cut to disable them. Every camera I’ve installed from the expensive pioneer and echo master, down to $20 eBay cameras clients bring me. So have no fear!

 

It was fairly straightforward. There are four wires you have to tie into on the 28-pin harness, plus ground + acc, which you can get from anywhere. I used the HU harness for 12v/ground, as I was tapping those into the Maestro. For the 28-pin harness, I used this, to avoid having to tap into the factory wires (optional).

 

Yellow wire is for kenwood radio’s. 3.5 jack is for pioneer and others.
There is a 3.5 jack on the back of the headunit labeled W/R and it goes there.

 

Appreciate the reply. I really like your idea of using a “jumper harness“. I’m a big believer in soldering/heat shrinking everything and that would suit the need perfectly.

 

That makes sense, thanks! Now I understand why the diagram is drawn the way it is in the Maestro, but it would've been much clearer if they had split the two wires on the diagram and put the words Kenwood and Pioneer next to each.

Now that I have a choice, I have to ask: which connection is preferred, "data cable" or "wired remote"? Do they provide identical functionality? If so, it seems strange that both ADS and Pioneer support both connection methods, potentially simultaneously.

 

I have always selected “data cable” in the RR flashing, but I always connect both plugs. I have not had issues with buttons not working, but I can’t say for sure which wire is actually being used. I’ve learned when in doubt, hook them both up.

 

Since I have to take it back apart in a few days when the GPS antenna adapter and the right dash kit arrive, I'll hook the other cable up then. Thanks again!

 

Unless I did something wrong, the Maestro ACC-SAT-T02 adapter didn't work for me. Got no satellites when connected. Plugged in GPS antenna that came with the 8400nex and satellites came up right away.

Same thing when I was using the adapter when I had the Kenwood DDX9905s headunit.

 

I'm saying this off the top of my head so it might not be correct

In a lot of cars I work on, the GPS antenna and the XM radio antenna fit the same plugs, but do not work each other. If the XM antenna got grabbed by mistake, it wont work for GPS.

Again, I'm trying to picture it in my head so I may be mistaken

 

Hmmm...may have to look into that. I don't have the XM module so it's quite possible I did that.

 

I noticed when I unplugged both antennas that the plugs for both were identical, except for color. The XM antenna was black, the GPS antenna was white.

 

I grabbed the XM antenna and connected it for GPS accidentally the first time I tried. I knew it was wrong right away when GPS could not get a signal. The GPS antenna was on the left side of the HU opening closest to the steering wheel. The XM antenna was the one coming from the other side.