Stereo Upgrade BASIC How To... (2nd Gen)

Weird. Mine works fine. iPhone 8 Plus. The art comes up somewhat washed out behind the song and album information.

 

Indeed
I installed them 3 wks ago. Happy I did.

 

Thankx for the info. Definitely better pictures than Crutchfield's small, smudgey, low definition black & white directions.
Two thoughts:
1) Strongly consider replacing the narrow 22 gauge wiring that is stock with your Tacoma. For a number of reasons, you want something heavier.
2) IMPORTANT: The driver's side front door on my 2012 4 door Taco was reverse wired to the speaker & tweeter. The purple - wire was hooked up to the + connections of the woofer & tweeter. It should have been the pink + wire. Soooo... Always double-check the official wiring codes for your vehicle.

 

Hello all. First post, please be gentle...

Installed an aftermarket stereo in my 2012 Pre-Runner yesterday. Everything went great, except I cannot get the steering wheel controls to work.
I installed a Kenwood touch screen, using a Idatalink Maestro RR. I looked at the wiring diagrams until I was cross-eyed. Everything is working great, except I have no steering wheel controls or radio connection to the in-console USB. I am having to run the USB connector from the radio out from under the dash to utilize the Android Auto feature. I bypassed the E-brake safety as well. Also, it appears that the stock microphone does not work with this particular installation either.

Anyone experienced anything similar? The Maestro has a blue port that I believe to be for the steering wheel controls. However, on the wiring diagram, it shows that the intended harness for that plug is unused in my installation.

Please help!

 

This thread was super helpful, just upgraded the speakers to Focal Integration ISS 165's

Love how dynamic they are, huge improvement off of stock. Did some vibration dampening in the doors and on the back wall with Frost King (shoestring budget).

Here's the question, does anybody know what the 2013 stock head unit produces in watts of power?? I saw one post by a 3rd gen guy saying less than 10, closer to 5. Is this true for 2nd gens too?

I ask so that I can figure out if its kosher to run the new speakers with the stock HU, don't want to underpower them and cause problems down the road. As I mentioned earlier I am on a constricted budget so if the stock unit won't damage the new speakers ill be keeping it for a while.

 

Okay, questions... why do people replace their original equipment stereo? Is there something wrrong with them? Are they fragile and you break them?
I've got a 2012 base model that was once a utility company truck and the stereo system is awsome. Just bought another 2012, Baja edition, and expected the stereo to be an improvement but it sounds crappy by comparison.

 

Most people are replacing an OEM stereo for something that sounds and functions way better, usually name brand aftermarket stereos have better internal components that give you a lot better sound quality. that may be a solution for you

 

Yeah, in my experience after market stereos are harder to use, and the sound quality is more in the speakers than in the head unit. The expense and effort involved are offset by ease of use, and I'll take a stock set up over aftermarket every time.
I suspect the stereo in my new truck is just sounding bad because of crappy speakers.

 

yea, speakers make a huge difference, and that may be the best route, to just replace your speakers with a nice set!

 

Hey y'all - I figured this might be a good thread to post this question.

I'm in the process of replacing the head unit on my 06 access cab and was surprised to find 3 harnesses plugged into the back of the stock head unit rather than two. The 3rd mystery harness is circled below:

The other two connectors are all accounted for with my aftermarket harness adapter. But I have no idea what this third one is.

Anyone know what this harness is for? It has three wires coming out of it - all which seem to be taking signal from the head unit, I didn't get any voltage on them when checking with a multi-meter (lights on/off, reverse, etc.)

I've hooked up the aftermarket head unit and things seem to be working fine so I'm guessing I can just leave this guy disconnected. But I'm still curious what it's for lol

 

I left it unplugged and I don't have any issues. But if someone knows what it is for that would be cool to know.

 

You guys should search for a wiring diagram..

 

Bag secured from Crutchfield. Had an excellent experience on the phone with them. Hopefully have this all installed this weekend! All in for right at $270

 

Pioneer has 2 3/4 inch speakers

https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/Speakers/A-Series/TS-A709

Finally an option for our upper door speaker. I'll be installing when someone in Canada as them for sale.

 

Installed this past weekend. I really should have done this years ago.

 

Do you still have stock speakers? If so, is there much improvement with just head unit upgrade? I would like to get a new head unit for phone compatibility and wondering if I should do speakers at the same time

 

Still have the stock speakers. Maybe a slight improvement but I'm no audiophile. Stock speakers have always been good enough for me.

 

My basic oem upgrade was GROM audio usb/aux/ipod unit off cd1 and rostra bluetooth pnp to add fon functions. Swapped to 6 cd oem unit from single disc and put black face with gray buttons on it. Mixed and matched oem HUs. Running 2012 black vol/tuning knobs. Lower profile with geared shape and lit circle in center. Did same clor swap with my cc panel...black face with gray buttons. Would like to swap to some high efficiency aftermarket component speakers that would work well with oem HU output....RC so just door setup. I like having oem because not too many people care about stealing oem HUs that I ever hear about.



usb under left AC vent, aux behind shifter in center of lower dash panel, ipod cable in glove box & fon answering button left of st wheel on dash....

 

I am pretty sure those are the 3 wires that run steering wheel audio controls. Look at your steering column plug that plugs into your spiral cable and I bet those same color wires are there. I am on mission to harvest both ends of that harness off similar toyotas in junkyard and make me a harness to go from oem HU to my spiral cable...which has the pins to run the audio controls on the 2013 wheel. Regular cabs do not come wired for this function so I have to add it myself. Did same thing on my 2004 xB with 2006 wheel that had the controls and made a harness to go from spiral to stereo.

 

Here's current pic with steering wheel audio controls painted black and waiting on me to make the 3 wire harness to go from spiral cable to stereo. That will be my last stereo upgrade wish.



Also tiny 32gb thumb drive in usb slot to right of st whl. I cut little slot door in usb rubber cap for it to fit thru.