2020 Key Amp and Hideaway Installation Complete

Sorry to revive this thread, firstly thank you so much to the OP for the great writeup and the others for their input and experience with different setups!

I wanted to ask, do I need the KEY to run a hideaway or I can just wire the hideaway to the radio harness extension, run power wire and call it a day? Also what does the KEY do extra if the hideaway already has a built-in amp?

 

Key amp is for the speakers; hideaway sub has a built in amp. You can tap the front speaker wires with the hideaway if you want sub only.

 

So if I understand correctly, the KEY amp is used when you're upgrading the stock speakers and has nothing to do with the installation of the hideaway sub?

 

That's correct; Welcome to TW by the way.

 

Thank you kind sir! And thank you for clarifying things for me, I'm a sound system noob

 

Hoping for help.
Installed the Key Amp with the Amazon harness, all works as planned.
Completed the set up procedure where you jump out of the truck and wait for the nice tones.
Took twice as i had the little remote speaker or whatever kind of pick-up it is, upside down and got the dreaded bad tones.
But with the amp levels max low, the amp overdrives my dash speakers unless I lower the volume.
Dash speakers are the Reference (75W) ones, front door are Kicker and back door are originals.
Any recommendations on what I can do to fix it?
Otherwise I will have a Key 200 Amp and wiring harness from 2020+ Tacoma radio for sale.
Thanks for any ideas.

 

Can you post a picture of your dip switch settings

 

Will do but probably tomorrow since truck is at home.
Thanks for looking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I'll take it off your hands! haha, kidding, hope it works out for you.

I have Kicker KS Components on standby but cannot for the life of me find the Kicker Key200.4 amp in stock anywhere . I went to Kickers authorized dealer list and no one local nor online stores have them in stock. (I had ordered one from a store that said IN STOCK, but order was cancelled since it was indeed out of stock.) Even Best Buy removed the SKU from their website which usually indicates it's getting discontinued (or at least Best Buy may no longer sell that model).

I might have to settle for the

$290 Alpine KTP-445U Universal Power Pack

Alpine KTP-445U if I can't get my hands on the Kicker by the end of spring.

 

The first and third switches are down, the rest are up.
Attached a photo but looks small.
If I cannot get the Key amp to work, you can have it for $125 shipped.

 

In that case, I’m assuming it’s just because you’re sending so much power to those infinity speakers. I can imagine that is VERY bright.

 

Thanks
Do you have a recommendation for dash speakers that would work.
The Reference are rated for 70 watts, so thought they would work.

 

Hi Folks.

I'm the original poster and just got a message asking me about installing a key amp. Is this still the best way to do it (get a connector to connect the speakers and run power from the battery) or is there a all-in-one harness now?

looks like the connector for the speakers can be had a little more economically now from Amazon.

 

I had the same harness question. I bought the amp a while ago but keep pushing off the install due to making the harness. I’m also curious if there is now a full plug and play option.

 

Any updates on this? Messaged taco toooonz and they said I needed the add an amp kit but didn't elaborate further. From what I've gleaned from this thread and others, the 0ft add-an-amp harness with no "remote turn on/12V" should be plug and play if the key is being installed behind the dash...

 

There is not a fully plug-and-play solution. But the work requires 2 tools, and about half an hour of time

 

A lot of good info on this thread but I'm a complete audio noob and still have a couple of questions -
I'm planning on upgrading my speakers and adding a Kicker Key200 and the Hideaway 8
Speakers: https://trailgridpro.com/products/k...e-upgrade-16-23-tacoma?variant=44668129018149

A: Would I need to get both the Add-A-Sub and the Add-A-Amp harnesses from TacoToonz to connect the new amp and the new sub or would I just connect the hideaway to the front speakers?
B: Also TacoToonz gives the options for a Remote Turn On Harness, a Line Out Converter, and RCA Adapters. Do I need to get any of these added options?
C: Since I'm installing the amp behind the head unit I'm assuming the 0ft option would be the correct choice right?

 

You want these items/tools.

$14 RED WOLF Add AMP Amplifier Subwoofer Speaker Wiring T-Harness Radio Stereo Plug Connector Compatible with Toyota 2018-2022 Camry RAV4 Tacoma Corolla Non-JBL System

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DTY8PMD

$12 Scosche Install Centric ICAK12 True 12 Gauge Hybrid OFC 2-Channel High Current Amplifier Wiring Kit Accessory Installation Wiring Kit for Boat, Motorcycles, ATV’s and UTV’s

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FRRDZ31

$10 TICONN 100PCS Heat Shrink Butt Wire Connector Kit, Insulated Waterproof Electrical Wire Crimp Terminals Butt Splice for Marine Automotive (100PCS)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086Z3H4X8

$10 Gardner Bender GS-388 Electrical Pliers, Crimper & Cutter, Comfort Grip, Aluminum & Copper Wire, Hand Tool, 8 in. , Red

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00079LN1Y

$9 WGGE WG-015 Professional 8" Wire Stripper/wire crimping tool, Wire Cutter, Wire Crimper, Cable Stripper, Wiring Tools and Multi-Function Hand Tool.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073YG65N2

 

Thank you for your help. I ordered the harness and the Scosche kit and I have the rest of the stuff. I understand that the Red Wolf harness gets cut in half and then connected to the appropriate harnesses that come with the key.
#397 on this post helped me out a lot: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ker-key-amp-install-assistance.568985/page-20
I just have a couple more questions if you don’t mind answering them.

1. The post I mentioned above, he says “if you are adding a sub, you will need to splice them in to the input side (Connector #1 side) of the Key Amp (they are currently wired into the output side). You can use either the front driver or front passenger, but not a combination of the two. Should go without saying.” but the Kicker Hideaway comes with wires to go to two speakers, is it okay to just connect it to one? If it’s okay to just connect to one then disregard my next question.

2. The wiring diagram on TIS shows that the Front-Door LH (Driver Side) goes from R51 to the speaker and back but if the vehicle has safety connect then the Front-Door RH (Passenger Side) goes from R51 to D38 and then to the speaker. Am I going to need another harness or would I just splice into it?

 

So I want to say this and hopefully help, because I can tell you're thinking very seriously about this, which can be good in most scenarios.

You're thinking way too deep lol

The hideaway wires CAN go to both speakers. White to White, Grey to Grey. There's 2 sets of wires for a reason. Most songs are mixed for the bass to come from left and right so it's not crucial to use both, but the wires are there so I always wire them both.

The hideaway wires do need to go on the input side of the key. If they go on the output side, they will have the auto-EQ and crossover settings, and you dont want that.

As for the telematics receiver, that whole service got discontinued back in 2022 so the module (for those who have it) is just dead weight at this point. I genuinely forgot it even existed until I saw it on that diagram. SO dont worry about it at all because it doesnt work anymore.