Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX Installation and Review

He started around $350 I think. We finally agreed on $250 for headunit, maestro + programming, and a new mic in the factory location. At one of the highest rated shops in town. I probably could’ve shopped around and saved a little bit it wasn’t worth the time or energy and this shop came well recommended. Everything is always more expensive in SoCal too...

 

I have a 2009 Tacoma, TRD Off-Road, 6-speed manual, w/ JBL, Satellite, Reverse Camera, Bluetooth from the factory. I purchased the Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX with Maestro RR and T01 harness. For the most part, I have everything wired, but haven't completed the truck side of the wiring (2xUSB's, extend the USB for the RR interface to the glovebox to update firmware when needed, AUX cable, GPS, etc.

I have 4 issues:

1) Leftover connectors. I'm at the point where I have the HU (headunit) in the truck and the T01 harness plugged into the factory harness. My question is, why am I left with 2 multipin connectors on the T01 and 1 connector on the truck's harness? The 1 that is left on the truck's harness is an 8-pin connector. Also left in a blue connector, but I'm assuming that's the factory satellite antenna, which cannot be reused. My Sat antenna does not have GPS built in, so will need to use the GPS antenna that came with the Pioneer instead of adapting that blue connector into the green GPS port of the HU.



2) Wiring the camera. From the T01 harness, I have 4 bare wires that the instructions say to wire into the truck's camera wiring. Where do these need to wire into so that I can have the image in the rearview mirror like normal and also display on the HU? In addition, I'd like to be able to select the backup camera source and view the tailgate cam while driving and not have to be in reverse.

Driver kickpanel
Camera harness wiring

3) I updated the firmware on the RR module to the latest version for the 2005-2011 Tacoma w/ JBL, "ADS-RR(SR)-TOY01-DS (512) (3.1), Revision Date: Friday, February 15, 2019". However, when I tested the systems, the next track and volume buttons are reversed. So when I press the volume, it skips to the next station or track and when I press the next track buttons, it controls the volume. Also, is it possible to be able to "ramp" the volume up and down while holding those buttons so that we don't have to press them a bunch of times? I realize this would get rid of the dual function (press-and-hold) feature for those buttons, but it'd be nice to have the option. Afterall, the stock setup allowed this volume ramp




4) AUX IN. I read in the install instructions, Page 3: "Insert the Audio cable into the iDatalink 3.5 mm audio jack of the aftermarket radio.
NOTE: In Pioneer radios: plug Audio cable in auxiliary input of
the radio.

http://images.idatalink.com/corporate/Content/Manuals/RR-TOY/ADS-RR(SR)-TOY01-DS-IG-EN_20181116.pdf



What does this audio input do or allow through the RR? I know that the AUX IN is a female TRRS (tip, ring, ring, sleeve) 3.5mm jack, which also allows for video when the input is selected on the HU. And I don't want to get rid of that option if I can help it.

Thanks for the help, folks! I hope the Imgur pictures/links work on this post. I've never really use it before. If not, please let me know and I'll figure it out. I hope I can get some answers tonight or tomorrow as I'd like to get this thing installed this weekend. Thanks again!

Scott

PS ~ One thing I'm curious about; can I run a USB extender from the RR mini USB port to an accessible place to flash the firmware without having to take the HU out?

 

I am going to be installing a W8400 into my 2019 Tacoma Sport (no JBL) this weekend. The HU and the T02 harness are coming in today and I had them shipped to work so I could start assembling the harness during lunch.

I had a couple few questions that I was hoping you guys could answer;

1) Did you make the harness as long as it could be or did you shorten the pigtails at all so there was less wire to stuff in the dash?

2) The Maestro RR sheet says not to use the OBD2 connector. Does the OBD2 data come in through the T02 harness when it is connected to the truck harness?

3) When I install into the truck is there a good place to secure the Maestro RR or did you just stuff it in there?

I installed a 2330NEX into my gen2 so I am not expecting any real issues.

Is there anything that is poorly documented that might trip me up or do you have any words of advice if you have done this install? (I did order the GPS antenna adapter and read to hook up the white connector)

Thanks in advance!

Dan

 

Interested in this same question.

Also, the unit is on sale right now, $500 off ($699.99) at the Crutch

 

That's where I bought mine. It went from $899 to $699 two days ago because the W8500NEX is coming out.

The only thing not listed on the Crutchfield site that I found was the iDatalink

$29 ACC-SAT-TO2 Sat Radio and GPS Antenna adaptors for TO2 Vehicles

ACC-SAT-TO2 adapter to use your factory GPS antenna (if your truck has one) if you don't want to use the GPS antenna that comes with the W8400.

 

Thanks for posting price drop. I bought mine last week at $899. Called crutchfield a couple minutes ago and they said they have a 60 day price drop match. So I'm getting a $200 refund. That's awesome of crutchfield to do.

 

Nice!

Got my harness made up and my Maestro Flashed. Hopefully the rest goes as easy as that went.

I am doing the Subaru tweeter swap and also the speaker swap.

 

Got the w8400 installed and the tweeter upgrade done in about 5 hours. Really like the radio the little bit I played with it. I am glad I went for the w8400 over the w4400 just for the screen! The glass capacitive screen looks and works much nicer then the resistive screen on my previous truck HU (2330NEX).

Wireless Carplay is really nice, especially with the truck already having the wireless charging.

Digging into the speaker upgrades now.

 

I am trying to install Kicker DSC6939 speakers in the front door with the

$17 Metra 82-8146 6" x 9" Front Speaker Adapter for Select Lexus and Toyota Vehicles, Black, Apple

Metra 82-8146 mounting adapter but the lower front of the door panel seems to be hitting the speaker?? Is it necessary to remove the 3/8” high oval band on the inside of the door panel speaker grill?

 

Are you sure you have it turned the right way? I didn’t cut anything.

 

I am 99% sure I did. If you push the door panel over the speaker is there any flex at all ? It’s very close but the door panel is definitely contacting the speaker.

 

Been a while, but I don’t recall any flexing or contact.

 

Just to followup, I put the stock speaker and the Kicker speaker/adapter face down on the bench and measured from the bench to the back of the mounting tabs which would be the installed height on the door.

Stock speaker: 1.276”
Aftermarket: 1.456”

I will need to find a thinner adapter or trim down the 3/8” high oval ring on the backside of the door speaker grill.

 

And the price went back up to $899.99.

 

I finished my install and just wanted to share how I resolved my door panel interference in case others see it. I thought about making a thinner adapter but was concerned the magnet would be pretty close to the window so I decided to trim down the oval plastic ring on the inside of the door panel. I masked the grill off to keep plastic out of it and then trimmed about 1/4” off the ring with a Dremel tool and a thin cutting disk. That resolved my interference issue and I don’t feel compromised the door panel at all.




My final install was an Avic-w8400 with a Maestro RR module. I did the Subaru tweeter upgrade and installed

$100 Kicker 43DSC69304 KICKER DSC6930 6x9" (160x230mm) 3-Way Speakers, 4-Ohm (Pair)

Kicker 43DSC69304 speakers in the front doors and

$80 Kicker 43DSC6704 KICKER DSC670 6.75" (165mm) Coaxial Speakers, 4-Ohm (Pair)

Kicker 43DSC6704 speakers in the Access cab doors. Note that the speaker part numbers others referred to have been superceeded according to Crutchfield and these are the ones they recommended for the W8400 without a separate amplifier. It really sounds GREAT, clear and loud.

I made it a month with my new truck and the Entune Premium stereo that came with the truck, I just couldn’t get used to it and missed the Carplay I had in my last Tacoma. So happy with the final result!

Thanks to everyone who commented on this thread the install was pretty straightforward!

 

Lol too many people were buying them

 

HAHAHAHA.

I went a different route.

 

coastieron... what did you go with or do?

 

I pm'd you. I don't want to dirty up a Pioneer specific thread.