Hey radio dudes-

So I got the coolest thing for X-mas- a Sirius Starmate Replay and 2-year subscription. Already I don't know how I bothered trying to live without it, but I'm trying to find the best way to try and hard-wire it in, specifically getting the audio into my radio (the power and antenna will be easy).

I have a stock Toyota head unit in my '98 4Runner SR5, 1-DIN FM/Tape deck and then a 1-DIN CD player under it which is controlled by the tape deck. I won't be getting an aftermarket HU any time soon, since I have more important thinkgs to spend money on. The Starmate Sirius receiver has a built-in FM transmitter that can feed the signal into the radio, but the reception is crappy at best and runs into interference pretty regularly. I started using my tape adapter (usually for my MP3 player) and the audio clarity is much better, but I have a permanent cable hanging on the front of my dash going from the Sirius receiver to the tape deck, which kind of sucks.

I'm guessing the factory HU doesn't have any kind of AUX input in the back, but I was considering trying to tap into some wires in the HU's wiring loom that connects it to the CD player, so I could put it on CD mode and it will play the Sirius radio as long as it's not playing a CD (just pause the CD, and if it was playing a CD the audio signals would be played over one another). A sort of a ghetto solution, but significantly reduces the wiring nightmare I already have with all of my gadgets... plus would be kind cool. I might even make it so I could bypass the CD's audio with some sort of relay.

So, does this sound like it might be possible? Anyplace I can find a free wiring diagram for the factory HU, with CD player? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Basically, I just need to know what the wires are for audio channel left, right, and ground between the CD player and main head unit, assuming the CD player portion does the audio decoding and then just sends an audio signal to the HU.

 

Another option would be to get an RF modulator. Connect the sirus audio out to it, and connect the RF modulator inline with the radio antenna. It still wont be the best quality, but it will be much better than transmitting from the sirus and recieving on the toyota antenna. They should be pretty cheap at Radio shack or something.

 

Also, welcome to the Sirus family. I dont know what kind of music your into, but I would deffinattly check out Faction 28

 

I heard about that option, but if I can I want to have it set up such that my antenna is down when the Sirius is being played, and I'm worried about the audio quality too. Seems to me I might get a more direct input through the CD player...

 

You would have to find the audio lines from the cd player to the main deck. Then you could either put in a rocker switch to cut one audio at a time, or use 1 switch and a cuple relays. I would probobly go the relay way, but something about putting audio through any switch usually kills quality.

 

Thanks man. So far I've been enjoying Alt Nation, Hair Nation, Buzz Saw, and Octane (all rock stations). A little of the Comedy Channels too. It's so refreshing to not have to listen to commercials, and I like being able to see the Song and Artist for songs I don't know.

 

I think this is what you are looking for
http://www.pie.net/store/index.cfm?a...ils&ItemID=102
http://www.pie.net/store/index.cfm?a...ails&ItemID=94

You can call or email them to see if I am right. www.pie.net is their home page.

I bought their adapter for my F150 and it was well worth it.

 

i know this sounds obvious and unhelpful, but get an aftermarket HU... you wont regret it for a second. better sound, more options, aux inputs, etc. it is a great way to go.

 

I had no idea anything like that actually existed! I'll have to keep it in mind even though it is a bit of an expensive solution... I think I'd rather just solder on to the existing harness for free, as long as I don't hurt anything...

Yeah, but I really don't consider myself much of an audiophile, and I am busy spending money on transmission upgrades and paying off credit cards and car payments... Obviously, this would be the "best" solution but I really don't want to spend $200+ on a new stereo right now... When it goes dead, THEN I'll buy one.

 

The PIE stuff is great, they're pricey, but the competition is low (there's just one other company doing this) so they kinda' get away with it.

That "other company doing this" is BlitzSafe.

If you do try hacking into the CD audio lines, remember that you need to fake out the HU that a CD is playing so that the HU will switch to the CD input. This is one thing that you don't have to worry about with the PIE/BlitzSafe stuff.

 

Yeah, I figured I'd just put a CD in there and "pause" it when doing Sirius (but I'm worried about making the CD player go bad if it's just sitting there idling ALL the time...). I'm thinking about living with the tape adapter for now, and do the PIE route a little later on.

 

Yeah... A CD player keeps the disc spinning while in pause, not a real good idea.

 

You wouldn't happen to know where I might find a pinout or wiring diagram for the plug between the CD player and the deck would you? It occurs to me that the CD player probably has a wire that is 12V when there is a CD in it, and 0V when there isn't (it seems this would be the way the HU knows when it can go to CD mode). If I could simulate the 12V signal with a switch or relay, then I wouldn't have to worry about the CD player being on since the HU would think there is a CD present...

 

I would just start poking around with a voltmeter and getter figured. Unless there is already a pinout that someone hasn't coughed up yet, lol.

 

The 12 Volt has stereo info, but it doesn't cover the changer:
http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/...27&type=Stereo
(you may have to create an account to see this, it's free)

Commando has electrical info, but no stereo:
http://www.commandocaralarms.com/wir...Toyota/4Runner

Greg's got the right idea - start pokin'

 

It looks like the "plug and play" setups like the PIE hook directly into the CD changer port. My question is, without tearing it out, how do I know if my factory deck has the CD changer port or not? Can I assume that if it has a CD player, it has the port?

Also, has anyone looked into hacking into the TAPE audio lines? It never gets used anymore, I'm wondering if it would be possible to make it into an auxilary switch (for ipod, sirius, etc.)

 

I looked into this a long time ago now... basically I decided for the cost of a PIE unit (~$100 IIRC) I'd rather get an aftermarket unit. I'm planning to get an aftermarket unit for my newer 4runner these days, but I want it with bluetooth to interface with my Droid

 

Good point. FOr another $100-$200 I could have a double DIN aftermarket setup.

decisions, decisions...

 

There isn't any need to get a 2-DIN unit (they're more expensive). You can get a unit like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MEX-BT380.../ref=pd_cp_e_1

 

Yea I'm kind of regretting my single din Kenwood unit I purchased in June. Its a really nice radio and I have no problems with the unit itself. Problem is I'd just like to be able to have a nice big touch screen or even watch a DVD every now and again. Deff go with a double din unit if you have the cash. Try and find a friend that works at best buy. They get MAD discounts