Success - Aux Input for 6 disc In Dash Radio

[Picasso]

There have been many posts on this and other forums about successfully installing an aux audio input adapter for the stock single disc radio but not for the stock 6 disc in dash changer radio (model# A56811). That is until now.

After spending quite a long time and initially giving up on trying to find an aux input for my 6 disc unit that came with my 2000 Limited, I found and installed an adapter for my XM Commander from P.I.E. today. From all the research that I had done, I didn't think it would work but I was determined to find out for myself.

I ordered the P.I.E. TOY-AUX adapter from www.MyRadioStore.com. They sell both P.I.E. and Blitzsafe adapters. For those of you with Tundras starting in the 2003 model year, the P.I.E. TOY03-AUX is the part number that will work with those "all digital" radios. I chose the P.I.E. since I had already tapped into power for the XM Commander which is what the Blizsafe does but the P.I.E. adapter does not. I've read of a few people experiencing problems with the P.I.E. adapter such as causing the satellite radio signal to drop out. Time will tell for me.

It sounds significantly better than the wired FM modulator that I was using, which sounded pretty good to begin with. The dynamic range and overall quality is comparable to digital. No more hiss either. I had to reduce the output level of the XM radio so that the volume wasn't so much louder than the CD player and the FM radio. With the engine running, there is no alternator whine or any other RF interference that I could detect. Tapping into the radio power leads to run the Commander helps in this regard.

The XM Commander signal is selected by pressing the CD button on the stock unit. Each press of the button cycles between the CD player and the Commander. When the Commander is selected, the stock unit displays CD1. (See attached photo "Final Install".)

I have attached annotated pictures of the install for reference. They are as follows:
- PIE adapter: This is what came in the mail.
- Radio - Back: Back side of my stock radio with the port, that I plugged the PIE into, annotated
- Radio - Top: Shows the model number of my stock radio
- Radio - Front: Shows how I attached the XM Commander display to the stock radio faceplate
- Final Install: Shows the stock radio display when the XM Commander is selected along with the mounted XM Commander display

[Agent WD-40]

Great find. There have been a lot of folks interested in adding inputs for an ipod and such to the factory radio.

[misejh1]

so i guess for a seq 01 with the 6 disc jbl 10 speaker stuff i'll need the pie toy-aux. Does the unit need to have power? I plan to hook up my laptop/mp3 player.

Thanks!

[Picasso]

Originally Posted by Agent WD-40

Great find. There have been a lot of folks interested in adding inputs for an ipod and such to the factory radio.

Yes. This should allow you to hook up any device that has line level RCA outputs.

Originally Posted by misejh1

so i guess for a seq 01 with the 6 disc jbl 10 speaker stuff i'll need the pie toy-aux. Does the unit need to have power? I plan to hook up my laptop/mp3 player.

Thanks!

The P.I.E. adapter does not require any additional power connections to be made for it to work. It probably draws power from the port on the radio, that it plugs into, to make it work. Any device that you attach, must have its own power supply.

[misejh1]

Thanks!

I ordered one last night! I also ordered a vacuum loaded DVD/MP3 player. I plan to have the AUX hooked up to it and have the dvd player in the center console. I'll take some pics. Now i have to decide where to put the 7 in lcd i bought.

Thanks again!

[misejh1]

I installed mine last night with a poweracoustic dvd player that plays mp3. I mounted the player in my glove box. it is super small. The only problem i have now is when I listen to regular cd in the head unit there is intermittent cut out that sounds like cd skipping. THis doesn't happen when i listen to the same cd via the dvd player or when i listen to the radio. I am going to contact PIE and find out what is going on.

Other than that... the device works good.

Thanks!

[Picasso]

Originally Posted by misejh1

I installed mine last night with a poweracoustic dvd player that plays mp3. I mounted the player in my glove box. it is super small. The only problem i have now is when I listen to regular cd in the head unit there is intermittent cut out that sounds like cd skipping. THis doesn't happen when i listen to the same cd via the dvd player or when i listen to the radio. I am going to contact PIE and find out what is going on.

Other than that... the device works good.

Thanks!

That's very odd. Have you tried unplugging the P.I.E. adapter to see if the symptom continues?

Let us know what you find out from P.I.E..

[misejh1]

Originally Posted by Picasso

That's very odd. Have you tried unplugging the P.I.E. adapter to see if the symptom continues?

Let us know what you find out from P.I.E..

I spoke to Mike from PIE btw- their phone number is 800-526-8590. they don't post it on their site but i called the place where i bought mine and they had it. It was the green wire on their harness messing things up. He told me to simply cut the wire and all would work like promised. He said they were supposed to have fixed that recently. I used a paperclip and slipped the green one out. I tried it and everything works!

Good luck!

[lewisrh]

Picasso,
I'm glad you started this about the PIE Toy-Aux adapter. I was convinced that there was no way to make an aux input with the 6-disc player. Thanks to you, I ordered one from XMFanStore, installed it, and it works exactly as advertised. I'm curious to know where you put the PIE box itself. I pushed mine back behind the main amp but can easily move it if you have a better idea. Also, for others considering the PIE adapter, it may be helpful to know that plugging the PIE plug into the 12 pin port at the rear of the head unit can be a little tough. I had to (lightly) tap it in using a hammer. It also looks like I do not need to cut the green wire as reported by misejh1.

[F1Jim]

I'm considering buying the Blitzsafe Toy/Aux DMX V.2 to connect my XM Roady to the "Premium 3-in-1 combo" radio in my '04 Sequoia. I'm currently using the cassette adapter. It sounds OK. I'm hoping the direct connection will be better.

[Picasso]

Originally Posted by misejh1

I spoke to Mike from PIE btw- their phone number is 800-526-8590. they don't post it on their site but i called the place where i bought mine and they had it. It was the green wire on their harness messing things up. He told me to simply cut the wire and all would work like promised. He said they were supposed to have fixed that recently. I used a paperclip and slipped the green one out. I tried it and everything works!

Good luck!

That's great info. Thanks for finding a solution to this potential problem.

Originally Posted by lewisrh

Picasso,
I'm glad you started this about the PIE Toy-Aux adapter. I was convinced that there was no way to make an aux input with the 6-disc player. Thanks to you, I ordered one from XMFanStore, installed it, and it works exactly as advertised. I'm curious to know where you put the PIE box itself. I pushed mine back behind the main amp but can easily move it if you have a better idea. Also, for others considering the PIE adapter, it may be helpful to know that plugging the PIE plug into the 12 pin port at the rear of the head unit can be a little tough. I had to (lightly) tap it in using a hammer. It also looks like I do not need to cut the green wire as reported by misejh1.

Glad that this worked for you as well. I am still very happy with the improved fidelity over the FM modulator. I fed the adapter through the space below the support frame that attaches to the radio on the right side and then down the right side of the console. The RCA jacks almost touch the carpet on the passenger's side which is where I have temporarily (permanently?) put the XM Commander. The adapter has worked flawlessly so for, so I haven't had to do anything with the green wire. It went in very firmly, but I just pressed as hard as I could to get it in while holding the radio against my stomach. You are very brave to use a hammer.

For anyone else considering an aux input adapter for your stock radio, it seems that if your radio has buttons to change a CD track, then you have a port that will accept an adapter from P.I.E. and/or Blitzsafe which will allow you to add an audio device with line level outputs. For some reason unknown to me, this capability has not been well advertised by Toyota.
There has been a surge of postings and new threads recently on this topic and I hope that this will help answer questions regarding aux input adapter compatibility. I was thinking of creating a post that included links to all of the examples on TS that showed sucesses of members using adapters for all of the various radio models that come in our trucks. Maybe later.

On a side note, I think I have located an existing attachment behind the console that provides constant power, accessory power, and ground but I haven't dragged my body and my digital voltmeter to my floor mats to confirm this. I'll do that later and post on the appropriate thread.

I must go try and get a life.

Good luck to all.

[F1Jim]

Well, I went ahead and got the PIE "Toy03-Aux" from xmfanstore.com for $75 shipped. Wish me luck

[HockeyFreak]

Good Luck!

[exphotoguy]

Anyone know if the P.I.E. adaptor TOY03 will work for the 6 disc model #A56826 in an '03 limited? It has the tape player also. Along the bottom there are buttons for AM - FM - Tape - Disc. When I press disc twice, nothing happens differently.

I'm currently using a Kenwood Sirius setup that's FM modulated. The sound is not great, especially compared to CD's, but I've lived with it for now because of the content. It would be great to have it directly wired, I'm sure it would sound much better. Thanks in advance!

[F1Jim]

Exphotoguy, I think the PIE TOY03/AUX will work for you.