DIY XM Radio 08 Sequoia DIY install

[RipplingHurst]

Hi all,

I have a Sequoia Platinum 08 with the JBL system and rear entertainment system. I just missed the XM radio, but I wouldn't pay close to $800.00 for part and labour at the dealer.

So I paid $279.00 on ebay for a system ( Integration Solutions), and did the installation myself. I wasn't happy with the solutions I've seen in the Tundra forums. Most DIY install the antenna inside the car, on the upper dash, some besides the central speaker. But the XM antenna really likes to be on the roof, with lots of metal around it.

So I downloaded from TIS the dealer installation instructions of the XM accessory radio. The difference from the kit I bought is:

1. Toyota receiver is supposed to be installed below the driver's seat, but I have other plans for that spot, so I chose inside the front console.

2. Toyota antenna used double sided tape, the XM antenna I used is magnetic.

3. My kit has two parts, one from XM, XM direct, another from Soundlinq, SLX, which retails for 249.00. It also has two sets of RCA cables and all the harness conectors. Most importantly for me, was the extra AUX input: I can use the radio SAT3 as an AUX input. Yes, I know that the JBL has an AUX plug, but I wanted an extra one for future expansion.

Here is some pictures:

1. Final location: The stock location according to the instructions, should be 6" north of what it is, and 1.5" to the center. I think in this place it looks better, but that's just MHO. The best part of course: no drilling required.



2. Routing the antenna cable inside the drip moulding: super easy, I left some cable left so that I can move the antenna around a little.





3. Routing inside the windshield weather strip. Be careful not to damage the antenna cable on this part, it's not very insulated. There is a nice tunnel in one side, the cable inserts in that and it's completely hidden from view and the elements there.



Be patient now, it's easy enough, just don't use any metal tools! You can use some plastic ruler also, I used a couple of dash removal tools.



When you're done, check for the any gaps between the weather
strip and the windshield. Look for anything that does not look as before, no ripples.



Now you route the cable around the edges of the engine compartment




More follows:

[RipplingHurst]

The antenna cable are going to go back inside the car, through this cover. Use some puncture tool and the green solid wire you see in the picture to make a hole in there, but first you'll have to find where it's going to appear inside.




Remove the front left side lower trim, just clips and a plastic nut in the back (sorry for the out of focus pic):




Remove the lower finish panel, I needed to, because I'm going to route the antenna cable to the XM Receiver in the center console. Remove the negative battery terminal first before unplugging anything!




Later you're going to route the cable along the heater duct, then go behind the dash reinforcement and, if you have removed the headunit already, fish the cable from there:




Below is the wire coming from the engine bay.




I also did route a Monster 4 gauge wire for future uses, that way I can seal the plastic cover inside the bay with silicone and forget about it.




The 4 gauge cable is routed along the door seal into below the driver's seat.




Cover's closed, barely nothing showing.




Removed the AC controls, I used some tape to protect the finish. Remember to disconnect the battery first!




Headunit removed. For complete and detailed instructions on how to do this, use this Radio removal instructions. It's super entertaining, trust me!




Now you remove the black 12 pin in the middle of the picture below and in its place you put the white one, the black goes to another connector in the aftermarket harness. This is the only 12 pin plug that needs to be removed, and the Soundlinq satellite harness inserted in its place. All the rest remains as it was before.




XM unit velcroed inside the center console. This is a temporary solution, I'm planning to use this space for a lot more stuff.




Below is the final antenna position:





Unless you're pretty tall, you can't barely see it from eye level.





Now if you're 7" tall, that's a different story! LOL.




Hope this helps,

Cheers,

RH.

[Theohiomike]

That is a great write up. Thankyou.
I too went to the dealer just to hear $800 installed. I went a different route and installed the Pioneer Nav DVD xm HD Bluetooth set up which anyone could do for the same amount of money off ebay. Do you think that antena will make it through a car wash up there? I have mine on the dash and it does cut out sometimes so I was thinking about routing it like yours.. Thanks again

[RipplingHurst]

"Will it survive a car wash?" Good question, I'd think so. It's a strong magnet, but if does not work, I can try 3M double sided tape, just like the factory install. However, I would fear most is after the wash when the guys come to dry it out. At most, it would be just displaced. I'll let you know about it

[Heatwave3]

A quick shout out to "ripplinghurst" for the DIY photos for installing XM radio on my 2008 Plat Sequoia. The pics were a great help for installing the antenna wiring. I took a slightly different course that didn't require removing the driver's knee cushion or the side panel under the steering wheel. I simply ran the antenna through the large rubber grommet (not very much fun) and then zipped tied it high up against the interior firewall before enterring the center console (past the brake pedal up high).

My system was also bought off ebay for $279 but looked quite different from your unit. My antenna was much smaller than the one in your photo. Mine antenna was also magnetic and has already been through the carwash without moving at all.

I had the unit that included the SL2xmt SoundLinq2 component. It also included the 12 pin Toyota harness, Mini-tuner interface adapter, mini-tuner docking station and mini-tuner cartridge. I was able to stack all of these small units on top of one another and bind them together with electic tape into a single stacked unit.

Essentially I had the antenna wire running to this stacked unit and the single end of the pig-tail harness from the back of the radio run to the front of the center console. I placed velcro on the bottom of the stacked units and the matching piece of velcro on the carpeting under the very front lower section of the space under the cupholders. It fit very nice and tidy.

Reception is great and all the functions on the radio, including the steering wheel work as designed in the owner's manual. Essentially I now have 3 Sat memory stations, each with 6 memory positions plus 2 FM stations with 6 memory positions each, plus 1 AM station and the CD memory positions for the 4 slots in the JBL Nav system.

Very pleased with the outcome for $279 versus the $800 the dealer wanted. Set aside at least 3 hours to complete the install. You also will want a helper to get the plug end of the antenna wire from the engine compartment into the passenger compartment using the instructions that Ripplinghurst provided above.

One small tip that worked for me was to use to plastic knives (non-serated) to slide the antenna wiring under the gasket around the windshield. Take your time and this approach works quite well.

Good luck to anyone else interested in this install. I'm certainly very pleased with the outcome.