2007 Camry Sound System Question - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

mw817 · 04-27-2006, 11:05 PM

I have a question about my new 2007 Camry. When I bought the LE model last week the I requested and the dealer charged me for XM Radio to be installed in my car a week after the purchase. So today when I went in to have the windows tinted and the XM installed, I was told that XM was not compatible with my head unit.

The head unit installed in my car was the single disc CD system with the AUX port for my MP3 player. So I was offered a refund of the $695 I was billed for the XM Radio. I politely refused and informed them that the whole deal was based on XM being installed.

Well to try to make a long story short, I got the runaround and was told that the upgraded head unit (Premium Sound with 6 disc CD changer) was not compatible with my wiring harness. And that there is nothing they could do. After going round and round with the service manager, sales director and the sales manager who did my deal. They came back and said they "weren't sure" if it would work with my harness. Note the change from POSITIVELY SURE, so we ordered a upgraded sound system with 6 disc CD changer which is supposed to arrive in 5 to 10 days.

If the new upgraded head unit wont work, they promised to unwrap the deal and I would go find something else and they would take the car back. This isn't something they easily agreed to but was the final solution if the new unit didn't fix the issue. So basically my question is does anyone know FOR SURE weather or not the JBL Surround system head unit with CD changer will plug into my harness?

Sorry for the long drawn out question.. This is my first post so don't beat me up to badly!

jurisprudent · 04-27-2006, 11:35 PM

I assume by "not compatible" you mean there is no method of directly wiring in an XM headunit or no method of having the HU control it right? Otherwise, you can use FM Modulators, or just wait a few months and I'm sure Blitzsafe or PIE will come out with some adapter to utilize the AUX port.

mw817 · 04-27-2006, 11:54 PM

Thanks for the reply,

Yes they told me that the two head units had different plugs and henceforth the wiring harness wouldn't allow the new head unit to plug in directly.

They tried installing the XM tuner to the back of the single disc system but it wouldn't recognize the XM tuner at all. Meaning it wouldn't power up nor could you select XM via any buttons.

As for the aftermarket setup. This is not an option. I wanted an installed system not an FM modulator. I have that in my F-150 pickup and it sucks! Lots of feedback and noise. The sound quality just isn't there in that type of set up. Even with it connected through the AUX port in my truck, the sound still isn't that great. And just for what its worth, I have an Alpine setup in my truck.

As I said before, XM installed head unit just like any other Camry on the lot was what the deal was for. Not some jerry-rigged set-up.

So the question remains... Will the premium sound system head unit and CD changer plug directly in to my wiring harness?

netherland24 · 04-28-2006, 12:02 AM

no... sorry sounds bad but... with premium radios if u look at the harness on the cars they offer RCA's since it is a amplified system, now what u have is good ol' factory u would use a 1761 i think toyota harness which has 2 plugs, if it dont work, tell them to upgrade u buy letting them get u a after market with XM tuner box. if not then return it. but wait till u get it. cause i know i have had problems when it came to working the highlander JBL system.

mw817 · 04-28-2006, 12:12 AM

So are what you saying is that the upgraded has the RCA plugs and will not have the standard plugs like the factory unit? And I'm not familar with a 1761 so could you please explain?

The XM tuner that they tried on my unit had a standard plug. It was a Toyota unit that is normally installed in upgrades I assume. It had a Toyota part number.

Thanks again for the replys...

If this doesn't work, I will just trade up to a different car, XLE or similar. The problem was the dealer didn't have any '07's in the Blue Ribbon Metallic with XM factory installed. And they said they don't do "Dealer to Dealer" swaps for a car at another location that does have what I want.

netherland24 · 04-28-2006, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mw817

So are what you saying is that the upgraded has the RCA plugs and will not have the standard plugs like the factory unit? And I'm not familar with a 1761 so could you please explain?

The XM tuner that they tried on my unit had a standard plug. It was a Toyota unit that is normally installed in upgrades I assume. It had a Toyota part number.

Thanks again for the replys...

If this doesn't work, I will just trade up to a different car, XLE or similar. The problem was the dealer didn't have any '07's in the Blue Ribbon Metallic with XM factory installed. And they said they don't do "Dealer to Dealer" swaps for a car at another location that does have what I want.

the harness on the JBL sound system car has rca plugs that give's the speakers a 2ohm load, and the radio u have right now is basic no rca plugin's, and the MET1761 is a radio harness used to upgrade radio's too aftermarket radio's.

i hope that helps alittle.

jurisprudent · 04-28-2006, 12:53 AM

Agreed on FM Modulator suckiness. It doesn't matter to a lot of people, but apparently you are like me and it drives you nuts. That's the setup I have in my Passat... tried tape and it was no better. Can't use AUX b/c MP3 already does...

Anyhow, back on topic, I hope you can figure this out

Old Dood · 04-28-2006, 09:41 AM

I have the same stock head unit in my 07 Camry LE....I just bought a Sportster Sirius radio and installed it inside the cubby behind the gear shift. Works fine using the AUX jack as my direct connect. I am sure you can do that with the XM radios as well......allot cheaper and sounds just as good!

jjthenovice · 04-28-2006, 09:52 AM

I don't see how the upgraded head-unit can work in your car because it also requires the separate amp which you car does not have. The dealership should know this.

mw817 · 04-28-2006, 10:09 AM

Thanks for the replies...

Yes, you would think the dealer would know that but there was conflicting information. Someone said they thought it would work, some said they were sure it WOULDN'T work.

Personally, I don't have anything against aux port setups, but I paid for and expected XM controllable head-unit and was lead to believe that is what I would have when it was all said and done. I hate being a pain in the arse about it but I paid a lot of money for my car and bought it on the terms we agreed to, not one thing less.

If I was told in the beginning that it would NOT be possible with this car I would have looked elsewhere for my requirements.

It really sucks because I really don't want to drive the car that much until this whole deal is settled. I'm afraid if I put miles on the car, they will use that against me in unwrapping the deal. I will trade up with this same dealer. I just want XM!

That was the option the other day when all this came to a head. But they didn't have an '07 XLE on the lot so they said. And it would take 6 weeks to order one not to mention the $5500 increase in total cost.

So let me ask you guys this, do you think they were yanking my chain when they told me they would unwrap the deal if this didn't work?

Sales Director, the Sales Manager, Service Manager and myself were all seated together when the Sales Director told me that we could unwrap the deal if this new head unit didn't work.

I don't have much experience in dealing with car dealers. So I'm kind of skeptical...

Old Dood · 04-28-2006, 10:21 AM

Well it seems like they are "Buying Time" by saying maybe it can be done. Longer they keep you on the hook the longer they make their money. Personally I do not trust dealerships for ANYTHING...especially the Service Dept.

The AMP part...I forgot about. That is true they have a separate amp that goes behind the glove box. (I think) The JBL system also has 8 speakers. I would get something in writing...even if it is a "WE OWE" sheet of paper.

Just to let you know...I like having a separate Sat-Radio so I can pull it out and use it in my boom box that is made for it.

jjthenovice · 04-28-2006, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mw817

So let me ask you guys this, do you think they were yanking my chain when they told me they would unwrap the deal if this didn't work?

Sales Director, the Sales Manager, Service Manager and myself were all seated together when the Sales Director told me that we could unwrap the deal if this new head unit didn't work.

I don't have much experience in dealing with car dealers. So I'm kind of skeptical...

If it's not on paper then it doesn't exist. In other words, if you don't have it in writing, then you don't have a contract. GET IT IN WRITING.

drunken_panda · 04-28-2006, 11:02 AM

This is from the Camry options page:

JBL® AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with satellite radio capability,3
MP3/WMA playback capability, auxiliary audio jack, hands-free phone capability
via Bluetooth®4 wireless technology, eight speakers in six locations and
FM diversity reception

So you are looking good.