Can someone help re: Satellite radio installation for my 2005 limited - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Jasmine · 12-20-2005, 01:41 PM

My son bought me an XM subscription for Xmas.
When I LEASED MY 2005 Avalon Limited last August, I was told it was "satellite ready". There IS a 'SAT' button on the radio. Anyway, when I called the dealer to find out how to activate the XM in the car, he told me it would cost me $500 installation for them to install and set it up!! They told me "Toyota is very specific as to where the antaenna needs to be placed on the vehicle". Best Buys, where he bought the service tells me they will install the antaenna for $59!
I asked the guy at Best Buy about the appearance, placement, etc., and he said that I would not be able to see the antaenna when they were through, and nothing in the car would be tampered with.

I'm also worried about reception. The car is a three year lease, so I don't think I want to pay $500 for something that I understood as already being available in the car. Interestingly, the Toyota dealership told me that I'd have to leave the car for about a day and a half. Bestbuys told me they'd have it done in an hour.

Has anyone had any similar experience? Should I be reluctant to let Bestbuys install it? I am already 'put out 'that I had to pay $130 for all-weather mats for a LEASED car (although I'm SO glad I have them in this East Coast wintery climate, and they look very beautiful in the car).

Fooey! I was so excited about this, and now I'm feeling ripped off by the dealership who told me the car was XM ready. Even to a person who doesn't know anything about cars, I do understand a little bit about wiring, and I just don't see where the heck they come up with $500, and the guy giving me the quote said it might even be more depending on 'unforseen' costs!!

Thanks in advance for your help/suggestions, and happiest of holidays to everyone.

Peace,
J.

osidepunker · 12-20-2005, 02:59 PM

Satellite radio requires a head unit, receiver, and an antenna. Your car already has a HU, but you'll need the receiver and the antenna. The receiver is about 6"x6"x1". The antenna looks like a computer mouse, depending on which one you get. Toyota is very specific about where everything needs to be mounted. They require the dealer to take apart your backseat and trunk. There is a lot of labor involved. Bestbuy will just mount the receiver and antenna wherever they think will be easiest. They should have everything done in a few hours. Since you car is a lease, I would go with the cheapest installation. If you owned the car I would have it installed by the dealer.

csaxon · 12-20-2005, 04:50 PM

I have the Toyota installation manual in pdf form for the 2005satellite system but I don't know how to post it?

Jasmine · 12-20-2005, 07:05 PM

Thanks for the responses, guys. I am just going to have Bestbuy install it for me, since they promise it will not look ridiculous, lol.

Now to get the damn thing activated in the car! Wish me luck. I do love that car.

J.

preskev · 12-20-2005, 08:01 PM

See the following for more info:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t100425.html

If you want to use the head unit to control the XM receiver, you will need a specific harness that hooks up to your head unit. I think you can only purchase from a Toyota Dealer. I am not sure if there are aftermarket harnesses for the avalon yet.

The position of the Antenna does not matter, as long as it faces the sky. It usually is magnetic so you can adjust it as you see fit and play with until you get a good signal.

My preference with Best Buy...I would go to a Car Audio Shop instead. I have heard bad stories with the very young guys damaging wiring during installation. If it is a lease, I agree get the cheapest installation. But make sure you confirm that they have the proper harness to control the receiver through your toyota head unit.

I had mine installed through a local stereo shop in about 45 minutes. They installed all the Toyota factory parts, using more efficient methods. It cost about $600.

To activate is easy. Just go to the website and setup and account. Make sure Best Buy or whoever gives you the S/N of the receiver. Then turn on your car and leave it outside for 30-60 mins for the system to set itself up. You have to be patient for this item.

retired00 · 12-21-2005, 09:26 AM

I would expect your Best Buy install will feed through a specific frequency on the radio, not integrated with the Sat feature of the radio.

osidepunker · 12-21-2005, 12:59 PM

If it's not directly connected to your HU it will sound like @ss

preskev · 12-21-2005, 07:39 PM

Csaxon - I sent you a PM for the .pdf

The one bad thing about the toyota install was I never received a manual. The installer said there was not documentation. I did not see anything on the tech website either during the summer.

dubbedavalon · 12-22-2005, 11:32 AM

Best Buy will not use the headunit, like the other guy said. they use a FM frequency, so you will get alot of static. I would go with Toyota because you will get what you pay for. I learned the hard way after I installed my sirius using the FM frequency, the sound is not that clear, you will lose the signal alot. spend the money, you leased a really nice car, now don't settle for some cheap sound quality.

csaxon · 12-22-2005, 12:44 PM

preskev I sent it today by Yahoo. Ironically, page 6 says "Please see your Toyota dealer for a copy of this document". You might show that to your dealer from the copy I sent.