SIRIUS radio install in 07 Camry?

SactoEric · 12-26-2007, 03:27 PM

My wife got us both SIRIUS radio for Christmas and this is her idea for installing it in the cubby w/ the door in front of the cup holders - She'd like it mounted at an angle on maybe MDF that can side out on a track - it could either be two pieces at a 90 degree angle or a box, but the purpose would be to slide back to close the door, and slide forward when in use in order to see the screen & controls.

We were also thinking of putting a splitter for the AUX input and mounting a plug on the front of the MDF piece above, next to or below the SIRIUS unit so she could also plug in her mp3 player. Would that cause any problems?

Anyone have any suggestions on making this work? I don't want to be accused of putting more work into my car than hers & the Camry is her daily driver

***Old Dood*** · 12-26-2007, 05:30 PM

When I had my 07 LE I mounted a Sportster in that cubby.
I had to take out the rubber mat.
I ended up using Velcro Strips and angled it toward the driver more then the passenger.
Worked pretty good. You will need a Ground Loop 'thing' to get rid of the motor 'whine' though.

Here is the best photo I have:

I also used the 'Suction Cup' attachment and screwed that on the back of the radio.
With the suction cup part facing/angled downward on the floor of the cubby.
This gave it strength so you could push on the unit without it falling over.

YotaRunner4 · 12-27-2007, 09:41 AM

Just one word of advice - these little Sirius radios generate a lot of heat. Installing and using them in a non-ventilated area can cause the radios to overheat and malfunction. I lost one radio and I know a few others that had problems with radios overheating because they were installed in little cubby holes.

SactoEric · 12-27-2007, 11:10 AM

Thanks for the replies

I'll have to look at the pic(s) when I get home as wherever they're hosted is blocked at work...

I know I could easily mount the unit in that cubby, but my wife is afraid that it would be too far back (w/ a functioning door) to see the controls while she's driving. Hence the idea of a slide out tray or box. I guess there's always the possibility of removing the door so it doesn't overhang & block the view, but I worry about the security aspect and being able to hide it would be nice. We do have good alarms and aren't in high crime areas, but that doesn't stop everyone.

Also, I realized that the stereo in my car may be All Sat ready, so I may not need the separate receiver/controls - I don't suppose the stock stereo in the Camry LE is All Sat ready as well, is it?

Netforcer · 12-27-2007, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dood

When I had my 07 LE I mounted a Sportster in that cubby.
I had to take out the rubber mat.
I ended up using Velcro Strips and angled it toward the driver more then the passenger.
Worked pretty good. You will need a Ground Loop 'thing' to get rid of the motor 'whine' though.

Here is the best photo I have:

I also used the 'Suction Cup' attachment and screwed that on the back of the radio.
With the suction cup part facing/angled downward on the floor of the cubby.
This gave it strength so you could push on the unit without it falling over.

could you see the display with it mounted on the cubby?

kase502 · 12-27-2007, 11:37 AM

she should be able to see it ok I have mines the same as Netforce and the door works fine and i can see the radio check my cardomain pg

***Old Dood*** · 12-27-2007, 06:39 PM

I could see it OK.
I had it tilted just a bit too.
It was in how I set up the suction cup behind it...
And my door shut too. I also popped the side cover out for more air flow...
You can also still use the remote control pretty easily.

SactoEric · 12-28-2007, 08:05 AM

I had her look at the pictures (great looking rides btw!) and she's not convinced that she'd be able to see it while driving... I guess the best thing for us to do is just to take it out of the box and go check.

Does anyone else have any pictures of other places to install it? One thought was to modify the sunglass holder, so it could flip down, but she wouldn't want to lose that... same w/ the cupholders... We tried searching Google Images & couldn't find much.

***Old Dood*** · 12-28-2007, 08:29 AM

Then just stick it on the window then.

There really is no other place for it.

EDIT: In other words, I think you are making a mountain out of a molehill.
It is not that important. It is just a radio.
You can also rip apart you whole center stack and install a JBL system or something like that with a built in Sat-Radio.
That is what I have in my XLE. The XLE I bought when I traded in my LE.

I did not have any problems 'seeing' the radio.
Of course it is not up high and you have to look downward.
Once the car is in Drive then it is easy to see the whole screen while it is in the cubby.

Like I said it is not that big of a deal....it is just a radio.

vinniemak · 12-28-2007, 10:34 AM

Here is my setup similar to Netforce...

My storage bin is full with (4) adapters and wires hence it is closed (permanently !!!). I have a GPS adapter for the Seidio unit as shown which connects to my Dell Axim PDA (w/ GPS), a Cobra XRS-9930 radar detector, cell phone adapter and of course the Sirius Replay Sportster unit as shown. The Camry CE 5 speed only comes with one cigarette lighter adapter and hence I don't have the additional 12V adapter thet is near the center arm rest. However, at the end of the day I have all the necessary toys : Sat radio, Radar detector, GPS...and a nice cell phone...

dlariv308 · 12-28-2007, 11:07 AM

I have the original Sportster mounted in the cubby. I have a "Y" connector so i can also hook up my iPod. When i am done i will just unplug the iPod and close everything up.

antenna is mounted on the inside by the rear window

Like old dude, i pulled the rubber mat out of te cubby and used a piece of velcro to secure it.

Gothemi · 12-28-2007, 11:33 AM

[quote=Old Dood;2109487]When I had my 07 LE I mounted a Sportster in that cubby.
I had to take out the rubber mat.
I ended up using Velcro Strips and angled it toward the driver more then the passenger.
Worked pretty good. You will need a Ground Loop 'thing' to get rid of the motor 'whine' though.

What is and where can I get this Ground Loop thing? I noticed this when I had a rental Camry and tried to connect my Sportster 4 to the AUX input.

Drks1de · 12-28-2007, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gothemi

What is and where can I get this Ground Loop thing? I noticed this when I had a rental Camry and tried to connect my Sportster 4 to the AUX input.

I had this one and it works great.

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...olator&tp=2653

***Old Dood*** · 12-28-2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drks1de

I had this one and it works great.

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...olator&tp=2653

That looks like a decent one.
I should get one for the iPod when we use that in the XLE.

SactoEric · 12-28-2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlariv308

antenna is mounted on the inside by the rear window

Does yours cut out at all w/ the antenna mounted inside? And would 5% tint interfere w/ the reception? It's nice having the antenna in the glass & would be a shame to have to put an antenna outside the car...