I've owned my FIRST Toyota for 2 weeks now and I'm ready to give my radio a three count with the trusty ole shotgun! I don't understand how the "best car company in the world" gets away with these underhanded restrictions on the audio system while driving. Sure, I knew about the nanny-nav complaints before I purchased, but I wasn't buying one with nav. My mistake, though, was in assuming I would be able to use the handsfree phone feature, a SAFETY feature, while driving. The speed dials are unavailable while driving, but I'm allowed to scroll through recent call history, hunting for the last time I called my number 1 speed dial when the car was stopped... Really Toyota?
All bashing aside, I'm writing this post to provide a little bit of information to 2013 Base and Plus model owners without the bells and whistles, as most TN threads discuss the Entune and nav radios. Additionally, most of the discussions are for pre-13 models.
I have the 2013 Highlander Plus V6 2wd (Model 6947). It has the same Display Audio system as the base model, plus the rear camera. This is not to be confused with the PREMIUM Display Audio that is standard on the SE. The radio that I have is neither pictured, nor merely discussed in either the owners manual or the equally obnoxious supplementary Display Audio novel. Both manuals refer you to the other manual, where you will find NOTHING. So, I have pieced together some info from the WWW.
This radio does NOT have:
Satellite Radio
HD Radio
Apps
Entune
Voice Controls
The ability to set door lock preferences
The ability to see tire pressures
Any other cool things you've heard about, such as reading text messages
On an interesting note, I was sitting in the car watching a YouTube video on my iPhone 5 and the sound was transmitting through the wireless Bluetooth system. I'm not sure if I can make it do that again, but it was cool. Now the wheels are turning in my head about mounting an iPad on the ceiling between the front seats for the future kids to watch movies. I wonder if that feature disables when I start rolling...
I have been able to set my door lock preferences using this procedure: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/122-2nd-generation-2008-2013/249118-customized-settings-2.html
I also suspect that my vehicle has the alarm and the ability to control the windows with the key and key fob, but these can only be activated by either: a dealer, who would definitely want to charge for it, or the Chinese bootleg Techstream software. I tried some DIY sequences posted by others, but had no success.
I have found the holy grail in my radio: The SETTINGS Menu!!! Don't get too excited, it doesn't do too much on the base radio. There are actually two menus accessible.
First, is a diagnostic screen. Here's how to get to it.
1. Insert key and turn to either ACC or ON (Car may be running, also).
2. Make sure the headlights are set to "DRL Off" or your equivalent of "OFF"
3. Press and hold the Settings button on the radio, while cycling the headlights all the way on, then all the way off, three times. (Or keep going until the screen pops up).
4. To exit the screen, hold the settings button for a few seconds or turn the key to the lock position.
This screen shows a greyed out "Camera" icon on the top right corner. I was never able to access it, even with the car in reverse and the camera activated. If anyone finds out what it does, I'd like to hear about it!
NOTE: If you press "Initialize" it resets the entire radio. My wife's gonna be P****D when she finds out I deleted all her phone and preset radio stations!
Second, is the Settings screen. This is accessed using the exact same sequence as above, except you hold the "Audio" button instead of the Settings button. This screen will show you most of the things on the diagnostic screen, plus a few other things. The only thing I found helpful was the ability to adjust the Bluetooth microphone level. It also shows you the version of the audio system you have, which I plan to exploit to see what else this radio can do that Toyota is trying to hide!
From what I can tell, the Base/Plus DA is the best system available in the 2013 HL because you have far less features that you are not allowed to use while driving!
I hope this helps and I look forward to hearing if any of you have found other cool stuff in your Base/Plus Highlander! (I would give my right arm for Driver's seat memory, but I'm also left handed!)
All bashing aside, I'm writing this post to provide a little bit of information to 2013 Base and Plus model owners without the bells and whistles, as most TN threads discuss the Entune and nav radios. Additionally, most of the discussions are for pre-13 models.
I have the 2013 Highlander Plus V6 2wd (Model 6947). It has the same Display Audio system as the base model, plus the rear camera. This is not to be confused with the PREMIUM Display Audio that is standard on the SE. The radio that I have is neither pictured, nor merely discussed in either the owners manual or the equally obnoxious supplementary Display Audio novel. Both manuals refer you to the other manual, where you will find NOTHING. So, I have pieced together some info from the WWW.
This radio does NOT have:
Satellite Radio
HD Radio
Apps
Entune
Voice Controls
The ability to set door lock preferences
The ability to see tire pressures
Any other cool things you've heard about, such as reading text messages
On an interesting note, I was sitting in the car watching a YouTube video on my iPhone 5 and the sound was transmitting through the wireless Bluetooth system. I'm not sure if I can make it do that again, but it was cool. Now the wheels are turning in my head about mounting an iPad on the ceiling between the front seats for the future kids to watch movies. I wonder if that feature disables when I start rolling...
I have been able to set my door lock preferences using this procedure: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/122-2nd-generation-2008-2013/249118-customized-settings-2.html
I also suspect that my vehicle has the alarm and the ability to control the windows with the key and key fob, but these can only be activated by either: a dealer, who would definitely want to charge for it, or the Chinese bootleg Techstream software. I tried some DIY sequences posted by others, but had no success.
I have found the holy grail in my radio: The SETTINGS Menu!!! Don't get too excited, it doesn't do too much on the base radio. There are actually two menus accessible.
First, is a diagnostic screen. Here's how to get to it.
1. Insert key and turn to either ACC or ON (Car may be running, also).
2. Make sure the headlights are set to "DRL Off" or your equivalent of "OFF"
3. Press and hold the Settings button on the radio, while cycling the headlights all the way on, then all the way off, three times. (Or keep going until the screen pops up).
4. To exit the screen, hold the settings button for a few seconds or turn the key to the lock position.
This screen shows a greyed out "Camera" icon on the top right corner. I was never able to access it, even with the car in reverse and the camera activated. If anyone finds out what it does, I'd like to hear about it!
NOTE: If you press "Initialize" it resets the entire radio. My wife's gonna be P****D when she finds out I deleted all her phone and preset radio stations!
Second, is the Settings screen. This is accessed using the exact same sequence as above, except you hold the "Audio" button instead of the Settings button. This screen will show you most of the things on the diagnostic screen, plus a few other things. The only thing I found helpful was the ability to adjust the Bluetooth microphone level. It also shows you the version of the audio system you have, which I plan to exploit to see what else this radio can do that Toyota is trying to hide!
From what I can tell, the Base/Plus DA is the best system available in the 2013 HL because you have far less features that you are not allowed to use while driving!
I hope this helps and I look forward to hearing if any of you have found other cool stuff in your Base/Plus Highlander! (I would give my right arm for Driver's seat memory, but I'm also left handed!)
