Aftermarket Head Unit

[Atticus]

Curious if anyone has replaced the stock head unit yet on a 2014? Been having trouble with mine and my Note3 and my wife's S5.
I've had the dealer replace the head unit 2 times now. I had another thread about my bluetooth issues but no one else seemed to have the same problem.
I'm just about sick of the Note3 anyways, so I'm curious if an iPhone will fix the issues, as the iPhone5s I had before my Note3 worked much better...

Either way, I don't think my phone should be the problem.. this technology should be working with all new phones. I see the head unit Toyota is using and then I look at other cars/trucks/SUVs amd I'm not very impressed. I love the 4runner but I feel like this dumbed down head unit should be working if all theses other high tech head units are working just fine.

Sorry to rant but after buying a brand new vehicle I feel that all the features should be working right...

Any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[rocklighting]

It has been done before. There is a thread, a large one at that, with all info on new head units, amps, face covers, wiring adapters, etc on the forum. I cannot remember what the thread is called, but do a search for new radio or new headunit and it should come up.


With Android Auto and Apple's Car technology, I am probably going to make my move to a more modern headunit myself. I can justify spending $800 for a new one to upgrade the look of a perfectly good truck rather then buying a new 4Runner for Toyota's Entune system.

Curious if anyone has replaced the stock head unit yet on a 2014? Been having trouble with mine and my Note3 and my wife's S5.
I've had the dealer replace the head unit 2 times now. I had another thread about my bluetooth issues but no one else seemed to have the same problem.
I'm just about sick of the Note3 anyways, so I'm curious if an iPhone will fix the issues, as the iPhone5s I had before my Note3 worked much better...

Either way, I don't think my phone should be the problem.. this technology should be working with all new phones. I see the head unit Toyota is using and then I look at other cars/trucks/SUVs amd I'm not very impressed. I love the 4runner but I feel like this dumbed down head unit should be working if all theses other high tech head units are working just fine.

Sorry to rant but after buying a brand new vehicle I feel that all the features should be working right...

Any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[rigtec]

"...I'm just about sick of the Note3 anyways, so I'm curious if an iPhone will fix the issues, as the iPhone5s I had before my Note3 worked much better...

Hi Atticus,

I too have had connectivity issues at one time as well, but changing phones is an expensive and useless fix; provided that your "Android OS" is up to date e.g., Ice cream sandwich 4.0, Jellybean 4.1, Kitkat 4.4, Lollypop 5.0. My T-Mobile 'My touch'/Entune network use to fail each time I attempted to make a call. I'd have to... pull over, shut the truck 'and the phone' down, restart both, wait about five minutes for them to pair... ("Really frustrating!") just to make a call.

The way I started seeing improvement is... I figured out that my problem was the phone's 'Bluetooth' feature needed to be 'Hard cycled'; which is just switching the bluetooth function off, and then back on... BEFORE getting in the truck. That seemed to be working so I continued to do it to avoid the scenario I've described earlier. Now, I never have to do that; for some reason it just started working correctly by itself about seven months ago... go figure!

Cheers

 

[fubar]

Hi Atticus,

I too have had connectivity issues at one time as well, but changing phones is an expensive and useless fix; provided that your "Android OS" is up to date e.g., Ice cream sandwich 4.0, Jellybean 4.1, Kitkat 4.4, Lollypop 5.0. My T-Mobile 'My touch'/Entune network use to fail each time I attempted to make a call. I'd have to... pull over, shut the truck 'and the phone' down, restart both, wait about five minutes for them to pair... ("Really frustrating!") just to make a call.

The way I started seeing improvement is... I figured out that my problem was the phone's 'Bluetooth' feature needed to be 'Hard cycled'; which is just switching the bluetooth function off, and then back on... BEFORE getting in the truck. That seemed to be working so I continued to do it to avoid the scenario I've described earlier. Now, I never have to do that; for some reason it just started working correctly by itself about seven months ago... go figure!

Cheers

Sorry to hijack but...

I had issues with my Verizon Droid Turbo and found turning Bluetooth off and then back on resolved the problem most of the time. FWIW - Nexus 6 w/ Bluetooth 4.1 works perfectly.

 

[Atticus]

I've done pretty much all I can think of. Rest all the Bluetooth in the phones and on the 4runner. Deleted the phones from the 4runner and re add them. Both phones are up to date on software. I did find the thread there they were talking about a software update... but I'm not sure the dealer I work with even messes with that seeing they just ordered a new head unit both times... who know.

 

[Jetboy]

I had a few issues for a while after the lollipop upgrade. I found that I needed to update all of the apps to make it function properly. Pandora was the most problematic. I did a full factory reset on my phone for other reasons and it's been flawless since that time. Probably in part becasue it reset everything and downloaded all new apps. I never had connection problems. Mostly just Pandora problems.

 

[kapp_badbloodz]

I secretly believe the phone companies update the phones to give them problems so you end up upgrading the phone to fix your problems. My S4 has all these issues but not with connecting to your car.

Do a cache clear by rebooting your phone into safe mode. select clear cache. it does nothing but clear misc data and information cluttering your phone (think defrag a computer). This may resolve the issue. It doesnt wipe your phone or anything.

 

[Atticus]

Thanks for the input guys. I will try clearing the cache on both phone and see if that helps. If not i'll do a reset and see what happens.

 

[rigtec]

Thanks for the input guys. I will try clearing the cache on both phone and see if that helps. If not i'll do a reset and see what happens.

Hi Atticus,

There's just one other thing that I would strongly recommend; in addition to deleting the phone cache. By pulling the head unit's Main fuse... "not the one in the driverside fuse/jb, but the one under the hood (Fuse/relay box) marked Amp 30A"... it's a green fuse in the center row.

That'll boot the Entune firmware/processor, giving it a 'Fresh start' in operation and connecting with your phone. Whenever I've done that it usually takes a few hours for the circuitry to drain completely so I'll pull that fuse at night and put it back in the morning.

Best to you!

 

[msp]

Curious if anyone has replaced the stock head unit yet on a 2014? Been having trouble with mine and my Note3 and my wife's S5.
I've had the dealer replace the head unit 2 times now. I had another thread about my bluetooth issues but no one else seemed to have the same problem.
I'm just about sick of the Note3 anyways, so I'm curious if an iPhone will fix the issues, as the iPhone5s I had before my Note3 worked much better...

Either way, I don't think my phone should be the problem.. this technology should be working with all new phones. I see the head unit Toyota is using and then I look at other cars/trucks/SUVs amd I'm not very impressed. I love the 4runner but I feel like this dumbed down head unit should be working if all theses other high tech head units are working just fine.

Sorry to rant but after buying a brand new vehicle I feel that all the features should be working right...

Any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

I had *a lot* of problems with Entune in my 2010. No problems with my 2015 and iOS or Android. You've gone through all the steps I can think of. Do you have a friend with a newer iPhone or Android phone that you can use to test?

 

[Atticus]

I will deffinitely try that [MENTION=83083]rigtec[/MENTION] . [MENTION=125788]msp[/MENTION] I haven't tried other people's phones yet. I just got off the phone with Samsung and ATT support. Both are blaming the head unit. I set a pretty good email to toyota corporate so we'll see what they say.. I'll keep you updated... yet again.

 

[Kotrin]

I've yet to have a single problem with my entune or my gf's. We both have Note 4's and she has a Corolla, i have the 4Runner. Both Premiums. We had a weird thing after the Entune update awhile back, but 2 days after the Entune update in the vehicle..it just fixed itself no issues before or since that 'fluke'. Android FL

 

[enkrypt3d]

I've yet to have a single problem with my entune or my gf's. We both have Note 4's and she has a Corolla, i have the 4Runner. Both Premiums. We had a weird thing after the Entune update awhile back, but 2 days after the Entune update in the vehicle..it just fixed itself no issues before or since that 'fluke'. Android FL

+1! Get a note4! ZERO issues and it works like a charm. Although I really do wish it would integrate the navigation thru bluetooth..... but thats just me being picky.

I haven't tried a note3 though but yea note4 is the way to go! :50cal:

 

[enapa]

s3 here. Verizon. Never had a single problem with phone/entune

 

[emporerofathens]

Kenwood dnn992

I have a 2015 SR5 premium non jbl and have had zero issues with my factory head unit. But I have replaced it and all my factory speakers. I was just not impressed with the overall sound quality that came with the 4runner. I have changed all the speakers to JL Audio (Front dash C3 tweeters, front doors C2 6x9 components, rear doors and rear hatch to C2 coaxial 6.5's) overall the sound is amazing. I then replaced my head unit with the Kenwood dnn992 and couldn't be happier with the overall sound quality. BUT the 992 head unit has been a nightmare for me personally and not very user friendly to say the least...I am having issues connecting my droid turbo via usb, I can make and receive calls through blutooth but can't stream music via blutooth, and my factory steering wheel controls do not work. So I am going to replace this unit with the pioneer nex 8100 it supports both android auto and apple car play. Hopefully I will get this done by the end of the week. So what I am getting at from my personal experience is to steer clear from the 992.

 

[NoDak]

ran a S3, worked perfectly until V pushed an update and ruined the BT. running a S5 now and didn't have issues until they pushed a Pandora/entune update a few months ago. recently they updated entune and the issues went away.

have notice if you retain a lot of texts (S5 defaults 1000, MMS @ 200) it gets flaky.

I usually dump mine down to 100 or 50 and MMS down to around 20.


just waiting for the Note 5 to come out in mid august.

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

I'm running a Galaxy S6 with no issues. Entune app, BT, no problems. I also installed the Entune update they pushed down a week or two back with no introduced issues. Android 5.0.2 build OF3 recently installed also with no introduced issues.

 

[Atticus]

Just an update. Toyota Corporate called me back finally yesterday. I made it known that I'm frustrated with what is going on. I'm dropping it off tomorrow at lunch. I made it apparent that I didn't want just a shuttle back to work as I would need to be driving though out the day. He said he didn't have any available until Friday afternoon. I had to bring Toyota Corporate back up for him to say "Oh yea, we can figure something out".... So then I asked for a Tundra to drive.... haha. Not holding my breath.

We'll see what happens... I'll update later.

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

I had problems with my base head unit early on in the owner ship when I had multiple android phones. Now have been using an apple for the past couple of years with no problems.

I will be updating my head unit to a Pioneer Nav unit with Apple play in the not too distant future.

 

[Atticus]

So I took it down there and of course no one knew anything about what was going on... even after the corporate guy called and talked to the service manager...

So that's a great start.. telling my story to 5 different people. Then I show them what happens when the Bluetooth drops the S5. The service guy goes and gets his iPhone which happens to work fine.. of course. Then he's saying how it's deffinitely the phones and how the head unit doesn't have a software upgrade out. I told him I find it hard to believe that other people have the same phones and same setup and don't have any problems at all and that I'm not going to buy a $600 phone to make something work that should already be working.

So they say that there's really nothing they can do and that they will call the tech support line and ask questions. So 20-30 minute drive both ways for absolutely nothing.