chester4Run
New member
I started having issues where my factory unit wouldn't work right any more (it wouldn't turn on for several minutes after starting the truck, or the controls would stop working for a while, etc) so I decided to upgrade the stereo. Thanks to [MENTION=386332]Deimos[/MENTION], [MENTION=42864]KP Texan[/MENTION], and [MENTION=128646]Dr. Monkeypants[/MENTION] for their posts. Those helped me make some choices and figure out my solution. I used the Scosche dash kit and iDatalink Maestro RR interface.
I installed in a 2011 SR5 without JBL or touchscreen. The stereo itself is well covered in previous posts, so here are some notes and specifics to early 5th gens:
1. Party mode does work, but works differently. With the OEM setup the front dash speakers are switched with party mode as well as the rear hatch speakers. With this aftermarket solution only the rear hatch speakers are switched with party mode. The dash speakers are active all the time. It sounds better this way (I imagine similar to the party mode tweak posted about by several people). However it confused me at first into thinking Party Mode wasn't working.
2. Get the wiring diagrams from iDatalink. Crutchfield didn't include appropriate instructions with my order at least and the documentation that comes with the hardware doesn't have what you need. Save some time and get from the iDatalink website (you'll need their flash software anyway). The Maestro interface and wiring kit includes a lot of optional pieces, so the wiring diagram is essential (or you'll have a lot a trial and error).
3. My 2011 uses an OBDII adapter connected to Maestro unit to get vehicle informaiton. It's neat and you can adjust some of the vehicle options (door locks, fob function of the sunroof, light timing) as well as see some info (tire pressures, door status, intake/exhaust temps, etc). It's not as complete as what you can get with the later 2014+ 5th gens, but it's not missing entirely either.
4. Once you get the unit online, the first thing you need to do is attach it to wifi and agree the EULA and Privacy agreements. It tells you to agree to them in the documentation and configuration screens, but it doesn't present them until you get it connected to the internet. FAQ from Pioneer indicates you need to be parked with brake engaged, but from what I can tell my radio doesn't know the parking brake status and this wasn't required. Just need to connect it to a hotspot (carplay connection is NOT sufficient).
5. CarAVAssist is also a little tricky. You need to connect your device to carplay (or probably android auto), then connect it as a hotspot (must be your phone hotspot -- home wifi with your phone also connected wouldn't work for me) then swipe left on the home screen to see the CarAVAssist icon (I couldn't find this for the longest time). Next launch CarAVAssist from the head unit, launch it on your phone, and connect the phone to the unit. Now you can adjust and transfer home screen configurations, setup favorite teams, and DOWNLOAD the firmware upgrade. You CANNOT actually upgrade the firmware from here, though the software will try to do that after it downloads it. To upgrade the firmware, on the head unit go to settings, software, and run the firmware upgrade wifi option from there (still connected to your phone hotspot). It will transfer the firmware and upgrade.
6. LOVE the 3d printed microphone mount. Despite being for kenwood it worked perfectly for my pioneer mic. I added a zip tie around it to make sure the mic didn't move. I found someone on makerxyz.com to print it for $5 out of PETG. Later I found someone to do it for $20 out of ABS, so I'll have a spare if the PETG doesn't hold up.
7. I was not able to get the factory USB in the glove box to work with this configuration. The metra adapter (Metra AX-TOYUSB-2) from Crutchfield doesn't match any plugs that I have. I bought Metra AX-USB-35EXT separately and replaced the analog aux below the factory stereo with this. It fits the hole and wires up perfectly. You end up replacing the Maestro analog plug connection with the analog from this adapter, and connecting this USB to the back of the radio.
Bluetooth and wireless carplay connect very quickly when the unit turns on, at least as fast as OEM which was one of my concerns since I use spotify heavily while driving. There is also a neat option within the unit to stay on while cranking, which I think causes it to use the constant power when the engine is cranked. This is nice when listening on accessory, then starting the car -- no rebooting the unit at that point.
That's all I can think of. It's a good technology upgrade for an early 5th gen in my opinion.
I installed in a 2011 SR5 without JBL or touchscreen. The stereo itself is well covered in previous posts, so here are some notes and specifics to early 5th gens:
1. Party mode does work, but works differently. With the OEM setup the front dash speakers are switched with party mode as well as the rear hatch speakers. With this aftermarket solution only the rear hatch speakers are switched with party mode. The dash speakers are active all the time. It sounds better this way (I imagine similar to the party mode tweak posted about by several people). However it confused me at first into thinking Party Mode wasn't working.
2. Get the wiring diagrams from iDatalink. Crutchfield didn't include appropriate instructions with my order at least and the documentation that comes with the hardware doesn't have what you need. Save some time and get from the iDatalink website (you'll need their flash software anyway). The Maestro interface and wiring kit includes a lot of optional pieces, so the wiring diagram is essential (or you'll have a lot a trial and error).
3. My 2011 uses an OBDII adapter connected to Maestro unit to get vehicle informaiton. It's neat and you can adjust some of the vehicle options (door locks, fob function of the sunroof, light timing) as well as see some info (tire pressures, door status, intake/exhaust temps, etc). It's not as complete as what you can get with the later 2014+ 5th gens, but it's not missing entirely either.
4. Once you get the unit online, the first thing you need to do is attach it to wifi and agree the EULA and Privacy agreements. It tells you to agree to them in the documentation and configuration screens, but it doesn't present them until you get it connected to the internet. FAQ from Pioneer indicates you need to be parked with brake engaged, but from what I can tell my radio doesn't know the parking brake status and this wasn't required. Just need to connect it to a hotspot (carplay connection is NOT sufficient).
5. CarAVAssist is also a little tricky. You need to connect your device to carplay (or probably android auto), then connect it as a hotspot (must be your phone hotspot -- home wifi with your phone also connected wouldn't work for me) then swipe left on the home screen to see the CarAVAssist icon (I couldn't find this for the longest time). Next launch CarAVAssist from the head unit, launch it on your phone, and connect the phone to the unit. Now you can adjust and transfer home screen configurations, setup favorite teams, and DOWNLOAD the firmware upgrade. You CANNOT actually upgrade the firmware from here, though the software will try to do that after it downloads it. To upgrade the firmware, on the head unit go to settings, software, and run the firmware upgrade wifi option from there (still connected to your phone hotspot). It will transfer the firmware and upgrade.
6. LOVE the 3d printed microphone mount. Despite being for kenwood it worked perfectly for my pioneer mic. I added a zip tie around it to make sure the mic didn't move. I found someone on makerxyz.com to print it for $5 out of PETG. Later I found someone to do it for $20 out of ABS, so I'll have a spare if the PETG doesn't hold up.
7. I was not able to get the factory USB in the glove box to work with this configuration. The metra adapter (Metra AX-TOYUSB-2) from Crutchfield doesn't match any plugs that I have. I bought Metra AX-USB-35EXT separately and replaced the analog aux below the factory stereo with this. It fits the hole and wires up perfectly. You end up replacing the Maestro analog plug connection with the analog from this adapter, and connecting this USB to the back of the radio.
Bluetooth and wireless carplay connect very quickly when the unit turns on, at least as fast as OEM which was one of my concerns since I use spotify heavily while driving. There is also a neat option within the unit to stay on while cranking, which I think causes it to use the constant power when the engine is cranked. This is nice when listening on accessory, then starting the car -- no rebooting the unit at that point.
That's all I can think of. It's a good technology upgrade for an early 5th gen in my opinion.
