Weird JBL to Pioneer system issues

inscarguy

Member
Ok heres whats going on. Bought a '08 limited with the non nav JBL system. Radio did not work so i had a spare NAV JBL out of my wrecked '08 4runner. The right channel barely worked and the left side seemed to be overdriven to the point of distortion. So got a Pioneer DMH2600 NEX with the radio adapter and a maestro for the SWC and JBL. Paid for the ready harness from Crutchfield. Still have the same issue but now the right channel works but a humming/ buzzing noise coming from the right channel not affected by RPM, left side still being overdriven. So then I changed the speakers to Infinity Reference components in front with the same in the rear doors and a Pioneer shallow mount sub. Still no difference, then I changed the amp to a spare JBL I had from my wrecked 08 4runner. Still no change.

Next was one of many calls to Crutchfield. First they sent another Maestro, then a maestro adapter to RCA. STILL NOTHING WORKED. by this time I'm really aggravated. At one time they wanted me to send back the pioneer to be fixed and that could take up to 6 weeks because the warranty was out yet I've been complaining about this since about the first week. One advisor said that he would send out a new radio but that got squashed by MGMT. A manager did sent me out a line to RCA converter to try.

A few days ago I looked up my service history on Toyota.com and found out that the interior wiring harness was replaced due to rodent damage. could the dealer not have grounded the harness properly or screwed something up? All these issues are kinda weird. I'm ready to pull it out and try it in my other 4runner with the same setup to see if it is the radio or car.

Buying an amp is not doable right now as I'm out of work due a prior accident. Any help would be appreciated.
 
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Ok heres whats going on. Bought a '08 limited with the non nav JBL system. Radio did not work so i had a spare NAV JBL out of my wrecked '08 4runner. The right channel barely worked and the left side seemed to be overdriven to the point of distortion. So got a Pioneer DMH2600 NEX with the radio adapter and a maestro for the SWC and JBL. Paid for the ready harness from Crutchfield. Still have the same issue but now the right channel works but a humming/ buzzing noise coming from the right channel not affected by RPM, left side still being overdriven. So then I changed the speakers to Infinity Reference components in front with the same in the rear doors and a Pioneer shallow mount sub. Still no difference, then I changed the amp to a spare JBL I had from my wrecked 08 4runner. Still no change.

Next was one of many calls to Crutchfield. First they sent another Maestro, then a maestro adapter to RCA. STILL NOTHING WORKED. by this time I'm really aggravated. At one time they wanted me to send back the pioneer to be fixed and that could take up to 6 weeks because the warranty was out yet I've been complaining about this since about the first week. One advisor said that he would send out a new radio but that got squashed by MGMT. A manager did sent me out a line to RCA converter to try.

A few days ago I looked up my service history on Toyota.com and found out that the interior wiring harness was replaced due to rodent damage. could the dealer not have grounded the harness properly or screwed something up? All these issues are kinda weird. I'm ready to pull it out and try it in my other 4runner with the same setup to see if it is the radio or car.

Buying an amp is not doable right now as I'm out of work due a prior accident. Any help would be appreciated.

Try running direct grounds from the HU and MAESTRO to the cars chassis. Make sure your audio and power cabling is not intertwined. I ran direct power from the fuse box acc with a secondary 10a fuse piggybacked on the existing 10a fuse. --> 12V Car Add-a-Circuit Fuse Tap Nilight 12 Pack 12V Car Add-a-Circuit Fuse Tap Standard Mini Micro2 and Low Profile Fuse Taps 4 Types ATO ATC ATM APM Fuse Holder for Cars Trucks Boats

Otherwise you may be into the wiring harness accessible under the trim plate right next to the B pillar to tap into the existing wiring if the problem is between the HU and your speakers.

Also, if using Low Side wired output via the MAESTRA and METRA harness - check the insulation on each speaker wire (Vehicle harness side) to ensure there's no bare wire showing through the insulation where someone might have previously tapped into the wiring using an RCA wire converter or otherwise.
 
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