No audio from USB kit

I just bought the ipod USB kit from Toyota, have it all installed, and I am getting no sound. Both the XM and ipod/usb both have no sound, but the integration is working, I can see the ipod and I can see the XM stations. I take out the controller box, replug the original XM harness, and I get XM sound again.

Toyota says they have seen this and some cars need to be 'manually' enabled to get audio, but I cannot find anything in the setup options and the nav manual doesn't say anything. The controller box has no switches or knobs or anything.

Anyone know what the problem and/or a solution?

I'm interested to know as I'll be doing this install eventually

UPDATE:

I got an US version of the install manual from TIS, the install manual posted here in another thread is completely wrong. The US manual shows the box being installed underneath the XM radio!

It looks like a much easier install since we don't have to rip out the dash. I will report my findings tonight.

How does the new install instruction fix the problem? Can you post a copy? Thanks!

My kit is indeed now working! It looks like the controller needs to go through the XM radio first, and I had it the other way around. There are more connections on the XM radio, possibly sending data and audio seperately, whereas the way I had it I only had the data connection.

PM me.

I'm interested in your impressions regarding how well the interface works with a USB flash drive.

Quick impressions

Good:
- Scans usb drive quickly
- Can also have data on drive, its ignored
- ID3 tags are read
- You can cycle through folders without going back to the main menu

Bad:
- Forget organizing, any nested or subfolders are reorganized as top folders, meaning there is only 1 master list of folders. Its the equivalent of sorting by albums.
- obviously only MP3 and WMA support
- when testing with data on the drive, I had a folder show up that had no music in it, and couldn't select it



Side note: The audio level for USB drives and Ipods is much higher than XM, FM, AUX, and Bluetooth. Max undistorted volume with my preferences is around 35 compared to around 50 for the latter. Be careful when switching to USB from another audio source.

Thanks for the comments.

It sounds like is works like an MP3 CD--correct? For example:

When I play an MP3 CD, and use the folder select function, it lists all folders (albums) in the order they are on the CD, and not alphabetically for the whole list. For example, I have a CD with the following music:
John Coltrane
--Crescent
--Giant Steps
--One Down, One Up
Miles Davis
--Birth of the Cool
--Kind of Cool

When I use the folder select function, it lists the folders as follows:
Crescent
Giant Steps
One Down, One Up
Birth of the Cool
Kind of Cool

Also--are you totally locked out of folder select when the car is moving?

Yes, just like an MP3 CD.

There are no lockouts as far as I can tell, I was fiddling with it yesterday on the way home from work. Also no voice activation.

I was very happy to find that even my Death Cab For a Cutie CD (a regular store bought CD) said the artist, album and song title on the screen!

It's hit-and-miss with regular CDs--it all depends on whether the data was included when they manufactured the CD.

Too bad--at least if it listed the albums alphabetically for the entire list, it would be a bit easier to navigate.

The USB interface owner's manual says the select folder function isn't available when the car is moving, which is consistent with the CD functionality. With a CD when moving, if you press select folder, it shows a list of 5 folders (albums), and you can select one of them, but you can not navigate to see more than that.

If you wouldn't mind, could you try to see if this is also the case with the USB? If it is, it's a deal breaker for me. TIA.

Oh I know.. it's just cool that the CD player reads it

Confirmed:

Ipod mode - no lockouts
USB mode - folder scrolling lockout

Thanks for the follow up.

I usually put my ipod on shuffle and let it go while skipping or replaying songs as I drive.. I want the iPod connection for the optimal sound quality, less cables (i know its not much less) and the ability to change tracks from the steering wheel. Personally having the ability to scroll the iPod doesn't matter to me. But I know it does to others.

Installed the USB kit on Saturday.

Biggest pain was the molding that hides bolt #5 of the center console. Minor scratches on the console plastic now, but the USB kit installation went very well after I got that piece out.

Love the integration with the steering wheel controls, and of course the touch screen.

Thanks to xanmato for pointing me in the right direction on install!

Has anyone tried to connect an iPhone 3G running 3.0.1? Mine works great with a flash drive but my iphone won't stay connected. I've tried two different cables and no joy. I actually like the flash drive interface better but can't listen to podcasts.

thanks,

My iphone 3G stays connected. Does your iphone screen stay on when connected? It should go to a no backlight screen but not off.

I'll check that, I had it in the console so wasn't looking at the phone.

I think it is a connector problem between the USB and the phone. I've tried two cables and it seems to be much worse with one than the other, it reconnects if I remove then reconnect the phone and it seems to always disconnect if I hit a bump with the car. Sometimes it disconnects w/o a detectable bump. It usually doesn't stay connected for long enough to be useable.

Do I need to take the phone out of sleep before I connect it?