Factory Sirius Radio for Prius

So I've been shopping for an '07 Prius. Picked one out, put down a deposit, etc., then got a call from the dealer saying the vehicle cannot have Sirius radio unless it's an external, after-market unit. This seemed strange to me, as nowhere on the Toyota site did it indicate "XM only."

Anyway, thanks to you folks (whom I found on Google), I found the new Sirius kit and basically shoved it in the face of the dealer, who said, "oh, yeah, I guess it can have Sirius."

My question is... are they purposely shilling for XM, or just ignorant? (or both?)

 

It is not suprising that some Dealership don't know their products.

 

I purchased the Sirius Fit Kit and tuner from Metro. Jesse was great on the phone and his emails came back quick. I purchased off the website for $285. I got to CA in about a week. I had it installed at Al and Eds, a local chain of audio installers. They put it in for $150.

I am so friggin happy to have Sirius and Howard back. I got my Carpook sticker and my satellite radios. Life is good.

PS: Toyota dealer in Huntington Beach wanted $600.

I worthy note of interest...the Sirius fit kit comes with a mounting bracket that is supposed to go under the seat. The guys at Al & Ed's didnt use it. They said the tuner fit behind the radio just fine. They told me that the bracket was designed in case you are vacuuming under the seat and the bracket protects the unit from getting hit. this guy puts loads of these in for the local Toyota dealer. He really did a great job.

Lack of 10 digit readout is lame, but I dont use that screen. Too focused on the consumption screen to worry about the 10 digits.

 

Buzzy,

So you ended up paying $435 total? I paid $400 for the Factory Interactive Sirius kit and installed in myself, it was very easy (thanks to their DVD)and took me around an hour. The tuner is mounted behind a panel left of the rear seat.

I am thinking about installing Sirius in our other Prius but don't want to spend so much money this time around and was considering the $250 Metro kit. My understanding is both kits are basically the same.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BTC @ May 2 2007, 08:28 PM) [snapback]434372[/snapback]</div>

I have an appointment tomorrow to have the dealer install my Sirius kit. They want $495 plus tax. Since the Factory Interactive guy used to do the installations for my dealership, I am assuming that the fit kit you got was the PTS31-47060 and the receiver was the PTS31-53060. Is that correct? How difficult was it for you to install it yourself and how does it play? If Jesse has the same part numbers, and if it isn't hard to install, I'd rather save myself $250.00 and order the kits from him and do it myself.
I'd appreciate your imput.

siegellaw

 

Is this the same kit sold via the Prius Chat Shop? Does the Sirius kit in the Prius shop include the "Fit Kit"

Thank you

Wan

 

I've finished my install, which I got from Metro. Here are a few notes:

The radio includes just the silver and black Sirius unit itself. The Fit Kit contains everything else -- cables, bracket, antenna, misc hardware.

The designated mount point is under the passenger side (right) rear seat. You have to drill three holes in the black plate under the seat to attach the bracket.

The antenna is placed to the rear of the FM antenna on the roof.

The install directions don't call for removing the radio (which requires an extensive dash disassembly). Instead, they have you remove the glove box and vent between it and the radio. You then loosen the big white junction block exposed. You can move the block enough to reach behind it and get to the back of the radio so you can plug in the cable. You have to do it by feel, though.

The gasket around the rear hatch has some black adhesive that's very messy. Don't get it on the trim or carpet.

The only glitch I found in the directions was the routing of the antenna cable through the hatch area. Although it says to use a trim removal tool to route the cable behind the right-side trim, this is actually bolted down in addition to the clips. You can remove the bolts, but I found it difficult to get the trim back on. Another alternative would be to use a fish tape or coat hanger to push the cable through (as I saw suggested for an XM install).

Other than that, the directions were very clear.

The title and artist are clipped at 10 characters.

 

Does anyone know if there is a place/room to mount the Sirius unit behind the radio if you do go through with the dash disassembly?

Edit: Oops, I see this was mentioned above in Buzzy's post (knew I read that somewhere). My question now is how is it secured behind the radio without using the bracket?

 

The kit also comes with double-sided tape that isn't used in the normal install. You could use this to stick the radio in another location.

I don't get the comment about the bracket and vacuuming under the seat. It goes under the rear seat, underneath a plate that's screwed in place. You'd never hit this with a vacuum. The front seat locations are already taken: nav on the driver's side, and radio amp on the passenger's side.

 

Hi there. New 07 white #4 owner (I was trying to get a #5, but there are literally none available within 500 miles), formerly an 02 Classic owner. I ordered the fit kit and receiver (PTS31-47060 and PTS31-53060) through AuthenticToyota.com (I would have got it from priuschat.com, but I don't trust PayPal for large transactions and didn't want to wait for check), and it arrived in about 2 days. I took out the camera and here's what I received:



More pics are here. It even came with a copy of the TIS installation instructions. Instructions seem easy enough with enough work, but I'm going to have the local dealership install it so I have someone to blame if my 5-day-old car is damaged.

Anyway, I don't see anyone else talking about this: everyone seems to know that you get 3 free months of XM and free activation when you get the XM Prius receiver, but I plugged the unit ID into my existing Sirius account tonight and all the packages that came up said "3 months free, OEM deal". I didn't go through with activating it yet (I'll do that once it's installed), but I just wanted to let you all know the Sirius units appear to have 3 free months as well. I think the Sirius activation fee still applies though.

 

If you're a AAA member, you can get free activation at http://www.aaa.com/sirius .

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fo0bar @ Jun 16 2007, 02:20 AM) [snapback]462903[/snapback]</div>

I recently received my Sirius rcvr and fit kit from Metro, and I am having it installed today. In the Sirius brochure that came inside the fit kit box, under Step 1 "Choose Your Subscription Plan", it states that you get 3 months free and the activation fee is waived.

(Later today)
Just got the kit installed at The Specialists (Speedway Blvd. in Tucson). They charged $100 including tax.

And the Sirius deal is even better than I thought -- you get 3 months free, activation fee is waived, and if you sign up for the annual plan as I did, you get another month free, for a total of 4 free months plus no activation fee!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fo0bar @ Jun 16 2007, 01:20 AM) [snapback]462903[/snapback]</div>

fo0bar - thanks for posting this picture! I just had a factory kit installed, but it went right from the parts deparment to service so I never saw it.

Can I ask you the small black part in the lower left of the photo - is that a three inch long guide for the antenna cable on the roof? My dealer installed the antenna right against the edge of the roof and I think as a result I've got snigal problems.

 

The black piece is an edge guard for where the antenna goes into the rear hatch. It goes over the sheet metal under the gasket, to protect the antenna wire. It's not a "tail" as used on other Sirius antennas.

 

I received the install instructions today from Jesse at the Cleveland dealership. One of the identified install tools is a Toyota "Nylon Panel Removal Tool, e.g. Panel Pry Tool #1, Toyota SST # 00002-06001-01." Anybody know where I can get one of these? They are NOT sold through Toyota dealers. Thx...Brian Hicks, 2006 Pkg 4, Barcelona Red

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(didolgi @ Jun 18 2007, 10:40 AM) [snapback]464148[/snapback]</div>

I'll check tonight (still at work, and the kit is at home). but yeah, if it's anything like the regular Sirius antennas, it should be offset by a few inches during installation.

Installation is Wednesday, so we'll see for me.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(michigangator @ Jun 18 2007, 04:29 PM) [snapback]464216[/snapback]</div>

I don't know where you can get that specific tool, but others have had luck using a wooden paint stirrer to pry off the panels (I haven't tried it myself yet). Here is a helpful stereo installation guide for the Prius that has been posted elsewhere on this site.

 

The official directions call for putting the antenna at the edge of the hatch opening, behind the FM antenna. They may have chosen an area that "looks better" rather than one that gives the best reception.

When I went out today, mine is now saying "no signal" at all times. I'll check out the antenna, but I may have a bad unit.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(alanh @ Jun 19 2007, 01:00 PM) [snapback]464845[/snapback]</div>

That's where I installed mine, my reception has been great. I've been using that same module for years now.