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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Camry Hybrid Toyota Camry Hybrid Maintenance & Repair Toyota Camry Hybrid Audio & Entertainment Questions
163 messages, Last post on Oct 04, 2009 at 8:54 PM
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Just over a week ago, during the purchase of my 2009 Camry Hybrid a Toyota Sirius radio was ordered and subsequently installed in my vehicle. It was my understanding that this would be indiscernible from a factory installation. I should note that this is not my first satellite radio. It is my seventh. First let me address how the satellite integration into the navigation head unit leaves a lot to be desired. Even though the head unit has a seven inch display, the Toyota truncates the text at ten characters, and only displays the title and artist. Second, the installation options of the Toyota factory satellite antenna kit are at a level well below what I have observed at even Circuit City or Best Buy. In my previous experience all factory installed satellite antennas were integrated into the roof line and had wiring which was routed internally to the vehicle head unit. This was also the case in the factory unit which I retrofitted into my new (at the time) Jeep Liberty. Even the Circuit City unit installed in my truck hides the wiring unobtrusively and has a very small physical antenna. When I picked up my Camry following the installation of the satellite receiver I didnt even think to look at the antenna installation. It was only after I noted that the quality of signal was worse than any of my previous experiences that I actually looked for the antenna. I had assumed it was part of the headliner and/or embedded in the front window. Imagine my surprise when I found a large clumsy looking unit sitting on top of my trunk lid. Cosmetically it looks like an after thought. No real effort other than color matching was given to the aesthetics of the design. However, what is even worse is the draping of the antenna wire into the trunk. When the trunk lid is opened about eight inches of wire rise with the lid. Its only the artful bending of the wire that ensures it will drape back down into the vehicle when the lid is then closed. Incredible. That level of engineering (or lack thereof) is far surpassed even with a Circuit City antenna. Lastly, the reception on the Camry factory satellite receiver is the POOREST I have experienced, bar none. In my other vehicles there are two locations through which I regularly travel where Sirius and XM both briefly lose the signal in the shadow of a large set of hills. In the Camry the signal regularly drops out in flat and level countryside with a degree of frequency which make it not worth the effort of listening. Satellite radio is an important part of the experience I expect from any vehicle I own. Based on my expectations of quality from the Toyota brand, this was a complete surprise. I had anticipated a seamless integration into the onboard electronics and an engineered installation that would appear to have been carefully considered rather than a slapdash attempt to place an antenna. I had hoped to find that the rudimentary satellite display integrated into the head unit, and the amateurish design of the antenna are just lower levels of options perhaps intended for an entry level vehicle and that a higher degree of integration of both form and function are selectable. But apparently this is the best that Toyota has to offer. I had the satellite receiver removed from my vehicle. Toyota responded to my issue by directing me via a canned response to Sirius. No acknowledgement was made of the poor offering sanctioned by Toyota. How did those other car manufacturers coerce Sirius into providing a higher degree of integration? Why would Toyota allow a third party to damage their reputation? Sirius gave me another Toyota phone number. That number gave me another Toyota number who claimed he would call me back in an hour. That was 7 hours ago. Has anyone experienced a similar problem and/or has anyone swapped out the antenna? Thanks |
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Replying to: macmook (Apr 23, 2008 3:08 pm) It is clear that this is causing the reception problem, perhaps it works fine in other parts of the country, not so in North / Central New Jersey. Like many, I installed satellite radios in my other cars with roof mounted antennas and never experienced this level of reception problems. So now I have three options, since I mostly use the car for freeway driving anyway just learn to live with it, go back to Toyota and expect a prolonged and frustrating runaround based on macmook's and others experiences, or just put in a roof/trunk mount external antenna and go on with my life. A final option is to have my wife deal with Toyota's service department as she enjoys these kinds of battles more than I do. |
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Replying to: macmook (Apr 23, 2008 3:08 pm)
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Replying to: plknj (Apr 26, 2008 8:42 am) 
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Replying to: macmook (Apr 23, 2008 3:08 pm) |
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| have two questions I hope someone can help me with.1st) it seems that when I run the automatic temperature I get better gas mileage.Is this true or just my imagination.2nd) I had the car in for the yearly state inspection But now it seems like their is an uneasiness (almost like a skipping) .Anyone know what this might be?I have a TCH 2007 | |
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Replying to: macmook (Apr 23, 2008 3:08 pm) Thanks
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Replying to: barbskar (Jun 10, 2008 7:54 am)
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Replying to: barbskar (Jun 10, 2008 7:54 am) I've had Sirius for about 5 years now in other cars with the antenna on my trunk and I'd argue that my current reception (next to the rear view) almost as good as as the trunk reception. I do get drop outs under bridges and when exposure to the sky is obstructed but this is not unusual. Over all I'm pleased with my Toyota installation! |
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I have the standard Toyota factory installed receiver. I had to buy the SCC1 and direct connect kit from Best Buy.com and get it installed. It was fine for the past year and now this week, when you press the Satellite button the radio nothing happens. You can only get AM. Help!! Neither Best Buy or Sirius will help me. 
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