Pinnacle Autosound was recently contacted by a local dealership requesting a Toyota Highlander radio upgrade. After finding out the features the vehicle had from the factory we put together a plan to upgrade the Highlander with the latest and greatest Kenwood eXcelon touchscreen navigation radio. The Highlander also had SiriusXM as a source so the dealership wanted to retain it as well as the factory backup camera.

Toyota Highlander Radio Installation

We started the installation by removing the factory radio and preparing the new dash kit for installation. After the radio was secured in the dash kit, we began to wire up the radio harness. The radio harness plugs into the factory radio and allows us to install the new radio without cutting the vehicle wiring. This installation would use an interface to not only keep the OEM steering wheel controls, but also the OEM backup camera as well as the vehicle controls that were available on the factory screen. We accomplished this integration with the help of the iDatalink Maestro interface. The Maestro is an incredible little box that communicates with the factory computer. The information the Maestro gets from the computer is displayed on the screen of the Kenwood radio. Things like tire pressure, battery voltage, vehicle speed and RPM are available for display.

Navigation and Backup Camera Integration

Making sure the vehicle’s owner gets safely to their destination is the job of the Kenwood navigation. The Kenwood radio uses navigation powered by Garmin, the world leader in GPS technology. Making the drive safer in reverse is accomplished by integrating the factory backup camera with the new radio. Our technicians accomplished this through the use of a voltage adapter that powers the factory camera with a specific voltage it requires. Now whenever the Highlander is placed in reverse, the backup camera image is displayed on the Kenwood screen, just like the factory radio.

Find Out More About Radio Upgrade Options

If you are interested in updating your Toyota Highlander radio with the latest technology, stop by Pinnacle Autosound today. Our technology experts will talk with you about your needs and come up with the perfect solution. Give us a call today or contact us using our online contact form.