2016-2019 Tacoma Sony 8500 Installation Guide

This installation guide is intended to be used to assist you during the installation of your
2016-2019 Sony 8500 Tacoma Plug and Play Bundle from Trail Grid Pro.

The installation video show below feature the Sony 9500ES but the install is identical for the Sony 8500.

Installation Videos

Tacoma Microphone Install

Tools Needed:

• 10mm socket
• Socket extension
• Ratchet wrench (Manual or powered)
• Panel removal tool (Plastic preferred)
• Small phillips head screwdriver (Magnetic tip preferred)

Step 1

Disassembling the dash and removing the factory radio:

• Remove the outer dash trim by pulling straight back towards you.
• Using a 10mm socket with extension, remove the four 10mm bolts that hold in the factory radio bracket. Place in your cupholder for safe keeping.
• Remove the factory head unit by grabbing the unit at the top and bottom and pull straight back. 
• Remove all of the wire harness connections from the back of the head unit.
• There is a small harness that bridges from the navigation module on the bottom of the head unit to the main head unit. This harness will not be used in the installation of the Sony bundle.

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Step 2

Install the Sony Microphone and Trail Grid Pro Microphone Mount

1. Remove Headliner Console.
   – The headliner console is typically held in with pressure clips and can be removed by pulling straight down. It is recommended to use gently pressure with a panel removal tool to pry the headliner console out.
2. Remove Headliner Console Wiring Harness. Unplug harness connector.
3. Remove Foam Insert. Locate microphone port and remove the foam insert.
4. Remove Mounting Ball On Sony Microphone. The small ball can be removed easily by cutting with a pair of side cutters or a utility knife.
5. Install Microphone To Mount. Push the rounded end of the microphone thru upper support of the mount. The rounded end of microphone should be very close to in line with the bottom of the 2 legs on mount. Align the spot where you cut off the ball to be in-line with one of the upper supports. This will make sure the audio openings on the side of the microphone are not obstructed.
6. Install Sony Microphone Mount. Install mount into headliner console. Insert mount (legs & rounded end of microphone facing down) until the clip locks into place.
7. Route Microphone Wire. Start by routing microphone wire from headliner console area through headliner towards rearview mirror. At this point, you can re-install the headliner console. Be sure to pull excess slack toward the rearview mirror while reinstalling headliner console. Continue routing the wire along the top of the windshield toward the driver side A pillar. Tuck the wire behind the A pillar cover and route down the A pillar toward the driver’s floorboard. Run the wire under the dash area and finish by routing the 3.5mm jack to the back of your new Sony Bundle. Connect the 3.5mm jack into the red mic port on the rear of the Sony radio chassis.

Step 3

Installing the chassis of your Sony 8500 Bundle (4:30):

• Connect the four main vehicle connectors from the Maestro harness to their matching plugs from your dash. All the plugs are keyed plugs, which means they only fit their match on the Toyota side.
• Connect the USB adapter cable
• Connect the navigation antenna adapter from the GPS post on the back of the radio to the white single pin connector from your Toyota.
• Connect the Sirius XM antenna adapter from the Sirius XM tuner to the black single pin connector from your Toyota.
• Connect the white rectangular AM/FM antenna adapter to the factory antenna connector.
• Route the OBD2 harness down the left side of your dash and connect it to the OBD2 port in the drivers side footwell.

Secure the chassis of the radio into the dash:

• Take a second to make sure that all of your connections are made.
• Tuck all of the wires into the dash, there are a lot but we promise that they will all fit.
• Line up the dash kit and secure the dash kit using the four factory 10mm bolts.

Step 5

Connect the screen for testing (7:09):

• Place the screen into the chassis
• Turn the ignition into accessory power. If the screen does not turn on within about 5-10 seconds, press the home button on the left of the button bar.
• After the Sony logo disappears a setting menu will appear:
• Set the date and time
• Test your steering wheel controls
• Test your backup camera
• With your foot on the brake, shift to reverse
• You can also select Rear Cam on the screen to show the backup camera
• Check AM/FM radio and check to make sure that sound is coming from all speakers.
• Check your Sirius XM tuner:

Once the Sirius XM Tuner is correctly connected, you should receive channel 1 (Sirius XM Advertisement Channel) on the radio.

At this point you will need to contact Sirius XM to activate or transfer your existing service plan to the new tuner ID.

The tuner ID can be found in 3 locations: On the tuner itself, on channel zero when listening to Sirius XM or on the Sirius XM box located in your spare parts bag.

Step 6

Re-assembling you Tacoma:

• Once you have checked the functions, remove the screen and set in a safe place
• Secure all four 10mm bolts that hold in the dash kit. 
• Replace the outer trim piece.

Step 7

Securing the screen to the chassis (10:35):

• Secure the screen to the chassis using the four silver phillips head screws from the install parts bag.
• There are two holes on each side of the neck of the radio.
• Slide the black plastic cover forward and secure it with the remaining black phillips head screw from the install parts bag.
• The hole for the black cover will secure in the middle of the neck of the radio.

Step 9

Connect your phone:

• If you are an Android user, download the Android Auto app from the App Store
• Ensure that bluetooth is enabled on your phone
• Select the Devices icon on the screen and select add a device
• Find your head unit in the bluetooth menu on your phone and pair the devices, allow contact and enable Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Congratulations on installing your new
Sony 8500 Plug & Play Bundle!

Troubleshooting:

Download the Android Auto app from the GooglePlay Store. If you’re experiencing issues with Android Auto, here is a decent video that walks you through some troubleshooting of Android Auto. The head unit shown in this video is not a Sony, so just focus on the general troubleshooting aspects.

First, check the following:

1. Ensure that all connections are made between Maestro RR Module and your vehicle connectors.
2. The Maestro RR may need to be re-flashed with your specific vehicle parameters.
• To re-flash the module, the module will need to be removed from the vehicle and connected to a computer.
• Visit idatalink Maestro’s website and click on the green button at the top right of the screen labeled “Flash My Module.”