Mikeyboy

Has anyone checked what the speakers are in the Kluger? All I know is the rear doors have 6.5 inch, front doors are 6x9 inch and there are speakers on the dash. Does anyone know what the configuration of any of the speakers are? After having a decent sounding head unit for a few weeks now, I've started to enjoy listening to music in the car again and I'm thinking about changing the speakers. A sub will be easy to add as I have a 5 seater and should be able to fit quite a large box where the 3rd row would normally be. Also, if anyone wants to know, the supply for the rear view camera is 6V.

Can non-Toyota front sensors connect to the speed signal so that they switch off when moving? If not, you will have to switch them off to stop you sensing traffic.

Not sure what he logic is but it's the same on my 2003 Corolla Conquest. Think it's about 20 seconds It is so that you don't accidentally leave the car unlocked. On some models there was only 1 button for lock/unlock. If you pressed it twice, the car could be unlocked without you knowing. The same could happen if you preesed both buttons while the key is in you pocket. The only problem with this is if the switches sensing the doors opening become faulty, the doors could lock even if you had opened the door. This is not unique to Toyota. I have seen it on other brands.

When I drove my Grande 4wd from Adel to Canb (ca 1300 km) in 13 h doing 120-130 along mostly flat Malley Hwy, and than Stuart Hwy, the average was 9.3 L/100. On the run to Melb with 4 bodies, going the costal route, it managed just over 10, but on the run down the hill past Cooma, it did much better. On the lone run to Sydney, kept just under 120 k/h, most way, it did under 9. In Sydney peak h traffic, 15+++! My wife gets just over 13 on short city runs!!! I get under 12!!! Having done 3K in the Aurion with 6 spd, the cruise control calibration in the Kluger is shocking, probably because of 1 ratio less, with 400 kg more. As mentioned above, it kicks like crazy to 3rd even on a slight incline and the economy suffers. It actually scared me few times! So, I do what he does – cut the cruise up the hill, and keep it in 5th , which it does easy! Dan The cruise control is great in the KX-R FWD, not so great in the Grande AWD and I don't know about the KX-S. Obviously needs to be set-up better for the versions with more weight.

I assume you know that if you unlock the car and don't open any doors within a certain time, the doors will lock again.

I didn't have time to answer these questions properly before. Toyota doesn't use a double din size, but double din units fit with an adapter. The Kenwood unit came with a universal adapter which needed to be cut to fit. Toyota also sells the side peices to suit, but don't ask for them for a Kluger, as there is no part listed. Ask for corolla or Hilux. As I said above, you can use a PAC Audio steering wheel interface. There are other brands around, you just need to make sure it is suitable for Toyota and the brand of stereo. The DDX-8032BT I fitted has Bluetooth inbuilt. The bluetooth is made by Parrot which is supposed to be one of the more reliable brands. The GPS is a plug-in unit made by Garmin. I also connected the rear view camera to the unit and it is much easier to see than on the original small display. I need to make a power supply for it as the power is currently coming from the information display. There are 2 problems with this: 1. The information display goes black and just diplays the caution message when in reverse. 2. It is possible to display the camera view when driving on the display, but there is no supply when not in reverse. Does anyone know what voltage the rear view camera is supposed to run on? The measured voltage is 5.93V, but 5V would seem to be more likely than 6V. You can connect sound and video from an Ipod if you buy the adapter. If you don't connect an Ipod adapter, you can connect 2 USB memory devices instead of 1. DVDs can be played and sound can either be surround or just to the rear speakers allowing something else to be played on the front speakers. I think this is only useful if you fit extra screens in the back of the car. You can have 5.1 surround if you want to fit a centre speaker, subwoofer and amplifiers. Maybe overkill for a car. There is also a TV tuner available, but it is analog, so will be useless in a year or two. There are 2 buttons on the screen that can be configured to turn on an output. I will be using one to control my garage opener. I looked around for close to 6 months and the system I ended up with was the only one that could do everything I wanted. There were cheaper options, but they were always missing one or more features that I wanted.

Kenwood DDX-8032BT $1349 Head unit with bluetooth Kenwood KNA-G431AU $799 Navigation from Soundmaster car audio You also need a Pac-audio SWI-JACK for the steering wheel buttons. They are around $140 from car audio wharehouse, but I paid more somewhere else because they were closed when I was installing the system. The sound is so much better than the original in the KX-R and the Grande. The phone is clearer too.

Just fitted this Kenwood DNX8032BT head unit and Kenwood KNA-G431 navigation unit. It does pretty much everything you could want.

Mikeyboy, Can you share with us the wiring diagrams from Toyota? I looking for a "complete guide" on how to do a DIY replacement for the headunit. So on top of wiring stuffs I'd also need to find out how to remove the dash panels. Once I've got enough confidence I'll buy this unit from ebay (pic below). The only one I could afford Booleh, sorry for not replying to this. I was in USA on holidays. Ireceived wiring diagrams from Toyota, but they are only hard copies and unless you are experienced with reading complex electrical diagrams, like myself, they are quite confusing. I am going to redraw them with my electrical drawing package so they make sense, they will also be in a format that allows searching within the PDF, and I will then make them available. I am stil trying to decide whether to go for a better stereo with bluetooth or to go for satnav and everything. the Kenwood satnav units also have auxilliary outputs which I can use to open the garage door, with some modifications to the remote, so I am still leaning that way.

My KX-R FWD front tyres look good, which is surprising as I get massive wheelspin if I put my foot down anywhere below 70km/h (50km/h with the snow button on). I did however have the wheel allignment done 3 times until I was satisfied at the 1000km service. The steering wheel was about 3 degrees off centre when I got the car. The Grande AWD has only done 2000km and has no wear at all. It also never spins and has nowhere near the acceleration of the KX-R.

I just spent 6 weeks in the USA. I saw a few Highlanders in most parts, but in LA, and especially Hollywood, they were everywhere. Also, when I was returning a brand new Chev "piece of crap" SUV in Detroit, about 15 of the 20 SUVs they had were Highlanders. Note: The highlander doesn't have the spare wheel cover we have and makes them easy to spot because it looks so bad.

Both of my Klugers had the same rattle that seemed to come from under the steering wheel. I fixed both of them the same way. I cut a 30mm sqare of adhesive floor protector and put a hole in the middle; the stuff you put under furniture to stop it scratching the floor. I then removed the stud holding the panel next to the foot rest and stuck the protector behind the hole for the stud. Replaced the stud and the rattle goes away. For the people with a rattle in the centre of the dash, I'm sure this won't work.

I was saying that you shouldn't keep tyres for much more than 5 years, even if they havent been used.

I have read that you shouldn't keep your tyres much longer than 5 years so you may as well rotate the spare otherwise you will need to replace it anyway.

Where did you find a tyre with a lower speed rating. The original tyres are only rated to 180km/h; that is why they quote that as the maximum speed.

Ther is also a hill descent button in AWD models only.

I was going to do it shortly, but now I will be away for about 6 weeks on holidy I thought I would leave it until I get back. The steering wheel controls will work if you get a head unit that has an OEM remote input, but you will also need an adapter that suits both the head unit and the steering wheel buttons.

I have front and rear sensors on both cars. I think they are very useful, but the front are more usefull than the rears. They are around $1000 for front and rear fitted. I would definitely get both.

I have a KX-R FWD and a Grande AWD, so I can't tell you exactly which would be better. If it was myself and I didn't want to go off road at all, I would get the KX-S because: 1. The leather seats and steering wheel are much nicer. I also get a shock getting out of the KX-R depending on what I am wearing and the shoes I have on. 2. The climate control is much better than the manual aircon and it has 3 separate zones. 3. The wheels and tyres look and grip better. 4. The FWD version has better steering feel than the AWD. My KX-R FWD has a problem with wheelspin, but I can't say whether the KX-S FWD with the better tyres will be any better. I get much better fuel economy in the KX-R than the Grande, but I don't know how much of that is weight or driveline losses. The same goes for accelleration. The KX-R is much quicker than the Grande (once it stops spinning). I like driving both of my cars, and for different reasons. I'm sure you would like either car. You really need to decide whether you want more practicality or more luxury. (I would get the KX-S)

It's made by Eclipse. AVN2210P.

$759 for the Grande AWD. $759 for the KX-R FWD, but it is registered for business use which is much higher than personal use.

My KX-R came with a separate manual for the stereo.

You just brought up a very valid point about leather (furniture). it gets very hot in summer and bloody cold in winter. that's one of the reasons i won't buy leather couches (and why i didn't mind getting the KX-R over the S. I have had a few cars with leather seats, black and brown leather. They may be hot to the touch initialy, but I have found they cool down within seconds of sitting in them. It is also only an issue if the sun hits them directly. Being cold in winter has never been a problem, but I am usually wearing clothes. I have had a car with black vinyl seats as well. Those do not cool down.

I have a KX-R and a Grande. I think the extra money for the KX-S is definitely worth it if this is your primary car. The KX-R is my work vehicle and mainly used for going to factories and carrying tools. The Grande is our primary car for everything else. The main advantages of the KX-S or Grande over the KX-R are: 1. Wheels and tyres. The wheels look much better and are much easier to clean. The tyres have much more grip, important if you are getting FWD. The tyres may be more expensive to replace, but I wouldn’t replace them with the same, I would get better for less. 2. Leather seats. More comfortable and much easier to clean. Look new for much longer and easier to replace sections if damaged. 3. Electric seats. Mainly better for the extra adjustment, not the motorized adjustment as it is very slow. 4. Climate control. I hate manual aircon. Buttons for temperature are on the steering wheel. It is also 3-zone temperature control. 5. Leather steering wheel. Feels better and it is a slightly better shape where I put my hands. 6. Longer spoiler over back window. Keeps more rain and dirt off when driving. 7. Fog lamps. Mainly look better, don’t get much fog here. 8. Roof rails. Can easily fit and remove roof racks as you need them. 9. Seat heaters. Good for the wife, not me. I wouldn’t put any value on the better stereo with Bluetooth in the KX-S as I would change either for something half decent. I got the Grande over the KX-S as there are some things you can’t get as an option/upgrade. The first is the auto tailgate. Doesn’t sound important but it is very handy. Smart entry/start is great. On some cars it is useless as you need to put a card/key in somewhere on the dash, then push the button; what’s the point. In the Grande you don’t need to take the key out of your pocket to enter, start or lock the car which makes sense. I don’t like the sunroof, as I hardly ever open it and it makes the roof lower so that the backseat mirror obstructs the rear view mirror. I would’ve had DVD and navigation fitted if I had a KX-S. I think that if you can afford it, the KX-S is definitely better than KX-R. If you have young children, the Grande is better than KX-S.

As far as I know, all KX-S and Grande come with body colour panel at delivery, but the panel with the tow bar cut-outs is black. Maybe yours was painted by whoever did the installation as yours doesn't look like the original panel modified. The KX-R comes with a black panel at delivery; if anyone is fitting a towbar to a silver pearl could offer me their silver panel.