Installing XM radio in a 2006 Toyota Sienna
(CLICK ANY PHOTO FOR A LARGER VERSION)I wanted satellite radio and I decided to install the Vaistech SLX adapter into our Sienna. This adapter basically acts as the middleman between an XM tuner box and the Toyota's factory radio. Mine came with the E7007, which has navigation, Bluetooth, and a JBL sound system.
So, to do this install, you need to purchase a Vaistech SLX, XMDirect XMD1000 (approx $30 from Amazon), and a set of RCA stereo cables to connect the two boxes - you can recycle some old wires you might have or get some decent Monster cable if you want.
For the tools, you basically need a plastic knife and/or a plastic putty knife to remove some of the trim, a 10mm ratchet with extension to remove the navigation unit and tail light mount, and some Velcro to secure the boxes inside the car.

To start, let's remove the wood trim on both sides of the navigation unit. Use the putty knife to get underneath the wood and gently pry up. You will feel it give a little and then you can gently use your fingers to work the wood trim out. Note the buttons will come out with the trim, as they are attached to the trim and there is a cable behind them that connects the buttons to the van's electrical system. There is enough slack in the cable to just let it hang. You don't need to disconnect the cables.
You can see what it looks like once you take the

But before you remove the bolts, you need to remove the speaker screen from above the navigation unit. It will pry up using a putty knife or a plastic knife as shown in the photo. Simply pry up in the front, then wiggle it out up and towards the windshield.
Once you remove the bolts, the navigation system slides right out. Now you are ready to remove the bolts that secure the navigation system. In the picture, I have pulled it out and

There is also a photo of what it looks like when you have installed the Vaistech cable and plugged the Toyota factory cable into the Vaistech cable.
Once you've got this done, you can leave the unit on the dashboard, flipped up, resting on a towel, or you can loosely slide it back in.




Place the antenna wire through the taillight opening and grab it from the other side by opening the vehicle's tire jack storage compartment. Your antenna wire is now inside the van! Now, all that's left is to route the wire to


In front of the front passenger sill, there is another plastic trim piece that comes off - it's held in place with a little screw nut and then you can just gently pull it off.
Next step is to remove the glove compartment


Finally, you need to remove the upper dash trim piece on the right side of the car. This piece is located on the side of the passenger airbag and it can only be accessed if the passenger door is open. Just use the putty knife to get under there and pry the front so you can pop it off.
You now have full clearance to route the Vaistech wire behind the head unit and behind the upper glove box. I mounted my XM/Vaistech boxes on the right side behind the glove compartment. I used some Velcro tape and a couple of nylon ties to hold the boxes to the frame.

Enjoy your XM!