Ertified4Runner

so I wanna get my girlfriend a new stereo and speakers for her upcoming birthday, replacing the stock cassette/radio deck and nearly blown out speakers in her 95 p/u (no taco). In looking around, I've seen units (namely Sony CDX-F5510) that are touted to fit (source: circuitcity.com) and units (same Sony model) that don't (bestbuy.com). what the hell's up with that? anyone know what determines what fits and not...is it just dimensions? and what's this wiring harness stuff I keep seeing--can I just reuse the one that's already there? and I'm no electrical guru, so is the install best left to dude's whose living it is to do that stuff?
thanks for the help, I'll try and share (best I can in some way) points that I score after this...

wjwerdna

EDIT: skip mine and read post #6 first... says same thing, but better said

hmmmm without looking at specs for the car, (check crutchfield.com for fit guide), there may not be enough depth for the radio, thats about all... assuming its a normal single Din radio (about 2 in high or so)... most all radios are same height and width, some are deeper than others...

you may have to get a dash kit to make radio (smaller) fit hole in dash (larger)
wiring harness plugs into stock plug, and has wires that you conect by color to the harness that comes with new radio.

If you have chance to pay around 20 or free install at best buy or such go for it

wiring kit and dash should bearound 10/ea at walmart

the electrical part is usually easy, speaking from exp, used to sell/install this stuff
hard part is ripping apart dash, and panels, some people can figure it out, some cant...

Jeffires

There's no reason you can't install it. Taking apart the dash will be the most complicated part. You must purchase a wiring harness, and the instructions clearly cover all connections. Is the vehicle American or import? Most aftermarket units are the same size, and will require a special molded kit only if the vehicle requires.

wjwerdna

holy cow, here's a good guide if its for the right vehicle
http://www.installdr.com/InstallDocs...PDF/869017.pdf
even if its wrong vehicle, look though it, it will explain everything you need to know on the basics of what will be required

wjwerdna

hmm, i assumed it was a toyota... what is it exactly... ???


next projects: yakima q towers (damn expensive buggers!)

fo sho

hatda02

Hey man. Been installing stero stuff for the last 15 years. Here's some advice to start with.

The wire harness you hear about plugs into the factory wiring harness that is currently in your radio. This saves you from cutting the wires and it takes guess work out of know which wire does what. If you don't buy a harness, you will have to start cutting wires or running all new wires to the speakers and fusebox/battery.

I say buy one if you are just upgrading. If you were adding amps...etc, then using the factory harness is known to add noise to the system.

As for finding the size, your truck will fit all the common CD players sold at Best Buy...etc. Here is the best way to check: go to www.crutchfield.com and click the link "what fits my vehicle". It will ask some basic ?s.

I punched in your truck and it is either a 2inch or 4inch opening. Either that I selected showed all common size head units. You can also find out from them what size speakers you can upgrade your truck with. Take this info and buy from them or start shopping. eBay has the best deals new or used once you find the model you like. A place like crutchfield includes a lot of info to do it yourself. A place like Best Buy...etc can install it for you for a price. (It's easy to do and worth saving the $)

BTW...the wiring harness can be found on eBay and at WalMart for cheaper than most places.

Hit me if you have any questions.
Dave

Ertified4Runner

Thanks all for the trite responses
--Andrew: good initial attempt, man...the earth wasn't built in just seven days; , and oh yeah, it's a Yota for damn sure, and I'm gonna check out that link in just a sec after I finish this.
--Jeff: I took apart my dash paneling (in my Runner) to connect the wire from a new antenna (flexy rubber), so I assume the truck will be the same, and I always assumed it was built in Japan, but I'll check that one too
--Dave: thanks for the moral support...so when I buy a stereo from somewhere, they don't tell you you need a new wire harness? Or do they just chop it themselves? can't imagine they'd throw it in the price of the new stereo for free...and I don't think fancy stuff like amps are goin in there just yet, but I'll check out that crutchfield right soon.
thanks again guys!

Ertified4Runner

I checked out those links--excellent advice, just what the doctor ordered (ha! get it?...whatever), thanks a lot!
--Dave: crutchfield says they'll throw in a free wire harness and install kits w/ a $130 or more purchase, but they also said:
"Use the brackets that came with your factory stereo to install your new receiver.
» An installation kit is not required to install your new receiver."
Is that one and the same thing, so I'm just confusing myself?
--Andrew: that installdr kicks ass, breaking down each minutiae of each step simplifies the guessing game that I'm used to in doing stuff myself, that'll be fat help in the install
Thanks!

Jeffires

There are small brackets that mount the radio into the dash, and attach the pocket under the radio. After removing the factory radio, you will be able to see what these brackets look like and how to mount them on your aftermarket unit. You will not need an additional "install kit." Nor will you need the "cage" that fits around the aftermarket unit, it is designed to mount in vehicles that require the installation kit.

Ertified4Runner

Thanks Jeff, just what I needed to know--always so much stuff to hafta figure out just to upgrade something...now just hafta find one of those cubby hole pockets so there's no gaping hole underneath.
Say, outta curiousity, how are things coming about since the hurricane? Is it still chaotic, things not getting cleaned up? And I heard they're letting prisoners free cuz their records got all destroyed--what's up with that?

Jeffires

Yeah- it's good you're doing research before you tear into it. Be sure that you use good connectors and a good crimping tool when you connect the color coded wires in the wiring harness. The pocket underneath should be only a few dollars.

There are still large areas of the city with no utilities, and debate on whether or not to rebuild there. The most important progress is the rebuilding of the levees and the long term plan for flood protection. I have heard many different stories about the prisoners; they report something on the local news one day, and then CNN/FOX will have a different version.

hatda02

Yup, Jeff took good care of you with his advice. You asked in the one reply if places don't charge for a harness...if you walk in and out of a store planning on doing it yourself most of the times they won't mention it to you (because the don't know one is needed (kids selling at Best Buy)). If you pay someone to install it, usuallly it is part of the price.

That is one nice thing about Crutchfield. They cater to the do-it-yourselfer and include things like wiring harnesses and VERY detailed instructions. This is true if you buy aftermarket speakers from them too. They will give you a harness for the factory speaker plug so you don't have to slice and dice.

Jeff also mentioned crimping. Follow his advice or if you have access to a soldering iron and heat shrink tubing, you can go that route too. I use both depending on what/where I'm installing.

Dave

wjwerdna

+ wiring kits only really cost about 3-4 dollars or less dep on car, when you buy in bulk... thats what I got buying 25+ assorted harnesses at a time

I second the soldering iron if its available, or just tight crimps...

Crutchfield is more expensive, but you get great tech service, I ordered my first radio from them many years ago, they provided support for the next 3 cars it went into... www.installdr.com has the same or better guides if they have your car...

sounds like you are set....


EDIT:
oh, and dont know if you have a external amplifier or not, I dont know if they went back that far.... but if you do, there we be a small box about 6 inches below the radio, connected by wires, if you have this take it out also, and you will see how the harness plugs in...

Jeffires

Good call- I didn't even think about soldering- definitely better. I just soldered all my flex-a-lite fan connections, and if I did another stereo install, I would solder. Using the proper sized barrel connectors and a good crimp will work nicely.

If you plan on adding an aftermarket amp and/or sub *in the future,* you could get the RCA cable and the Remote wire for the amp hooked to the back of the head unit when you install it now. Install these cables, roll them up, and tie them under the dash, out of the way, (behind the glovebox). In the future, if you install an amplifier, you will not need to disassemble the entire dashboard again, only pull the cables to the location of the amp.

Just a suggestion, and good luck

Bob_98SR5

ertified,

good to see a noob member do their homework

check out the tech section. there are writeups on how to change out your stereo. about the harnesses, soldering, etc, take a look at my writeup on installing a stereo in a 3rd gen. the only thing different between a 3rd and a 2nd gen is how to remove the dash. the 2nd gens are horribly difficult as compared to the 3rd gens

http://www.4runners.org/articles/headunit

bob

Ertified4Runner

Thanks guys for all sortsa the input--indeed much appreciated. cuz I don't have access to a soldering tool (I guess I could rent one), I'll probly end up crimping the wires...unless a soldering tool isn't too expensive to buy (anyone know rough estimates?)

And the lowdown on the wires is way cool, I woulda totally not thought of that and wondered what in sam hell's goin on here when I went to put a new one in--yeah, that crutchfield seems like the new path of electrical righteousness for me

-Jeff & Bob: I hate knowing nothing about stuff and having some salesperson tell me what I want, I'd rather know what I want before some guy working for commission tells me so, plus I've been in college for way too long and have gotten pretty adept at the research thing...at least knowing that I need to and shouldn't wing it! And the article on the Clarion install is goin in my battalion of ammo for the new stereo install--

thank you sirs!

Jeffires

I hear you about the college thing- I just got done with years of that! I think its great that you want to do it yourself. A soldering tool can be picked up at Lowes, Radio Shack, etc. for really cheap. I got one for under $20, and it does what I need. However, better irons are available with a variety of heat ranges and tips for diverse tasks. I use my dad's high end iron when I am working on my vintage stuff.

This is a great opportunity for you to learn stereo components, soldering, and the dash layout all at once. You'll feel alot more confident about doing an install after you finish this one.

kyle_22r

i had a hell of a time putting in new 4" speakers in my dash in my '91. toyota used a special "narrow mount" 4" round speaker that used 2 screws. i bought adapters off ebay and i still had to do a bunch of trimming of both the adapters and dash pieces!

Jeffires

What kind of speakers did you install?

Pioneer TS-1018 is the 2 way speaker that fits directly, plug and all. I've had mine since 1996 and they still sound good. I do not run an amp.

If you're looking for upgrade from factory, these are a good choice. If you are looking for something higher end, you'll have to get the adapters or get creative.

Quakefire

When I installed the stereo on my 9- runner, i had to put the head unit on the bottom and the tray up top due to a wiring harness that ran behind