OORUNNER

The backlighting in my Runner factory stereo has quit. From what I have read, this can't be fixed cheaply. I have located an OEM stereo out of a 03 Runner, the number on it is 86120-35281. Will this stereo swap in without modifications? I know that the 03 stereo has a kind of orange-red backlighting that dosen't match my original stereo, but I can live with that. The face looks the same except for a gold-yellow logo above the volume button (picture is a little fuzzy, but I think that it is a "compact disc" logo).

Thanks in advance,
Bill

jrm

on the 4th gen OE HU is larger then the faceplate of a 3rd gen OE HU. The brackets are the same as well as the connections. I'd go with a aftermarket DD HU if you can.

OORUNNER

So the 03 stereo will not fit my surround trim? I was looking for something to just drop on and go. Looking to get out cheap...

Nervo19

It will work but... I did the very same thing a couple of months ago. I have an '00 that lost it's backlighting. I got an '04 radio off eBay. It has red back lighting. When I got inside the dash I found I had an amp and the radio I bought was not set up for one. It plugged straight into the Toyota harness. The whole conversion takes about 20 minutes. But. It sounded just about the same as the old radio. About a month after the "new" radio went in the CD player stopped working. I got a new Kenwood from Crutchfield. The one I chose has selectable backlighting so I can match my other dash lights. Of course it also plays and charges my iPhone/iPod. I was not prepared for how much BETTER it sounds than either of the stock Toyota radios. I still have the stock speakers. I had hoped to keep everything stock but I do not regret the change. I do regret wasting money on the interim Toyota radio. It was only $25 though. You should do a search on "diversity antenna" and order the Y adaptor. Here's a good video on 4Runner radio installation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkSWf...eature=related

Here's the stereo I bought from Crutchfield. It came 36 hours after I ordered it:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KDCX...6.html?tp=5684




You can get them cheaper on eBay but you still need the Toyota adaptor and the single DIN pocket.