I recently bought a new Kenwood head unit for my 2000 4runner limited. I also bought the installation kit, but the head unit doesn't seem to fit in my dash no matter what I do. I was able to fit it good enough (very snug and very frustrating to decently get in) but it sort of sticks out and does not have a clear sound (makes bad static-ish noise when turned on).

Please help me....advice?

 

I also have a 2000 4runner and installed a kenwood excellon deck in mine. It has the mask revolving face so I had to install mine on the bottom in order for it to work properly. I ended up putting a kenwood digital EQ. in the top slot. The EQ. fits like a glove but the deck itself sticks out a little bit. Unfortunately all the units I have put in my 4runners never seem to line up with the factory brackets for a perfect fit, so all my units have stuck out a bit, and with some I wasn't even able to get the trim plate to go over the face of the deck. I have seen some people take a dremel and modify the trim panel for better fitment but doesn't really matter if the holes on the radio don't line up on the mounting brackets....only so many ways u can mount it unless you modify and re-drill the mounting brackets. (I dont feel real comfortable drilling new holes in the side of my radio...lol). Your static issue could be many many things. You running just a new deck with factory speakers? Got any amps? How many watts per channel is your radio putting out or does it only have pre-amp outputs? You check your ground connection and make sure you didnt crimp any wires between your head unit and the chassis frame when you were making it fit? I'm pretty sure mine had a factory amp that I had to bypass to get the sound I wanted out of mine.(don't hold me to that cuz it's been a couple years since I've messed with the stereo). Maybe someone else will chime in here with some more info.

 

Virtually all aftermarket decks will stick out a little bit, that is how it is supposed to be. Mine is the same way but it works perfectly. But i got an alpine...

 

they will stick out with the face plate on but with the face plate off the head unit should be flush with the pocket and sit exactly how the factory radio was.

as for the crackling it is probably because you have it shoved in there. i would suggest taking it out and taking another look at it or maybe post some pics. with your wires pinched or pushed like that causing them to make noise it will only be a matter of time until one rubs through and grounds out or your rca plugs get pulled loose and you get constant sound through the stereo.

 

Correct, that is what i meant.

 

Thanks. I am going to work on it today. I had a friend of mine mess with my wires a while ago and messed them up pretty badly. Im going to get those fixed and then put the head unit back in.

Ill take some pictures.

 

" friends don't let friends install their stereo "

 

or family members that tell you "i know what i'm doing" while holding wire cutters!

 

yeah pictures would help right now, if i was in roswell i'd come take a look at it for you but pictures are gonna have to do

 

well it turns out that that head unit was defective and it was nothing about how it was installed. i tend to have pretty bad luck with technology.. (3rd defective item i have bought in a year).

i went and a got a new one so now im starting over.

 

good to hear, hope the new one works a little better

 

I have a 99 and the static noises came from the factory amp not being by-passed. They came to the same conclusion on mine--but i bought mine online so it was going to be a royal PITA to get it refunded--Took it the installer one last time and they by passed the factory amp-That was the problem and now it works like a charm.