I need aux-in! Will this HU work for me? How hard to install?

Hey, guys! Hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas!

Anyway, I have a 1996 4Runner with a 2 DIN head unit in it. There is a picture of it here:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/audio-electronics/44094-help-identifying-1996-stock-radio.html

I'm hoping to get an Aux-in plug working somehow, and it seems like I'm out of luck doing anything but replacing the head unit. If anyone has any ideas about another way to get a Aux-in working on that unit, please speak up! I'm perfectly happy with this old unit, other than the fact that I have to use a cassette adapter to get my MP3 players routed into it.

Anyway, since I haven't found any other way to get Aux-in working, I'm thinking about just getting a relatively cheap 2 DIN unit to put in place instead. Don't want anything fancy and really hope it will kind of blend in with the rest of the dash. Not interested in any flashy colored lights or anything.

So the one that I see that looks closest to what I'm looking for is the Panasonic CQ-5800U. Does anyone have any experience with this unit?

Panasonic CQ-5800U (cq5800u) All In-Dash Car Stereo Receivers Car Stereo Receivers and Head Units Car Audio Car Audio, Video, & GPS Navigation - Sonic Electronix

My questions are these:

1. Am I correct in thinking this unit is the proper size to fit right into the current spot on my dash that my stock stereo sits in without having to mod my dash.

2. Will this unit push my speakers as well as the stock unit does? This radio actually sounds pretty decent to a non-audiophile like myself. Is the wattage on this Panasonic unit more or less than the stock unit? Any ideas?

3. Is there some special harness or wiring that is needed to put this unit in my 1996 4Runner and how much effort is involved? I'm pretty handy and am planning on installing it myself, if it isn't too complicated.

Any and all input/suggestions will be most appreciated! Is this the right unit for me? Am I making a mistake by considering this unit? Please let me know your thoughts!

Thanks a bunch!

Come on, guys.. I know someone knows whether or not this unit is going to require some special wiring harness or not.. Give me some love, people..

I installed that exact HU in my '98 a few weeks ago. To my non-audiophile ears it is a great sounding unit.

1. No need to mod your dash. Fits right in there.
2. The unit sounds better than the stock one to me. At lower (normal) volumes it sounds great. However, at higher volumes the stock speakers are lacking in the bass department. I don't plan on replacing my speakers anytime soon though, so during those rare times when I do crank it up and sing along (like whenever More Than A Feeling comes on) I just deal with it.
3. You will need a harness unless you want to cut the wires in your dash which is something I would strongly recommend against. I ordered a harness from Crutchfield for like 10 bux or something. You can also find them at Best Buy or any other car audio installation place. You will need the one without the pre-amp outputs, I think that's what it is called. It should have bare wires and no plugs on it.

Like I said, I installed it myself and it wasn't that hard. I would recommend properly soldering, shrink wrapping and taping the two harnesses (the one you buy and the one that comes with the unit) together. Follow the stock hu harness down to the pre-amp, remove the pre-amp and unplug the harness on the other side. That is the one the purchased harness will plug into. No need to cut any wires in your dash. This unit does not operate your power antenna....at least I couldn't get it to work. I plan on replacing my power antenna with a whip anyway, so this fact doesn't bother me. If you want your power antenna to continue to extend and retract when you turn the unit on/off you will need the advice of someone else.

Hope this helps and doesn't confuse, let me know if you have any other questions about the install.

They're both double-DIN unit, the Panasonic should drop right in.

A couple note on the install:
-Defintely get a harness adaptor. Look at Scosche for one.
-Arm yourself with wire cutters (optional), wire strippers, and some shrink wrap.

With those supplies, it shouldn't take more than an hour (going slowly) to get the radio in.

They're both double-DIN unit, the Panasonic should drop right in.

A couple note on the install:
-Defintely get a harness adaptor. Look at Scosche for one.
-Arm yourself with wire cutters (optional), wire strippers, and some shrink wrap.

With those supplies, it shouldn't take more than an hour (going slowly) to get the radio in.

flyte74 and thumper,

Thanks for all the input! You guys rock. I knew there was some kind souls around here who would help me get a clue..

Anyone have a link to the proper harness I need? I have never messed with a harness before. Should I be worried about getting the wrong one?

Thanks!

Mojoski said:

flyte74 and thumper,

Thanks for all the input! You guys rock. I knew there was some kind souls around here who would help me get a clue..

Anyone have a link to the proper harness I need? I have never messed with a harness before. Should I be worried about getting the wrong one?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

You could get this one:
87+ TA PWR/4SPK- Harness

Or head to your local Best Buy, they'll have the same one or something similar.

You'll be connecting this harness to the harness that comes with your new head unit. This way, you simply unplug your old radio and plug in the new one and the wiring is already done.

Remember, get some shrink wrap (Home Depot has this). Or electrical tape at the minimum. If you're really anal, you can solder the wires together before you wrap/tape them.

If you go to Best Buy or some other place similar just ask for the '87 and up Toyota harness. They will charge you $20+ bux though. The link thumper provided is a better price. Crutchfield is out of stock until 1/14/10 and they are 9.99. But with shipping and wait time.....you decide.

I took the anal route and soldered, shrink wrapped (or is it shrunk wrapped?) and then a little tape to boot. Probably a little overkill but I had this new butane soldering torch that I wanted to play with........

Did you order a new HU yet? If you haven't here's a few pros/cons on the HU you are looking at.

Pros
doesn't look out of place
sounds (great) better than stock
aux port
usb port
cheap
weather band
satellite radio ready

cons
would rather have usb in back to route cable to glove box or something
i prefer individual source buttons. this one you have to push a single button to scroll through radio, cd, usb, aux. not a huge drawback but a lot of button pushing sometimes.

Overall I am very satisfied with the unit, I'm just nit picking with the cons......