2003 Limited w/ JBL...Need help restoring audio

[montyMT]

Hey All,

Just bought an 03' Limited w/ JBL sound system. Here is where it goes downhill..

Previous owner said that the 6 disc changer went out so he replace the head unit w/ a $75.00 Pioneer head unit from Wal-Mart, tried to install it himself and now I have a stereo that plays through only the front center speaker and the door speakers occasionally.

I took it to a audio installation place and they told me I need a $400 amp + labor to bypass the JBL setup and they will rewire it to the crappy head unit to make it work. I don't care much about getting a new head unit b/c it has an aux hookup and that's just fine to play my iPhone on.

I don't really care about the system sounding amazing...I drove a old Cruiser for years. I just need to know if there is a better option out there besides bypassing the JBL. He is going to call me by the end of today to get me a solid quote, but if you guys can steer me in the right direction I would really appreciate it.

Also, The shop said that they have had little luck with the conversion kit to hook up the original JBL amp so they do not even carry the part anymore.


Ahhhhhh! So annoying to dump $500+ into a stock system that I just want to work as intended!

 

[chaz]

try looking in the audio & electronics section, ive read similar issues with guys having problems with the jbl

 

[montyMT]

Thanks, yeah I'm at work trying to sneak whatever time I can reading through all of the posts...I'm probably in the minority here b/c I just can't work on audio, I have always hated doing it myself and I always mess it up. I also have nowhere to work on my rig as I park in a crowded parking garage under my office building.

I'm pretty much at the mercy of the audio place for now. Thanks again all.

 

[chaz]

i didnt have the jbl myself but if its not already installed, maybe something like this is needed to make the jbl controls work correctly. PAC Toyota Factory Integration Adapter Install a new receiver while retaining your JBL amplifier in select 2003-up Toyota and Lexus vehicles (Model TATO) at Crutchfield.com

 

[Sungod]

I have a jbl 6 disc changer that I took out of my 03 if you want to go back to stock make me an offer.

 

[montyMT]

Thanks for the advice guys. Just called the shop. Said that they have already started and they really couldn't turn back now as they had already wired and bolted the amp in.

I think I am going to chalk this up as a a very expensive lesson on how not to just dump your car at a shop and hope for the best.

If, in the future, I seem to be making a dumb a$$ decision like this one...please feel free to remind me.

I'll let you guys know how it turns out.

 

[AZ4FNER]

Subed for future reference.

 

[riceandpho]

U only need a new amp if the stock took a crap. What new amp did they replaced with?

 

[montyMT]

They ended up installing an Alpine Amp.

Alpine MRX-V70 5-channel car amplifier — 60 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms + 350 x 1 at 2 ohms at Crutchfield.com

Guess it will be done by the time I get off of work...we will see. I'm sure it will fix my problem of terrible audio but I'm not gonna hold my breath

 

[montyMT]

This was a crappy move on my part, I know that. I had just finished a 600 mile road trip w/ one speaker and was anxious to get it fixed. I know nothing about stereos and I thought i was going in for a simple wiring fix, it bit me in the butt I guess