Getting a new stereo and ...

[peter78]

My CD player died in April of this year and I hadn't fixed it yet.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/64627-cd-player-quit-working.html

Well, my wife is getting me a new one for Christmas and it turns out hooking up the new stereo to my contols in my wheel is almost as expensive as my stereo. The new stereo is $184 and it is about $170 to hook it up the steering wheel controls.

JVC - 50W x 4 MOSFET Apple® iPod®-/Satellite Radio-/HD Radio-Ready CD Deck - KW-XR610

The total is $463 installed. I am getting it done this Thursday. I like the double bin design and I can change the color to match the amber color of the rest of the dash. I also like the HD radio and it can play MP3's. It is just the idea of pay $110 for a control hook up for the wheel and $60 for labor for just the hooking up the remote controls on the steering wheel. :gun4:

 

[subst4nce]

Is BestBuy installing the Head Unit? I wouldn't recommend you have them do the install, their install quality tends to be subpar. Do you have any local car audio stores in your area that you can go to? I would check there before buying anything from BestBuy.

 

[MrGaryFish]

Is BestBuy installing the Head Unit? I wouldn't recommend you have them do the install, their install quality tends to be subpar. Do you have any local car audio stores in your area that you can go to? I would check there before buying anything from BestBuy.

Best Buy installers are usually pretty good. The easiest way to find out is how long they've worked there. A radio is pretty much the most simple job they do. I know because I used to to car install, now do HT install for Best Buy. I put in my screen in my '04 Limited T4r and it was a fairly simple procedure. Your's being a SR5 with steering wheel controls, you just need the wire harness for the t4r, the PAC SWI-X or something similar, and maybe some type of antenna adaptor. I think I put the metra version of the steering wheel adaptor and it worked with zero programming. I would look at putting it in myself, its just a few bolts and a couple crimp connectors. Do a search and you can find a how to guide on pulling apart the dash. Good luck.

 

[peter78]

Best Buy installers are usually pretty good.

I have stereos installed at many different places over the years. The Best Buy sales people didn't help much. I got to talk to the installer and was impressed with what he knew. He knew about Toyotas and about 4Runners. He ask all the right questions, "did I have the JBL or stock stereo" and many other questions. He made sure he would do the work, he said some guys don't know about the steering wheel connection and he wanted to do it. I felt fairly confident he knew what he was doing.

I have done stereo stores and they are very good, it is just that they are harder to find and they do tend to be more expensive. I got a killer radio with big ass speakers in my 88 Acura from a local stereo store. Years later, I upgraded from a cassette player (remeber those?) to a CD player. I have also had cheap stereos put in at HH Greg and Circuit City and they worked fine.

I know one thing, listening to the radio with ads instead of my music sucks. I am looking forward to listening to my many CD's, mostly Jazz with the Beatles and Jimmy Buffett thrown in.

 

[FourEyedWilly]

Man I would shop around and do it yourself for sure. I was shocked at how easy the whole install was.

I have a Pioneer HU, PAC10 control, and a cheapo Bazooka tube. Sounds FANTASTIC and cost about $650 total. You only need really a phillips head screwdriver, 10mm socket, and crimpers. I soldered and heat shrunk all my wires while in there. It's a one :banana: job honestly.

 

[bp1021]

I have a Pioneer FH-P8000BT. It sounds good (w/o an amp), has bluetooth, and has an ipod/usb thumb drive connection. I have the mic right beside the visor and I have the ipod/usb thumb drive connection going into my glove box. The bluetooth sounds great. I have my several usb thumb drives that I use to play my mp3s. Just my two cents.

 

[FourEyedWilly]

I have a Pioneer FH-P8000BT. It sounds good (w/o an amp), has bluetooth, and has an ipod/usb thumb drive connection. I have the mic right beside the visor and I have the ipod/usb thumb drive connection going into my glove box. The bluetooth sounds great. I have my several usb thumb drives that I use to play my mp3s. Just my two cents.

Pioneer makes a GREAT stereo for a fantastic price. If you check on Amazon, many times you can get a SCREAMING deal. I just got the wire harness and dash kit from Crutchfield so I could have the install directions. The PAC-10 came from Amazon as well.

Can't go wrong and I SWEAR it sounded great without the piddly sub I got.

 

[Lzyltng]

I am looking to upgrade my "upgraded" JBL system. I'd like to put in a nice touchscreen, GPS, cd, sat. radio, web connectivity, etc. Anybody know the "best" unit for the job? I have looked at Crutchfield and they seemed to have a fair selection, but which one does anyone here have experience with? Thanks...

 

[JMST4R]

I am looking to upgrade my "upgraded" JBL system. I'd like to put in a nice touchscreen, GPS, cd, sat. radio, web connectivity, etc. Anybody know the "best" unit for the job? I have looked at Crutchfield and they seemed to have a fair selection, but which one does anyone here have experience with? Thanks...

I bought a Pioneer AVIC X920BT about a month after I bought my truck, and it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. A little pricey, but worth it. Calculates fuel mileage (more accurately than the info display), much better sound out of the factory (non-JBL in my 4R) speakers, all in all, a really great deck. Easy to use, looks nice (flat grey bezel, matches the dash, instead of shiny black that matches nothing), looks awesome.

 

[galactic_04]

I got a Clarion cx609 when I bought my truck. Love the bluetooth with my smartphone. Make sure whatever you get that if the reception is weak you'll have to have them attach the second antenna cable with a GM adapter and a splitter. You'll also need to run the power wire to pin 8 (if you had a non-JBL system) and it'll power the rear antenna amp.

 

[yanksfan e46]

Man I would shop around and do it yourself for sure. I was shocked at how easy the whole install was.

I have a Pioneer HU, PAC10 control, and a cheapo Bazooka tube. Sounds FANTASTIC and cost about $650 total. You only need really a phillips head screwdriver, 10mm socket, and crimpers. I soldered and heat shrunk all my wires while in there. It's a one :banana: job honestly.

is there a DIY for installation of head units? thanks in advance..

 

[galactic_04]

Removal of the radio:
How to Remove the Navigation Head Unit from a 2003 Toyota 4Runner

It's fairly simple. I've removed mine enough that I know it's about a 10 minute process for me with just a 10mm. There's really only about 5 bolts in the whole process. If you get a receiver from crutchfield it'll have all the adapters you need and you just crimp wire to wire by color and it'll all work out. Just make sure you connect all the wires even if you don't think you'll use them (power antenna color blue and dimmer color ornage for instance). It's pretty straight-forward.

 

[yanksfan e46]

Removal of the radio:
How to Remove the Navigation Head Unit from a 2003 Toyota 4Runner

It's fairly simple. I've removed mine enough that I know it's about a 10 minute process for me with just a 10mm. There's really only about 5 bolts in the whole process. If you get a receiver from crutchfield it'll have all the adapters you need and you just crimp wire to wire by color and it'll all work out. Just make sure you connect all the wires even if you don't think you'll use them (power antenna color blue and dimmer color ornage for instance). It's pretty straight-forward.

Thanks!!! i didnt realize i posted this in 4th gen when i have a 3rd gen yota... sry guys but thanks for the info!!!

 

[peter78]

It was put in last Thursday and we went down to Florida. I got to try it out and it is sure nice to have a CD player. The amber color matches most of the other instruments on the dash. It sounda better than the old radio. The remote controls on the wheel are a little different. They are not quite as easy to use. You have to hit the control a few times or longer for it to work and if you hit it too long the volume goes way up. I just have to get use to it.

I now have to get some MP3's put on CD, I will do that over Christmas break. So, Best Buys was fine, not a problem. Hopefully this should last the life of the car.

 

[teampwr2]

Thanks for posting a Link to the Unit you got ... My niece is a Manager at Our local best buy and I think I will see about getting that unit ..I too Would talk to them about installation .Cuz I dont wanna mess with it !
I just need something with AUX input.

 

[peter78]

Thanks for posting a Link to the Unit you got ... My niece is a Manager at Our local best buy and I think I will see about getting that unit ..I too Would talk to them about installation .Cuz I dont wanna mess with it !
I just need something with AUX input.

When you click on the Best Buy site to see if it fits your vehicle, it will say no to the 4th gen 4Runner. They had to put a mounting kit in, the sides are just a little smaller. It looks fine, the black trim looks fine. I will try a get a picture of it, when I get home from Florida. It does have a AUX input.

 

[Jamanred]

I am looking to upgrade my "upgraded" JBL system. I'd like to put in a nice touchscreen, GPS, cd, sat. radio, web connectivity, etc. Anybody know the "best" unit for the job? I have looked at Crutchfield and they seemed to have a fair selection, but which one does anyone here have experience with? Thanks...

Lzyltng

You would have an amp located under the plastic molding in the passenger rear cargo area. Crutchfield sells an item called a Pac Taco or something like that (found it in another post). You will need it to wire into the JBL amp. It's on sale for $37, but normally $75. Plus an additional module to wire into the steering wheel controls.

I've been eyeing the Kenwood Execelon DNX9960 because it handles full 5.1 channel imaging (only because I personally don't see the logic of upgrading while loosing features) along with RDS (for FM), Nav, DVD, HD, Bluetooth, and Satellite. It's the only 2 Din out there that handles everything, unless you go with a CarPC (check out the mp3car website for info..a project in itself). But even on sale, this Kenwood is $1549.

Pioneer, Kenwood, JVC, Clarion, Sony, Eclipse and Alpine all make a good 2 DIN Nav receiver ($500-1549).

For me, I am replacing the entire JBL system (head unit, speakers and amps). This will be an expensive conversion.

 

[CAFROG]

Below is just my opinion based on my experiences and needs.

I'm very close to buying a double-din head unit. Looked at Pioneer and Kenwood. (FYI) Eclipse isn't in the US anymore and Alpine has been having a variety of problems with their Nav units...some may be firmware update fixable but nothing fixed as of yet.

I never owned a Kenwood but they look nice (Nav is $1099 with $100 rebate from Garmin) it has all the bells and whistles (dual zone was the sweetest little gadget!)

But I really wont use the Nav that much (3-5 times a year) so its hard to spend the extra cash for something I wont use that much.

For a non-Nav double din....I can get a Pioneer P4200DVD (roughly $400-550) which has the big 7" screen (but I need to add an external bluetooth module) and it will hook up to my hard wired 160G Classic i-Pod so I can play movies and music all I want. There will be (or is) a Nav Module for it but I think I'll stick to getting directions before I leave home or get a Tom Tom or Garmin later.

 

[peter78]

I haven't got around to taking a picture of the unit, but another member got one just like mine, so I stole (borrowed) his picture. You can see he set the lighting to match the yellow lighting of the dash. The little plastic sides used to install the radio aren't really that noticable.

It sounds much better than the old stereo and I like playing MP3's. I made a few CD's with MP3's. All of the Beatles music are on 2 CD's, I will put Jimmy Buffett on MP3's as soon as I can. The only thing that I don't like is that the steering wheel controls are harder to use. When you hit volume, nothing happens, then you hit it for a second and it gets real loud. You get use to it, but the contols are harder to regulate the sound.

 

[galactic_04]

That's the same kit they use for any Radio. I got my Clarion from crutchfield and it fits the same way. Crutchfield has that marked as a radio that fits the 4runner...

I noticed they have a USB port on the back of the radio, where did they run that to? I have mine run into the flip-out pocket below the climate control