Head unit swap?

[cantaloop]

Not too experienced with wiring harness stuff or soldering...

Basically I bought a used 4runner that already had an aftermarket sony HU installed, but it doesn't have an aux, usb input, or bluetooth. If I buy a new aftermarket HU with these capabilities, will it simply be a matter of taking out the old one and plugging in the new one? Or would that only be if the new one is Sony as well, since the wiring harnesses are different for different brands?

 

[tigger]

Not too experienced with wiring harness stuff or soldering...

Basically I bought a used 4runner that already had an aftermarket sony HU installed, but it doesn't have an aux, usb input, or bluetooth. If I buy a new aftermarket HU with these capabilities, will it simply be a matter of taking out the old one and plugging in the new one? Or would that only be if the new one is Sony as well, since the wiring harnesses are different for different brands?

Depends on how close the head unit is in capabilities. But on the off chance the harness did fit, it would only be Sony.

The good thing is that if they added a harness adapter to wire in the head unit, you can reuse that part. Just clip the wires were the two harnesses are connected and wire up the new head unit to the harness adapter.

You don't have to solder the wires together. It provides a better connection (if done right) but is not required. (I haven't soldered a harness together in the 35 years I have installed stereos.)

There are different types of crimp or twist connectors you can use.

Crimp and seal butt conectors

crimp butt connectors

Crimp cap connectors

Twist lock butt connectors

And the ones I now use;

Twist lock connectors