Help Replacing the radio

[MM3]

hi guys, im in the process of replacing the factory head unt & cd(2 din) with a clarion CD player. i got the kit & wiring harnesses which i understand should be simple as plug and play. my question is will the kit/wiring harnesses automatically bypass the factory amp?(from my understanding these trucks have factory amps)..... it doesn't seem like i have to pull the factory amplifier out(from what i've researched) but to me it seems like i will still be getting the power from the factory amp since im still connecting to it. am i right? i want to use the new head units power.

btw, i have the 6 factory speakers. if i don't connect to the factory amp i probably will have to use a crossover correct? since front speakers consist of mids at bottom door panel and highs by the side mirror.

i really appreciate any help. thanks

 

[tarheeltp17]

what year do you have?

 

[MM3]

96 sr5

 

[tarheeltp17]

Alright.... I THINK this is how you get the radio out... Toyota changed it just a little bit over the years. but anyway...

pop up the peice around the gear shifter.
Remove the ash tray... there might be a screw behind it.
Pop off the trip surrounding the AC and heather controls. I believe there are 2 screws behind it. Be careful though because that trim piece surround the controls isn't very thick. you'll need to pull off the plastic knobs as well.
After than you should be good to just pull off the dash. Then unplug everything connected to the dash and you are finished with that part.

Getting the radio out requires a phillips head, sometimes a 7 mm wrench. Those bolts holding the radio in the dash tend to strip so sometimes you'll have to use 7 mm to get it out.

If yours has an amp, it will be a little silver box behind the radio. It should have 3 plugs going into it. ... 1 from the radio to that box, then 2 coming in the bottom. Unplug the 2 on the bottom and that is your standard toyota harness. And by unplugging those you completely bypassed the amp. Then just wire up your new radio and mount it using the mounting brackings that are on the factory radio. Simple enough.

 

[work]

Exactly what tarheeltp17 said. Here's a link with pic to make it easier for you: http://www.castulucci.com/projects/carpc/oemnaviaccess/

 

[tarheeltp17]

that site actually won't help. His is a 96... totally different dash. But that is a good site for 03+

 

[Elton]

here you go Click
one more when i did mine i did not have to remove the trim around the shifter