I need to know if my 6-spker runner is wired for 8-spkrs?

[Fro-Runner]

If one of you members with a 2003-05 SR5 V-6 wiring book would kindly tell me if I have a speaker wire running to the rear of my runner....I'd much appreciate it. I am not one for big boom sound but I would like to add two small store bought speaker boxes to the rear of my factory 6-speaker system. I want to tap into the speaker wire that is "hopefully" already running to the rear of my runner. I am hoping that Toyota ran the wires automatically for the two speakers in which I have the rear convex mirrors in thier places. I want to set it up so that I could simply unplug and remove the small speaker boxes when I need the extra space. In other words, I just want to add some sound from the rear of my runner but without the big price upgrades such as a high quality amp and speakers. Your response would be much appreciated.

 

[Fro-Runner]

I guess no one here can answer my elongated question. I shall wait a bit longer to check back for any replies!

 

[jharris2]

I doubt that they are prewired.

Also, you only waited an hour for a response. Patience!!

 

[Fro-Runner]

I know Jharris2.....I was only kidding. This is such a great forum. I am really happy that I joined and came back. Now I check here almost daily ...as I do with my email. I have learned so much reading others probs, mods, and solutions. Keep up the good work!

Also, thanks for the answer! I was hoping that I didn't have to tap into the rear door speakers and run a the wires along the door sills into the back. I was hoping to have my own seperate wire into the back. I don't really want to tear up my runner in the apt. complex parking lot---especially since "any kind" of auto work is prohibited.

 

[boston_kevin]

you might try looking

I am not so sure that Toyota had 2-3 versions of the main wiring harness they used for the 4Runner. I know GMC has one harness that they use for all production units of the same model (i.e. Yukon in any grade has the same main harness), and although the speaker leads may not be there, there is probably a connector to which you could fabricate your own harness to connect to the head unit. Remember if you decide to do this, the stock head unit will most likely not power these speakers (as this is a JBL option) and the stock unit only had power and leads for 6 speakers (not 10).

 

[rando]

Sadly, the wiring guide isn't of much help for this kind of thing. While is does (usually) indicate which circuits exist in different models/configurations of the 4runner, it doesn't tell you which unused wires are there / not there.

In any case, I've been behind the panels of my truck and can tell you that the wires you want aren't there. Unless you have the side curtains or the JBL system, the floor wire harness down the passenger side ends at the rear passenger door courtesy switch. In the 10 speaker model, this harness continues on and connects the JBL amplifier, nav (optional), air bag sensor (optional), subwoofer, and finally the rearmost speaker.

In the 10 speaker system, all the speaker wires run to the amplifier in the back instead of to the head unit up front so there isn't much in common about the two system from a wiring harness perspective. The rearmost speaker wires ran from the amp to junction connector J42 located adjacent to the amp (also missing from your setup). From J42, the RH speaker wire runs directly to the speaker. The LH speaker wire runs up into the passenger kick panel harness to harness connector IO1, across the dash over to IE1 and then directly to the LH speaker through the LH floor wire harness.

 

[jharris2]

Re: you might try looking

I am not so sure that Toyota had 2-3 versions of the main wiring harness they used for the 4Runner. I know GMC has one harness that they use for all production units of the same model (i.e. Yukon in any grade has the same main harness), and although the speaker leads may not be there, there is probably a connector to which you could fabricate your own harness to connect to the head unit. Remember if you decide to do this, the stock head unit will most likely not power these speakers (as this is a JBL option) and the stock unit only had power and leads for 6 speakers (not 10).

Unfortunately, Toyota does have multiple harnesses for some parts of the vehicle. For example, mine was not prewired for fog lights.

The service manager at the dealership mentioned that they had someone break into a 2002 model 4Runner and steal the instrument cluster -- they just cut the wires off. There were something like 27 wiring harnesses that were used in the 2002 model and there was no indicator to show which of the 27 possibilities would work.

So the manufacturers don't always do things the simple way.

 

[rando]

Re: you might try looking

I am not so sure that Toyota had 2-3 versions of the main wiring harness they used for the 4Runner.

If only it were that simple. In fact, there isn't a 'main' wiring harness in the 4runner. Instead the wiring consists of numerous smaller harnesses that interconnect at harness to harness connectors to form the complete wiring system. This allows Toyota to make multiple versions of portions of the system without have the expense or complexity of having multiple 'main' harnesses in their inventory. Below is a partial listing of the various harness (called wires in Toyota lingo) listed in the wiring manual -- just to give you an idea.

Engine Room Main Wire
Engine Wire
Engine No.2 Wire
Sensor Wire
Differential Wire
Instrument Panel Wire
Instrument Panel No.2 Wire
Front Door LH Wire
Front Door RH Wire
Floor Wire
Floor No.2 Wire
Consol Box Wire
Cigarette Wire
Relay Wire
Radio Installation Sub Assy Wire
Roof Wire
Rear Door No.1 Wire
Rear Door No.2 Wire
Back Door No.1 Wire
Back Door No.2 Wire
Frame Wire
Frame No.3 Wire
Skid Control Sensor Wire

I counted 43 different connectors that join these together and 308 connectors used to connect to the various components or form junctions. There are also a handful of splice points.

 

[boston_kevin]

nice and simple (yea right...)

Oh well.. GMC has one root harness from nose to tail with sub-harnesses to each subsystem. This way they can add features on the vehicles at a later stage in the production fairly easy. Guess Toyota doesn't want to keep it that simple (or allow that many unused wires in the vehicle.

 

[Fro-Runner]

Hey.....thanks a bunch fellows for you comments. I guess I will have to get the darn thing re-wired whenever I decided to purchase an aftermarket DVD HUD radio. I was kinda figuring Toyota wouldn't make it that easy for me. I don't see why not tapping into the rear door speakers would not power these cheapo box speakers. Toyota's basic single disc CD radio should be able to handle that .....huh?

 

[Expat]

I don't really want to tear up my runner in the apt. complex parking lot---especially since "any kind" of auto work is prohibited.

I feel your pain! I hate living in an apartment complex. Not allowed to wash your car even

Hope you will join us for our SoCal rally at the end of this month. If you haven't already, check the SoCal Forum for details.

Cheers
Mark

 

[rando]

Hey.....thanks a bunch fellows for you comments. I guess I will have to get the darn thing re-wired whenever I decided to purchase an aftermarket DVD HUD radio. I was kinda figuring Toyota wouldn't make it that easy for me. I don't see why not tapping into the rear door speakers would not power these cheapo box speakers. Toyota's basic single disc CD radio should be able to handle that .....huh?

It would probably be just as easy to buy yourself an aftermarket amp or two.

 

[Hank]

If the factory system is not already prewired (6 -->8), you can technically tap into the existing rear speaker wires, but there are two issues you want to be concern about:

1) if you connect the add-on speaker boxes in SERIES (daisy-chain: positive wire connected to the negative wire on one end & the same on the other end; like batteries in a flashlight), that will double the IMPEDENCE or Load in ohms (most car audio speakers, excluding subs, are 4 ohms. Therefore, wiring them in series will change it from 4 ohms to 8 ohms, basically drawing LESS power from the factory amp/HU.

2) if you connect the add-on speakers in PARALLEL (positive to positive & negative to negative; like jump starting the car battery), that will cut the IMPEDENCE or load in HALF. Therefore the original 4 ohms will now become 2 ohms, drawing MORE power from the factory amp/Hu.

Note: Option 1 is the safer method, but may not sound as loud since it is drawing less power from the amp (you can adjust the Front/Rear Fader controls). Option 2 will allow your rear speakers to sound louder, but it will draw more power from the amp and it may overheat & get fried. Also, the unbalanced load (Front @ 4ohms & Back @ 2ohms or 8ohms) may cause the HU/amp circuit to trip and will require resetting. Since you have the rear backup mirrors in place of the optional tweeters, you don't have to be concern with the crossovers (if any) that are in the JBL 10spkr system. I'm not sure what aftermarket speakers you bought, but I would put some tweeters in place of the mirrors to enhance the "highs"... just my 2 cents

 

[Fro-Runner]

Thanks for the detail information in your response Hank. The speakers I purchased were just those cheapo 6.5" box types from pep boys w/tweeters, mids and a weak sub. I am trying to accomplish adding some sound into the rear storage compartment of the runner to match the factory sound (nothing big or special). I wanted to tap into the wiring and add in a quick connect to remove the cheapo's whenever I did a run to the grocery or home depot. I don't feel too comfy having one of these low, budget price stereo warehouses tearing up my new runner to install their $119 DVD/Nav special radio. Of course, the real price is on the backend of the deal when they hit you with the $400+ installation fee. Don't you just love clever marketing?:spam: