OEM radio troubles

[mattman]

My 2002 4runner had a cheap single din radio when I bought it. It’s a pain to use (tiny buttons with no labels) so I bought an oem double din off ebay that looked like my 2000.
I was putting it in today, tried it out, and when I went to put the dash cover back on .... I realized it doesn’t fit.
Started looking up part numbers and realized the one I bought was for the same year highlander. I remembered that when I bought it (it was cheaper) but never imagined there would be different sized units that looked relatively the same.
It was a pain putting the 4 screws in (they were kind of behind the lip of the radio). I just figured it was because I was using the aftermarket bracket? Oh well[emoji17]

Wasted a few hours and $50. At least I got the shift bushings done though.

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[beklemmung]

I think this is a fairly common problem for people who add non-factory head units. I recently got a Scion unit with Bluetooth and am hoping to put it in this weekend. Based on what I've read I expect that it's going to require me to slightly increase the area of the opening of the dash cover / faceplate... assuming it does, I'll either need to buy a dremel or just get a small file and do it manually. I'm not a handy person and while I hope it ends up looking something close to good, it might not!

 

[firemanj92]

My 2002 4runner had a cheap single din radio when I bought it. It’s a pain to use (tiny buttons with no labels) so I bought an oem double din off ebay that looked like my 2000.
I was putting it in today, tried it out, and when I went to put the dash cover back on .... I realized it doesn’t fit.
Started looking up part numbers and realized the one I bought was for the same year highlander. I remembered that when I bought it (it was cheaper) but never imagined there would be different sized units that looked relatively the same.
It was a pain putting the 4 screws in (they were kind of behind the lip of the radio). I just figured it was because I was using the aftermarket bracket? Oh well[emoji17]

Wasted a few hours and $50. At least I got the shift bushings done though.

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A lot of Toyota OEM (JDM) use 200mm wide stereos, but a lot of U.S. spec (Toyota) vehicles use a 180mm wide also know as double ISO opening as you now have discovered. What about widening the opening with a dremel.

 

[BrianK14]

Not to be negative, but I can’t imagine widening that with a Dremel and it looking like anything other than shit. Looks like a $50 learning experience to me.

 

[TheSaturnV]

You would have to add some kind of guide/guard to the Dremel to keep the cutting surface constant. Kind of like how a router is set up. If you do try it, use a Dremel with variable speed and keep it on the slower end. Dremels luv to melt plastic.

 

[mattman]

Yeah - I went ahead and put the old aftermarket one back in. I listed the Highlander one on eBay - maybe I can get back a little something to go towards the right one. [emoji106]


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[19963.4lsr5]

Take your time and trim it and hit the black plastic with a heat gun to get rid of the white edges of the plastic.

I put a T1819 Scion unit in my 97 and it required some bracket tweaking to shift the unit to the drivers side to center it better. My build and repair thread has the mods needed for the install. Later I bought a NAV unit from a 2013 Corolla and installed that in my 97 to have a dedicated NAV instead of my garmin or phone.

Take your time.


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[Skulking]

Yeah - I went ahead and put the old aftermarket one back in. I listed the Highlander one on eBay - maybe I can get back a little something to go towards the right one. [emoji106]


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I replaced my stock radio with an aftermarket radio not long after I got it last year because I wanted to have Bluetooth for my phone. I still have my stock radio and the stock amp sitting in my garage. They are out of a 2000 Limited. I can't promise the CD player or tape deck work since I never tested them, and I believe some of the back lights were dead, but they are yours if you want them.

 

[rglsr]

I just posted these OEM double DIN Tacoma/4Runner radios up on Tacoma World.
Might work for you if you've got the dual plug wiring harness for radio.

1995-2000 Tacoma oem double DIN radio/cd/cassette players | Tacoma World

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

My 2002 4runner had a cheap single din radio when I bought it. It’s a pain to use (tiny buttons with no labels) so I bought an oem double din off ebay that looked like my 2000.
I was putting it in today, tried it out, and when I went to put the dash cover back on .... I realized it doesn’t fit.
Started looking up part numbers and realized the one I bought was for the same year highlander. I remembered that when I bought it (it was cheaper) but never imagined there would be different sized units that looked relatively the same.
It was a pain putting the 4 screws in (they were kind of behind the lip of the radio). I just figured it was because I was using the aftermarket bracket? Oh well[emoji17]

Wasted a few hours and $50. At least I got the shift bushings done though.


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No need to eat the $50. You bought it on ebay so just return it as long as it been within 60 days. Doesn't matter if the seller stated no returns either. They may even pay for return shipping.

 

[mattman]

Ok - the story gets better. I got the model number (AD6803) from the face of my 2000 SR5 and figured ok that’s the one I need for the 2002 SR5.
Just came today. I go to put it in and the connectors are different.
So the two plugs in my 2002 fit the right hand side jacks on the Highlander radio (bottom). They don’t fit either plug on the 4runner radio that came in today (top).

I feel like such an idiot.

I really need to study the pics on eBay ads to find the 4runner radio that has my jacks.

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[mattman]

Oh - it looks like my connectors go to an amp. And then the amp must have the connectors that fit the AD6803?


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[Twan]

Yes, there's a small amp that bolts in behind the radio, which is usually tossed when an aftermarket radio is installed. The aftermarket harness plugs directly into the two plugs. In the OEM arrangement the two plugs go into the amp, then the amp plugs into the back of the radio. This seems like a lot of effort to go back to a junky 20+ year old radio.

 

[Skulking]

Oh - it looks like my connectors go to an amp. And then the amp must have the connectors that fit the AD6803?


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That is correct. Most aftermarket radios have internal amplifiers, so you connect them to the cable that plugs into the factory amp, and just bypass it. I don't believe it is necessary to remove the factory amp, so it's probably worth checking if it is still installed while you have things open. You can see a drawing of it here so you know what to look for.

 

[jacinda]

Following!this seems like a very interesting thread

 

[mattman]

This seems like a lot of effort to go back to a junky 20+ year old radio.

I know it seems like that ... wouldn’t have been bad if I didn’t guess wrong the first time or knew mine came with an amp.
Honestly, I rarely listen to anything other than AM talk radio. On a trip I’ll scroll through FM as I go.
The PO probably had a decent radio in there before (back was wired for amp and sub). But when I bought it, it had some Eclipse brand unit with terrible controls.
The other plus to going back to OEM is it looks less exciting to thieves. I had my car stolen in college so I’m all about keeping a low profile.


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[Sarki]

Personally I like the look of the Factory system over most any aftermarket unit as it just looks better all around.
Completely understand why so many people upgrade to newer aftermarket units but to me they just look out of place in a 3rd gen.
I’m just a grumpy old man who can listen to pretty much any music on any old stereo and be happy.
Waiting for the picture of the factory unit nicely installed.