Replacing a CD player

[MrWhite96]

The CD player in my brother's '96 has not worked for several years. I'm thinking about replacing it for Christmas for him, but since he's a teenager I don't want to spend a lot of money since it will probably not last long with his kind of abuse.

Does anyone know which players are compatible with the '96? It's a one-disc player and it's original.

I haven't thought of fixing it because it slowly stopped working. It would skip around on the song and play it fast, and then it would say error and eject the disc sometimes when I put the disc in when the weather was cold. If I skipped a song sometimes it would give me an error message and not play. Is there a good way to clean it or fix it so I can keep the original?

Thanks!

 

[MillerPKA]

when you say original you mean stock? trying to fix something like that ends up causing more grief and trouble. i've never seen a stock cd player installed on a 96, but i'm guessing in the one portion of the console theres the unit on the top half and the empty tray on the bottom half. many different head units fit this kind of set up. three options. 1) check out Crutchfield, input the car info and select from the results. 2) go to best buy or similar and get one of the audio guys to help, or 3) wing it and buy the cheap head unit that looks like it'll fit, cause chances are it will.

not sure about wiring but you may have to pick up a harness/wiring kit as well. if you go with best buy, installations free (over $100 i think) and they'll tell you everything you need to purchase in addition to make it work. or you could check out crutchfield pick out one from there then check out local shops and see if they carry it

 

[MrWhite96]

I'm assuming it's stock. When my dad bought the car in 2000 it had CD, Cassette, and AM/FM radio, and there are stickers on the front windows that say that the radio will not work if it is removed, so if someone steals it they can't just plug it into their car and have it work.

 

[MillerPKA]

haha just cause the stickers are stock doesn't mean the player is too. take a picture if you can, that'll make things easier

 

[tarheeltp17]

Any CD player that is DIN or DOUBLE DIN will work in your 4runner. It is an incredibly easy install with no tricks to it. There is 2 screws that hold the dash on hidden behind the cover for the air conditioning controls, then the rest of the dash snaps off and you have to unplug a few things. The harness you'll want is a standard toyota harness...If your radio is the CD player on top of a pocket then all you need is the harness, otherwise you'll want to pick up a harness and a pocket.

Here are some part numbers for you...

BHA-1761 - Best kits Toyota Harness
BKUPK750 - best Kits universal Pocket

Metra also makes good stuf...
70-1761 - Metra toyota harness
88-00-8000 - Metra toyota pocket

American international is good too but I don't know their numbers off the top of my head

Stay away from scosche...those kits and harness are the absolute worst.

Best buy does not install it for free!!!!! They'll charge you $70 for parts and say you get free installation, but those parts shouldn't cost you over $30 at any shop.

 

[MillerPKA]

Correct, but seeing how this is his brothers car (don't know if you're adding the element of surprise) it may be easier to let them handle it. and by the way, i had my head unit installed with necessary parts already bought and the total installation fee was $0.00

 

[MrWhite96]

Thanks for the info. I'm still looking into it, but I really don't feel confident doing it myself.

I'm female, and I guess I should put something to that effect under my username because I can see how it could be confusing. Mr White is what I named my first 4Runner back in 2000, and this is the car my brother is driving now. It's the fourth one to the left in my avatar.

 

[MillerPKA]

Right on. Well, Ms. White, aha!! woo, crack myself up sometimes. Anyways, with your sitcheashun i'd go with local audio place because sometimes they're more unorthodox in their installation practices, which in the long run turns out better for the customer SOMETIMES. Either way, local retailer is the ideal choice.

 

[tarheeltp17]

indeed local shops tend to know more about their product and installation...

hey MrWhite i see you are from NC... what part? If you are anywhere near Charlotte or Winston Salem, I can help you out with your installation needs.

 

[MrWhite96]

Thanks for the offer, but I'm four hours west/southwest of Winston in the mountains. I'll figure out something.