How To: 2001 1st Gen Aftermarket CD Player Install

So I bought a new JVC CD/iPod deck to replace the stock cd/cassette unit in my 2001. I wanted to make this b/c I couldn't find any step-by-step instructions on here. So, here ya go:

This is what I started with...stock Toyota CD/Cassette deck:



First, remove the negative battery terminal:



Next, remove the 3 A/C Knobs. You just simply pull them off:



Next, pry off the backing with all the A/C info on it off. I did it with a pocket knife. It pops right off:



There are 2 screws holding the black surround to the white A/C plastic. One on each side. I know you can't see from the picture, but remove those:



Pull out the ash tray and the cigarette lighter:



Right below the air vents, grab on and pull out and down and the unit should pop out at the top. There are 5 pop-in spots that hold the black surround to the dash, so find all of them and pop them out. BE CAREFUL doing this because there are still wires from the dash connected to the black surround, so don't just try to pull it all the way out.



Where you pulled the ashtray out, above that area is a screw holding the black surround into the dash. I know it's dark and hard to see, but there's one screw up there; remove it:



Disconnect the wire going to the cigarette lighter. It simply pulls right off:



Pull out the 2 connectors that go to the passenger airbag switch (that thing you put your key in to turn the passenger airbag on and off):



Where you pulled the ashtray out, there should still be the housing for the ashtray connected to the black surround. Leave it in, but pull out the black wire; it is a baby light for the ashtray. Be sure not to break the bulb:



There are 4 screws holding the stereo deck in place. Remove them. I think it was an 11mm socket:



Pull the radio out:





Disconnect the antenna wire:



Disconnect the speaker wires by pulling out the plastic clamp from the back of the radio:



Everything important is out:



If you're using a wiring harness, which i HIGHLY recommend, match all corresponding wires and splice them together:



Close off the exposed wires. We don't want that truck catching on fire!



These worked perfectly:



Connect the wiring harness to the stock wires and connect the other end of the wiring harness to the back of your new unit:



Connect the antenna wire:



Take off the metal brackets that connected your stock unit to the dash and mount it to the cd player surround that you should've bought with your new deck. I think all 1996-2004 Tacoma's use the same one:





Put together, the deck will mount on top of the handy new storage area you'll have in your dash:





Installed:



Now, simply screw in the new unit just like you removed the old one:



Now, backtrack and connect back all the wires, pop your ashtray back in, connect the black dash surround (DON'T FORGET TO PUT THE SCREWS BACK IN), pop your A/C panel back on, and put the knobs back on and you're DONE!

EDIT:

Just so you know, if you get the surround from Best Buy, the little trim the surrounds the unit in these photos had to be removed for my install, as you can see in the final picture, below.

 

I got a message about the actual deck I put in and it's this one:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/cd-apple-174-ipod-174-ready-in-dash-deck-with-detachable-faceplate/7548041.p?id=1218851194852&skuId=7548041&st=categoryid$abcat0302012&cp=1&lp=1

It's a JVC and it's got 4.6 out of 5 stars on Best Buy. The reason I got it was because of the high ratings, low price ($69.99), and b/c it has a USB port for my iPhone.

The coolest feature I've found so far is that is tells what band and song you're listening to on the iPod and on the radio. It even says what station you're on: Instead of just saying, "97.1", it says, "97.1 The River" and it also tells you what song is on. I know that this ins't new technology, but from what I previously had in my truck, this unit is like the damn Starship Enterprise!

 

Thanks for the write up. I appreciate you taking the time to do this. It's always nice to see something done, even if its fairly simple, so that there aren't any surprises.

Doing mine tonight.

 

No problem! Good luck!

 

Could you help me with what sleeve/surround you bought for for deck?

 

Scoche. I got it at Best Buy. They should be able to look it up and get the one you need. The instructions said 1995-1998, I think, but it will work up to a 2004 I think...it worked for my 2001, but I couldn't fit the face plate surround on there. I didn't like it anyway

 

Just got my '02 this week and will be utilizing these instructions. Thanks! I looked at Crutchfield, and you can get the wiring harness, the surround and the head all at once from them (I've never ordered from them before). The "mechless" (no CD, just radio/ipod/usb/sd) head I am considering with the harness and surround came to about $115.

 

If you go with Crutchfield they put installation instructions in the order also

 

Just so you know, if you get the surround from Best Buy, the little trim the surrounds the unit in these photos had to be removed for my install, as you can see in the final picture, below.

 

Sweet dude, thanks for the install and pics! I have $75 to use from my Pepboys rewards thing and an extra $10 off. I went today and priced some stuff out. The thing I'm probably going to have a problem with is the wiring harness. When I installed my sub to the factory radio, I used those quick connect things and had a hell of a time finding out which wire is which. I pulled up some diagrams online, but none of them seemed correct. Missing some wires, wrong places, different colors. When you had to splice the wires, how did you know what to splice where?

 

I was worried about that too, but each wire in the wiring harness matches up to the same color wire from the truck perfectly.

 

There is an extra "blue" wire from most aftermarket radios that is the power antenna wire (some now even have a dedicated "sub-woofer" wire), use this for the amp signal.

I had bought everything for my '04 from Crutchfield and it all went together perfect. Wiring is not that bad when you get the supplied harness for the truck.

 

zacharypaul89,
Thank you for this great step by step install review! I just installed my stereo and it work out great!

 

You wouldn't by any chance have the part number for the specific wiring harness you bought would you?

 

This is the one I used. Matched up perfectly:

Metra Wiring Harness for Most 1987 and Later Toyota Scion Vehicles - Multicolored
Model: 70-1761 SKU: 677379

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/wiring-...7025&skuId=677379&st=wiring harness&cp=1&lp=2

 

Sweet! I'll be heading there today.

 

I can't seem to find a specific dash install kit for my 2001 tacoma. Do you remember which one you bought? Also did you need an antenna extender? Thanks.

 

From what I remember, the dash kit fits a bunch of different Toyota makes from around the 90's to the mid-2000's. I got mine at Best Buy. No need for an antenna extender

 

Thanks. I ended up finding a scosche combo with the dash kit and wire harness for $8 shipped on ebay. I got a great deal at best buy for an alpine unit for $60 shipped.

 

Forewarning: I just took out my cd player and put it into my new 2003 and, after installing it, my truck wouldn't idle without choking out and eventually dying. Naturally, I freaked the f**k out, but did a quick TW search and found out that, when disconnecting the battery, the ECU restarts and it takes a few days for it to adjust, so don't fear if you're truck acts crazy after installing your new cd player.