1999 Tacoma aftermarket CD player.

The instrument panel comes out pretty straightforwardly, but there are a helluva lotta bolts and screws to get to that point. I was changing the better interior from my 2001 into the better body of my 2003, so had the chance to make the GPS upgrade while it was all apart. I’d never recommend taking out the IP simply for the GPS puck.

One could probably get to the top of the center duct with the front panel off. That spot on top of that duct is a good spot for the GPS — clear view of the sky and otherwise invisible.

 

When you say instrument panel I think of the instrument gauge cluster bezel. I was wondering about what I call the dashboard or dash cover. I've seen a number of photos where people have removed it, was just curious on how time consuming that is.

Yeah I'm pretty sure one could reach the top of the center ducts with just the radio/vent bezel off. I have my inline mini amp mounted between those ducts & the passenger airbag so not sure if I could reach in there from that side.

Didn't even think of it at the time anyway since the manual for my HU recommended to mount the GPS antenna far away from the HU as possible. At first I wasn't going to install the GPS antenna & didn't understand why this HU needed one since the GPS is navigation is through the phone's app until I read up on it.

This is my 1st HU with a GPS antenna so I just followed what it said in the manual. Mine is in the same location as shown but right under the dash cover instead of on top.

 

So no wonder my GPS keeps reading wrong. I installed it near the mirror above the radio.

 

Oh interesting, that's good to know. So seems like it really does matter not mounting close to the HU then. I read that one installer just attached it to the top of the HU housing. Was not our exact model but a different Alpine.

I just stuck mine on top of the passenger air duct. Didn't even use the including mounting pad. My GPS hasn't gave me any false readings. I placed the bundled excess wire near there too, just right of the airbag.

 

Yeah, my GPS was telling me I was in the middle of the Pacific Ocean haha.

My cell booster is the same way. You have to mount the antennas far away from each other or the signal will oscillate.

 

Haha, man your snorkel must work really good!

 

Instrument panel is the full thing, using the terminology typical of the manufacturers I've worked with. Gauge cluster is just that. The terms dashboard or dash cover aren't really used inside the industry any longer, from my experience. IPs aren't really so much "covered" any more as based large molded pieces.

Taking it out of a Gen 1 Tacoma isn't difficult, but it's very time consuming -- not something done on a daily driver, IMO. Here's my interior change-out partway through. I had the fun of doing this twice as an oak interior was exchanged for charcoal between two trucks.

Here's the 2003 after the IP was removed.


Here are the 2003 and 2001 IP moldings side by side. The silver cylinders are the passenger-side airbags. The framework on the right side is where the gauge cluster goes.

 

Crutchfield ftw. Alpine makes great head units and have available amps that plug and play. I have one mounted in my glovebox that powers the 4 speakers. 10” powered Rockville under the passenger seat to even everything out.

 

My Pioneer didn't mention to put the GPS puck as far as possible from the head unit, or if it did, I missed it. The GPS puck for the AVIC 5201NEX came with an adhesive-backed metal plate that was first affixed to the spot where the GPS antenna was to go. Either for shielding or establishing a ground plane, whatever the setup is for I have had absolutely no issues getting a fast and accurate fix and quick updates on my display. I liked that center-panel mount because that position probably has the clearest view of the sky from inside the truck.

One can see that metal plate in this image, bent to conform to the top of the center duct.

 

I hadn't heard IP before. I know OEMs tend to have their own terminology & varies even between brands. The terms I'm familiar with are what I have been programmed with when I worked at a wrecking yard & as a mechanic after that. After so long they're stuck with me.

Thanks for those pics, really interesting to see, a sight I hope I will never see for myself on my own truck

 

How in the hell did a few post about aftermarket CD player evolve into a bunch of gibberish about GPS mountings? LOL

 

Sorry about that, we kinda hijacked your thread, it happens.

 

Hah! I figured "in for an inch, in for a mile" and by the time others who follow this thread were done with it they'd be looking at double-DIN navigation units in addition to CD!

And truly, we thought you had all you needed at the first recommendation to go to Crutchfield, @mte.

 

Made me laugh !