Stock Radio Question - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

TBayToyotaBoy · 09-09-2008, 07:59 AM

I tried posting this in the Celica forum, but I've never had any luck with them...compared to this forum, it sucks.

I have a stock 1991 CD/tape/radio deck in my Celica (same one they put in 3rd-gen Camrys) and it's got that theft deterrant feature whereby it's supposed to stop working if removed (or if power is disconnected). The radio works fine, but the CD plays extremely quietly. Even at full volume, it's almost silent.

Is the CD function broken, or has the theft deterrant thingy been tripped? Thanks for any help on this.

***HomeGrown*** · 09-09-2008, 06:10 PM

Sounds to me like maybe you're only hearing the preamplified signal, and for whatever reason the preamp isn't feeding into the amp section of the radio when it's in CD mode. Right offhand, I'd guess that something is wrong with the unit rather than the theft deterent tripped (although I have no clue as to how the theft deterent operates). What about the operation of the tape portion of the unit?
(like anyone actually has cassette tapes in their car anymore).

***toyomoho*** · 09-09-2008, 09:57 PM

Is this a 2-piece unit having a separate CD player? If theft system was engaged the radio would not work.

The theft system needs to be activated by setting a code into the radio by the owner.

TBayToyotaBoy · 09-10-2008, 10:35 AM

Thanks for the responses, guys...I appreciate it. The deck is an all-in-one unit, but the tape and radio functions still work fine (and yes, I had to search the basement for an old tape to test the head unit!). I had hoped not to do any wiring until next summer, but I guess I'll just swap-in my "good" deck (mp3 / XM / Sirius / etc).

I'm gonna keep the 90 Camry just so I have an excuse to keep visiting this forum--it's by far the best one I've been on here at TN...

***HomeGrown*** · 09-10-2008, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBayToyotaBoy

Thanks for the responses, guys...I appreciate it. The deck is an all-in-one unit, but the tape and radio functions still work fine (and yes, I had to search the basement for an old tape to test the head unit!). I had hoped not to do any wiring until next summer, but I guess I'll just swap-in my "good" deck (mp3 / XM / Sirius / etc).

I'm gonna keep the 90 Camry just so I have an excuse to keep visiting this forum--it's by far the best one I've been on here at TN...

Hey TBay, did you sell that beautiful 2-tone silver/gray special edition Camry? Please tell me you didn't !

BTW: I'm not much of an audiophile, so I'm easily pleased when it comes to car audio. But one unit I've been really impressed with is one I got at Wal-Mart for $78. It's a typical inexpensive unit, but the real kicker is that in addition to a standard audio input jack, it's also got a USB and SD card slot!
A 2g stick works great in it, but it really has to search a long time before it starts playing anything on a 4g stick. Will probably end up putting one in the "new" '89 if I end up keeping it.

TBayToyotaBoy · 09-11-2008, 01:04 PM

Hey, HomeGrown, fear not...I just cannot bring myself to sell the silver bullet

I love that car too much. It's sitting for now, though. I'm trying to find a cheaper exhaust option than the $500-plus quote I got at a shop in town. All I need is a muffler and the cat-back piping, so 5 bills is too much. I can use that kind of cash for all the freaking body work I have to do! Stupid rear quarters...stupid salt winters.

As for the stereo, I'm not very demanding either. I have a Sony deck (I know, I know, audio snobs are laughing) with mp3/sat capabilities, and an ancient Alpine V-Power amp that powers a pair of 10" no-name subs in a bandpass box. The whole set-up cost be peanuts but it does a great job. Sounds fantastic inside the car, but with the windows up my geriatric neighbours can't hear anything... Still, I can't beat $78, that's a good freaking deal!