Toyota Radio Troubles. - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

the_professional · 10-11-2008, 03:48 PM

Hey!

I drive a 1992 Toyota Camry LE. I still have the original stock radio in the car. The AM/FM Tape player from Toyota. Well i have a Cassette Adapter so i can listen to my MP3 player. The tape is sitting in it fine. I shut off the car while the cassette adapter was playing. When I turned the car on, it went to radio & no longer recognizes that a tape is in. I press TAPE or EJECT but nothing changes over, no sounds or any attempt from the tape player. I dont think anything mechanical is to blame, since it seems the tape deck doesnt recognize a tape is in the deck. I thought maybe i should find the radio fuse, take it out, and place it in again & maybe it should reset the radio, possibly making it recognize the tape.
What is your opinion? How should I go about removing it?

Thanks!

***ASG14*** · 10-11-2008, 03:54 PM

Wait, the tape part no longer works, but the radio does, so you think it's a fuse? It;s the same unit. Replace the radio. Sounds like the tape player took a dump, which is normal.

the_professional · 10-11-2008, 04:08 PM

thanks.
I understand its the same unit. But, the same thing occured to my friend's mazda protege and he reset the radio fuse & it recognized the tape, and ejected it. It doesn't seem like my tape deck is done. It just seems it does not seem to recognize there is a tape inside of it. where is the location of the radio fuse on the 3rd Gen Camry?

***ASG14*** · 10-11-2008, 04:22 PM

The radio fuse also works with the clock and Cig lighter. The fuse has NOTHING to do with the tape player not working. But if your set on it, it's behind the change tray thats to the left bottom of the steering wheeling. Just take the change tray out and there is a fuse panel there.

the_professional · 10-11-2008, 04:31 PM

thanks.
but if it doesnt have anything to do with it, i guess i shouldnt do it.
i don't want to buy a new tape deck. I mostly use the radio. But, if anyone knows how i could take the tape out, I would be grateful.

***new echo owner*** · 10-11-2008, 06:45 PM

It is probably one of those micro switches in there that is not working. Try using a small screw driver or pick, stick it in through the cassette opening, gently lift the adapter or just move it around a little bit, see if that helps. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but won't hurt trying. The other choice is to take it apart.

N.E.O.

the_professional · 10-12-2008, 04:45 AM

thanks!
I'll try it.
I know I'm stuck in the past.
But, my mom doesnt want me to change the deck, being it was her car for 16 yrs, now she just uses it time to time.
So my only option was the adapter. The stock sound system sounds pretty well none the less.

Thanks Again!

Chris Crash · 10-12-2008, 01:14 PM

Well you could get one of those FM transmitter things I see a lot of people have these days. I still use the tape deck, but an FM transmitter seems like a good option for yourself.

touringcamry · 10-12-2008, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Crash

Well you could get one of those FM transmitter things I see a lot of people have these days. I still use the tape deck, but an FM transmitter seems like a good option for yourself.

FM transmitters don't work well in dense urban area. Given the OP is in Brooklyn, my guess is that it won't work well.

the_professional · 10-13-2008, 02:42 AM

Yeah, too much interference, & I like the idea of a direct connection.

As for the situation, just as N.E.O. said, i kept wiggling the adapter, most of the time in vain. Then finally seemingly out of no where, the eject mechanism works and ejects the tape. I knew that the deck was still operable. The deck must have taken a beating, from the "gentle" prying. So I test it out, the adapter and tape deck work just fine, play & eject fine. I placed a regular tape in, something funky with the tape deck's auto reverse. Then I placed the tape in again later, and the cassette deck worked just fine. I guess Toyota must build their radio/cassette decks as well as their cars.

Thanks!

BlueFusion6851 · 10-13-2008, 01:29 PM

Wait... are you being sarcastic or what? I don't understand what you are trying to say.

the_professional · 10-14-2008, 02:35 AM

yeah that was kinda confusing.
Nope, no sarcasm.
after jamming knives and screw drivers it still works. I guess it was just a kink.
Living in Brooklyn kinda sucks, just to the point that it is the 5th radio i had to put into the car, 2nd & 3rd Generation Camry's are on the top lists of thieves around here. But, I never bothered to upgrade the deck, just replace it with a new Toyota radio. I'm happy though.

Thanks Again!

Heat · 10-14-2008, 10:52 AM

I'm assuming that you want the stock look to deter thieves. If so, you can always buy a replacement tape deck / radio off of ebay, it doesn't need to even be a Toyota unit.

There are lots of them and the prices are fairly low.

the_professional · 10-14-2008, 03:58 PM

In some ways, yes.
I don't know, I think it is just personal preference. I mean even with other units, you can take off the face plate. I just like that my car has pure Toyota parts. But, your right, it could fray the costs if I just bought regular, rather than Toyota.