Gen1 original tunes - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

golfgod · 04-08-2008, 03:45 PM

Trying to stay stock in 97 Avalon XLS with the original Alpine 3 disc changer. Mine has crapped out and eats cds. Anybody work on them or tell me where to find a good one someone pulled out? Ive been watching ebay, but no luck.

After some digging, I found this place http://www.shortcircuitrepair.com/

Has anyone had experience with them? If so, how was it, are they legit, what price did you pay? I contacted them for estimate and I have to send it in for the estimate and if I don't go with them, they want $25.00. Almost sounds like I should go after market. What do think?

CupCate18 · 04-09-2008, 10:35 AM

If you are trying to stay stock, go to a junk yard near you. I went aftermarket on my 95. I loved my new player. I would say paying that much for them just to look is kinda ludicrous, so they might try to rape you. Not sure though because I have never used them. Nothing wrong with aftermarket stuff.

BlueFusion6851 · 04-09-2008, 10:40 AM

^ +1 ...And you can upgrade really easily too. It's a win/win situation either way.

golfgod · 04-09-2008, 07:18 PM

I hit the local yards and cd changers are gone from them. No luck there yet.

One of my hangups with after market is dumping allot of money into it. I don't like to half ass anything so I would end up going overboard. I heard I would have to pretty much do the whole system cause existing amp wont work with after market?

swiftjustice · 04-09-2008, 07:40 PM

Easy aftermarket that rocks, in about 2 hours:

95 radio install step by step

golfgod · 04-10-2008, 06:50 PM

Thanks swiftjustice...great writeup and Ive looked at it a couple times now.

I just got off the phone with a tech (Ziggy) at crutchfield and he said I would loose my factory sub if I replace with after market since mine is what they call the 7 speaker system. They said they had no way of wiring around to utilize it? I was looking at this unit http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...KDHDR1&tp=5684

I'm going to keep looking for factory changer unless someone can tell me how to get around the sub issue?

Thanks

swiftjustice · 04-10-2008, 10:39 PM

The wiring adapter harness that you need bypasses the sub, that is true. As I understand it, the Toyota factory Sub is not a true sub anyway, but is actually hooked in series to the left rear factory speaker.

I honestly don't miss mine, the functionality of having CD/DVD/MP3/TV/Radio more than makes up for it being gone.

If you follow my setup, you could actually easily go back to factory if you want for when you eventually do find a replacement CD changer.