Installing an aftermarket head unit in a '95 Tercel

[murdercitydevil]

Hey, this is my first post here, so please be gentle. I am a complete idiot when it comes to cars, but hope to learn something, if possible. Here's the deal.

I have a 1995 Tercel 2 door, and it has served me incredibly well. Everything in the car is stock, as far as I know, including the stereo. It is, as you might assume, terrible - a cassette deck and a radio, that's it. I've had an iPod for years and years, and have used an FM transmitter called the Griffin iTrip to play my iPod's music through my car speakers. No complaints there, besides the low audio quality and overall ghetto feeling.

Just recently, I got an iPhone, which ended up replacing the iPod. The old iTrip unit works fine with it, but the added cellular interference has made my music sound worse. I tried to get a cassette adapter instead, only to find that the cassette player in my car doesn't work whatsoever (first time I actually used it since owning the car). So my other option, something I've considered in the past, is actually changing the horrible head unit to one that has an auxiliary port and putting all my troubles behind me. The problem is that every car audio place I've called has no parts for my car, as I expected. They all tell me that it would take weeks to have the parts shipped, extra labor costs, blah blah, all it means is more money for me.

I don't want a crazy sound system, I'd much rather just buy a new car. But for the time being, throwing down 100 bucks or so for a head unit is more feasible. All I want to do is get a new head unit and get it installed for as little cost as possible.

The problem is, like I said, that I have no idea what exactly this entails. I know that the technological differences between my car and modern day electronics is probably great, which means extra parts for making it work. But I don't even know where to start. So perhaps someone with similar experience can help me get this job done myself, if possible.

Some info about the car - The current head unit, as far as I know, is stock...but for whatever reason, it isn't really flush with the actual panel. It is wedged in there with another piece to actually hold it firmly in place. The "other piece" is some kind of separate plastic compartment, which upon removal, turned out to be duct taped to the stereo itself. The wiring looks like it hasn't been modified, but I assume that new wiring would be necessary. For reference, I was most likely going to purchase this unit - http://www.bestbuy.com/site/JVC+-+50...&skuId=9766628 or something very similar.

Sorry for the super long post...please let me know if you have any guides/suggestions/advice/etc. Thanks!

[Tercel GTS]

Call the people at crutchfield.com and they'll tell you everything you need to know. They have a toll free number and have tons of free advice. It's very easy to install a head unit and they'll have all the parts needed.

[bkftl]

Those dudes GTS posted have a ton of things to wire ur stereo right over the basic one. I know that walmart has some stereos, and speakers. Not sure which i cant afford em LOL

The speakers themselves can be upgraded with anything as long as u can stick them on. Previos owner of my car put in Larger speakers then the default by simply taking peices of wood and cutting a hole in them, and putting the speaker in that so they stick out. because their front is large but the rear is 3 inces as most usualy (the part with the magnet). But that stuff looks preaty fugly since he did a gheto job. I would do the same but simply buy some cheap THIN cloth material, they even have it at walmart, and hide the wood with the speaker.

Speakers are only 2 wires. So not so hard to fix, if ur gonna use new speakers, run new thicker wires or they might burn out. Antena is also 2 wires u can keep stock, its preaty durable on any car. Speakers plug into the Stereo, and stereo into power and antena into stereo. Thats bout it, Ofcourse there is like 6 or 8 wires usualy, who the hell knows what they do!

Hope that helps

[Ru4wheel?]

I say go buy your 80 dollar radio. Then stop at walmart and pick up an adapter (in a locked case in the Automotive dept) for Toyota's. Connect the Walmart adapter to the plug that came with the radio. I solder them together, others use red butt splices. Just match the wires color for color, red to red, etc. That's it. Take out you old radio, use the frame that comes with your 80 dollar radio to hold the new radio in place. Plug in the anttenna wire, plug in your new adapter between the radio and the car's wire harness. Push the radio in place, put the trim on and your done. It's easy.

[noahthefrog]

Installing the stereo is pretty easy, so long as you have a wiring harness. It fits the factory plug where the stock radio plugs in so you don't have to hack up your car's wiring. All you have to do is solder or otherwise connect the wiring harness to the one that comes from the new stereo, matching wire colors, then just plug it in like the old one.

Used head units are likely available at your local pawn shop for cheaper than new ones at Best Buy. Pioneers usually work good old or new, not sure about JVC. Wiring harnesses can be gotten from Cruthfield for about $20

I added pioneer 45Wx4 head unit ($40used+$20 wire harness), 10" subwoofer ($20used), and two front 4" speakers ($80new) to my '89 tercel. I found an 240W amp for the sub in the dumpster of my apartment complex... people are literally throwing this stuff away! You should be able to rig something up for cheap.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that they make AUX-IN adapters for most Pioneer Stereos, maybe other brands too. The newer ones have iPOD adapters you can get also.