Fitting aftermarket CD Player in Toyota Yaris(Vitz)? Difficult?

blobert

Hi there,

My 1999 Toyota Vitz already has an aftermarket Cd Player and extra speakers fitted in the parcel shelf. This setup unfortunately has no AUX in for my iPod and is useless in terms of the radio due to frequency differences. Thus I was hoping to fit a regular unit into the odd sized space for a stereo in the Yaris/Vitz

The current CD Player unit is bigger than usual (almost double the height of a regular unit) and so fits fine into the Yaris' area for CD Player.

My question is this: If I buy one of these conversion kits:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330103666922&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=014

And a standard size stereo such as this one:
http://www.ibood.com/site/eu/ibood.php

Will it be difficult to fit? Do Japanese cars come with different connector blocks to european ones?

Is it just a case of unplugging whatever is going into the currrent unit and swapping it over with the new one. I have never changed a car stereo before so was hoping someone could let me know whether or no it is a simple task to take on oneself or whether I would need expert help.

Please reply quickly so I can get that Sony unit on iBood today:)

Thanks

colm_mcm

re: the dash size, are you sure it's not a double DIN sized hole in the dash? that adaptor seems to be smaller than the one I think you need. can you measure how tall your existing unit is?

blobert

colm_mcm wrote:

re: the dash size, are you sure it's not a double DIN sized hole in the dash? that adaptor seems to be smaller than the one I think you need. can you measure how tall your existing unit is?

Thanks for the reply, the face of the unit is 90 x 165mm, the entire metal case seems to be 100 x 180mm.

This seams to be double din size alright, will the adaptor not do the trick?

If I could get a double din Cd player with Aux in it would probably be easier but they seem rarer and more expensive?

If you know of one for sub €100 let me know.

Will it be difficult to fit? Do Japanese cars come with different connector blocks to European ones?

Is it just a case of unplugging whatever is going into the current unit and swapping it over with the new one. I have never changed a car stereo before so was hoping someone could let me know whether or no it is a simple task to take on oneself or whether I would need expert help.

colm_mcm

you can get DIN sized facia boxes that fill up the space quite cheaply. you use the existing brackets that are screwed into the side of your current headunit.
there should be 4 screws on either side, 4 will hold the new stereo in, 4 will hold the facia box (as far as I remember). Autoleads (available in Halfords) do a facia box with a number of different fronts to exactly fill the gap, it also has a few different fitments on the side to suit different mounting brackets.

Re: the wiring, it's actually not as complicated as it sounds, it the thought of cutting up your cars wiring doesn't appeal, you can use scotch blocks

(like these)

most Japanese domestic model Toyotas use the same wiring colour codes, and they're quite logical. (diagams easily found on net)
Alternatively you could do it the lazy and buy an adaptor plug.

blobert

Thanks, seems a bit daunting though.

Can you point out a fascia adaptor that will do the trick, I cannot find one on eBay?

Thanks

colm_mcm

Toyota do one. it comes standard on all old model Yaris models that don't have a CD changer fitted (which is pretty much all!)

Get the Sony unit first, then see what space you have left.

blobert

Thanks, the Sony unit is gone, it was a one day offer only.

Question, for changing from stock to aftermarket I believe you need one of these adaptors to not have to cut any cables.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/TOYOTA-TO-ISO-WIRING-HARNESS-ADAPTOR-LEAD-PC2-17-4-NEW_W0QQitemZ330165211761QQihZ014QQcategoryZ14932QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Does the fact that I am already using an aftermarket Kenwood unit mean I will not need this adaptor?

My alternative plan is to buy a Double Din unit such as this one:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180159607557&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=008

Including customs though it would probably work out a lot cheaper to just get a single Din unit and convertor.

Any further advice would be much appreciated. Here's a photo of the current unit to make things clearer:

zilog_jones

A US radio is just as bad as a Japanese one! Their FM tuners only go in 0.2MHz odd increments (e.g. 91.1, 91.3, etc), and their MW tuners use 10kHz stepping instead of our 9kHz, plus you'll get no LW (not like Atlantic 252 is still there anyway ).

colm_mcm

I think you need a Toyota specific adaptor as that's wider than DIN.

blobert

Thanks for the replies.

Are you sure this one won't work:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Toyota-00-05-Celica-Echo-MR2-Car-Radio-Install-Dash-Kit_W0QQitemZ330108211911QQihZ014QQcategoryZ85806QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

It's toyota specific and says it fits the Echo which is the US version of the Yaris.

Thanks

colm_mcm

that looks like it'd do the trick alright. sorry for going around in a big circle, but I bought in a 02 Vitz and the dash was different to yours.

blobert

Thanks for all the help,

I've ordered that now and a wiring adaptor, hopefully they will fit ok.

Will be back if I have any major problems:)

Thanks again.

trilobite80

Hi again.

Need help just been to Halfords on a second wasted journey.

Does anyone know where to get a wiring harness adaptor to fit the japanese[i think its 24 pin] plug in the Toyota Vitz?

Or is there anyone in the Clare/Limerick area that could hardwire it at a reasonable price???

Very Stuck on this one.:(

colm_mcm

I'd give it a lash some morning for you.
Have you got a new stereo.

Try and post a pic of the existing stereo plugs and a model for the stereo.
Let of know If the stereo has its own harness adaptor or If the toyota plugs go straight in the back.

trilobite80

didnt get stereo in the end as was hoping to get a harness adaptor somewhere and then go back and get it fitted in Halfords, but once i saw how yer man took the bits off etc i'd nearly have had a go lol!

will take a photo of it in the am bit it has a clippy thing on it that goes into the back of the stereo, an Eclipse cd/dvd/satnav yoke, a single rectangular block with 2 row of 12 pins as far as i could see.

To make it worse the bloody eclipse yoke has give up the ghost since halfords took it out!!!!!

trilobite80

ok tis is the jack at the back of the stereo that the wires clip into its not the circled one
its in the middle beneath the black square, to the right of the blue one. the wires are in a clip that fits into that rectangular jack.

colm_mcm

Can you have a look at the back of the stereo and follow that large plug back, there should be two plugs going back to the cars wiring.

If you can post a photo of the plugs on the toyota side that'd be good.

trilobite80

ok here are a few pictures of the back of the stereo....
as for that white rectangular clip....i cudnt find any other black clips further up the wiring....

colm_mcm

That blue plug, can you get a pic head on so I can see the end of the plug, and can you write down the colours or the wires (some will be striped colours)

I'd you can number them eg. Top row 12345 bottom row 6789 10

Also the big plug, colours and position of wires.


EXAMPLE


Wanna do my homework on which wire is which.

trilobite80

ok will have a bash at it later.....

i'll post a pic of the blue clip with the numbers also.

Is it a big job? The guy in halfords seemed stumped and when he rang 'Connects2' looking for harness adaptor they hadnt a clue either, he mentioned a guy in Garryowen who could wire it for about the same price as them bout e30 , or said to go to O'Mearas and ask them, but twas mental in Limerick that day!!!

TestTransmission

trilobite80 wrote: »

ok will have a bash at it later.....

i'll post a pic of the blue clip with the numbers also.

Is it a big job? The guy in halfords seemed stumped and when he rang 'Connects2' looking for harness adaptor they hadnt a clue either, he mentioned a guy in Garryowen who could wire it for about the same price as them bout e30 , or said to go to O'Mearas and ask them, but twas mental in Limerick that day!!!

Des Kennedy in Garryowen,installed my radio for me actually.

colm_mcm

Halfords won't have a clue unless theres an off the shelf part they can sell. Toyota dealer won't be any good either.

Seems like normal enough jdm toyota wiring with the rear speakers on the big plug.

trilobite80

TestTransmission wrote: »

Des Kennedy in Garryowen,installed my radio for me actually.

yeah that was it i think, thanks.


As for Halfords, When i heard e20 odd for an adaptor i was off!!!!