First time HU install noob question

First time HU install noob question

My girlfriend has a ’94 Corolla that has a cassette player and personally it’s been bugging the hell out of me. For one, neither of us even owns any tapes so all we can do is listen to the radio, by the way the antenna is broken so even the reception isn’t great. I bought a used Pioneer DEH-P1600 off eBay a few days ago and thought, “this won’t be very had to install” but really I have no clue how to get the old HU out. I don’t have much experience working with cars because I’ve only owned and driving motorcycles my whole life, but hopefully trying to install the new HU won’t screw her car up too much.

First question, how do I get the old HU out? Do I carefully pry the plastic off that around the radio and pull out it out? I’ll be doing this tomorrow so I need all the info I can get now so I’ll be ready to tackle this tomorrow.

For a 01 corolla it goes like this:



Can't remember what it looks like on a 94 corolla, but it should be about the same.

It looks a lot different than that, I found someone on eBay selling the same make, model and year corolla with really good pictures and has a close up of the dash.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...&rd=1#mainImage

I can already see the AC controls in the way of the removal of the dash. I would poke around and see what you can try to pry off.

I had to do that when I tried to figure out how to remove my stock HU. Same thing goes for running my power cable, removing my rear seats, installing Dynamat... I just messed around...

Good luck, and hopefully someone here with a 94 can help you out.

Thanks for the replies, I guess I'll just have to mess around with it and hope someone with a '94 can help or I figure it out. I'll let you know how it goes when and if I get it done.

It's a Toyota !!! It could not be any easier. Try it, be easy and it will be a simple job.

You do have your wiring harness adaptor already dont you ??

Do you think a flat head screwdriver would be the best tool to try to remove the panel first?

Sigh, of course I don't have an adapter, is there a store that sells them and would know what I need? Best Buy, Circuit City, Tweeters, Wal-Mart. Model number?

Wait..for changing the headunit...can't you just get a HU remover tool? Like two flta pieces of metal that slides in to the sides of the stock HU and then you just pull out? When I saw the Crutchfield demo...this was how they did it.Why does the panel need to be removed as well?

it is pretty easy actually. if you are careful it should come out with a little pulling.

from the Haynes repair manual:
"Upper trim panel
1 Disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal
2 Pull off the heater/air conditioning control knobs.
3 Detach the retaining clips at each corner using a small screwdriver, then remove the panel and unplug the electrical connectors"

basically pull it toward you with the knobs removed similar to the pic posted.

good luck. if you need more help just ask.

Is that true?? Can I just use a tool to get the radio out without taking the dash off?? Or is the Toyota not like that?

Not the original radio, bracket with 4 screws. Wiring adaptors available at most of the places you listed.

Check out

installdr.com
metraonline.com

Thanks alby, I'll give it a try.

Alby pretty much hit it straight on. After you pull off the heating knobs you might have to pry out the a/c button too. Then after you get the trim off which just has four clips behind it you will have to disconnect the clock, warning lights, and defroster. Then there is 4 screws/bolts holding the stock radio in.

When you guys say "heating knobs" you mean the squarish things for AC/heat controls right? Is it hard to disconnect the clock and warning lights or is one of those quick release things.

The knobs pull straight off (gently)
careful with the trim when removing
the electrical connectors have release clips on each

Ok I think I got it now, anybody have any good easy tips on removing the trim without damaging it.

Flat head screwdriver will work just be careful as not to scratch it too much. Sometimes after I take off the heater knobs I can just get a good grip on the piece between the heater knobs and pull it off by hand. Of course I've done this 10+ times so the clips may be weaker than normal.

Well that sucks, so should I try removing the panel with a flat head screw driver or is there a better tool?

Oh shit, ok I'm done installing the HU and everything went fine EXCEPT! now her turn signals don't work. I don't think I missed hooking something up and now she's pissed. What went wrong?? Any solutions?

>>>Oh boy...check the fuse box & take care of that asap. That car would be the apple of the cops eye w/o that turn signal. You can use hand signal but you'll never know what the cops will do.

Oh yeah, her ac/heat doesn't work now either.

The fuse box was the first thing I checked and they all looked fine.

For the turn signals check that you have the warning lights button plugged back in because they won't work without that. The heating doesnt work? Or just the a/c? If its just a/c check that the a/c button is getting a good connection, if the heating is gone there has to be a fuse problem.

Ok I got everything working well, turn signals and ac/heat. I think the 4th time I pulled off the dash panel, I'm getting pretty good at it, and put it back on, it must have fixed something. The cd player sounds great and is a huge improvement over the old stock radio. Now I just have to burn a bunch of cd's for her

Thanks to everybody here, you have been a tremendous help.

Can you post the steps to replacing the HU? I'm going to do mine soon and could use a DIY guide. TIA

n3985, see 19 posts up. Not much to it really, didnt really take any skills.
Just pull off the knobs
pry off the dash panel
disconnect any wires
take out 4 bolts that hold radio in
disconnect radio
reconnect new radio
put back together.

How do you pull off the door panel? Stick your finger in the knob openings and pull? TIA

I found the smallest flat head screwdriver I could find and started at the bottom and gently pulled as I pried.

O haha I meant dash panel..

I hope you mean dash panel...unless you wanna make some cool new HU in door mod