Hi,
I have a 1999 Toyota Camry CE that has a factory AM/FM Cassette player in the dashboard. There is empty slot tray below the cassette player and I want to add a mp3 CD player there. Can I do this? Any pointers? How to remove the plastic frame around the current player?
If I cannot add a CD player, I would rather remove the current player and replace with a simple mp3 CD player. Any instructions on how to remove the current cassette stereo and install a new one. My budget is small at $150 and am not looking for a sub-woofer, amplier, CD changer or anything fancy for now.
I am not going to a professional to get the thrill of doing it myself. Is it a very difficult task?
Also, my car doesn't seem to have an external antenna, not one that I can see (I bought it used recently). Is this normal? The radio does play fine though.
Thanks a lot!!
Gaurav
Replies (7)
Victor on 03/21/2005 11:32:45
Hi its me again... I have mailed u this.. yet am copy-pasting here for others refrence..
The first thing you need to do here is buy the HU.
here is a list of Good HU's which u can get in the budget you got, I would recommend not giving much importance to the looks, instead press on Sound Reproduction quality.
Also there are many other better products.. but for those u may have to bid
on e-bay, cant assure u about the prices...
but for ur budget here are some of the best i cud find (There are definitely
going to be many more out there in the Electronic jungle ). If you like any of them you can post them up for reviews here
http://www.epinions.com/Clarion_DXZ555MP_MP3_Player/display_~full_specs
http://www.epinions.com/pr-Kenwood_KDC-MP522_In-Dash_CD_Player/display_~full_specs
http://www.epinions.com/Pioneer_Premier_In_Dash_CD_MP3_WMA_WAV_Receiver_with_Deep_Blue_OEL_Display/display_~full_specs
http://www.epinions.com/pr-Kenwood_Excelon_KDC-X579_CD_Receiver_All_CD_Receivers/display_~full_specs
http://www.epinions.com/pr-Alpine_CDA-9826_In-Dash_CD_Player/display_~full_specs
http://www.epinions.com/pr-Sony_CDX-F7700_In-Dash_CD_Player/display_~full_specs
Victor..
and by the way it is not a tough task... experts here can walk you thru the process
ttocs on 03/21/2005 11:33:23
if you mean keep and use your factory tape deck and add a working cd player, your best bet is to get a fm modulated cd changer.
Otherwise you should be able to put a regular cd where the factory radio is with out much trouble. I did some searching and found a pic of your dash. If I am not mistaken you will start off at the bottom near the shifter and remove the pieces around it. Then work your way up to the radio by removing the panels around it. If you can get me a pick of your dash I could be for sure....
Alot of factory ant are actually in the windshield. Look closely and you may see a couple of small pieces of wire in it, or it could be in the back glass.
UKinstaller on 03/21/2005 12:13:16
to remove the radio in a 99 camry, you will need:
a large flathead screwdriver, a small one, and an 8 MM socket with socket wrench, or nutdriver. nutdrivers are much easier.
start at the top left or right corner, pry out the plastic trim. once you get the top left and right popped out, work your way down and pull out the trim on both sides. when you get to the lighter, be very careful, and pull out all the plastic trim in that area. it's one big piece from below the ashtray to above the radio and all that. disconnect the cigarette lighter harness, and completely remove the plastic trim. it makes it easier to put the car in 2nd or whatever if it's an automatic, to get the shifter out of the way.
there will be four 8 MM bolts holding the radio in, remove those, pull out the radio, and unscrew the radio from the bracket.
it's not too hard, just don't break the dash. you don't have to take out the trim around the shifter.
-UK
agaurav on 03/21/2005 12:23:19
Hi UK,
Thanks so much for your detailed instructions. Do I use the large flathead screwdriver as a lever to remove the plastic trim at the top-left or top-right corner? I tried to put a little force and there was a cracking sound. So I stopped since I didn' t know for sure whether it was the plastic breaking or the snaps coming out of the molding. Does one need a lot of pressure on the screwdriver lever?
Also, do I need to remove the battery connection?
Thanks,
Gaurav
Victor on 03/21/2005 14:10:02
Well.. u see that Gaurav..?? the guys out here are fast and hit right at the spot.. everyone here is an expert at different things.. and i am sure our installation guru's can guide u thru the process very nicely..
Removing the battery connection wud be recommended before u install the HU.
The game is on.
Victor...
ttocs on 03/21/2005 15:33:52
The panel is held in by plastic pieces. The 1rst one will be a little harder then the rest, after that it will come off easier.
UKinstaller on 03/21/2005 15:41:34
Gaurav,
yeah use the screw driver to pop the trim out. get under deep enough so that you don't break it. once you get that out, you should be able to use your hands to take out the rest.
i don't disconnect the battery but others do. it certainly can't hurt.
-UK
I have a 1999 Toyota Camry CE that has a factory AM/FM Cassette player in the dashboard. There is empty slot tray below the cassette player and I want to add a mp3 CD player there. Can I do this? Any pointers? How to remove the plastic frame around the current player?
If I cannot add a CD player, I would rather remove the current player and replace with a simple mp3 CD player. Any instructions on how to remove the current cassette stereo and install a new one. My budget is small at $150 and am not looking for a sub-woofer, amplier, CD changer or anything fancy for now.
I am not going to a professional to get the thrill of doing it myself. Is it a very difficult task?
Also, my car doesn't seem to have an external antenna, not one that I can see (I bought it used recently). Is this normal? The radio does play fine though.
Thanks a lot!!
Gaurav
Replies (7)
Victor on 03/21/2005 11:32:45
Hi its me again... I have mailed u this.. yet am copy-pasting here for others refrence..
The first thing you need to do here is buy the HU.
here is a list of Good HU's which u can get in the budget you got, I would recommend not giving much importance to the looks, instead press on Sound Reproduction quality.
Also there are many other better products.. but for those u may have to bid
on e-bay, cant assure u about the prices...
but for ur budget here are some of the best i cud find (There are definitely
going to be many more out there in the Electronic jungle ). If you like any of them you can post them up for reviews here
http://www.epinions.com/Clarion_DXZ555MP_MP3_Player/display_~full_specs
http://www.epinions.com/pr-Kenwood_KDC-MP522_In-Dash_CD_Player/display_~full_specs
http://www.epinions.com/Pioneer_Premier_In_Dash_CD_MP3_WMA_WAV_Receiver_with_Deep_Blue_OEL_Display/display_~full_specs
http://www.epinions.com/pr-Kenwood_Excelon_KDC-X579_CD_Receiver_All_CD_Receivers/display_~full_specs
http://www.epinions.com/pr-Alpine_CDA-9826_In-Dash_CD_Player/display_~full_specs
http://www.epinions.com/pr-Sony_CDX-F7700_In-Dash_CD_Player/display_~full_specs
Victor..
and by the way it is not a tough task... experts here can walk you thru the process
ttocs on 03/21/2005 11:33:23
if you mean keep and use your factory tape deck and add a working cd player, your best bet is to get a fm modulated cd changer.
Otherwise you should be able to put a regular cd where the factory radio is with out much trouble. I did some searching and found a pic of your dash. If I am not mistaken you will start off at the bottom near the shifter and remove the pieces around it. Then work your way up to the radio by removing the panels around it. If you can get me a pick of your dash I could be for sure....
Alot of factory ant are actually in the windshield. Look closely and you may see a couple of small pieces of wire in it, or it could be in the back glass.
UKinstaller on 03/21/2005 12:13:16
to remove the radio in a 99 camry, you will need:
a large flathead screwdriver, a small one, and an 8 MM socket with socket wrench, or nutdriver. nutdrivers are much easier.
start at the top left or right corner, pry out the plastic trim. once you get the top left and right popped out, work your way down and pull out the trim on both sides. when you get to the lighter, be very careful, and pull out all the plastic trim in that area. it's one big piece from below the ashtray to above the radio and all that. disconnect the cigarette lighter harness, and completely remove the plastic trim. it makes it easier to put the car in 2nd or whatever if it's an automatic, to get the shifter out of the way.
there will be four 8 MM bolts holding the radio in, remove those, pull out the radio, and unscrew the radio from the bracket.
it's not too hard, just don't break the dash. you don't have to take out the trim around the shifter.
-UK
agaurav on 03/21/2005 12:23:19
Hi UK,
Thanks so much for your detailed instructions. Do I use the large flathead screwdriver as a lever to remove the plastic trim at the top-left or top-right corner? I tried to put a little force and there was a cracking sound. So I stopped since I didn' t know for sure whether it was the plastic breaking or the snaps coming out of the molding. Does one need a lot of pressure on the screwdriver lever?
Also, do I need to remove the battery connection?
Thanks,
Gaurav
Victor on 03/21/2005 14:10:02
Well.. u see that Gaurav..?? the guys out here are fast and hit right at the spot.. everyone here is an expert at different things.. and i am sure our installation guru's can guide u thru the process very nicely..
Removing the battery connection wud be recommended before u install the HU.
The game is on.
Victor...
ttocs on 03/21/2005 15:33:52
The panel is held in by plastic pieces. The 1rst one will be a little harder then the rest, after that it will come off easier.
UKinstaller on 03/21/2005 15:41:34
Gaurav,
yeah use the screw driver to pop the trim out. get under deep enough so that you don't break it. once you get that out, you should be able to use your hands to take out the rest.
i don't disconnect the battery but others do. it certainly can't hurt.
-UK
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