How to Wire a Toyota Premium Radio

Some drivers want to upgrade their Toyota sound systems with an aftermarket, premium radio. This entails partially disassembling the Toyota's dash to access the stereo bay in the center console.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Screwdriver set

1. • 1

     Drive the Toyota to a safe place where you can work on it out of traffic. It is best to work inside a garage as it can look like you are stealing the radio if you do it on the street. Shift the Toyota into "Park" and pull the emergency brake up to keep it steady. Turn the Toyota off and pop open the hood. Disconnect the cable on the negative side of the battery. This is to prevent any possible shorts while you are working.

   • 2

     Wedge a flat-head screwdriver into the seam around the center console trim bezel. The air vents are a good place to start. Pry the plastic panel off with smooth and steady motions, working your way all around the center console. When the panel is loose enough, pry it off by hand and place it where it won't get stepped on. The plastic is fragile and will break if too much pressure is put on it.

   • 3

     Unscrew the four screws that secure the radio to the radio bay, there will be two on each side. Keep the screws for the reinstall. Pull the radio head unit out by hand until the wires at the back are exposed. Disconnect the power wire, the audio wire, and the antenna cable from the rear of the radio.

   • 4

     Hook the antenna cable to the new radio, then the audio cable and then the power cable. The cables slide in by hand until they are flush with the rear of the radio. Slide the new premium radio into the radio bay and screw in the side screws on the radio bay.

   • 5

     Align the center console dash panel and give it a firm push back into place. Push down along the sides to ensure the console is properly affixed on all sides. Reconnect the battery cable.