From: Jim Todd on
To anyone that can help out, I want to upgrade my current OEM radio/cd
changer in my 2006 Tacoma to either an aftermarket product or upgrade my
current 1 disc changer to an OEM multi disc changer. My problem is how do I
remove the factory unit from the dash? There must be some hidden screws or
bolts that release the dash panel and radio as they seem to be one unit.
Thanks for your help.

Jim


From: Jack Snodgrass on
On Mon, 07 Aug 2006 05:10:11 +0000, Jim Todd wrote:

> To anyone that can help out, I want to upgrade my current OEM radio/cd
> changer in my 2006 Tacoma to either an aftermarket product or upgrade my
> current 1 disc changer to an OEM multi disc changer. My problem is how do I
> remove the factory unit from the dash? There must be some hidden screws or
> bolts that release the dash panel and radio as they seem to be one unit.
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Jim

First of all, you can get a log of info about things like this
from the 2005+ group at http://www.toyotanation.com. See:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/f61
The DIY thread has links to lots of 2005+ mods.

Second, you can see my HU upgrade on my
http://www.jacksnodgrass.com/tacoma
page. ( hint: go backwards on my pics to see my HU upgrade )

The HU removal is pretty easy... start by gently prying the
A/C control panel away from the dash. The A/C control panel
is held in by friction. You can insert a thin bladed screw
driver ( be careful not to scratch ) between the bottom
of the A/C panel and the dash and start to pry it out. Once
that is out, you have access to the 4 #10 metric bolts that
hold in the HU. Remove those and the HU is held in with a
LOT of friction. You can use your fingers and get the HU to
come out... just takes some pull. I start on one side, get
a bit movement, then go to the other side and tug.... takes
a bit but it finally pops out. There are some ( relatively )
HUGE metal brackets on the radio... it's a beast.... I
was real careful about scratching my dash removing the A/C
panel and then when the HU came out, I put a noticeable
scratch in the dash with the bracket from the HU.

You can order replacement HU Dash kits / mounts from
Crutchfield, EBAY, or places on the Internet. The HU and the
faceplate on the HU are one piece. If you go with an
aftermarket HU, you'll have to get a new dash kit to mount
it. I went with a 2DIN kit and I installed a 1DIN radio/dvd
player and a 1DIN LCD monitor. ( see pics on my website )

You can find OEM CD units on ebay. The prices really fluctuate.
If your patient and lucky, you might get a mult-cd OEM unit for
$125. I sold mine on EBAY for a LOT more.

Besides:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/f61
and
http://www.jacksnodgrass.com/tacoma
check out:
http://www.frappr.com/2005tacoma
and map your 2005+ tacoma's location. Not a lot of info at frappr
but it's pretty neat to see where people are around you that have
tacomas.

jack

--
D.A.M. - Mothers Against Dyslexia

see http://www.jacksnodgrass.com for my contact info.

jack - Grapevine/Richardson
From: Jim Todd on
Hi Jack, thanks for the informative reply. I did upgrade to an OEM 6 disc
changer. The JBL model with RDS and traffic features, for my old ears this
radio/changer should work find. I haven't tried to pull the old unit out
yet so I may answer my own question when I see the back of the unit. It
appears from other units that I have seen on Ebay that there are 2
connectors on the right hand side of the unit as you look towards the back,
the unit that I purchased has only 1 connector. The manufacture date is
November 2005 which is the same month I purchased my car. My assumption is
that there is a difference between the connectors on a 2005 and 2006. My
car does not have the steering wheel controls which shouldn't make any
difference between models as far as I know. Do you by chance know the
difference? Thanks again
"Jack Snodgrass" <jacks_temp_id_indigo(a)verizon.net> wrote in message
news:iQCBg.34041$Lh4.29479(a)trnddc02...
> On Mon, 07 Aug 2006 05:10:11 +0000, Jim Todd wrote:
>
>> To anyone that can help out, I want to upgrade my current OEM radio/cd
>> changer in my 2006 Tacoma to either an aftermarket product or upgrade my
>> current 1 disc changer to an OEM multi disc changer. My problem is how
>> do I
>> remove the factory unit from the dash? There must be some hidden screws
>> or
>> bolts that release the dash panel and radio as they seem to be one unit.
>> Thanks for your help.
>>
>> Jim
>
> First of all, you can get a log of info about things like this
> from the 2005+ group at http://www.toyotanation.com. See:
> http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/f61
> The DIY thread has links to lots of 2005+ mods.
>
> Second, you can see my HU upgrade on my
> http://www.jacksnodgrass.com/tacoma
> page. ( hint: go backwards on my pics to see my HU upgrade )
>
> The HU removal is pretty easy... start by gently prying the
> A/C control panel away from the dash. The A/C control panel
> is held in by friction. You can insert a thin bladed screw
> driver ( be careful not to scratch ) between the bottom
> of the A/C panel and the dash and start to pry it out. Once
> that is out, you have access to the 4 #10 metric bolts that
> hold in the HU. Remove those and the HU is held in with a
> LOT of friction. You can use your fingers and get the HU to
> come out... just takes some pull. I start on one side, get
> a bit movement, then go to the other side and tug.... takes
> a bit but it finally pops out. There are some ( relatively )
> HUGE metal brackets on the radio... it's a beast.... I
> was real careful about scratching my dash removing the A/C
> panel and then when the HU came out, I put a noticeable
> scratch in the dash with the bracket from the HU.
>
> You can order replacement HU Dash kits / mounts from
> Crutchfield, EBAY, or places on the Internet. The HU and the
> faceplate on the HU are one piece. If you go with an
> aftermarket HU, you'll have to get a new dash kit to mount
> it. I went with a 2DIN kit and I installed a 1DIN radio/dvd
> player and a 1DIN LCD monitor. ( see pics on my website )
>
> You can find OEM CD units on ebay. The prices really fluctuate.
> If your patient and lucky, you might get a mult-cd OEM unit for
> $125. I sold mine on EBAY for a LOT more.
>
> Besides:
> http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/f61
> and
> http://www.jacksnodgrass.com/tacoma
> check out:
> http://www.frappr.com/2005tacoma
> and map your 2005+ tacoma's location. Not a lot of info at frappr
> but it's pretty neat to see where people are around you that have
> tacomas.
>
> jack
>
> --
> D.A.M. - Mothers Against Dyslexia
>
> see http://www.jacksnodgrass.com for my contact info.
>
> jack - Grapevine/Richardson


From: Jack Snodgrass on
On Thu, 10 Aug 2006 00:33:02 +0000, Jim Todd wrote:

> Hi Jack, thanks for the informative reply. I did upgrade to an OEM 6 disc
> changer. The JBL model with RDS and traffic features, for my old ears this
> radio/changer should work find. I haven't tried to pull the old unit out
> yet so I may answer my own question when I see the back of the unit. It
> appears from other units that I have seen on Ebay that there are 2
> connectors on the right hand side of the unit as you look towards the back,
> the unit that I purchased has only 1 connector. The manufacture date is
> November 2005 which is the same month I purchased my car. My assumption is
> that there is a difference between the connectors on a 2005 and 2006. My
> car does not have the steering wheel controls which shouldn't make any
> difference between models as far as I know. Do you by chance know the
> difference? Thanks again

Don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but the JBL OEM
radio uses completely different wires than the non-JBL
radio.

There are 3 radios available for the Tacoma.
1-disk cd
6-disk cd changer
'JBL' 6-disk changer
version. The fist 2 are wire compatible. They each
have two plugs in them. The 3rd one is not compatible.
The JBL Radio has an external AMP that appears to
ONLY work with the Toyota JBL type radio. The JBL Amp is
mounted behind the back seat. You're truck is wired for
the NON-JBL radio. The wires did not change from 2005 -
2006 both had the JBL and the NON-JBL radios... the basic
wiring for the two types of steros is what is different.

I haven't heard of anyone installing a JBL radio in a
truck that didn't come with one already..... I think
that your best bet to to re-sell the JBL radio and
go with a standard, non-jbl 6 cd changer.

jack


--
D.A.M. - Mothers Against Dyslexia

see http://www.jacksnodgrass.com for my contact info.

jack - Grapevine/Richardson