Installing aftermarket CD player?

Installing a CD player in the dashboard of a Toyota Corolla 2003 Ascent?

• Can anyone tell me how to install a new CD player into a Toyota Corolla Ascent 2003 model? How can I remove the existing CD player? Even if I remove it, there will be a huge space there, if I install a new Sony or Pioneer MP3 Player... because the existing CD player is too big (the original Toyota one)

• Answer:

  Dash kits are necessary to use in most vehicles out there. You can do this install yourself with ease without having to take it to anyone. From what I'm finding, this should be the radio in your car? http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i14/1460_4mg.jpg As far as installation materials are concerned, you are going to need a dash kit and wiring harness. There are many companies that make these but one of the most used (and personally trusted) is Metra. Other companies will work, some easily, some not-so-easily... Metra though, has been a standard for me and I recommend them to others. For the dash kit, you should need a Metra 99-8204 which is the number for the Metra dash kit for an 03 Corolla. Here's one: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=265-845 The wiring harness will interface into the factory wiring so that you dont have to cut wires at all. Today's wire harnesses are color coded in a vast majority of the cases, so all you have to do is connect color to color. Here's a link to the Metra 70-1761, the wire harness for the Corrola: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=265-646 I dont know what your experience is with installing. The process is really easy though, as stated above. To give the most help, I'm giving the "Installing Radios 101" lesson below: The dash kit will come with instructions that will tell you how to put it together. Most of them are really easy to do and just require a little patience and reading. Once you do two or three, they are extremely simple. Metra kits usually go together easily which is another reason I like them. After getting it together, your new radio will have a "cage" that the radio will slip into. Many times, manufacturers will put this cage onto the radio when they put it in the box. It should slip off simply. The installation manual of the radio will give you some more info on that. The cage will go into the opening of your dash kit. Some cages will fit install better when the kit is in the dash so you may want to go ahead and mount the kit in the dash first. Slip the cage in and using a small phillips or flathead screwdriver (or a pick if you have one), you can bend the small tabs down really well so that the cage stays in place. It's important to bend them tightly. This is when *not* having the kit in the dash comes in good b/c you can actually manipulate the whole thing better so that you can bend the tabs well. Connecting the wires is done one of three ways. For 2 of the 3 ways, you'll need a good pair of crimpers. I recommend a set of Klein's from Home Depot or Lowe's, or a set of Blue Point/Snap On if you can find them. Something comparable to that will work too. These will cost a small bit but they are a great investment particular if you need to wire another radio (you can earn some extra $$$ by doing this). Do not use the flimsy flat crimp tool that also doubles as a pair of wire strippers. These things are cheap and lame and they do not make really secure connections. Spend the extra money and get the real thing. Using the crimpers, you'll use either butt connectors (or barrell connectors) or crimp caps. Butt connectors look like barrells and come in red blue or yellow. Each color is a different size and for this application, most likely the reds will work fine. Sometimes, you may need a couple of blue ones as the main power wire (the yellow wire) and groun on the new radio sometimes are of a larger guage wire. To use butt connectors, just strip back about 3/8 of an inch of of one of the wires in the Metra harness and put it in one side and crimp down on it. Then do the same for the corresponding wire on the radio harness... viola! Crimp Caps are opaque "caps" that slip over a wire to be crimped. They come in different sizes too but the alternate sizes are not as readily available as the butt connectors are. Usually, if you find them, they are typically the more regularly used size which is what you will need (something that will crimp 14 guage to 18 guage wire). To use crimp caps, you take the two wires you want to put together, strip back about the same amount as before, twist the bare wire together, put your cap over the twist and crimp. Regardless of which method you use (butt connectors or caps) you will want to cap off or butt-connect off any other unused wires as these too can carry current of some sort. The third way of connecting is by soldering but this is rarely used and in many installers' opinions, is synonomous with "overkill." I wont get into it as it's not going to be applicable here. After the harness is done plug it into the factory harness. Once thats done and the cage is in, pull the antenna cable through the cage as much as you can (but dont force it) and connect it to the radio along with the harness. Slip the radio into the cage slowly until it clicks into place. Depending on how much space you have in the radio cavity (where the radio will sit) you may have to move some wires or stuff out of the way. When that's done, reassemble and you are complete. Honestly, this is really simple to do. It has taken me longer to type this than it will for you to do all this. Hope this helps. Good luck.