CD changer removal

[Live to Ski]

lexus land cruiser: thank you.

I was wondering because all these electric gizmos scare me. I gather that a suddenly disconnected CD/DVD won't wonk out any other computers.

Then it's off to remove the darn thing!

 

[Lexus Land Cruiser]

Took the CD/DVD changer out of mine during a deep clean and investigative process yesterday.

Now you see it...

Now you don't...

I read in an unrelated thread last night that there could be a warning on the NAV screen when removed, but I'll check to confirm when I get my interior back in.

Also, note the NAV drive in the passenger seat area. The plastic shroud near the back covers the slot where you load the disc.

 

[whitenoise]

I recently removed mine and installed a Grom BT3. No warnings on the NAV screen at all.

@Lexus Land Cruiser any chance you can take some pics of your under driver seat area? Trying to see if that grill can be used to house an external CB radio speaker....

 

[mstakacs]

My CD unit is dead as a door-nail, but I went the cheapo route and bought a Bluetooth FM transmitter on Amazon. They range $23-$33, and I just bought the one with the best reviews (not the free-product for a positive review). Set FM1 preset to 87.7 and it is perfect sound. Sure, I would like to remove the block of dead CDs but didn't know the procedure until now. Thanks for all the pictures and descriptions.

 

[Lexus Land Cruiser]

I recently removed mine and installed a Grom BT3. No warnings on the NAV screen at all.

@Lexus Land Cruiser any chance you can take some pics of your under driver seat area? Trying to see if that grill can be used to house an external CB radio speaker....

Thanks for the input, @whitenoise.

By "grill" do you mean the cover to the rear heater blower? 'Cause that's what's under the hole in the carpet under the drivers seat.

 

[whitenoise]

ok, so that's what that is, I thought it might have been a speaker for the NAV system or something. Probably a bad idea to put a speaker there, then.

 

[Lexus Land Cruiser]

ok, so that's what that is, I thought it might have been a speaker for the NAV system or something. Probably a bad idea to put a speaker there, then.

Yeah, it's the hamster wheel inlet for the rear heater blower

 

[Live to Ski]

mstakacs: What BT transmitter did you use?

Others: many thanks for contributing to my question answer

 

[crimsonaudio]

Just ordered the upper and lower console parts, once they arrive I'll pull the CD changer and make sure everything works. I'll post results.

 

[mstakacs]

SkyGenius Wireless Car Stereo Bluetooth FM Transmitter Radio Adapter. Amazon. $26. Works perfect. Because it is on a gooseneck extension, you can maneuver it up and away or closer to you for use. I put a marine (waterproof) Bluetooth radio in the FJ40. Much much easier to tear apart and put back together.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Just ordered the upper and lower console parts, once they arrive I'll pull the CD changer and make sure everything works. I'll post results.

Well, I was just refunded my payment for the upper and lower console pieces as they've been discontinued by Toyota and apparently no one in the US has any. Back to square one. Bummer.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Okay, found a used center console from a 1999 model, ordered it, will see if that works...

 

[Sandroad]

Can you still get the full console assembly? Spendy, but it would have the parts needed. W/O navigation the part number is 58081-60041 (plus color designation).

 

[crimsonaudio]

Can you still get the full console assembly? Spendy, but it would have the parts needed. W/O navigation the part number is 58081-60041 (plus color designation).

When I looked online earlier the place I order from showed the entire console as being discontinued.

 

[Live to Ski]

Don't like the sounds of "discontinued"

Heralding back to my fj60 issues of discontinued important parts. Not liking this at all.

 

[brizzle]

I just removed mine last night. 2003 LX470. This may not be 100% accurate as I'm doing it from memory, but it should be about right.

1. Remove cup holders from back of center console. Open the cup holder drawer, manually fold the cup holders up and look inside. You will see two screws. Remove those and the cup holders should slide out.

EDITED TO ADD - pry back trim off of center console. Then disconnect two connectors (I think attached to the rear audio controls)

2. Remove 2 10mm bolts from inside center console.

3. Remove 3 (I think) phillips screws from each side of the center console. They are hard to get to, but move the seat around to gain access to each one. I used a right angle screw driver.

4. Pull the console up and out.

I believe that should do it. You might not be able to remove the plug for the changer without pulling up the shifter console (which the front cup holders are attached to).

This is what you are left with. 4 10mm holding it down.

LX470 6-disc cd changer

• TheWhiskeyWorks
• Jan 4, 2016

Thanks for posting this! Helped a ton while I yanked mine this weekend. Ever make a plan for the space?

 

[nnnnnate]

I put the main guts of my ham radio in there (Yaesu FTM-400) and love it.

 

[Smapty]

I just removed mine last night. 2003 LX470. This may not be 100% accurate as I'm doing it from memory, but it should be about right.

1. Remove cup holders from back of center console. Open the cup holder drawer, manually fold the cup holders up and look inside. You will see two screws. Remove those and the cup holders should slide out.

EDITED TO ADD - pry back trim off of center console. Then disconnect two connectors (I think attached to the rear audio controls)

2. Remove 2 10mm bolts from inside center console.

3. Remove 3 (I think) phillips screws from each side of the center console. They are hard to get to, but move the seat around to gain access to each one. I used a right angle screw driver.

4. Pull the console up and out.

I believe that should do it. You might not be able to remove the plug for the changer without pulling up the shifter console (which the front cup holders are attached to).

This is what you are left with. 4 10mm holding it down.

LX470 6-disc cd changer

• TheWhiskeyWorks
• Jan 4, 2016

I'm currently trying to install bluetooth in place of the CD changer and my setup (for all intents and purposes) looks like this. I wanted to keep that lid on the CD change box and keep the existing center console insert but remove the actual CD changer from inside that metal box. The idea is you'd hit the open button and that black plastic lid would open to reveal a bluetooth setup with USB ports etc instead of the multicd changer. Problem is I've removed all the screws that I thought held that box together but it wont open so I can remove the actual CD changer, the fan and associated circuitry. Anyone ever tried this? It seems like I might have to pry that box open and hammer it back into shape but that seems like a pretty brutal option.

 

[amickmt]

Hi Smapty - Were you able to get a Bluetooth interface to work? I would be grateful for any info and direction. I just pulled out my DVD multi changer because it was fried and would like to do same. Thanks for any guidance!

 

[Smapty]

Hi Smapty - Were you able to get a Bluetooth interface to work? I would be grateful for any info and direction. I just pulled out my DVD multi changer because it was fried and would like to do same. Thanks for any guidance!

Yes it works great! I'd recommend getting some trim removal tools at an auto parts store if you don't have them. I located my microphone differently to the other examples then I've seen and I have to admit I think mine is functionally and aesthetically superior if I may say so! I located it where the driver's side column meets the ceiling and windshield and ran the cable through the headliner, to the passenger side colum, inside the trim down the column and attached the cable to a clothes hanger, shoved into into a seam that ran into the glove box, ran the cable behind the glovebox to area behind the nav screen and under the center console and then up into what used to be the CD changer. It's not as hard to remove the innards of the CD changer as I thought but you do indeed need to gently bend the metal tabs that hold the outer housing in place (after removing all screws, etc). As you can see in the pic below, I attached the module to the interior of the CD changer and held it in place with velcro, so if it needs to be removed, it can be.

PS I don't know what year LC you have but the install manual claims you need an additional cable for the 2002. I didn't need whatever that cable is for. My guess is that its for models that have audio controls on the steering wheel but I'm not sure... Let me know if you have any questions in specific. The install isn't too hard. Frankly getting the cupholder out was the worst part lol!