Factory Re-Wired Stereo?

[SOCALFJ]

Ok, so i run over to circuit city on my lunch break to get my wire harness for my head unit.

I have the guy double check under the dash for the correct harness (apparently there's two that Metra makes), cause i wanted him to make sure it bypasses the amp like ive read on this board (smart harness and all that jazz).

Anyhoo... he finds that the harness snaps in over behind the glove box, kind of behind the small speaker facing the passenger. He tells me the cruiser has been and i quote "factory re-wired". I asked from Toyota and he says yes.

Apparently the snap in section for the wire loom is supposed to be near the radio, not 3 feet away... ?????

Whats the deal? can anyone tell me whats up with the rig? and why its like this? or is this normal and crackheadjoe over at CC doesnt know what hes talking bout?

thanks guys

Side Note: The wiring is uber clean and does not look like some joe blow has re-wired it in his garage.

 

[firetruck41]

It would help if we knew what vehicle you have.

 

[Long Duck Dong]

Ok, so i run over to circuit city on my lunch break to get my wire harness for my head unit.

I have the guy double check under the dash for the correct harness (apparently there's two that Metra makes), cause i wanted him to make sure it bypasses the amp like ive read on this board (smart harness and all that jazz).

Anyhoo... he finds that the harness snaps in over behind the glove box, kind of behind the small speaker facing the passenger. He tells me the cruiser has been and i quote "factory re-wired". I asked from Toyota and he says yes.

Apparently the snap in section for the wire loom is supposed to be near the radio, not 3 feet away... ?????

Whats the deal? can anyone tell me whats up with the rig? and why its like this? or is this normal and crackheadjoe over at CC doesnt know what hes talking bout?

thanks guys

Side Note: The wiring is uber clean and does not look like some joe blow has re-wired it in his garage.

RULE #1 in car audio....

NEVER Believe anything an installer from Circuit City, Best Buy, The Good Guys, or any other Mass Merchandiser tells you.

Assuming you have a Toyota LC, behind the glove box and to the right, almost behind the passenger side tweeter is the factory amplifier.

on the amplifier there are a total of 3 harnesses that plug into the amp. The single plug on one side of the amp is the "Input" and the two plugs on the opposite side are the "outputs".

Now unplug the "Outputs" and they should plug into the harness you bought form Circut City, the metra part number is 70-1761.

Now, Metra DID make an amplifier adapter harness so you can use the factory amp which plugs in behind the factory radio....but it is hihgly unlikely you have this harness unless you have two set of RCA's on your metra harness.

Most likely you will have to add some length to your aftermarket head unit's harness to make the trek behind the glove box...but for the most part it's all plug and play.....

Hope This Helps,
Steve

 

[SOCALFJ]

It would help if we knew what vehicle you have.

1993 FZJ80

 

[SOCALFJ]

RULE #1 in car audio....

NEVER Believe anything an installer from Circuit City, Best Buy, The Good Guys, or any other Mass Merchandiser tells you.

I didn't thats why im posting it here lol

Assuming you have a Toyota LC, behind the glove box and to the right, almost behind the passenger side tweeter is the factory amplifier.

Yep it is.

on the amplifier there are a total of 3 harnesses that plug into the amp. The single plug on one side of the amp is the "Input" and the two plugs on the opposite side are the "outputs".

Now unplug the "Outputs" and they should plug into the harness you bought form Circut City, the metra part number is 70-1761.

I have a 80-1761

Now, Metra DID make an amplifier adapter harness so you can use the factory amp which plugs in behind the factory radio....but it is hihgly unlikely you have this harness unless you have two set of RCA's on your metra harness.

Nope, no RCA's on mine.

Most likely you will have to add some length to your aftermarket head unit's harness to make the trek behind the glove box...but for the most part it's all plug and play.....

So he was right, except for the "Factory Re-wire part"


So whats the deal with it being all the way over there?

 

[Long Duck Dong]

Your part number sounds incorrect, metra makes 70 & 71 series plugs. The 70 Series plugs are female and the 71's are male versions of the 70 series plugs....hmmm.....interesting..

Here is a photo of what the correct plug should look like...

This is the correct harness you need to bypass your factory amplifier, also when doing this you will loose the factory subwoofer....

you can go to www.metraonline.com to verify you got the right harness....

 

[SOCALFJ]

Wow, they dont even list a 80-1761... and thats exactly what their own package says on it.

Mine looks just like that.. but has a clear plug connected to the other end instead of just raw wire. I then take that clear plug and plug it into my Brand specific harness into the back of my head unit. No splicing wires or soldering of any type. Totally plug and play.

I tried it right now, works bitchen and even the antenna still works. Took 3 mins to install.

Must be fine.

Here's the one i bought today... must be the newest , latest and greatest.

http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/41015/rpem/ccd/productDetailReview.do

 

[firetruck41]

I think the "80-XXXX" harness is Circuit City's plug n play version, as you allude to, no splicing required.

 

[little_joe]

Baffled...........

I am just baffled by this...........

I just picked up a 1995 FZJ80. I am replacing the stock stereo with a Pioneer. I have been searching and reading here for anything I can find.

I am guessing the stock amp is sort of sandwiched between the passenger side tweeter in the lower dash and the Engine Control Module? If not, that's my first problem.

If that is the amp, I have two plugs on one side, I can't see the other side. The harness plugs into this are female, and the actual plugs on this unit are male. So the Metra harness can't possibly work.

I have torn apart that side of the dash, glovebox, kickpanel and do not see anything else that is obvious. SoCalFJ was kind enough to PM me some info, but until I get this resolved I'm stuck.

Help! (and I truly hope it's something stoopid on my part)

 

[IdahoDoug]

And your question is......?

 

[little_joe]

..........answered.

The Metra 80-1761 which SoCalFJ referenced is indeed plug-n-play. Wired my new unit to what he called the clear plug, the other end of the Metra used the two plugs on the harness right behind the radio, and now I can rock (minus any meaningful bass).