Why does my stereo suck so bad
- Thread starter rc51kid
- Start date
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ElPolloBlanco
SILVER Star
I don't understand why you would go through all that trouble. Unplug the stock amp and see where that leaves you. The dash is really easy to get apart. Your dash speakers are tied into the same "line" as the front doors and the rear third row headliner speakers are on the same "line" as the rear doors. I've seen several threads on these stereo issues and it boggles my mind why people make things so complicated. Check your wire harness from the stereo to two stock plugs. Make sure it's not shotty work on the harness to the adaptor (I solder and heat shrink them always). After that pull the stock amp. It's behind the passanger dash speaker. Pull the glove box out and pull off the 2 plugs on the right, you can leave the amp in place if you'd like. IF that doesn't work, then I would test the wires. Learn how to use a Mulitmeter and do ohms checks for each wire to each speaker (may want to invest in some long leads to reach everything). If you run into problems there then that's when I would run new wires. My 10 years of aircraft maintenace experience tells me that doing proper trouble shooting prevents wasting money. I hate wasting money. Also pull that stupid stock subwoofer out. Your two way door speakers put out more base than the 15-20 year old thing ever will and with that and the stock amp unplugged you're lowering your used amps on that Dome fuse.
X3 on disconnecting the stock amp. If the Pioneer has powered outputs connected to the stock wiring & the stock amp is connected it will sound horrible. All you need to do is disconnect the harness from the amp, no other wiring needed. You should also check the wiring at the speakers. If the polarities aren't correct they will be out of phase & sound bad.
I have a Pioneer NAV/head unit & 4 Pioneer speakers in the doors & it sounds fine. Not great (not much bass) but I can crank it pretty high without distortion. I did not disconnect any of the dash, subwoofer or headliner speakers.
I have a Pioneer NAV/head unit & 4 Pioneer speakers in the doors & it sounds fine. Not great (not much bass) but I can crank it pretty high without distortion. I did not disconnect any of the dash, subwoofer or headliner speakers.
What is the difference between plugging straight into the 2 normally un-used connectors behind the radio and un-plunging the amp, and running a jumper wire to the 2 connectors that plug into the factory amp?
ElPolloBlanco
SILVER Star
As far I as I know there really isn't a difference. But to me it doesn't make since to run the wiring all the way over there when Toyota has provided plugs in the dash to use. It's more work to extend the harness all the way over to those plugs. I mean if you're using these connections its not like you're really trying to get the very best sound you can get because if that was the case you'd be using component speakers with amps in custom enclosers (because those kinds of speakers just wont fit in the doors without a lot or work). If the goal is decent sound just use the plugs behind the dash and unplug the stock amp and throw some 6.5 inch two ways in the doors and some 3 inchers in the dash and headliner. If you really want bass get you a sub and and amp and hook that up. You got some work to be done? I'd be more than happy to help since I'm close.
I was waiting for someone to mention the unused plug. I was wondering if The Pioneer Head Unit was wired half as*ed into the factory wiring that was attached to the original unit, or if the unused plug was used. That could make all the difference. Personally, I have a 2DIN BOSS DVD/NAV unit, and I used the unused plug with a scoshe connector, works fine. Had a buddy who didn't know any better, tried to wire it back to the factory radio plug....Fail! nothing worked. Mine sounded like Sh** until I cut the power antenna wire from the unit. Try that on, I couldn't get hardly any sound until that.
ElPolloBlanco
SILVER Star
I had an issue with that wire. I kept blowing fuses when i turned on the radio and it sent the signal to put the antenna up. This wire is also used to activate amps that you may have. Unplugging the stock amp got rid of that problem. My guess is that the stock amp was trying to draw power as well as the stereo and between the two it was too much for the dome fuse. Since removing the stock amp everything works as advertised and now I just need to replace my factory speakers so I can get some decent sound.
i have a '94 with the up/down buttons on the dash for the antenna.
my kenwood dvd/nav would complain about a grounding issue and shut down or something until i cut that wire.
my kenwood dvd/nav would complain about a grounding issue and shut down or something until i cut that wire.
ElPolloBlanco
SILVER Star
My 97 has the auto up auto down feature. Without the signal wire the switch on the dash wouldn't work. I usually leave the Antenna in the down (3 inch) position because I listen to my phone but when I want to listen to ESPN Radio I put it up for better signal.
yeah i need to install a new mast (stuck / bent all the way out), and no automatic up/down here.
Since the OP inquired about the factory amp, I assumed he was using it in conjunction with the Pioneer head-unit.
Can you tell us if the HU is connected to the single (white) radio plug?
Or is it using the two (gray) plugs?
Can you tell us if the HU is connected to the single (white) radio plug?
Or is it using the two (gray) plugs?
What he said. I run 2x 800w amps mounted under the seats, one powers the dash and front doors, the other does rear doors and rear headliner tweets, I run a 500w mono that pushes 2x 10" alpines. I used all stock wiring without any issues and the first thing I did was unplug that stock amp.
You have to when running any other amplifier or amplified head-unit.
You do?
I used the other (I Forget color - non-amplified) wire harness. There was a (cheap as chips) aftermarket stereo already installed wheni got it, so i didn't even go looking for the factory amp for like 9 months.
And there it was, plugged in and everything. So i took it out. Didn't hear a difference.
Mine had a cheap kenwood and the door speakers were replaced with cheap speakers and zip tied in. One was swinging on one rip tie and the magnet would ground the sound out on a window channel the reception was poor from A cheap antenna so i replaced everything with pioneer HU and pioneer speakers and removed the factory amp and wires in a twp channel amp and 10" sub it the rear
While the sound is perfect when i play from my ipod or a cd my reception has not gotten any better when tuning regular radio channels, any ideas what is causing the poor reception
While the sound is perfect when i play from my ipod or a cd my reception has not gotten any better when tuning regular radio channels, any ideas what is causing the poor reception
You can't have two active amplifiers connected to one set of speakers. Maybe your factory amp had its turn-on wire disabled already by the PO (via the method mentioned earlier by ElPolloBlanco in post #27).
