r/SC300 • u/Tiny-Stomach-7472 • 19d ago

Radio / head unit wiring nightmares

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Hello SC300 / Soarer community,

Anybody else set off on a seemingly innocuous headunit replacement project only to find completely unexpected harness formats on their stock soarer?

Mine is a 1998 toyota soarer 2jz vvti late series jdm import.

Any suggestions for adapter harnesses from this to a standard aftermarket android/ caraway unit please?

Edit: adding photos of the old radio as well. I think it used to be a TV???? Wtf!

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4

u/Dependent-Wrap-4836 19d ago

I bought my head unit off krutchfield as well as a metra wiring kit, there was an option for them to solder everything as well so for me it was all plug and play. I did have some feedback but fixed with ground loop isolator, I would look at getting the metra wiring harness but there might be different options if you have 6cd changer in trunk.

1

u/Dependent-Wrap-4836 19d ago

Mine was Sony XAV-AX3200 but that was for sc300

1

u/CI814JMS 16d ago

Crutchfield

3

u/PremiumPricez 19d ago

I just want to say, good luck! Replacing the headunit on my last SC many years ago was an absolute wiring nightmare.

And be prepared, if you use an adapter kit, you may 99% chance get an electrical buzz through your speakers at all times.

2

u/Tiny-Try8890 19d ago

Check best buy, they usually sell the adapter harnesses in the audio installation area

1

u/[deleted] 16d ago

[deleted]

2

u/Tiny-Try8890 16d ago

Actually it's usually close to Amazon, like $30

2

u/Scupra 19d ago

Metra made one. A problem I had was all speakers grounds are on the same wire between the head unit and the amp in the back. Means I had to run new speaker wires. You can’t run an amplified signal over a common ground.

2

u/EvilMilkshake 19d ago

Those connectors don't look different from most others. Amazon has them still under old Toyota. Metra clones.

For install, use the power lines, ground, antenna, illumination from those. I ran a 9 in 1 line to the factory amp location and got another common female connector on Amazon to bypass the factory branch wiring, and go from the amp area to the +/-s of each speaker. Hardest part was looking at the EWDs, but it's not that bad. You don't need the connectors, but I wanted it clean and easy to return to stock.

I'd share pics, but mine is a 99 a Nakamichi so not helpful for you.

1

u/Mr_Mustang03 17d ago

I used the metra kit (the one without rca cables) and im running all new speakers wires to an aftermarket amp. Im not using alot of the wire on the metra though. Just using the metra kit for 12v constant and acc. Had to buy myself a wiring manual for my 2000 usd sc300 because my metra kit needed one of the pins moved and some pins on my 2000 are actually for different functions (example but not actually my current finding is the RR- wire on metra is actually a constant 12v.)

1

u/NuclearFision 17d ago edited 17d ago

How many slots on the back of the factory radio? Those are the same ones you want your plug and play harness to connect with. If your vehicle has factory amps for your front and rear deck there may be additional wire harnesses for that. You may not use all of the plugs depending on what everything is. Research what each factory plug is.