nyphonejacks: Installing a double DIN radio in a 1997 Toyota Corolla G

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Installing a double DIN radio in a 1997 Toyota Corolla G

I recently purchased a 1997 Toyota Corolla that had a defective stereo. I wanted a radio with a video screen, but according to all sources that I could find only a single DIN radio fits in this vehicle.

Old Kenwood stereo missing faceplate,
Original Toyota add on tape deck and pocket below vents

The Geo Prizm is basically GMs version of this vehicle, and it uses a double DIN radio, but it is mounted lower then where Toyota mounts their radio. I did see a single post on a Toyota forum where someone had installed a double DIN radio in this lower location, however it didn't look installed very good, it was sticking out where it didn't line up with the dash panel.

I used the existing single DIN pocket
to replace the head unit I removed

I didn't want to use a single DIN stereo that had a motorized screen that pops out because it would block the vents when the screen was opened, and figured if I couldn't get the stereo to fit I could always just return it to the store.

Double DIN Pioneer installed

Seriously it was much easier to mount and install then I even imagined. I thought that I might have to modify or fabricate something to get the radio to fit properly. In reality the only minor issue I ran into was that the wire was just barely long enough to connect. I should have extended the wire to make it easier, however it was just long enough that I will leave it as is since extending the wire is just going to stuff up the limited space behind the radio.

Dash panel put back on

Next up, connecting a parking brake bypass for the video signal, finding a more permanent location for the bluetooth microphone and installing cameras (the head unit allows for a back up camera as well as a second camera, which I will likely add several cameras to with a video selector switch.