A Quick Guide: Mk4 Tape Deck Install

[twotone_ra64]

So... do you want to play your cassette tapes again in your 80's car? I certainly do! I've attempted this with two Mk3 tape decks, but I've found that those tape decks all suffer from the same problem - the internal gears that drive the tapes split and crack through the middle, rendering the tape function useless. Even if the motors and pulleys are all intact, when playing your tape, it will "skip" through parts of the playback and eat your tape. Not good. Instead, let's install a much cooler 1986-1989 Mk4 Celica tape deck into your Mk3!

You will need:
- '86-'89 double-DIN tape deck with pigtails
- '82-'85 factory head unit mounting brackets & hardware
- Metra 70-1398 wiring harness adapter
- Your selection of electrical tools
- Your mother's very own classical music mixtape of the soundtrack from the 1984 film Amadeus

...seriously though, she gave me that tape once I got the new deck in my car.

Step 0: Take a good look at your Mk4 tape deck. Hear the synthwave beats in your head as you notice the "acoustic flavor/tone control system" display. We're going back, my friend - back to the 80s!





Step 1: Verification of the mounting bracket compatibility

Let's take a look at the factory stereo mounting brackets on the Mk3 unit:



And those very same brackets on the Mk4 unit:



They fit, the screw holes line up and the front face spacing is exactly the same! And on both sides too! Easy! Nice that Toyota didn't change too much up for the next generation cars.

Transfer over the screws to the Mk4 unit and mount those brackets on.

Step 2: Wiring

If you've ever done an aftermarket stereo install, this is easy-peezy-lemon-squeezy. If this is your first time attempting something like this, don't worry; it's not difficult-difficult-lemon-difficult. It's just a matter of matching wiring colors But for convenience's sake, here are the colors you need to match up from the Mk4 stereo pigtails to the Metra Mk3 harness adapter:



Function | Mk4 pigtail | Mk3 adapter
----------------------------------------
Constant 12V | blue/yellow | yellow
Switched 12V | gray | red
Ground | brown | black
Power Antenna | black/red | blue
Illumination | green | orange

Front left + | pink | white
Front left - | purple | white/black
Front right + | light green | gray
Front right - | blue | gray/black

Rear left + | black | green
Rear left - | yellow | green/black
Rear right + | red| violet
Rear right - | white| violet/black

Splice or solder it all up, and that's it! Antenna up/down function will still be maintained.

Step 3: Install and go back to the future

Note that the Mk4 stereo is a little deeper than the Mk3, but it still fits fine.

Aww yeah.





Hard to see it all in there, I'll take better pics tomorrow in the morning.

Enjoy your cassette collection as you drive!

- A Guide by twotone_ra64

[Sigma Projects]

loving the way these look, nice job man. I'm pretty partial to the look of 80's tech in cars. The 90's/00's were really cool at the time since LCDs were getting more advanced, but as time goes on they just look dated like a really old android phone or something.

[swan song]

Radical dude!

[twotone_ra64]

loving the way these look, nice job man. I'm pretty partial to the look of 80's tech in cars. The 90's/00's were really cool at the time since LCDs were getting more advanced, but as time goes on they just look dated like a really old android phone or something.

Thanks man! Yeah, especially in cars of the last decade, if you didn't get the full blown infotainment system the display looks like a cheap POS.

Radical dude!

 

[silverliftback]

Now that it's powered up, do you have any idea what the "square wave" button is between the balance/fade knobs and the equalizer? Or is it just for decoration?

[danf]

Is that out of a newer Celica? I think I have one from a Cressida in mine now.

[twotone_ra64]

Now that it's powered up, do you have any idea what the "square wave" button is between the balance/fade knobs and the equalizer? Or is it just for decoration?

It's to change the "acoustic flavor". Basically switches between different EQ presets or "defeat" mode which uses your bass/treble settings from the knobs.

Is that out of a newer Celica? I think I have one from a Cressida in mine now.

Yes, an Mk4.