This walkthrough is for taking apart a Scion tC to run wires for a stereo system. Unfortunately I have no pictures of the finished product.

Now, first, let me apologize that I don't have the pictures for making the door baffles, they will be uploaded soon. All the speakers that there aren't pictures of yet are from Elemental Designs, the sponsor of this forum. They make quality stuff, you should check them out, links are above and below all threads in this forum.

Now that you've forgiven me for not having speaker pics, on to the install.

First things first, to start out, I removed the plastic panel running along the door sill:

Before:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/01.jpg

After:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/02.jpg

Notice the little white clips with the wires in them, they'll be very useful later :)

Next, the passenger side kick panel. There's one little screw cap back there in the corner, isn't too tight so you can remove it with your fingers.

Before:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/03.jpg

After:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/04.jpg

There's a nice amount of carpet padding back there to block road noise, I don't know if I'm even going to deaden the floor of this thing. We'll come back to that wire bundle later...It's needed to run the speaker wire out to the door.

Well, after getting this far, you may want to install your headunit, as you should be running RCA's to the back.

Here's a picture of my center console with an installed headunit already:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/05.jpg

Now, unfortunately, I went through two steps here. First one, would be to remove the shifter knob. That just unscrews and then you can pull it off. The second step is to grab the very end of the silver part of the console and pull lightly up on it. It will pop, but don't pull to hard to force it, the cigarette lighter adapter is clipped on and you might hurt the connections if you just pull.

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/06.jpg

That's what it looks like with no console covering the shift knob.

Next step is to remove the portion of the console that houses the climate controls. Just pull on the bottom of the piece next to the passenger seat belt light and the ignition kill light and it will just pop straight out. Slide your fingers up and repeat this until it swings down from the front. I found it easiest to do this step with the door that covers the HU closed. Once you swing the face down you'll see this:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/07.jpg

That's the wire bundle that powers the climate controls. Just push in on the center tab and pull the bundle out. Set your console somewhere safe, I didn't and it fell and got some minor scratches :(

Now you've got this:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/08.jpg

Notice directly above and below the edges of the HU there's a metal piece, this is the factory bracket for the HU. Luckily 2 holes in my Eclipse lined up with those as I couldn't find the dash kit anywhere locally, it's currently on order for me. You'll need a socket set to remove the top ones, but a regular phillips head screwdriver for the bottom.

This next image just shows where I wired the RCA's behind the HU. The space back there is cavernous compared to any car I've ever installed a stereo in before. Very nice for installing:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/09.jpg

And now, on to the back seats. Yes, I'm random when I'm taking my car apart but there is a method to my mayhem. To remove the back seats, just pull up on the front corners of them. They're held in like any other back seats, just 2 little pins up front that pop when you pull. You'll have to pull kinda hard to get them to pop, but once you do, just pull the seat forward and it's out. Make sure you pop both sides before pulling forward, you'll bend the metal bracket in the back if you don't. You can fix it easy, but best not to screw it up in the first place.

Before:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/10.jpg

After:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/11.jpg

Now, the side panels in the door. There's a small plastic pin fastening them to the metal bar under the seats:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/12.jpg

These are easily replacable if broken, but why break it in the first place ;) You just need a large flat head screwdriver. Push it under the plastic and pry slowly:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/13.jpg

Now for the tricky part....the grocery hooks:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/14.jpg

That's a low angle shot of the pesky little bugger. Notice the little pin thing in the middle. The trick to these guys is to push that in. I used a very small screwdriver. Once you do that, turn it 90 degrees clockwise:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/15.jpg

After you do that, just pull on the hook and it comes out. Sorry this image is so fuzzy.

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/16.jpg

Now that you've got all the non plastic snapping type fasteners out of the door, just start pulling at the bottom straight below the speaker. I used the cup holders to pull on and that worked pretty well. Just go all the way around the gray plastic piece while pulling. Now, there's one really tricky fastener. It's at the bottom back corner, right behind the rear seat back. I found it easiest to fold the seats all the way forward, pop that one, then recline them all the way back. Then you can just slide the panel out around the seat belts.

Here's what you get:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/17.jpg

See that speaker baffle? Same as the front ones, and very easy to make out of 3/4" MDF. I'll show that later when I get those pictures.

On to the next picture....the hatch area. This is what it looks like after removing all the liners:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/18.jpg

Ok, so the things on the left and the right are just styrofoam but held in by some pesky clips. When they pop, it sounds like you're breaking something, you aren't. You can see them here:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/19.jpg

They're the dark black things along the top side of the styrofoam. Just pull up by those, then slide the piece forward a bit while lifting. It tucks under the rear plastic piece. Of course, you could remove that first like I'll show in a minute.

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/20.jpg

Without the styrofoam. Just begs to be custom glassed and have a sub built into the corner, doesn't it. Look for those in the future ;)

Other side, same thing, pop the pins and pull it out, only a before shot here:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/21.jpg

Now for that pesky plastic piece in the back:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/22.jpg

All you do with this little guy is pull up:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/23.jpg

Now for the side panels:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/24.jpg

In that picture towards the top in the center there's a phillips head screw that you need to remove:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/25.jpg

In the back of the panel is a tie down for luggage and other stuff:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/26.jpg

That's a 10 or 14 mm head. Everything in the car is. It's nice. Just remove that and the metal piece comes out. The top has a small tab that slides into the metal, you need to pull out and slide down to get the tie down out.

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/27.jpg

Now if you look at this image again, there's another grocery hook type thing. If anyone knows how to remove it, please tell me. I tried, but didn't want to hurt it. That's why there are no pics of this panel removed.

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/28.jpg

Now, to remove the door panels for running the speaker wire. The little chrome ring on the door panel is where you start to remove it. Underneath, just pop your fingernails in there and pull. Be very careful when pulling this panel off....the very top clips on mine broke on both door panels, still work fine, but kinda sucks that they broke.

Once you get that off, you'll need to unscrew 3 screws, here's the first right behind where the chrome ring was:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/29.jpg

These are just philips head screws again. They're really tough to start and make an awful squeaking sound. Plus, they're HORRIBLY long.

Now, one last screw here:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/30.jpg

Yes, fuzzy pic, sorry. the little box in front of the lock flips open. You'll notice a small gap, put a very small flat head screwdriver in there and pry it open. It's hinged on the far side so don't pull to hard or you'll break it. Under that is another philips head screw that's much shorter than the previous 2.

Once you've got all the screws off, just start below the speaker portion of the door and pull. Move your way around the door pulling all the clips off. Once they're all off, just slide the door out, you'll need to disconnect the door electronics. I have pictures of that, but not uploaded yet as well. On the passenger side there are 2, drivers side has one. Both are just like the one behind the center console, just push the center and they pop out.

Now, set your door panel somewhere safe, time to run speaker wire.

Remember that bundle of wires behind the kicks from earlier. Here's where you use them:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/31.jpg

You'll want to pull them out of their clips and pull the rubber boot out of the door. Notice in the pic above the wires are just dangling out of the door jamb, this is the easiest way to run them.

Now, that big hole there, slide your wire through it and out the car. The rubber boot you've just removed has slits in it. Slide your wire in there and push it through until it comes out inside the door. Normally you can use a coat hanger but I used the 4 strand 12 awg from Knukonceptz...huge stuff. Each door took me about 1/2 hour to run wire in. Once you've got enough wire through and inside the door panel, just pop the boot back into it's hole. You might need a screwdriver to get the pressure all the way around it.

Here's proof that I used the boot with that wire without hurting it:

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/32.jpg

It's a pain, but worth it, no drilling necessary. And if I can fit that wire through there, anything will fit.

Remember those white plastic clips with the wires in the doors, here they are again.

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/33.jpg

You can remove the carpet from them by pushing in slightly then pulling up like in this picture. Also, once you run your speaker wires/RCA's they fit nicely into the clips and the door sill still goes on. That allows you go get under the carpet where there's a perfect space to run 0/1 AWG power wire to the trunk. Of course, you'll need to remove the seat too.

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/34.jpg

Those little plastic covers just slide back and pop off, nothing too difficult :)

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/35.jpg

Now the bolts. There's 5 total, 14mm heads, pop those out then tilt the seat sideways, more wires to disconnect for the seatbelt. They also have a plastic fastener on the bottom of the seat. Tricky to remove and I broke mine. No biggie since you can just put the seat back and make sure the wire is OK when doing so.

Now, here's 2 pictures of the wire running from the back on the passenger side.

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/36.jpg

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/audiowiring_tc/37.jpg

Notice in the second one how the wire is in the little clips. I love those things.

In that first pic, I just ran the wire around that rear panel in the trunk, you can pull the front out far enough even w/o removing the back clip to run wire back there.

Sorry I don't have anymore pics. They're going to be uploaded in the next couple of days.

If you have any questions on how to do anything to the car, ask away and I'll do my best to take a picture of the answer or explain it to you as best as possible.

And yes, I'll get pictures of the doors and final install soon.

Hellufa write-up, why you doing this agin?

this must be added to FAQ

Mikochuu where are youuu?!

What exactly was the point of stripping your car? You forgot to remove the motor and the exaust

This is all to properly install a car stereo. Sorry if I didn't make that clear ;)

geez i dunno if id feel comfortable doing that to my car...

good job. that is definitely the right way to install stereo. for those who are worried about doing it, don't worry. just be careful and you won't break anything

Awesome walkthrough. This thread as been added to the Tech section. It will be moved to the FAQ forum in a week or so. Thanks Mandos!

very nice, will use this info for a sub install.

great job! that helps when it comes time to replace the radio.. tells me right where the clips are on the console! scion definitely made this to be easy!

awesome write up :bow:
i'll be using this soon. btw good choice on the h/u

sweet walk thru

very excellent walk through......anyone who is wanting to put in a stereo....this is the way to do it!!!! I"m looking forward to the rest of the pics and the door speaker install....

Ok, just to let you guys know, this probably won't get updated until Monday, busy weekend for me. But I'll actually be fleshing it out a bit, showing how to run the power wire, it's kinda tricky ;)

Also, sound deadened doors, both eDead v.3 liquid and v.1 SE mat coming up(You can pick it up from Elemental Designs, banners all over this forum, check it out, 'cuz it's just as good as other stuff and a lot cheaper :)). Might even do the back walls of the car, but the floor is staying untouched :)

you are a god. thanks for the awesome walk through!

anyone know how to take out the top of the dash? IE the gauges and the side vents.......

cool,
wash your baby please...

cool,
wash your baby please...

Has been several times since then :)

nice write up, bumping for pics thanx

I hope you plan on putting the radio in a dash kit....It looks a lot better then having wires showing when you open the door up...oh and the gap around the radio..

I was hoping the same thing, but I think it'll look great no matter what.

Thank you for the write-ups and great pics!

Now GO WASH YOUR CAR!

j/k :lol:

First off, I wish this post would have been up when I did my install ( I couldn't figure out how to get those little grocery hooks off at all, I had to run my power wire by feeding a fish wire around!) But I do have an install kit that works. This is an A.I. (american international) standard toyota instal kit, and I painted it silver to match the darker silver of the radio cover. The only problem I have is that my Alpine has a big knob, and the cover will not latch down with the faceplate on. Anyway, I hope this helps!http://www.geocities.com/basszon95/110_1028.jpg

Mandos,
thanks for the write up, it was quite good. I spent a lot of time inside my Scion this past weekend with my brother and this helped a lot.

Also, I wanted to give you a bit of info concerning the 'grocery hook type thing' that's used for the rear panels. If you look carefully at the hook itself you can see that it has a hole at the top of the clip itself. If you use a small screwdriver or awl you can push inside this hole and you will feel something release inside. Basically, the deal is that there are two 'arms' inside of the clip. One release is up high and one release is down low, one corresponds to the left side of the clip and one to the right. So, if you release one side, you can pull it out part way, then reposition your tool and release the other side and you should then be able to take out the clip. It was tricky the first time, but not so hard once we figured out the pattern.

Pic...

http://www.brendanmc.com/images/clip2.jpeg

Good luck,
B-

Thanks for this. I just needed to get to my HU to install the PIE-TOY for my iPod, but this helped a ton and I got it done in like 30 minutes.

NOW i find this! all i need to do know is redo all the wiring i ran for the tvs, but ill wait til its not snowing. i hate the midwest. thanks for the write up hope i can do it all, not to mention, u have alot of patience. much much more than me

has anyone found the way to take out that plastic piece that sits directly under the rear seats (the one with anchor covers on it). The trunk panrl won't come off without that part removed first :(

Does anyone know if the XM Antenna option is pre-wired, or if you install it yourself, do you need to run a separate wire for the antenna?

Thanks!

love this tech

Dude, you are a bada$$ this just saved me so much time!

How did you get your power cable through the firewall?

I am interested in how to remove the center console... I am doing audio/video as well and that would help me out a lot. Great walk-thru. It shed some light on those pesky grocery hooks that I couldn't figure out without a potential break! Thanks.
:clap:

Figured out the center console folks! Two 10mm bolts reside underneath the small piece of carpet within the storage compartment. Then up front underneath the heater controls and under the shifter piece are two phillips head screws.... that's it! Oh, and don't forget to remove the cig lighters.. Yes, both of them.

Great tips on removing that rear panel, thanks!

BTW, this now = outdated...visit the updated one in my sig ;)

How do you get the power wire from inside the cargo to the battery!

now i can install the dynamat to the backseat rear panels!!! peace n quiet!!

Anyone know how to remove the ceiling parts from the tC I want to learn how to do that.

ive been looking for this post for hours its about time i found it

THANK YOU :bow:
That made my life SO much easier!

is it my computer, or are most of the pics not showing up?

Nice DIY

My tC is 7 days old (2007), and I was cautious to play with any interior paneling - the Scion is already a little WAY too sensitive to scratches and dirt on its plastic. But this tutorial was great! In less than an hour I had my entire center console and radio and climate and back seats all off. Dont be afraid - just be careful- cover your tools with a cloth if you use a screwdriver to get in the nooks.

My dissection was b/c i plan to put in some interior lights and probably a powered subwoofer in the trunk. I was dissecting just for practice, lol - when i get my lights. By the way - best prices: ozonium.com - real cheap LEDs and cathodes. Instead of taking apart the door sills and back walls (which are tricky and i gave up on) - i think I can run the wires thru the console under about 4 inches of carpet to the back seats - under the seats and then right out the back. Any opinions on that?

You, sir, are awesome!

Thanks to this writeup I was able to install my entire XM setup on my own and saved myself some good money =)

Seriously, it was a lot easier than I thought it would be... The only thing that got me was the grocery hook on the rear side panel. The pin you need to push in is the BOTTOM one... Spent like 10 mins trying to get it off pushing on the top side haha!

this walkthrough is best for helping the tc lose weight, but more guting can be done! can't wait :pray:

how do you go about removing the rear seat top part....?

Ok, but how do you take apart all of it.

the small hooks you have to turn to pull out near back seat you turn counter clockwise (atleast mine 05) as in ^ to <