The Toyota 4Runner is a midsize sport utility vehicle with ample space to install a subwoofer in the rear cargo area. For owners looking to upgrade the performance of their stereo while saving space, a powered subwoofer offers a viable compromise. The powered subwoofer has a built-in amplifier, so connection is simpler versus connecting both components separately, and the all-in-one design will save space for cargo.
Lift the hood of the 4Runner and disconnect the negative battery cable from the negative lead post of the battery. Use a 10 mm wrench to loosen the bolt holding the cable's clamp to the negative terminal lead.
Remove the bolt holding the positive cable to the positive battery lead. Place the ring terminal from the amplifier wiring kit on the positive lead post. Replace the bolt, holding the ring terminal onto the positive lead.
Remove the fuse from the fuse holder on the ring terminal. Connect the power cable from the wiring kit to the ring terminal. Route the power cable (usually a long blue wire) through the firewall and into the inside of the Toyota's cabin. Move to the inside of the vehicle.
Remove the two screws on the driver's side lower dash panel with the Phillips-head screwdriver. Remove the 10 mm bolt from the bottom corner of the driver's side dash panel with a 10 mm socket and drive.
Remove the two screws on the right side of the lower dash panel with the screwdriver (one above the parking brake release lever, the other below the lever).
Pull the hood release lever from the dash and remove the two screws behind it with the screwdriver. Push the lever against the dash panel to free it from the panel and allow the panel to be removed from the dashboard. Pull the entire lower dash panel from the dashboard.
Remove the screw at the lower left corner of the glove-compartment door with the screwdriver. Remove the bolt at the bottom right corner of the dash panel with a 10 mm socket and drive.
Open the glove compartment and remove the three screws at the top of the compartment opening with the screwdriver. Grab the entire glove compartment and pull it away from the dashboard. Remove the screw at the top left corner of the opening left by the removal of the glove compartment.
Remove the center console dash panels by pushing in the center of the two "push snaps" on either side of the center console and removing them by hand. Pull the panel from the bottom of the stereo assembly.
Remove the rubber handles on the air-conditioner control levers by hand. Pry the air-conditioner control panel from the dashboard with a flat screwdriver or trim panel removal tool. Remove the screw at the bottom right corner behind the panel with the Phillips-head screwdriver.
Pull the entire lower dash panel from the stereo assembly. Remove the four bolts holding the stereo in the stereo mounting dock with a 8mm socket and drive. Pull the stereo mounting bracket (with radio contained) from the dock. Disconnect the wiring from the rear of the radio.
Connect the Toyota's stereo wiring to a wiring harness adapter. Plug the wiring harness adapter leads into the back of the factory stereo.
Plug the patch cables from the amplifier wiring kit into the leads of the wiring harness adapter. Feed the cables through the back of the stereo mounting dock.
Run the patch cables to the rear cargo area of the 4Runner. Lift the carpeting with a trim panel removal tool to lay the cables beneath the carpeting for cleaner looking wiring.
Route the power cable from the battery to the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Plug the power cable and patch cables into the powered subwoofer at the corresponding outlets. Connect the grounding wire from the amp wiring kit to the sub and attach it to a bolt or screw directly connected to the frame of the Toyota.
Slide the stereo into the stereo mounting dock. Replace the bolts on the outside of the stereo mounting bracket.
Replace the lower dash panel. Screw in the screw on the air-conditioner panel and snap on the air-conditioning panel by hand. Replace the rubber handles on the AC control levers.
Replace the center console dash panel below the stereo. Replace the push snaps by hand, securing the panel in place.
Screw in the screw at the top left corner of the glove compartment opening. Place the glove compartment against the dashboard and replace the three crews along the top edge of the glove compartment opening. Replace the screw and bolt at the bottom corners of the glove compartment.
Place the lower left dash panel against the dashboard. Replace the two screws behind the hood release lever.
Replace the screws above and below the parking brake release handle. Replace the two screws and one bolt on the left side of the driver's side lower dash panel.
Place the negative battery cable clamp around the negative battery lead post and tighten it with the wrench.
Place the fuse into the fuse holder of the ring terminal on the positive battery lead.
Close the hood and test the new powered subwoofer.
