2001 Highlander Limited Audio Upgrade

chrisb74 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-05-2005, 09:35 PM

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum, I just bought a 2001 limited Highlander.
I want to do an Audio System upgrade and I have a few questions for the experts here. I did post in the Electrical / Audio forum but not much Highlander action going on there so I am posting here as well.

My factory system consits of a JBL in dash 6 disc changer, front door components, and a speaker in each back door. What I am not sure of is if there is a factory amp. I thought since I had the JBL HU that I would have an amp behind the rear seat, but I found a pdf diagram in this forum that showed only the eight speaker system having an amp. Does anyone know if I for sure have an amp back there? If so what is the easiest way to get to and verify its there?

My other questions are pretty much best practice in the Highlander type questions. I have done a few HU replacements, speaker upgrades.... I have not done an amp install but I am familiar with how to hook them up. I would like to know where the best placement for amps in the highlander are. I plan to replace the HU, put in a 4 ch amp for the speakers and maybe put in a powered sub like a bass link. Is under the front passenger seat the best place for the amp? What about crossover placements for the front components?

Wiring-should I splice into existing speaker runs? Where does the highlander factory audio wiring run? Or should I make completely new runs to the speakers for a moderate amp, say 50w per channel?

I want to do it as clean as I can and make sure I dont break any clips on the interior panels. Anyone with experience taking highlander panels and dash pieces off, I would love to hear any advice.(tools, clip locations,...)

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

dpgrand · #2 (**permalink**) 03-12-2008, 10:39 AM

does anyone have a response to this? I'm also curious...

DrRuckus13 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-12-2008, 03:59 PM

Check these threads, there are a bunch of stereo upgrade threads

01 Highlander Stereo Upgrade

Upgraded Stereo for my '05

Highlander subwoofer

LifeTech · #4 (**permalink**) 03-12-2008, 07:33 PM

I have an 06 Limited, but with the Nav/JBL unit. I have an amp located in the rear behind the pass tail light floor area. YU probably have the amp because yu Do have 8 speakers. All the JBL equipped HL's have this. It is just that they are in 6 locations. Yu cant see the extra two. They are incorporated into the rear speakers I believe... besides having the 2 tweeters up front as well as the 2 front door speakers. That adds up to 8.
I truly don't know how Toyota could have called it an 8 speaker system, but that is what was advertised when I got my HL Ltd. new. So they just call it an 8 speaker system in 6 locations.
Your 01 HL has the spare located inside the HL. 04-07's have the spare underneath outside the HL. So your AMP may be in a different area than mine. But I feel yu have one for sure.

Just some food for thought.

LT