I have a 1996 LS400 and my factory pioneer unit that came with the car has the infamous blackface. Rather than repair the lights, as some do, I want to install my Alpine & JL Audio subs in this car. Here is my dillemma.

After Searching for weeks for the proper dash kit (finally found one - Metra 99-8153), I have not been able to find the proper radio harness. This sucks. I have been sold countless adapters and none of them work. So I decided to take the car to a "professional" who wants to charge almost $400 to do the install all because he has to rewire the speakers since He would have to bypass the amplifier.

I would have to order component speakers for my door because the ones that came in the door are two ohms and I need a four ohm set including tweeters. Then he would have to wire each speaker individually and that will take quite some time according to him.

Now I believe that this is an extensive job, but all this could be averted if they made that studid radio harness. Am I correct to assume that this is the case for most people with this year LS or is it just me. Anyone out there have a 96 LS400 that have had aftermarket head unit put in. Any suggestions. I have a nice setup waiting to be installed:

Alpine 9815
12w6v2 JL Audio
JL Audio Monoblock 500/1
6.5" MB Quartz

I am dying here!!!

 

the lcd repair costs less than 100.00 for the parts. i dont see why you would want the aftermarket unless you dont have the glovebox 6 disc cd player already and want to play cds. i have a pile of new lexus lcds and the 96 ls400 for radio p1707 on the cassette flap door is one of them. the lcd would include the instructions on how to install it ands how to remove the radio from the dash. it is a 1 hour job. the factory radio lists for 900.00 the amp for 500.00. you could upgrade the speakers without changing the factory head unit.

 

The reason why I decided to upgrade is because not only are the lights gone, the lcd characters are now faded. I assumed that if I put an aftermarket stereo in with new speakers and a new amp it would sound great. Granted that the sound system is there is nice it just doesnt have "enough" bass for me. I would do the replacement of the lcd if i could possibly add my jl subwoofer to the factory. The other reason is that my head unit plays mp3 also. Has anyone ever done an aftermarket in the 96?

 

yes every lexus has been adapted to aftermarket.. most are gs and sc . not as common on an ls400. the adapter for speakerr wires has not been made. the faceplate companies send out the wrong adapters. the es kit has the adapter for the gs kit. and the gs kit has the adpter for the es kit. but no one has made the ls400 adapter. the 95 to 2000 ls400 is the hardest for an amateur because there is no speaker adaptor.it can be done though with a wiring diagram. the new amp would best be installed under the passenger seat like the original. the in and out speaker wires and power wires are already there and you dont have to rewire everything except a bigger amp power wire directly off the battery.

 

Hi, I just saw your reply and was wondering how could buy a LCD replacement for my 96 LS400 , the number on the cassette door is P1707. Thanks.