Navigation system compatibility

You've got valid concerns.

I don't know anything about any of those decks. They seem pretty nice though.

We adapted ours to a standard double-DIN size and then installed a "universal fit" Sony Carplay/AA receiver. The place we bought it from gave us a lot of information and help with installing and wiring it.

 

Looks like you've got a double-DIN unit so should be a straight swap (more or less).

Obviously take out the head unit and measure the dimensions to confirm it's double-DIN before you buy.

My personal experience of Aliexpress head units is that they're junk, with a short life. You're on your own when they break

I'd recommend spending €250-300 and buying a name brand that works with Carplay/Android Auto natively (without needing a third-party app). Although, having just recommended a name brand, these ATOTO head units are getting good reviews right now and there's a €25 discount on Amazon Italy:

Code:

https://www.amazon.it/dp/B079D1KN7B

 

Are you overlooking the obvious here ?

For about $100 US, you should be able to get a good Garmin......with free map updates.
The map updates for a Toyota head unit will NOT be free.

For about $0, an app on your phone might work.......if any of the GPS apps are compatible with where you live.

 

The problem is that the car was imported from Japan - the head unit is Japanese, with Japanese text, and they'll need a range expander to pick up the frequency range in Europe (which is different from Japan and the US).

 

OK but that is a different problem than the question that was initially asked.

A compatible head unit without GPS might be a lot easier to find.
And if, for instance, you get one out of a wrecked 2017......the maps in it likely will be 7 years old.

 

double-DIN is (literally) an industry standard size for car stereos. It guarantees interchangeability. If your car already has the bracket and bezel for a double-DIN setup, then it becomes very easy to upgrade to another double-DIN sized unit.

The really high quality, name brand stereos are generally offered in double-DIN format.

The rigs you found on aliexpress are something new- it has sort of become a 'wild west' of auto electronics in just a few short years.

You can probably get a hazard switch meant for a different version of the aqua with the correct shape for the faceplate they're selling.

 

Aftermarket head units usually come in DIN or double-DIN size

DIN is 180mm wide by 50mm high (7" by 2" for our American friends )
Double-DIN is 180mm by 100mm (or 7" by 4")

With most modern cars you need to buy a fascia adapter to make DIN- or double-DIN-sized hole in your dash, but it looks like you might be able to fit a double-DIN unit right in. If so, you don't need to remove/replace the fascia the hazard switch sits in. Why don't you take the head unit out and measure the dimensions to confirm?

 

All Aquas can use either a Single DIN or Double DIN depending on how low down the food chain the "poverty pack options" are.
The Japanese love the basic commuter cars......then they go crazy personalizing them.

Even if yours was Single Din and you want to fit Double Din you can buy the mounting cradle for about $10-$30. [but yours is already Double Din]

But to give you some clarity! Here is a Single DIN in an Aqua [they usually have a stupid shelf for s**t to fall out into your drink holders]


Here is a Double Din


You only need to change the fascia if you want to fit one of those awful oversized 9" screen stereos.
In my case the Pioneer Carrozeria [above] goes as high as 99.0 FM , and where I live there is only 1 channel that is 99.8 FM .
So I didn't bother swapping it.

For a GPS I simply added a phone holder to the vent and use my phone [ but I'm from the generation of males that think we have homing pigeon skills]

Here is one of those "tacky" 9" displays [don't do this]

 

lol don't get me started on those huge displays. I was looking for a head unit for my Citroen and came across this



Just replace most of the dash, and lose the centre vent and storage pocket. Easy job

 

It is difficult to tell unless we know what model you have
Denso made lots of different Eclipse models

Normally it would plug into a socket like below [circled] Sometimes they have "AV" stamped on the steel
This socket should have a single AV pin inside




Personally I wouldn't consider any Chinese drop shipped stereo from AliExpress [I've been to the factories over there and consumer rights are zero]

Just pony up an extra $100 euros and get one locally [and buy a fitting harness kit for the stereo to your toyota]
In NZ I can buy a JVC with Nav for NZD $560 Installed [ Eu $336 or USD $364] Plus $30 for the adaptor harness if needed

I didn't bother because the Pioneer in my car was a good unit.

If you want to be really cheap [like me] You can simply install a "band expander" into the Aerial plug on the radio, and plug the Aerial into the expander [In-Series]


Then you connect 1 wire to a 12volt accessory source [switched with the key]
These are available in 10MHz [or 14MHz] so 89FM becomes 99FM [or 89FM becomes 103FM]

Check your Eclipse out, OEM Toyota's only go to 90FM but Some aftermarket go to 99FM [like mine] which does all channels here except the Talk-back crap.
Some Aftermarket Radios go to 108FM from Japan

 

Yep, hard to tell as they're made by Fujitsu and the manual is only available in Japanese.

I think the camera connector might be the brown one on the left. In a Google search I can see Eclipse camera cables with four pins and a similar connector, but who knows?

European FM range is 87.5 to 108MHz, so if you listen to radio this is the range to have. Note also that a lot of Japanese or Chinese radios don't have RDS either...