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HI CAR TALK, I just purchased a 2019 Toyota Camry. I was aware that a CD player was neither standard equipment nor an available choice. I was informed by the salesperson that I would be able to download all of my CDs on a thumb drive and play them in the car that way.
That was a pipe dream, I tell you! I haven’t been able to figure out how to accomplish it effectively, and Toyota’s Entune System’s “directions” are confusing.
I want to know if it’s possible to install an aftermarket CD player in this automobile. If not, is there a comparable vehicle available that includes a CD player? I’m grateful.
LOVE, JANET You must truly enjoy your CDs! You’re ready to part with a brand-new Camry only to hear the Doobie Brothers. I respect that. Janet, you won’t need to get rid of the Camry.
First off, regarding Toyota’s “Entune” infotainment system, we concur with you. Many people have complained to us about how painfully difficult and unintuitive it is. There, you are not by yourself.
And even if you are a growing minority these days because most people save their music on their phones, you are not alone in desiring a CD player.
The simplest, albeit more expensive, way to get a CD player is to go to a reputed car audio retailer. Consider reviews and recommendations carefully because there is a wide range in quality from store to store in this industry.
A reputable auto stereo service may install a permanent CD player for you or completely replace your Camry’s “head unit,” which is the audio controller on your dashboard, with a brand-new system that includes a CD player. If only I had been able to swap out my brother’s “head unit.”
Go online and type “USB CD player for 2019 Camry” into the search bar if you’re handy and like to handle things yourself. There are several choices for CD players that connect to the USB connection on your car audio. Then, your car entertainment system will start playing whatever is on the CD player when you choose USB as your “source.” With self-adhesive patches, the player itself can be mounted on the side of the center console, under the dash, or in the glove box.
But first, visit a reputable stereo store. See how much it would cost to have it done properly and thoroughly. After all, Janet, it’s a brand-new vehicle. Instructing your passengers to “check the wires” as soon as they board is a touch too early.
HI CAR TALK, I am aware that Hondas are regarded as being exceptionally well-built and dependable vehicles. But I’ve never bought one because they were rumored to have “interference” engines and timing belts rather than chains. I did not like the notion that the engine would “self-destruct” if I failed to replace the timing belt in a timely manner.
In one of your most recent columns, I noticed that you told a reader that their Honda Accord did not require a timing belt replacement because it had a timing chain rather than a belt. I have a question for you: Where can a buyer who is thinking about buying a car receive trustworthy information like this?
The vehicle salesperson, in my experience, will tell you whatever you want to hear despite their ignorance.
DEAR WILLIAM: That is helpful to know. The salesperson will know that I want to hear that there are no payments needed for the first 80,000 miles the next time I buy a car.
You’re right that the average consumer finds it difficult to obtain reliable mechanical information. Since the majority of salespeople are not technicians, they will most likely have no idea whether the car has a timing chain or belt. However, the parts department staff will.
Ask whether the year and make of the car you’re contemplating has a timing chain or a timing belt by going to the parts counter or giving them a call. If they don’t know off the top of their heads, they’ll seek for a belt in their components database and, if none is found, a chain. Bingo!
Recently, cars have begun to return to chains. Chains used to be thought of as being less dependable, more difficult to repair, and more expensive to replace. But in most cases, they’ve worked out how to make them last as long as the car.
The answer to your question is that Honda Civics have had timing chains since 2005, simply because you asked. Chains have been standard on four-cylinder Accords since 2002. The only Accord still using a belt is the uncommon six-cylinder model, and they recommend changing it every 100,000 miles.
Every Saturday, Ray Magliozzi offers auto advice on Car Talk. Send him an email at:
In This Article...
Is there a CD player in the Toyota Camry?
No, a CD player is not a standard or optional equipment on any trim level for the 2021 Toyota Camry. Although the car offers a wide range of fantastic multimedia music options, people who insist on utilizing CDs in their future ride will need to search elsewhere. A pre-owned car is a fantastic place to look for a CD player because new cars are becoming less and less likely to have them.
CD players are becoming less common in current cars, much like cassette players did before them as more people move to using streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. Although it may seem unjust to have those who want to play CDs adjust to this new reality, that is the way technology works.
Are aftermarket CD players available for the 2021 Toyota Camry?
The 2021 Toyota Camry doesn’t appear to have an official Toyota product as several automakers do, but we assume that aftermarket CD player options are available someplace.
Can a 2020 Camry be upgraded with a CD player?
I just purchased a 2019 Toyota Camry. I was aware that a CD player was neither standard equipment nor an available choice. I was informed by the salesperson that I would be able to download all of my CDs on a thumb drive and play them in the car that way.
That was a pipe dream, I tell you! The Toyota Entune System (and its “directions”) is confusing, and I have not yet discovered how to do it in an effective manner.
I want to know if it’s possible to install an aftermarket CD player in this automobile. If not, is there a comparable vehicle available that includes a CD player? I’m grateful. Janet
Wow, Janet, you seem to really enjoy your CDs! You’re ready to part with a brand-new Camry only to hear the Doobie Brothers. I respect that. Janet, you won’t need to get rid of the Camry.
First off, with regard to Toyota’s “Entune infotainment system, we concur with you. Many people have complained to us about how painfully difficult and unintuitive it is. There, you are not by yourself.
A reputable auto stereo service may either install a permanent CD player for you or completely replace your Camry’s “head unit,” which is the audio controller on your dashboard, with a brand-new system that includes a CD player. If only I had been able to swap out my brother’s “head unit.”
You may easily find a USB CD player for a 2019 Camry online if you’re handy and prefer to do things yourself. There are several choices for CD players that connect to the USB connection on your car audio. Then, your car entertainment system will start playing whatever is on the CD player when you choose USB as your “source.” With self-adhesive patches, the player itself can be mounted on the side of the center console, under the dash, or in the glove box.
But first, visit a reputable stereo store. See how much it would cost to have it done properly and thoroughly. After all, Janet, it’s a brand-new vehicle. To warn your passengers to “check the wires when they get in” is a bit premature.
Hello, Car Talk!
I am aware that Hondas are regarded as being exceptionally well-built and dependable vehicles. I’ve always held off on purchasing one, though, as they were infamous for having “interference engines and a timing belt rather of a timing chain.” I did not like the notion that the engine would “self-destruct” if I failed to replace the timing belt in a timely manner.
The vehicle salesperson, in my experience, will tell you whatever you want to hear despite their ignorance.
William
William, thanks for the information. The salesperson will know that I want to hear that there are no payments needed for the first 80,000 miles the next time I buy a car.
Why don’t new automobiles have CD players?
To replace my Jaguar XF Sportbrake, which is five years old, I wish to acquire a new vehicle. Ford Focus Estate, Range Rover Evoque, Volkswagen Golf Estate, Volkswagen Passat Estate, and Volvo V60 are a few of the prospective options I’ve found. The vehicle must have an automatic transmission and either a traditional gasoline engine or a mild hybrid gasoline engine.
I have more than 1000 CDs, thus the new car must include a CD player, which may seem like a strange requirement.
Please confirm that the models listed above have CD players, and let me know if there are any more I should add to my list.
What Car? says…
CD players are rarely found in new cars anymore because they’ve been replaced by more modern methods of playing music, like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which enable you to use many of your smartphone’s apps through the infotainment system of your vehicle to play music that you’ve stored on your phone or connect to a Spotify account or YouTube.
Only the base Volkswagen Golf Estate S model on your shortlist of probable new vehicles includes a CD player as standard equipment; higher-end models feature Apple CarPlay. The Lexus ES and Mazda 6 are the only other new car models featuring a CD player as standard that we could identify after searching through car manufacturer brochures (above).
When did CD players stop being installed in automobiles?
Not to worry though, all of the 2018 models at Greenfield’s Gordie Boucher Nissan (4141 S. 108th St.) and Braeger Ford (4201 S. 27th St.) come equipped with CD players in addition to the USB ports for technological devices.
Tom Stamates, the new car manager at Boucher, said, “They can come buy a Nissan and we’ll hook them up.
Other significant automakers fall somewhere in the middle when it comes to whether their newest models include CD players. Some, however, assert that they will phase away the shining disc as well in the future.
The main cause is that Americans aren’t purchasing CDs as they once did. They frequently use iTunes to download music on their iPods, smartphones, and PCs. Or they’re streaming music from different services like Sirius or Apple Music into those gadgets. Additionally, they transmit a few local radio stations through streaming platforms like iHeartRadio. Both streaming and downloading music from iTunes might occasionally cost money.
That is a startling turn of events for CDs, which exploded in popularity after the first CD to be created commercially hit the market in 1982. In new cars by the early 2000s, CD players had essentially taken the role of audio cassette players. But then things started to deteriorate. According to Wikipedia, major label CD sales decreased by 20% between 2000 and 2008.
How can I make a phone connection with my 2019 Toyota Camry?
- Make sure your phone’s Bluetooth is turned on.
- the Scan For Devices option
- Push the Setup button on the screen in your car.
- Select Bluetooth next.
- the Add New Device button
- Choose Make this System Findable.
- When your phone sends you a pairing request, accept it.
- The pairing of your device and vehicle will be verified by a confirmation.
Always launch the app on your phone first before using the system, and make sure your phone is plugged into the Entune App Suite. To accomplish this, select Setup from the menu, then Bluetooth, Paired Device List, your phone, then Connect. You should be aware that utilizing Entune requires using the internet, thus data charges may be necessary.
Be at ease! Come by and say hello! We are pleased to assist you in syncing your phone with your Toyota car. In Martinsburg, West Virginia, at 650 Foxcroft Avenue, we are easily accessible.