My experiances installing an aftermarket radio.

[johnsoax]

I recently (finally) turned all of my CD's into MP3's. I put them all on my Archos Jukebox, and It has 2.3 gigs free from 18.6 Gig hard drive (20 gig). So I have been wanting to listen to them in the car. My friend and I have been working on getting the aux input (well really him, I'm just the test car) and he has not been able to work on it because he is too busy at work right now. I have an old JVC KD-SX750 that I had in my old car in the closet. I've decided to make a nice pictured walkthru of installing it. I currently have about half of the wiring harness done and the mounting part completed. I haven't even touched the car yet though. The auxilary input on the radio (if enabled in the firmware) is in the smaller of the two harnesses, so I am trying to find one of those so that I can hook up my aux input for my new radio through that. (Pictures of the Aux location construction to follow).Here is a picture of the wiring harness so far (I have moons and Tunes)

Attached files

[johnsoax]

Here is a picture of the mounting asymbly (this is one of the nicest to work with and nicest looking install kits that I have have worked with) with the radio mounted with the face plate off.

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[johnsoax]

Here is the same thing, but with the face plate on

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[johnsoax]

And finally for right now, here is the back of the radio and the aux input

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[johnsoax]

Now the pictures are working

[ragingfish]

How hard was it to wire RCAs onto that harness?I'm seriously thining of ripping out my current wiring and rewiring it with RCA jacks...thinking it'll improve my sound quality and eliminate line noise...

[russ257]

i did the rca thing during my install and it was a pain in the (removed) it eliminated the volume problem but created a noise problem when changing tracks or between radio stations i would get a loud pop. i went with the in modulator works much better

[johnsoax]

It wasn't that hard. I bought the solder kind. (But I worked for a while as an electronics tech, so I am pretty good at soldering) It would be even easier if you bought the crimp kind.

[johnsoax]

Quote, originally posted by russ257 »i did the rca thing during my install and it was a pain in the (removed) it eliminated the volume problem but created a noise problem when changing tracks or between radio stations i would get a loud pop. i went with the in modulator works much better I'm worried about that, but I will deal with that problem if I get it.

[russ257]

true could have just been my headunit

[johnsoax]

I'm going to be doing a test fit with the rest of the wiring taped up to make sure that all of the equipment still works before I buy the rest of the wiring that I need (Antenna adapter, 12 pin harness, figure out how to connect the 12V to the antenna plug) tomorrow. It would really suck to plug everything in and find out that the radio or aux input doesn't work anymore. I will take more pictures and let you know what happens.

[johnsoax]

I'm glad that I didn't buy anything else. Something is wrong with my aux input on my radio. There is a loose connection in the connector. I don't have the time to look for it right now so for the time being, the project is on hold.On another note, I had the popping problem as well. So I will have to buy that adapter thing when (if) this project gets back off the ground.I did do some investigation about the 12V on the antenna. The white plug (the side that comes out of the radio harness) has 12V at all times on it when the factory radio is plugged in, even with the key out of the car. As soon as you unplug the radio, the voltage goes away.

[ragingfish]

I just rewired my harness to RCAs...and now, I have the same pop you did russ. Any audio gurus able to shed some light on why this may be happening?

[johnsoax]

I ended up getting the Scosche adapter for $18. I will keep working on this project as I get time (rainy days).I also figured out how to directly solder in the aux input adapter, so I will be working on that also.

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[ragingfish]

Yep, I ripped out my RCAs, and went back to that FAI-3A.Nice little unit, works well for the money.

[HamiltonAudio]

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »I just rewired my harness to RCAs...and now, I have the same pop you did russ. Any audio gurus able to shed some light on why this may be happening?I'm not sure that I can explain the technical reason for the noise....but the reality is that you can't just solder on RCA's to what was otherwise just speaker wire. RCA cables are shielded (some double and triple) for a reason!!! Ever badly kink or nick an RCA cable? yep, clicking/popping/noise/etc. no surprise there....I'm still highly surprised that the PDC-LOC differential convertor from PIE doesn't do it....sure works slick in Fords with Premium sound and a few VW's I did....good luck!bmoney

[johnsoax]

Finally finished this project. Well part way anyways. The radio is installed and I have an aux input, but the aux is just temped in till I get time to solder on the hardwired cable that I have installed in the middle console. Pictures to follow sometime next week.

[johnsoax]

Well I won a new aftermarket radio on Ebay (check link)that has a little better coloring with the car, plus has the aux built in (not as an "option"). Cost me $95 with shipping, so it is just a little bit more than the cost of the add on Aux adapter for my factory radio. I will let you all know how the install goes.Here is a picture of the current unit (Off).

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[johnsoax]

Here is the radio (on)

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[johnsoax]

Here is the radio (on, no flash)

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[remusrm]

what else did u need to install the head unit? just an harness?

[johnsoax]

Harness, the audio convertor, and the dash kit.Really thinking about yanking the amp and replacing it with a 400W that I have in the closet. Then I wouldn't have to mess with the levels. Unfortunetly, the aftermarket radio I bought only has a rear pre-amp out, so I would have to purchase a external graphic equilizer.

[Jahntassa]

Quote, originally posted by johnsoax » I would have to purchase a external graphic equilizer.Only if you need to control the fader from front to rear from the headunit. Otherwise just get a pair of RCA splitters and use those to go into the amp. It doesn't hurt anything to do it that way.

[johnsoax]

Quote, originally posted by Jahntassa »Only if you need to control the fader from front to rear from the headunit. Otherwise just get a pair of RCA splitters and use those to go into the amp. It doesn't hurt anything to do it that way.I know, I just like being able to control the fader

[Jahntassa]

Actually...I think Sony makes a 'fader' adjustment. I think it's designed to act as a balance between two Sub systems, i've seen it on Crutchfield a few times. One RCA in, two out, and a knob to control level between them.. like $30

[remusrm]

can you post pic of way it looks after all is set up? also does the system works at 2 ohms or 4?

[johnsoax]

The pictures that I posted in March are how my current setup is. I am not planning on putting in the other amp at this time. I am hopeing to work on swapping out the aftermarket stereo's and then I will definitely post new pictures. Unfortunately, I have a CEL to worry about at the moment.

[johnsoax]

Well, I did the modification to the factory stereo shown Here. Anyone need some Vibe aftermarket parts? $20 for the harness (no antenna) and the mount kit, another $10 for the amp matching circuit.