How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

I've been poking around the forums for a couple of weeks and I was able to piece together what I needed to do, but I never found a step-by-step guide on how to do everything. Since I'm an auditor I figured I'd do my best at giving a detailed explanation.

Tools/Items Needed:

1. Wiring Harness: Scosche VW01B
2. Antenna Adapter: Male or Female ended Euro Adapter. I went to a local shop and found it cheaper.
3. Wire stripper and crimp caps: Crutchfield has a good deal.
4. Stock stereo removal keys: Crutchfield has a multi-tool for $10 or CarDomain has single key version for $4.

If you're new to Crutchfield. You can use the code: pt8dp-h92ij-qce2d and get $20 off of your purchase. Yes this is a referral thing they do which gives me cash off my next purchase, but it is helping you out as well by getting you all this stuff for a lot less than you would normally pay. You have the option to use it or not.

Remove the Stock Stereo:

1. Insert the keys into the slots at the bottom of the stereo with the notches facing inward. The Crutchfield keys had to be inserted all the way to latch. You should hear a click for each key.
2. Pull the unit out and disconnect the harness and antenna.
3. On each side of the stereo you'll see the latch that the key is attached to. Use a screwdriver and press down on the latch until it clicks and releases the key. (See Picture)

Splice and Attach the Harness:

1. When splicing the Scosche harness to the aftermarket harness that comes with your new headunit remember that you can do this inside.
2. Match the colors of each wire and crimp them together with the crimp caps. Do this for all the wires EXCEPT the Red, Yellow, and Blue wires. The constant and switched power wires are flipped, so you will need to connect the Red wire of the Scosche harness to the Yellow wire of the aftermarket one and the Yellow wire of the Scosche harness to the Red wire of the aftermarket harness. The Blue antenna wire on the Scosche unit is actually the remote wire. Attach the Blue-White wire from the aftermarket harness to the Blue wire on the Scosche harness. (See Picture) It is usually recommended that you use the RCA Pre-Outs in the back of your aftermarket unit so that you do not blow out your speakers. However, I have yet to have any problems. I haven't seen any posts with problems from this either.
3. Now is a good time to run the wires for a Line-In connection to an iPod or any other device (See below)
   
   
4. Insert the metal sleeve that comes with your aftermarket single DIN headunit into the slot in the car. In the top of the sleeve are two metal fins that can be pushed up to lock the sleeve in place. The fins at the bottom will not fold down.
   
   
5. Plug each end of the finished harness into the car and headunit
6. Plug each end of the antenna adapter into the car and headunit.
7. Test the headunit.
8. Slide the new headunit in and enjoy!
   
   

Line-In Hookups:

1. Open your glovebox and look towards the bottom left seam. You will see a small hole that conveniently goes into the space behind the stereo. If you have hands small enough to reach into the stereo hole you can feel for this.
2. The hole is not big enough to run any RCA or Line-In connectors through, but it is big enough for the wires. If you remove the screws around the glovebox (See Picture) you will be able to move the casing enough to be able to fit a connection through the hole.
3. There is also an open seam running back to the floor mat of the passenger side (See Picture). Any wires put through the hole can be run along this seam and under the floor mat. I used this to run a Line-In over to the center console to my iPod. If you cut a piece of one of those sticky pads the size of the top of your "cup-holder" you have a nice place for an iPod.

I hope this helps everyone out. This is really not that hard of an install, and it is definitely not worth $135 like I've seen some people say they've spent. Take an hour on a Saturday and do it yourself. You can use the extra cash on more toys. :)

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Nice job and a great DYI article!!!

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

nice instructions...what head unit did you install?

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

It's a JVC KD-LH3100. I had it laying around, and after the frustrations of not having an iPod hookup, I decided to put it in. The Silver was a spot on match with the console. The unit also lets you choose whatever color you want the display to be when you have the lights either on or off. Right now I have it set to a red that matches the dash for the day and a green that matches the console lights at night.

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

A good how to, I couldn't have explained it better myself.
The factory amp is high input so just use the front speaker wires from the head unit, no problems at all.

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

First, I would have to say this seems like a nice forum.

I have a 2004 Autostick. I am installing an Alpine 9835. I found out about the powered wire switch. I also have been working with connecting the remote directly to the constant. (Anyone seen problems with this) Also I have been having issues with the fade. It seems that even though I put it to rear, it still plays out of the lower door speakers. Also I have noticed that there is only 1 wire going to each speaker. Is there a certain order of positive and negative I should be using. Thanks for all the help.

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Check this forum and scroll down to peter_k.

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...ead.php?t=9057

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Thanks, now all I have to do is figure out the time correction/x over/eq settings on my alpine unit.

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Andrew; can you make this link to the wiring diagram a sticky named "factory stereo wiring diagram" I find it very useful.

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Great Write Up!!! Two Questions.

1)Which antenna adapter do you use? I see that you put two different options or does it not matter which one?
2)What wire do you hook up to the stock amp so you can utilize the two stock subwoofers? Where is the amp located and what wire do you hook up to which wire on the harness?

Thanks,

Gary

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

I'm going to have to go off of memory for this since I have since sold my Crossfire. I've found that motorcycles don't fit very well in the back.

1) The antenna adapter you buy depends on the stereo that you plan to install. The one I put in used a male adapter. Some people may need the female.

2) Don't worry about which wires go to the amp. Hook everything up according to the color code I provided. The "subwoofers" are actually rear speakers with decent base ability. Everything runs through the amp. Don't worry about using your preouts for this, you won't blow the amp.

Cheers,
Matt

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

HAHAHA that is sweet what kind of Bike???

1)I have the pioneer Avic n-1 head unit. Do you know where I would find out which one I need?
2)I was told by crutchfield that I would need to run a wire to the amp to utilize the stock subs...so you are saying I just hook up the wires the way you have listed with the harness I bought and the speakers/subs will work fine?

Thanks in advance!!

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

I picked up a Ducati Multistrada. I figured the maintenance costs of a German vehicle were too low, so I decided to go Italian. She has the best looking a** of any bike I've seen, but has a butter face...much like many of the women in my life.


1) I can't find a shot of the back of the N-1 for where you hook up the antenna. It's pretty obvious if you compare how the two of them fit together. You insert the male adapter into a hole in the new unit. The female adapter is on the receiving end of things.

2) Just hook up everything like I pictured. You don't need to mess with the amp at all. When I was done hooking everything up the bass hit hard enough to rattle my side mirrors a good bit, which the stock head unit could barely do. That should be enough bass for you. If it isn't then you need a lot more hardware than the head unit.

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Quite sadly, the time has come for me to turn in my Crossfire. The 39 month lease is at an end. My question now is, when removing my aftermarket stereo, what is the best way to remove the metal sleeve from the dash??? I'm guessing I'll just have to bend the hell out of it to get it out but if someone knows a better way please let me know.

Coincidently, I will soon be selling a Pioneer Premier DEH-960MP with the line-out adapter for an MP3 player. Naturally, will come pre-wired for a Crossfire so installation shouldn't take more than 5 minutes. The only thing missing MIGHT be the metal sleeve depending on the answers I get to my above question. PM me if you're interested.

http://www.cbrstereo.com/browseprodu...DEH-960MP.html

Thanks!

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Just remove the stereo and take a mini flat head and gently bend the tabs on the sleeve back towards the original position. You should be able to remove the sleeve. How much do you want for the stereo?

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

I'd like to install a JVC KD-NX5000 in my 2005 Crossfire, but have been told there are no harnesses available to handle the fiber optic amp cable. How does your installation get around this problem? Thanks in advance.

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Two Questions guys.

1) I ordered the Euro Antenna Adapter (Euro female to Motorola male) and it will not connect into the antenna on the crossfires end. Any suggestions?

2) It also looks like I need a dash kit in order to put my Avic n-1 in the place of the old radio. It looks like it will just go right in. Any suggestions?

Thanks!!!

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

WOW! I see some people still remember my post...LOL.

As far as the dash kit is concerned, you don't need one. The opening in our vehicles is a standard 1-din... As far as the wiring to the factory amp is concerned, you only need to do that if you want two things...

A) Maximum sound quality... RCA-Level outputs on any deck are much cleaner than the MOSFET IC chip used for the speaker outputs...

B) You want to be able to control the subwoofer level...


If you need any other information, Infinity on our forum has some really good insight, insider information for us.

Hope that helps...

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Is the Scosche harness the only one that will work, or is that just the brand that Crutchfield sells?

While I'm waiting for some other parts to come in, I picked up the harness from my local shop and they gave me a different brand (but they pulled the model number off Crutchfield right in front of me). They also had a version with RCA outs to the factory amp, but I told them I'd take the non-RCA because that is what the link in this thread provided.

Does it sound like I'll be kosher here?

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Any brand will work, doesn't have to be Scosche... Can be Metra, Best Kits, etc...

If you do a search, I posted up on using RCA's and splicing in at the factory amp in order to get subwoofer control and better sound Q from the fronts.

The RCA harness that they showed you, won't have any real benefit over speaker level other than some better sound quality... BUT you need to have a deck with a high Volt Pre-out (like 4 Volts and up) to properly get the same volume out of the amp...

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

I have a base Xfire, trying to add some more sound to the crappy stock radio set up. I bought the base for the roadster, didn't want leather because I leave top down constantly, and do not car for the silver accents on the fins, door handles, and around windshield. I screwed myself because the stock radio sucks!!! Does anybody know what I can do? Should I add an amp? Is there a current amp? There are holes for the subs behind seats, but they are more oval than round??? Any advice would be great, thanks, I already added an ///Alpine iPod ready deck, sound quality is good up till volume 22, then no base??? I blew the driver side door woofer??? Are the speakers that crappy they cant handle volume, or did I do something???
Thanks everyone.

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Thanks Peter, that clears things up!

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

what no one else stock slide locks broke when they were trying to remove the original??? lol i had to use a heavy dental pick tool and hook and stick that inside the cd player hook the guts and rip it out lol. oh btw does anyone want to buy a slightly used stock stereo with a couple scratches, lmfao.

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Ok, not to sound stupid, but I've searched every which way by sunday and under YOUR user name and can't find this mysterious post you mention about how to run my Clarion's 5 Volt RCA outs to the factory amp...

I want to be able to control the subs independently from the fronts. Could you please post a link?

I have one of these from a previous installation in a Celica with the factory JBL amp. It allowed me to run my Clarion RCA Outputs into the JBL amp. I would guess this would work, just need to know how to wire it.
http://images.cardomain.net/products/sco/SCOTA03B_2.jpg

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

As an FYI... I just purchased a Pioneer Premier DEH-P790BT today... pics forthcoming on how it looks in the XFire

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Ok, so what is all this talk about running RCA pre-outs the factory amp then??? Should I just use Line level converters? The ones that convert a speaker lead to an RCA lead? That would make sense to me. And that IS what is pictured above...

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

peter,

I am doing my install this weekend and am still up in the air as to whether to go with RCA level inputs.

Some basic facts to assist:

Installing Pioneer Premier DEH-790BT (4.0V RCA pre-out), a Rockford-Fosgate 180Wx1 amp and 10" sub.

From what I gather from some of your other posts, the factory amp actually has sets of front and sub RCA inputs. If I got the VW wiring harness with the RCA connections as opposed to the speaker level outputs, I could then utilize the factory amp's RCA inputs for improved sound quality and get control of the factory subs (rear speakers).

Could I send the deck's front RCA pre-outs to the front RCA input of the factory amp, send the rear RCA pre-outs to the sub RCA input of the factory amp, and the non-fading RCA pre-out to the RCA input of my RF amp? Since I am installing an additional sub, is this really better than just leaving the control of all factory speakers joined and just dropping the bass way down?

If I did do this, how easy it is to access the factory amp to do this? Also, peter you mention you think the factory amp is crap and someone else mentions that using the aforementioned set up may lose some DSP features of the amp. Is this really an advisable set up, or if I did want to do this should I buy a new 4 channel amp?

I've seen more than a few folks mention running the RCA patch cables to the aftermarket amp through the center console - but I can't seem to located a thread that actually talks about how to do this. Anyone got insight? Is there a better/easier place to do this?

The lead turn on wire for the amp... this connects from the deck's harness to the amp?

I'm also installing a Sirius Sportster, is there a way to hardwire the power to avoid using the cigarette lighter plug? Would I hardwire to the cigarette lighter, or splice into the power to the deck?

Thanks in advance all.

Scott

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Ok, to make a long story short. Last night I was installing my headunit in the SRT-6. I wired everything up as described in the how-to and that went fine. The radio works perfect and looks great with the dash. The problem is with the "sleeve" that you slide the headunit into. The sleeve obviously has little tabs that are supposed to be used to secure the sleeve in the dash opening... Well this particular one has NO TABS that line up with any of the of the Dash opening. The opening is COMPLETELY smooth except for where the factory radio locks to it. In the How-To it's mentioned that there is a place at the top of the opening that can be used for these tabs, but no dice here. So basically, the Headunit is just kinda sitting there and wont stay in the dash. Not to mention you can pull it right out with no effort. I took it a stereo shop near where I work, and they couldn't help either. I would try a different sleeve, but it has to be one specific to this headunit because of the way it locks into it...

Has anyone else had this problem?

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Just wanted to follow up on this for anyone looking to install the Pioneer head units with the iPod control cable. I found that the cable is a bit too thick to fit through the hole the original poster pointed out at the side of the glovebox opening, but I discovered while working on how to route the cable that the opening for the glovebox light also gives easy access to the back of the stereo.

This isn't for the really faint of heart, but it's not terribly difficult and I got a really nice, clean install by popping out the light housing and taking my dremel to the back side of it to make an opening to route the cable through. By putting it on the back side, it doesn't mess with the aesthetics when you open the glove box unless you stick your head in the glovebox to look at it. The added benefit to putting it through the light housing is that the cable drops directly into the glovebox instead of routing around the side and potentially interfering with the closing action. Then I simply pulled the cable over to the stereo, hooked it up, and now my iPod stays securely locked inside my glovebox when I park.

When I first got my XFire I was planning on stripping out the factory audio system and doing a whole new setup. In the past 3 weeks I've done a new head unit (Pioneer DEH-P7900BT), bass blockers in the doors (scosche 200Hz), and the iPod cable that goes with the head unit. I could not possibly be happier with the results. Now I'm not sure I even want to bother with replacing the factory speakers and amp!

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Ok guys, I'm lost. Here's the skinny:

I picked up an '04 xFire and the factory oem Becker head was replaced with a Panasonic CQ-C8100U (50w x 4, am/fm/cd). It appeared the rear speakers weren't working.

I downloaded the stereo pinouts and the audio diagram from this site, then I tore into the xFire, removing the glove box and looking for the xFire amplifier which I understood was under the passenger floorboard. When I pulled up the passenger floor mat, etc., all I found was a huge aluminum box that looked like it had more to do with airbags and other circuits but not audio. (I should have taken photos in hindsight).

What I did discover was that only the Panasonic head front amplifier outputs were connected to the yellow and yellow/violet wires in the dash which seemed to match the audio diagram pdf found on this site. At this point being frustrated and tired, I buttoned the whole mess back up.

I went back to the Panasonic head unit and poked around all the sub-menus and found a HPF rolloff set to 135Hz so I disabled that and voila - the rear speakers started roaring bass. however, since only the front outputs of the Panasonic are being utilized, I have no way of balancing front to rear volume using the fader control on the Panansonic head unit. (Gee, is this a novel or what?)

I found an OEM xFire radio on eBay with pics and the rear outputs match the stereo pinout jpg I downloaded from this site further confusing me since I thought the stereo pinout jpg was for a separate amplifier under the passenger floorboard, but apparently that is NOT the case at all ???

So the question is: IF the amplifier circuit from the diagram on this site is actually incorporated into the oem becker headunit, what does that amp circuit diagram have to do with the actual speaker wiring and where (and what's the color coding) are the actual rear speakers? Further, are the rear speakers coaxial as well? Four wires to each rear speaker would indicate that: +/- pair for low end and +/- pair for high end.

If I can get a handle on this I could use the rear outputs of the Panasonic head unit thus enabling me to have a front/rear fader control (my lips to God's ears!)

Anybody got a good handle on this?

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

OK, I found a buch of stuff out today by tearing back into the passenger floorboard area today. If you want to see my findings chek this link:

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...ht=channel+amp

Let me know if you find anything different or new . . .

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

stupid question...

my pioneer after market stereo harness' black wire has a "U" shaped attachment. do i still need to connect the black wire from the Scosche harness to it? if so should i just cut and toss the "U" shaped attachment?

thanks

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Spankgo, I tried to reply to your PM on this, but the system said that you had your profile set to not receive PMs. I sold my Crossfire about a year and a half ago (I am now happily modifying an FJ Cruiser and a Ducati Multistrada in my free time), but I will still do my best to help. I am guessing that you read the walkthrough that I put together before. This was on an '04 Crossfire. I doubt the wiring has changed since though. Be sure that you have your wires connected properly. I went over the switches that you need to make in my original post. If I remember correctly I had the same issue which I resolved when I flipped the constant power and the switched power leads. Hope this helps.

Best,
Matt

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

I just installed a JVC aftermarket head unit using the Scosche VW01B adapter. The instructions on this thread state the remote (amp) on/off wire should be attached to the harness' blue wire. The harness I received has no blue wire. The instructions state the aux amp wire is orange/white. I connectted it but don't hear any bass from the rear speakers.

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Has anyone else encountered a situation where they need two antenna adapter cables?

I've got a Blaupunkt, and it appears I'll need the euro-to-motorola (aka universal) male, and the universal female-to-blaupunkt port.

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

I did - when I was using the factory unit with the Drive+Play. I had to get from the antenna to the Drive+PLay, then from the Drive+Play to the Head Unit. But that was because the Drive+PLay was U.S. antenna connectors (one male, one female).

I would think you'd just need one. Maybe you have two different ones each only has one correct end on it.

When I put in my Pioneer, I just needed one - from the antenna Euro, to the head unit U.S.

Not sure any of this really helps you though...

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Actually, it did come with that second adapter. I just found it now - one of my kids wandered off with it!
Now if I could just figure out why it is stuck on "telephone".

Re: How-To: Install an Aftermarket Stereo
 

Is there anywhere else in this world where they will sell the keys to remove the headunit besides crutchfield?? Im wanting to install some stuff today and don't want to wait a week to get the keys from crutchfield. But I've looked everywhere and nobody carries them it seems like. HELP!