Im about to intall an aftermarket cd player in the fc but not sure how to go about it. Is there a writeup or something, could someone maybe do a step-by-step walkthrough cause i cant handle the bloody tape player anymore!
thanks

 

first off, S5 or S4, cause the radio suround in the S4 breaks very easily. but here is the wiring diagram in the FC for the radio https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/faq-fc-frequently-asked-questions-2nd-generation-rx-7-a-181219/

 

Go buy a wire harness adapter. Dont be a dipshit and cut the end off the factory plugs. When you get the adapter, the package will tell you what wire goes where.

Yes, be very careful of the stereo trim piece if you have an 86-88. They are very brittle.

 

go to a stereo shop and buy a dash kit and a wiring harness to match your car. Tell them what you drive and they should have what you need. Once you do this prep your wiring harness. Take the harness you just bought and match the colors with the harness that came with your cd player. My personal preference for this is insulated quick disconnect plugs, or solder them if you want more of a permanent thing.

Now, for the dash kit. Some are easier than others. Personally, I would look in the forsale section here on the forum...there is a member selling direct fit radio/gauge panels. They are stainless steel and look good IMO.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ighlight=gauge

He has different kinds...If you dont' want gauges there, then just get one that is for the radio only.

You'll have to remove the surround that goes around your radio. Unbolt and remove your radio...pull the plugs from the back and remove it from car. Bolt the dash kit you get in place. This is very simple if you get the custom panels in the above link. Some of the dash kits you buy at car audio shops are annoying and you have to piece them together. Anyway...

Once that is installed in the dash. You'll need to mount your radio's "cage" into the kit. The cage is the thin metal housing that slips around your cd player. It has several tabs on it. You slide this into the DIN sized hole that the dash kit creates. then bend a few of the tabs over to lock the cage into the kit.

Now get the wiring harness you have already wired up and plug one end into your factory harnesses that you pulled out of the back of the stock radio. Plug the other end into your cd player. Plug the antenna wire into the back of your cd player as well.

Generally, I use a couple zip ties to "manage" all the wires. Stuff them all back into the dash. and slide the radio into the cage. It should "lock" into the cage. If your radio has a detachable face, then you should be doing this with that face removed. You don't want to be pushing on the face of your display.

Once the deck is in...turn the key on and see if it works (You may want to do this before you slide the deck into the cage, just incase it doesn't work and you have to check your wiring.

Once tested (try all your fading/balancing to make sure it all works), reinstall your factory radio surround, and you're done.