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Installing head unit in my FC

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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 06:23 PM
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MDittz2ndGEN's Avatar
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Installing head unit in my FC

I'm planning on installing http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entert...iver/KDC-MP235

into my 89 GTU this saturday. I guess I'm planning on buying a Metra kit or something, can I pick these up in stores or does it have to be online?

Also, what difficulty level should I expect for this install? My last car I could just pop the console off w/ no tools, slide the head unit out with the keys, unplug, replug into the aftermarket and set it back in with no problems. It seems like a lot of people have been having problems with their power antennae and stuff

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ight=CD+player

should I expect that problem?
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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 07:02 PM
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Nevermind, I've decided to install the 4 speakers myself and let an audio place deal with the head unit and a powered sub. Just one question: How can I check to see if the internal amp is still intact? When I bought the car it had no speakers, and I'm not looking forward to installing all this only to find out that the amp is gone and the speakers won't work.

Please don't just say "Buy an aftermarket one," I'd rather not spend the money on one if it's not needed.
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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 07:53 PM
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I installed all new wiring so I could bypass the factory stereo nightmare. Since the head unit you are installing is 50x4, using the factory amps will cause distortion. It is not hard to rewire. Took bout a half hour.

The antenna needs a relay installed in the hatch by the motor. Its easy, there are many write-ups on how to do it. Takes about 5 minutes. I think it took less than an hour to install the stereo, re-wire speakers and install the relay. No biggie.
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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 12:25 AM
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MDittz2ndGEN's Avatar
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Hmm. I may check it out myself if it was that easy for you.

I was mainly worried about the grounding bolt that supposedly bolts the stock head unit into the car?

How did you take off the console to get your head unit in, did it just pop out?

Also, could you PM me a description of how exactly you re-wired? did you rip all the wiring out and splice your own wires into the harness or what?

Last edited by MDittz2ndGEN; Jan 25, 2008 at 12:30 AM.
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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 07:57 AM
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To take the stereo surround out:

1. Pop off the shifter cover (it just pulls up)

2. There are two screws at the base of the surround, take those out.

3. CAREFULLY pop out the vents in the center above the temp controls.

4. If I remember there are two there as well.

Carefully pull the console out, unplug the cig lighter and place aside. The stereo itself is held in with 4 screws. Easy. Then it just pulls out and unplugs. No big deal. From there you can see that in the back is space to run wiring out and under the dash. I first ran one wire to each front door, under the dash, just followed some other factory wiring. I then snaked the speaker wire through the door boot (should be easy, if you have power windows, just follow that wiring).

For the rear, I actually pulled up the carpet on the passenger side of the car and ran it to each strut tower and then inside. Easy.

I left all the stock wiring in place, just in case. But I did remove all the factory amps.
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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 09:37 AM
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Thank you =]

I'll be checking that out today after picking up a metra(harness?).
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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 10:16 AM
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The Metra harness makes it pretty easy. If you are running your own speaker wires (like me) then you can choose to not use the plug with the speaker inputs, and go straight to the headunit speaker wires. I used the plug for mine, but I got another factory plug end so I can swap stereos out quickly.

Which I have to do this weekend. Pulled the Sony out of my totaled Millenia, putting in the FC to replace the crappy Pioneer I have in there now. Since the Millenia (non Bose) and the FC share the same stereo harness, its plug and play!!
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