I'm going to by a Sony Xplod car stereo (most likely model CDX-MP30.) I drive a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am sedan, and have an older Sony CDX already installed. The people at Sony said it would be feasible for me to install this new stereo on my own with very little difficulty, provided I purchase a self-install kit from them. Are they just trying to get me to buy their stereo, or would it really be easy for me to follow the instructions they provide? Thanks for your advice!
Replies (16)
jimyd77 on 04/25/2003 18:44:14
1997 Pontiac Grand Am sedan
ryan on 04/25/2003 20:40:50
Its real easy. I've only installed like 4 HU and i can do them pretty good. Since you have non factory Hu u wont have to do any cutting.
jimyd77 on 04/25/2003 21:00:13
Great, thank you Ryan.
ttocs on 04/27/2003 16:28:07
it is easy and you should not need any aditional parts... You have everything you need already since the deck in there is mounted and wired. How old is the deck that is in there? I am not for sure if sony has changed its hrns or mounting sleeve, but there is a chance that you could pull the old one out, and simply unplug it, and they plug in the new one and slide it in.
On to bigger and more important things... Why are you considering sony? It is not the worst brand, but there are better more reliable units for the same price or less...
jimyd77 on 04/28/2003 15:47:17
thanks ttocs, after hearing what you and ryan say, I think i'm going to give it a go on my own. the current stereo is a CDX 5260, probably about 5+ years old by now. I'm looking at the CDX MP30 and the CDX CA810X to replace it. The people at Sony/Crutchfield said it shouldn't be that big a deal b/c the factory stereo has already been removed. The reason I'm looking at Sony/Crutchfield is that I work for Sony Pictures, and can buy the stereo through the store here at discounted prices. That's also the reason I need to self-install...I get the stereo only.
jimyd77 on 04/29/2003 12:38:20
hey ttocs...I've been thinking about your reply and I was wondering if you could recommend a system that you think might be better than the Sony Xplod? I was looking for something in the $150 to $200 range. Definitely CD, but not necessarily MP3.
ttocs on 04/29/2003 14:02:30
I would love to help you, but my product knowledge is not what it used to be since I am not in the biz fulltime anymore. I really only know about the decks that I have been researching for my own use, and they have not been much below $800.... I can get you through the install, but we will need help from the crew here.
C'mon now what do you guys think?
megahurts4 on 04/29/2003 20:12:03
Pioneer Premier for that price range. They are great head units. Any Premier will do you best. They can't be beat in the lower price levels.
jimyd77 on 04/29/2003 20:25:05
Great, thanks megahurts4. Do you think it'd be feasible for me to self-install one of these Pioneer units? The factory unit has already been removed from my car. I'd be switching out a Sony CDX 5260.
ryan on 04/29/2003 21:44:38
The pioneer should fit with out a problem. I installed my old Aiwa HU in my friends old monte carlo a couple of weekends ago and it fit in perfect. I would also suggest the pioneer.
megahurts4 on 04/29/2003 23:29:50
I think it would. As long as you know how to connect wires and *possibly solder them, then you should do fine. Soldering them is not necessary, but good to do.
To make life easy, you should see (when you take out the old one) if there is a wiring harness that plugs into the factory one. It should be connected to the Sony's wires. You would need to cut them off where they are either crimped or soldered. Then you just re-attach them to the Pioneers wires and wah-lah!
I hope you can follow that along. Dunno if it is clear enough. The best thing to do before you cut the wires is to label the wires (if not already labeled) to what they are hooked to on the Sony. i.e. Power, Ground, Acc, Front Right/Left, ...
ttocs on 04/30/2003 19:25:05
there are 3 basic sizes of decks. The most commin is called DIN size. this is the what 80-90% of the aftermarket radio's are, and probably what you are familiar with. Next is, double din. This is what you would expect it to be at twice teh size of a regular din radio. These are common in alot of import vehicles. There are a few aftermarket radios that are double din, but this size can also be made by putting to din size decks together. The 3rd size is inbetween the 1rst two. It is made to directly fit into most GM and chrystler dashes, with out a kit. When you pull a din out, you can put a din back without any trouble, which is what you are doing. The wire colors on the two radios are the same, so wiring would be as easy as connecting the red wire on the new radio, to the same wire that the red wire of the old radio was attached to. I do not think soldering deck connections buys you anything. Unless you are a true enthusiast, invest in a good wire crimper, and $2 worth of crimp caps....
I can get you through this install, and teach you some stuff on the way....
jimyd77 on 05/1/2003 14:37:29
Great, I appreciate the advice and the help you're all giving me. I'm still undecided as to whether to go with the Pioneer Premier, as I can get the Xplod CDX-CA810X for much cheaper with my Sony discount. I know it might not be as great a deck, but hey...if you can save the dough, you gotta go for it right?
jimyd77 on 05/1/2003 19:40:40
Okay, jimyd here, turns out I'm leaving the Sony gig at the end of this week. So I had to move fast and I ended up with the Sony CDX-MP40. Per your advice ttocs, I'm going to go out and get myself a wire crimper and crimps. This will take the place of any soldering I need to do right? Is this crimping in addition to, or separate from, this "wiring harness" I've been hearing about?
ryan on 05/1/2003 21:38:51
if u crimp the wires you dont need to solder them. You will be crimping the wires from the harness coming from the car to the ones that go into ur deck.
ttocs on 05/6/2003 15:23:53
how did this end up?
Replies (16)
jimyd77 on 04/25/2003 18:44:14
1997 Pontiac Grand Am sedan
ryan on 04/25/2003 20:40:50
Its real easy. I've only installed like 4 HU and i can do them pretty good. Since you have non factory Hu u wont have to do any cutting.
jimyd77 on 04/25/2003 21:00:13
Great, thank you Ryan.
ttocs on 04/27/2003 16:28:07
it is easy and you should not need any aditional parts... You have everything you need already since the deck in there is mounted and wired. How old is the deck that is in there? I am not for sure if sony has changed its hrns or mounting sleeve, but there is a chance that you could pull the old one out, and simply unplug it, and they plug in the new one and slide it in.
On to bigger and more important things... Why are you considering sony? It is not the worst brand, but there are better more reliable units for the same price or less...
jimyd77 on 04/28/2003 15:47:17
thanks ttocs, after hearing what you and ryan say, I think i'm going to give it a go on my own. the current stereo is a CDX 5260, probably about 5+ years old by now. I'm looking at the CDX MP30 and the CDX CA810X to replace it. The people at Sony/Crutchfield said it shouldn't be that big a deal b/c the factory stereo has already been removed. The reason I'm looking at Sony/Crutchfield is that I work for Sony Pictures, and can buy the stereo through the store here at discounted prices. That's also the reason I need to self-install...I get the stereo only.
jimyd77 on 04/29/2003 12:38:20
hey ttocs...I've been thinking about your reply and I was wondering if you could recommend a system that you think might be better than the Sony Xplod? I was looking for something in the $150 to $200 range. Definitely CD, but not necessarily MP3.
ttocs on 04/29/2003 14:02:30
I would love to help you, but my product knowledge is not what it used to be since I am not in the biz fulltime anymore. I really only know about the decks that I have been researching for my own use, and they have not been much below $800.... I can get you through the install, but we will need help from the crew here.
C'mon now what do you guys think?
megahurts4 on 04/29/2003 20:12:03
Pioneer Premier for that price range. They are great head units. Any Premier will do you best. They can't be beat in the lower price levels.
jimyd77 on 04/29/2003 20:25:05
Great, thanks megahurts4. Do you think it'd be feasible for me to self-install one of these Pioneer units? The factory unit has already been removed from my car. I'd be switching out a Sony CDX 5260.
ryan on 04/29/2003 21:44:38
The pioneer should fit with out a problem. I installed my old Aiwa HU in my friends old monte carlo a couple of weekends ago and it fit in perfect. I would also suggest the pioneer.
megahurts4 on 04/29/2003 23:29:50
I think it would. As long as you know how to connect wires and *possibly solder them, then you should do fine. Soldering them is not necessary, but good to do.
To make life easy, you should see (when you take out the old one) if there is a wiring harness that plugs into the factory one. It should be connected to the Sony's wires. You would need to cut them off where they are either crimped or soldered. Then you just re-attach them to the Pioneers wires and wah-lah!
I hope you can follow that along. Dunno if it is clear enough. The best thing to do before you cut the wires is to label the wires (if not already labeled) to what they are hooked to on the Sony. i.e. Power, Ground, Acc, Front Right/Left, ...
ttocs on 04/30/2003 19:25:05
there are 3 basic sizes of decks. The most commin is called DIN size. this is the what 80-90% of the aftermarket radio's are, and probably what you are familiar with. Next is, double din. This is what you would expect it to be at twice teh size of a regular din radio. These are common in alot of import vehicles. There are a few aftermarket radios that are double din, but this size can also be made by putting to din size decks together. The 3rd size is inbetween the 1rst two. It is made to directly fit into most GM and chrystler dashes, with out a kit. When you pull a din out, you can put a din back without any trouble, which is what you are doing. The wire colors on the two radios are the same, so wiring would be as easy as connecting the red wire on the new radio, to the same wire that the red wire of the old radio was attached to. I do not think soldering deck connections buys you anything. Unless you are a true enthusiast, invest in a good wire crimper, and $2 worth of crimp caps....
I can get you through this install, and teach you some stuff on the way....
jimyd77 on 05/1/2003 14:37:29
Great, I appreciate the advice and the help you're all giving me. I'm still undecided as to whether to go with the Pioneer Premier, as I can get the Xplod CDX-CA810X for much cheaper with my Sony discount. I know it might not be as great a deck, but hey...if you can save the dough, you gotta go for it right?
jimyd77 on 05/1/2003 19:40:40
Okay, jimyd here, turns out I'm leaving the Sony gig at the end of this week. So I had to move fast and I ended up with the Sony CDX-MP40. Per your advice ttocs, I'm going to go out and get myself a wire crimper and crimps. This will take the place of any soldering I need to do right? Is this crimping in addition to, or separate from, this "wiring harness" I've been hearing about?
ryan on 05/1/2003 21:38:51
if u crimp the wires you dont need to solder them. You will be crimping the wires from the harness coming from the car to the ones that go into ur deck.
ttocs on 05/6/2003 15:23:53
how did this end up?
Copyright ClubKnowledge 2009 * All Rights Reserved
