car CD player installation Question

[xXgambitXx]

hi kids. i have an Alpine cda-7839 in my '88 'scort. it's been acting up on me lately so i'm thinking about switching it out for a cdm-7874.

my main question is.....what all is involved in switching out 2 receivers ? they're the same brand so i don't think that wiring should be a problem. but i've searched on google for hours without finding much useful info about actually taking out the receivers or any actual installation info. so i'm sure that a lot of you guys know about this and can either give me some down and dirty instructions for taking these things out and installing a new one.....or give a linky to someplace that has good directions. i have access to basic tools, nothing fancy. any help is appreciated, thanks. also, you can make fun of my car if you want, i accept that it's crap.

 

[XCLAN]

does the car still have the original wire harness? or was it cut and hardwired?
if the original wire harness is still there.....its a snap all you need to do is read what color wires are wut and match them up with an adapter plug....harness. then connect the 2 harnesses together with a snap

 

[xXgambitXx]

i'm pretty sure it was cut because my Dad bought me the stereo from a local car audio store and had them install it, and inside the box for the alpine stereo is a couple plugs that look like they were ripped out of something. i'm guessing it's the original wiring harness.

that shouldn't matter though right ? since i'm replacing an alpine w/ another ?

 

[NutBucket]

The harnesses on the Alpines aren't necessarily the same. Even the crappy shop that did the last two installs for my dad (when I was about 10) used a harness to interface to the factory wiring. IMHO one should never cut factory wiring.

 

[xXgambitXx]

i guess the main thing that i'm having problems with is......

how ? and what do i need to get this thing out ?

 

[white]

i'm not sure how it is on your particular car, but on mine all i had to do was take apart the lower dash to get access to the back of the center console.

 

[xXgambitXx]

Originally posted by: white
i'm not sure how it is on your particular car, but on mine all i had to do was take apart the lower dash to get access to the back of the center console.

yikes, i'm not up for that. how much would some mom and pop car audio store charge to do it ? roughly.

 

[NutBucket]

$50-$75

 

[alkemyst]

you shouldn't need to go behind the dash to get the radio out.

The deck should have 4 holes around each of the corners. In the radio box you should have a pair of U pieces of metal that go into these holes (sometimes the shops take them and throw them away so you have to come back). Check the manual and see.

Take these and insert them until they stop. Gently but firmly push each outward and pull, the radio should slide out. There will be a metal sleeve in the dash, compare it to the new one...if the same leave the old on alone, if differenent remove the old one (pry down the metal push up tabs and slide it out). The new sleeve just slides in and you push as many of the metal tabs around it up and out.

If they didnt cut the factory harness, simply use the proper metra or equivalent radio harness for your car (about $5-15) and attach it to the radio (use solder-less crimps or solder it). Plug the harnesses to together and plug in the antenna. Slide the radio into the dash until it clicks.

done. once you do it once, should take about 15-30mins tops again.

 

[xXgambitXx]

hi. i took a gander and i dont't see any holes. Here's a picture of the cd player in question w/ the bezel taken off. thanks for your quick responses.

 

[NutBucket]

Well, it *looks* like you've got the DIN mounting sleeve in there. Either that, or its bolted on the sides(more likely). Taking apart a dash is fairly intuitive, IMHO. You should be able to do it. That one doesn't look very complicated.

If it is in the sleeve, you'll need the removal tools that came with the HU. They're usually two flat metal peices. You shove those down each side between the cage and the receiver until you hear a click of some sort and receiver will slide out.

 

[NutBucket]

On second inspection, it looks like its bolted on the sides. I don't see the flanges that would indicate a sleeve.

 

[xXgambitXx]

so i'm looking at taking apart the dash ? fantastic. thanks for your help.

 

[NutBucket]

Sarcasm?

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Sarcasm?

LOL, i mean how many people say, fantastic, I gotta tear out the whole freaking dash, hahahaha.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: OuterSquare

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Sarcasm?

LOL, i mean how many people say, fantastic, I gotta tear out the whole freaking dash, hahahaha.

I did. Remember what happened when I did that sub install in that Corolla?

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: NutBucket


I did. Remember what happened when I did that sub install in that Corolla?

yeah but I'm pretty sure you don't consider that fun.

 

[alkemyst]

check out forum.sounddomain.com ... good advice there.

 

[xXgambitXx]

sarcasm IS implied when i'm "excited" about taking apart a dash.

thanks for the link "alkemyst"

and WHY hasn't anyone made fun of my fatty-bo-batty '88 escort ? my 90 friends and i get to race people in the wal-mart parking lot all the time, well at least people think they're racing me.

 

[bmacd]

Originally posted by: xXgambitXx
sarcasm IS implied when i'm "excited" about taking apart a dash.

thanks for the link "alkemyst"

and WHY hasn't anyone made fun of my fatty-bo-batty '88 escort ? my 90 friends and i get to race people in the wal-mart parking lot all the time, well at least people think they're racing me.

you race in a parking lot? That's sheer stupidity. Besides...who wins: you in your car or the people running alongside your escort?

-=bmacd=-