im getting this stereo for the fb: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-rA20rDD8CEj/c...rch=cq%2Dc5210u



hopefully its already on its way. what should i do to install it, and what from the original system can i reuse? im guessing ill have to do away with the amps, since this puts out probably quite a bit more than the original unit. for right now ill just be using it with the 4 speakers that are in there, but eventually i want to run a couple of subs. what do you guys think?

I would yank out all the stock components, and at least re-do the wiring, stock speakers wires are pretty cheap and are probably getting brittle by now. I would also at least wire the car for the future upgrades once you have it apart, 12v lead, remote, rca's, etc., thay way it becomes a plug and play once you can afford the components.

[quote name='89 Rag' date='Apr 8 2005, 12:33 PM']I would yank out all the stock components, and at least re-do the wiring, stock speakers wires are pretty cheap and are probably getting brittle by now. I would also at least wire the car for the future upgrades once you have it apart, 12v lead, remote, rca's, etc., thay way it becomes a plug and play once you can afford the components.


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what gauge wire should i use? maybe ill go ahead and wire the preamps to the hatch area somewhere so when i add an amp theyll already be there. with rewiring the whole thing i dont use any of the factory stuff other than the power right? i dont use any of the connectors and dont really even need the vehicle specific harness right?



also, what is a 12v lead?

[quote name='Shane.Trammell' date='Apr 8 2005, 11:39 AM']what gauge wire should i use? maybe ill go ahead and wire the preamps to the hatch area somewhere so when i add an amp theyll already be there. with rewiring the whole thing i dont use any of the factory stuff other than the power right? i dont use any of the connectors and dont really even need the vehicle specific harness right?



also, what is a 12v lead?


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You can splice into the head unit wires from the stock wiring to get juice. The 12v lead would depend on if you are running only one amp or multiple. Single amp = 8 ga. wire through a circuit breaker as opposed to an in-line fuse, multiple amps, 4 ga. wire through a circuit breaker, into a distribution block after which , 8 ga. into a fuse block, stiffeneing cap, or directly into the amps. The speaker wire can be 14 ga. oxygen free. Just remember to protect any wiring not in use, if it's obsolete get rid of it, if it's for future use cap it off and/or tape it up.

[quote name='89 Rag' date='Apr 8 2005, 02:25 PM']You can splice into the head unit wires from the stock wiring to get juice. The 12v lead would depend on if you are running only one amp or multiple. Single amp = 8 ga. wire through a circuit breaker as opposed to an in-line fuse, multiple amps, 4 ga. wire through a circuit breaker, into a distribution block after which , 8 ga. into a fuse block, stiffeneing cap, or directly into the amps. The speaker wire can be 14 ga. oxygen free. Just remember to protect any wiring not in use, if it's obsolete get rid of it, if it's for future use cap it off and/or tape it up.


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im not gonna run any hot wires for amps now, probably just extend the rca preamps to the back. if and when i do actually do subs itll just be 2 8"s with about 150w each in case that changes any of this other stuff. thanks for the help!

I would get a head unit that plays MP3s, its nice only having to keep one or two cds in the car.



as far as the RCA cables go, you may want to see if when you plug them in that the head unit still uses its built in amplifier, if it does then just keep them wire tied behind the dash for now, or behind the glovebox, you will also need to run the turn on lead for the amp, that is low voltage, so 14-16 gauge wire is fine for that, I would also leave that wire tied behind the dash.



You will have to take apart the car to run the power leads for the amps if you ever get that far so you might as well take it apart once when that time comes. No reason to risk breaking all that fine japanese plastics doing it twice.

[quote name='Rob x-7' date='Apr 8 2005, 07:11 PM']I would get a head unit that plays MP3s, its nice only having to keep one or two cds in the car.






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too late for that. i wanted one for mp3s but i didnt want to sacrifice looks and other features to get that, plus this one was already out of my price range, i like music but im not a big stereo guy. if i want to do mp3s ill just get a player and use the aux in.