Noob stumped by first install
05-24-2006, 12:25 AM
#1
0 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2
Noob stumped by first install
Hi y'all. Please no laughing. Be gentle.
I am attempting my first ever replacement of a factory stereo. It's a lame radio/cassette deck in an equally lame 1995 Nissan Quest minivan. I bought a new JVC CD/MP3 deck and figured installation would be a simple swap of the old with the new. Wrong! Mismatched connectors, confusing wires/harness hell and a big fat feeling of defeat. Shouldn't this be easier?
So I got Googling and learned that my vehicle actually has Ford wiring (the Mercury Villager is the Quest's mechanical twin) and my wiring has something called "premium or amplified wire harness connectors: these connectors are used with JBL, Mach, and other Ford amplified radio systems. One connector has all wires contained inside a gray data cable and these wires should never be cut." Below is a diagram I found explaining this, plus I snapped this picture to show you what I disconnected from the back of the factory deck.
Coming out of the wide connector is also this bunch of wires and this smaller connector (which was not plugged into anything but tied back) :
I then went to Best Buy to buy what I thought would be the correct harness. This is what they sold me:
It fits, but it also seems to be missing a bunch of connectors. Shouldn't it look more like this Scoche FD021F?
Is that the correct connector? I believe so, but what about this leftover connector? There is no matching end for it on the new deck, so what would it plug into? Here's where it plugged in on the old deck:
As you can see, unfortunately the old deck had no labelling.
The Best Buy dude said something about the harness bypassing at the amp, not behind the deck. Where is my amp? Help! I'm confused! Should I just stop now? GAH!!
How much would a car audio shop charge for installation? Can someone recommend a decent one in Durham Region (Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa) that can install on a Saturday?
Other info: the van does not have a power antenna or auxiliary headphone controls in the rear, no CD changer, if that helps.
Much thanks for any help/advice!
I am attempting my first ever replacement of a factory stereo. It's a lame radio/cassette deck in an equally lame 1995 Nissan Quest minivan. I bought a new JVC CD/MP3 deck and figured installation would be a simple swap of the old with the new. Wrong! Mismatched connectors, confusing wires/harness hell and a big fat feeling of defeat. Shouldn't this be easier?
So I got Googling and learned that my vehicle actually has Ford wiring (the Mercury Villager is the Quest's mechanical twin) and my wiring has something called "premium or amplified wire harness connectors: these connectors are used with JBL, Mach, and other Ford amplified radio systems. One connector has all wires contained inside a gray data cable and these wires should never be cut." Below is a diagram I found explaining this, plus I snapped this picture to show you what I disconnected from the back of the factory deck.
Coming out of the wide connector is also this bunch of wires and this smaller connector (which was not plugged into anything but tied back) :
I then went to Best Buy to buy what I thought would be the correct harness. This is what they sold me:
It fits, but it also seems to be missing a bunch of connectors. Shouldn't it look more like this Scoche FD021F?
Is that the correct connector? I believe so, but what about this leftover connector? There is no matching end for it on the new deck, so what would it plug into? Here's where it plugged in on the old deck:
As you can see, unfortunately the old deck had no labelling.
The Best Buy dude said something about the harness bypassing at the amp, not behind the deck. Where is my amp? Help! I'm confused! Should I just stop now? GAH!!
How much would a car audio shop charge for installation? Can someone recommend a decent one in Durham Region (Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa) that can install on a Saturday?
Other info: the van does not have a power antenna or auxiliary headphone controls in the rear, no CD changer, if that helps.
Much thanks for any help/advice!
05-24-2006, 04:12 AM
#2
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 16,855
First of all, you need a Ford Premium Sound harness:
http://bestkits.com/ViewImage.aspx?img=i/BHA5514.jpg
The gray harness is the same but the black is square for the amp molex.
Once you have that you can decide whether you want to bypass the amp or not. If you do not, realize the 'max volume' may be achieved as soon as 1/3 to 1/2 volume on the deck due to it feeding higher input to the factory amp. If you DO decide to bypass the amp, it is behind a rear panel, either the pass or driver side - it's been a while and I can;t remember exactly..
http://bestkits.com/ViewImage.aspx?img=i/BHA5514.jpg
The gray harness is the same but the black is square for the amp molex.
Once you have that you can decide whether you want to bypass the amp or not. If you do not, realize the 'max volume' may be achieved as soon as 1/3 to 1/2 volume on the deck due to it feeding higher input to the factory amp. If you DO decide to bypass the amp, it is behind a rear panel, either the pass or driver side - it's been a while and I can;t remember exactly..
05-24-2006, 08:27 AM
#4
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 956
just find the amp under the dash (usually) and it should plug into the harnesses that are going into the factory amp.
This is usually where i go looking when the plugs off the stock deck won't fit into the aftermarket harness.
This is usually where i go looking when the plugs off the stock deck won't fit into the aftermarket harness.
05-24-2006, 10:54 AM
#5
For the Quest/Villager the factory amp is located behind the rear quarter panel plastics on the driver side of the vehicle. Just take a peek in and the giant connector will be staring you in the face....
Originally Posted by teamaerostar2
just find the amp under the dash (usually) and it should plug into the harnesses that are going into the factory amp.
This is usually where i go looking when the plugs off the stock deck won't fit into the aftermarket harness.
This is usually where i go looking when the plugs off the stock deck won't fit into the aftermarket harness.
05-24-2006, 11:43 AM
#6
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 956
Originally Posted by NP6000
For the Quest/Villager the factory amp is located behind the rear quarter panel plastics on the driver side of the vehicle. Just take a peek in and the giant connector will be staring you in the face....
05-24-2006, 07:22 PM
#7
Nothing is simple....
You've already got the answers to your fist 2 questions, so here's some more.
There is a pretty good install shop here in Ajax.
Custom Audio is on Hunt St. just west of Harwood. They're open saturday if you make an appt.
If you want my opinion, i would give up on the factory amp and speakers.
The JVC built in amp would be better than the factory amp and it could probably use new speakers being 10+ yrs old.
You've already got the answers to your fist 2 questions, so here's some more.
There is a pretty good install shop here in Ajax.
Custom Audio is on Hunt St. just west of Harwood. They're open saturday if you make an appt.
If you want my opinion, i would give up on the factory amp and speakers.
The JVC built in amp would be better than the factory amp and it could probably use new speakers being 10+ yrs old.
05-26-2006, 03:14 PM
#8
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 119
Like dukk said, you need a ford premium harness, best kits BHA5514 this comes with three harnesses, one grey one small square black and another harness theat you can use to unhook your factory amp and conect the two plugs that come out of it, this is gona be the easiest and best sounding, this will take the imput to the amp and connect it to the speaker output alaso on the amp.
05-27-2006, 06:46 PM
#9
0 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2
Problem solved
Originally Posted by Tom.F.1
Nothing is simple....
You've already got the answers to your fist 2 questions, so here's some more.
There is a pretty good install shop here in Ajax.
Custom Audio is on Hunt St. just west of Harwood. They're open saturday if you make an appt.
If you want my opinion, i would give up on the factory amp and speakers.
The JVC built in amp would be better than the factory amp and it could probably use new speakers being 10+ yrs old.
You've already got the answers to your fist 2 questions, so here's some more.
There is a pretty good install shop here in Ajax.
Custom Audio is on Hunt St. just west of Harwood. They're open saturday if you make an appt.
If you want my opinion, i would give up on the factory amp and speakers.
The JVC built in amp would be better than the factory amp and it could probably use new speakers being 10+ yrs old.
