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GB2000
GenIII
7/02/2004
03:03:46
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 Subject: Installing a New Headunit & More
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I was checkin out headunits at Walmart today and found one I want... how would I go about installing it? Is it as simple as my friends say?
Buy the headunit, tear into the dash, uninstall the old, buy a wiring kit for my truck, install the new one with the wiring kit?
Here's the specific headunit I'm looking at:
Sony CDX-F5700
Also another question...I want to replace my stock speakers with something fairly inexpensive that will fit in the stock places. I have a 3.9L 1998 RC. What size are the stock speaker openings? If I went with the Xplod speakers, what ones (if any) would fit...and how would I go about wiring them in as well? Ummm...also, I can run all that stuff without buying an amp, right? I'm going to be getting a sub(s) sometime in the near future so I'll be getting an amp for that later, but being that I have an RC, I don't have a ton of space for stuff...nor do I want to be mounting my amp(s) on the back wall.
Last question... my truck has a factory 10 cd changer. How easy is that to remove wiring wise? Notice I'm not real car audio savvy...
Thanks folks!
Josh
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daffydak
GenIII
7/02/2004
10:08:48
| RE: Installing a New Headunit & More
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that looks like a decent player for a sony (pioneer man here LOL) anyways....
its TOO easy if you buy the adapter harness, you just follow the wiring diagram and solder the wires up...
the factory deck comes out pretty easy, then you can put the installation kit in. since out dodges use 1.5 din, and standard stereos are regular din. you need the din 1.5 to din kit for your dakota. wally world carrys that as well as the harness.... heres a link to the adapter plate kit
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=1863066&cat=4429&type=1&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3947%3A4429
thats the kit i used and i am using it in my 00 as well... i can't find the wiring kit listed on their site, but you should be able to get it at your local walmart... (cr01 i bieleve is the harnss i used)
i have no idea on the cd changer, they make kits to use the stock changer, with an aftermarket stareo.. i know nothing about those kits or where to get them... oh, and no you don't need an amp untill you get a sub.
the speaker size is 6 3/4 for the door and 5 1/4 for the lower rear side wall. i used 6 1/2 speakers for my 98, but they didnt work too well. there was a small gap on one side, so they had poor bass (my solobaric L7 10 cured that lol)
i hope i helped a little
Dan
Dan
MOPAR=More Power!!
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GB2000
GenIII
7/02/2004
11:48:42
| RE: Installing a New Headunit & More
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Yeah Dan, you helped a lot...thanks. I was looking into getting a good brand headunit that played mp3's. None of the Pioneers at Walmart had mp3 technology, but they did have that Sony one that did and I loved the looks. Otherwise I prolly would have looked into getting a Pioneer. I think the sub(s) I'm gonna get will be Pioneer though...they have some nice looks ones at Walmart for $50 each. I heard the Xplod subs are nice, but they don't hit nearly as hard as they should be able to. Dunno if that's true...that's just what a guy from school said after he had em and sold em.
Oh yeah...and they do have all the kits I'd need. The mounting and wiring kits that is.
Josh
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daffydak
GenIII
7/02/2004
13:34:26
| RE: Installing a New Headunit & More
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great!! any HU is going to be better than stock.. i still have the stock door speakers in my 00, not for long though. that will come later. you dont have to immediately upgrade your factory speakers, you can wait a little bit. they sound MUCH better with more power behind them. (my pioneer deh-p44 gives them 50 watts RMS) cd changers are great, i have a pioneer premeir 6 disc and i love it!!!
i need to build a better box for my 15(s) the sealed box i have them in now is WAY too small. they can only move about 1/3 of their travel before they distort (too much resistance due to small box i guess) maybe i'm not giving them enough power.... its still plenty enough to rattle all the windows and the porch roof at my house :-P i just want MORE!! lol
Dan
MOPAR=More Power!!
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GB2000
GenIII
7/02/2004
14:07:59
| RE: Installing a New Headunit & More
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hahaha...
My cd changer sucks...i love being able to have 10 cd's in without having to constantly switch cd's, but with the new Flowmaster 40 and turndown tip, the cab resonates so bad that my changer will constantly skip at certain rpm's.
Josh
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GB2000
GenIII
7/02/2004
17:21:59
| RE: Installing a New Headunit & More
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Okay...anybody wanna give a quick rundown on how to get the dash panels off that have to removed to replaced the headunit? Same goes for the doorpanels? I'd like to do this this evening if at all possible...
Josh
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me
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/02/2004
20:08:18
| RE: Installing a New Headunit & More
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For 1998 all you have to do is grab a hold of the black plastic around the radio/ steering wheel and pull. It's held in my clips.It helps to lower the steering wheel if it's a tilt and move the gear selector down. Foglight switch can be disconnected from the trim for complete removal. The deck itself is only held in by 2 bolts.
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GB2000
GenIII
7/02/2004
22:47:28
| RE: Installing a New Headunit & More
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Almost done...it got dark and the mosquitoes were beginning to try to drag me off with them. I had a lil trouble getting the wiring from my cd changer removed, but now that that's done, I just need to wire up the headunit and I'm all set to go. Of course I didn't think to buy some wire connector things so I need to go buy some more tomorrow (a friend gave me what he had, but I'm short). One last question... does the mounting kit attach to my headunit anywhere, or does the headunit just slide in and the instrument bezel holds the headunit in and prevents it from being stolen? I figure the mounting kit would attach to it somehow considering it'd prolly be easier to steal if it didn't, but I can't figure out how...and it's pissin me off!
Alright I lied...another question...how can I easily rig a set of 6 1/2" door speakers to fit where the stock 6 3/4" speakers went? I don't want to mess up my sound quality and none of the speakers I like come in 6 3/4".
Josh
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daffydak
GenIII
7/03/2004
01:36:33
|  RE: Installing a New Headunit & More
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Message:
About the door speakers... you may be able to fab up some adaptors for them. Something along the lines of circular wood/plastic "reducers" screw the piece to the door then screw the speaker to the wood.
About the HU mounting in the dash. Me is correct about the bezel removal... and yes the metal sleeve is all that holds the HU in the dash (remember to bend the little "tangs" so the sleeve is mounted securely in the dash)
The doors are held in place by 5 (i think) torx t25 screws (again dont hold me to this. i dont remember exactly) there is one screw behind the door latch as well....
Unclip the window cranks (if you have manual windows) with a bent piece of coat hanger or similar tool. Be CAREFUL!! The little clip that holds the crank likes to fly way far away! Cup your hand around it to "prevent" this from happening. Then when you reassemble the crank, just slide the clip into the crank and push the crank back on...
Then you just lift up slightly and pull out to remove the door panel (careful with the power mirror connections) and somehow disconnect the door latch (i couldn’t get mine to unlatch, so i had my little brother hold the panels while i put the speakers in LOL)
i tried to be clear (its 1:30 in the am) shoot me an email if you have any more ?s about your install.. i hope i didnt leave anything out, i'm going to bed :-)
Dan
MOPAR=More Power!!
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/03/2004
12:02:40
| RE: Installing a New Headunit & More
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If you have power door locks and/or power windows the control panel on the door has a release clip (on the bottom I think), push on the clip and push the control panel out towards the exterior of the panel. Then you can rotate the control panel out of the door panel.
On mounting the 6 1/2 speakers in the 6 3/4 origional speaker ring, you can screw the new speakers directly to the origional ring. It can be difficult since there are webs in plastic speaker ring that you will need to cut away where the screws for the 6 1/2 speakers need to go.
I put the speaker against the ring, marked where the web needed to be cut out fo the srcew holes (solder gun worked good) and hacked the web out with a utility knife. Then drilled the screw holes through the ring, and touched the metal door to mark where the door needed to be drilled. Thing that sucks about drilling into the metal speaker opening in the door, is that it's beveled. You have to mark it lightly when drilling the plastic ring, then remove the plastic ring so you can drill straight into the beveled metal lip.
Well you could do this or make some adapters from 1/2" or 3/8" MDF, plywood, whatever is laying around.
Hope this makes sense, as I was up fishing all night long. Guess it's time to hit the sack ;)
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KMT
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/03/2004
12:14:15
| RE: Installing a New Headunit & More
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Walmart sells stereo stuff? Save your money and buy Alpine.
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GB2000
GenIII
7/03/2004
12:50:06
| RE: Installing a New Headunit & More
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Unlike a lot of you guys, I don't really feel like spending all my money on my audio system (no offense...it's just not my thing). I just was sick of my stock stuff...speakers sounded like sh!t, cd changer skipped, couldn't get enough bass without it getting all staticy. So that's why I'm going for the Walmart stuff...plus I liked the sound of what I got.
And thanks DSW (and Dan once again) for the help... It doesn't make sense yet, but I'm sure when I'm actually looking at the speakers in the door, it will. By the way...manual everything in the door.
Josh
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daffydak
GenIII
7/03/2004
13:50:27
| RE: Installing a New Headunit & More
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Thanks DSW i never thought of using the existing plastic ring!! I have a set of stock speakers from my other Dakota, with the rings on them in my shed. So if i screw them up, it’s no big deal.
Also josh
The factory plugs for your speakers are pretty weird looking.. I just cut them off and (remember the colors you have for neg. and pos.) and soldered the connectors that came with my speakers.... its easier once you look at it, its one of these OHHH i get it!! Things LOL :-P
Have fun!
P.S Wal-Mart has decent stereo stuff (pioneer) not that i would buy/run pioneer subs. i just have always had good luck with their HU(s) and their door speakers are pretty good. I’m not in it for competition, i just want good sound at a good price!
Dan
MOPAR=More Power!!
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GB2000
GenIII
7/03/2004
19:33:12
| RE: Installing a New Headunit & More
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Message:
Exactly... that's what I'm wanting. Sound good at a good price. I got the headunit in...after sitting there staring at it for hours yesterday and today, I felt like a complete dumbass when it suddenly hit me what I needed to do. Works great... I went back to Walmart and bought me a set of Pioneer speakers for the doors. 200watts...can handle 50rms, which is what my headunit can put out so I figured that'd be a perfect setup as far as using cheap stuff. These speakers say they're 6 1/2"s but will fit GM 6 3/4"s, so maybe if I'm reeeeaaaally lucky, they'll fit right into a Dodge 6 3/4" opening:) Hey...I gotta be positive...lol
Ah well...it's kinda nice having my dash all back together. Of course my gas mileage this tank was kicking major ass and I forgot that leaving my battery disconnected all night was gonna reset trip when the computer reset. So now I can't calculate exactly how good it really was...grrr...
Josh
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