Aftermarket Radio instal woes - Land Rovers Only

wgripp · 02-09-2008, 06:27 PM

Hey all,

I just bought a 95 disco with my girl.

I just installed an aftermarket antenna and radio. What a PITA!

For some reason, I can't get the headunit to work. I got a wiring harness. The radio will turn on, but I can't hear anything. There are 3 rectangular plugs, an antenna plug, and a round plug on the back of the radio.

The adapter I have attaches the grey and brown plug rectangular plugs. However, there is no place for the round plug or the red plug. Best Buy told me they were for a CD changer. I don't think I have one though.

Also, there are three wires on the aftermarket wiring harness that have no place to attach to my radio. There are two pink "tel mute" wires and one orange "dash illumination" wire that have no hookups. However, I can't see these being the cause of my problem.

Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated!

Also, I'd like to upgrade my rims. What's the widest I can go? I read on there that 31' is the tallest (without lift). Is there a new gear ratio you suggest so I don't lose power?

Thanks again!
Bill

msggunny · 02-09-2008, 08:30 PM

I just put a new head unit and speakers in my truck too, its a 97 D1.

There is something with the way the stock stereo is wired, something about the grounds and the factory amp. you either have to bypass the amp or use an adapter for it. I ordered mine from crutchfield and they hooked me up with the adapter. Give them a call, they know what it is.

That being said, i still get "noise" from the A/C, the fan, wipers, etc. The ground is solid, but i may have to bypass the stock amp. I heard its shit anyways.

Need to find a schematic to find the amp and then start wiring away

O, and i dont think they make 31in wide rims.

31in tires, yes, but not rims.

wgripp · 02-10-2008, 07:08 AM

MSGunny,

Thanks for your fast reply. I meant 31 inches tall!

Regarding the factory adapter, is it something I could hook my preamp outs on the headunit to? Or, does it go inline with the wiring harness out of the headunit? How much did your adapter cost?

Finally, where is the amp located, in case I choose to bypass it?

Thanks again!
Bill

Ben Rover · 02-10-2008, 07:32 AM

In regards to the radio...

I spent 2 weeks trying to use the stock harness. Eventually I got fed up and cut them off. I ran new wires through the truck to all the speakers and hooked them all up to my own wiring harness. The only downside is losing the amplified rear speakers, which means less bass, but that's gonna be rectified soon with new low range speakers and a simple bypass. I may even re-use the stock one I removed from the truck

wgripp · 02-10-2008, 08:18 AM

Ben,

How did you get the door panels off? I tried poping off the rear door (trunk) panel, and those crappy plastic snaps broke and the MDF wood notches on the panel itself broke too.

I still think I'm going to try to use that amp, if possible.

Is it feasible to replace the factory amp with an aftermarket one that will be compatible with the stock speakers?

Thanks again!
Bill

ArmyRover · 02-10-2008, 09:07 AM

It's feasible to do that using the stock wiring but in the long run it would be easier to just bypass all of the factory speaker wiring put an aftermarket amp in and run speaker wires from there. It would also sound better I'm sure.

for the tires search and ye shall find Basic Tire Information

That link is to a great tire information thread on here lots of good info

Ben Rover · 02-10-2008, 12:45 PM

The door panels came off with a loud crashing sound and a lot of swearing...

I just got some more of those blue plastic pins and replaced all the ones I broke pulling it off

msggunny · 02-10-2008, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wgripp

MSGunny,

Thanks for your fast reply. I meant 31 inches tall!

Regarding the factory adapter, is it something I could hook my preamp outs on the headunit to? Or, does it go inline with the wiring harness out of the headunit? How much did your adapter cost?

Finally, where is the amp located, in case I choose to bypass it?

Thanks again!
Bill

Honestly, the best thing to do is to call Crutchfield and ask them about it.

Its called a PAC OEM-2 Universal 4-channel Line out converter/factory amp interface.

I may end up redoing the whole thing next weekend if i cant get the whine to go away by redoing my grounds. I will let you know how that goes.

wgripp · 02-10-2008, 03:06 PM

my pins are red! where did you buy them from?

Ben Rover · 02-10-2008, 05:00 PM

I got some similar pins from Canadian Tire. They weren't the right ones, obviously, but I convinced them they wanted to go there.

wgripp · 02-11-2008, 02:53 PM

Where is the amp located in my car?

UsedBlue · 02-17-2008, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wgripp

Where is the amp located in my car?

WGRIPP- I have a 94 Disco I and my amp is under the passenger seat. The CD changer is 'would be if I had one' is supposed to go under the driver's seat. I just bought a factory radio and changer to go back into our Disco I and rip out that awful aftermarket crap the old owner put in. You can't even hear the radio it's so fuzzy! Anyhow, you can find a factory AMP on ebay if you want the original one- about $100 or so is what I've seen them go for. I paid $80 for both radio and changer, the steering wheel buttons are supposed to work with them, so we'll see. Best Buy seemed to be a little fuzzy with helping me with my Disco I and the reinstall of the factory units. The guy even tried to talk me into a different CD changer to match the radio I had in there already! Maybe a more local/smaller guy is better to help us with these issues!

Ben Rover · 02-18-2008, 07:12 AM

Beware going to a Best Buy or any radio install shop. At the counter they're always very confident they can do the job but when the truck rolls in I was quoted over 400$ of parts and labor. And that was bypassing the stock amp and plugging in the radio straight in like I ended up doing anyways.

wgripp · 03-04-2008, 03:49 PM

okay so there are two modules under the passenger seat. One is large ( I assume this is the amp) one is very small (I assume this has nothing to do with the sound system.) What wires do I connect to bypass it?

Thanks again!
Bill

Ben Rover · 03-05-2008, 03:16 AM

After weeks and weeks of searching I finally found a complete wiring diagram for the sound system. I'd post the .pdf here but it seems too big. PM me your email address and I can send it to you if you'd like.

02-09-2008, 06:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
wgripp Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8 Gallery: 0	Aftermarket Radio instal woes Hey all, I just bought a 95 disco with my girl. I just installed an aftermarket antenna and radio. What a PITA! For some reason, I can't get the headunit to work. I got a wiring harness. The radio will turn on, but I can't hear anything. There are 3 rectangular plugs, an antenna plug, and a round plug on the back of the radio. The adapter I have attaches the grey and brown plug rectangular plugs. However, there is no place for the round plug or the red plug. Best Buy told me they were for a CD changer. I don't think I have one though. Also, there are three wires on the aftermarket wiring harness that have no place to attach to my radio. There are two pink "tel mute" wires and one orange "dash illumination" wire that have no hookups. However, I can't see these being the cause of my problem. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated! Also, I'd like to upgrade my rims. What's the widest I can go? I read on there that 31' is the tallest (without lift). Is there a new gear ratio you suggest so I don't lose power? Thanks again! Bill Last edited by wgripp : 02-10-2008 at 07:06 AM.

02-09-2008, 08:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
msggunny Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Back on the San Antonio, ship food sucks... Posts: 981 Gallery: 5	I just put a new head unit and speakers in my truck too, its a 97 D1. There is something with the way the stock stereo is wired, something about the grounds and the factory amp. you either have to bypass the amp or use an adapter for it. I ordered mine from crutchfield and they hooked me up with the adapter. Give them a call, they know what it is. That being said, i still get "noise" from the A/C, the fan, wipers, etc. The ground is solid, but i may have to bypass the stock amp. I heard its shit anyways. Need to find a schematic to find the amp and then start wiring away O, and i dont think they make 31in wide rims. 31in tires, yes, but not rims. __________________ 77 SIII 88 97 D1 5 speed 91 D1 5 speed (the first, but gone ) the lord is my weapon and i see him shoot pawns woman is the devil your god is a fraud

02-10-2008, 09:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
ArmyRover Rebuilding Rover Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NH Posts: 2,388 Gallery: 0	It's feasible to do that using the stock wiring but in the long run it would be easier to just bypass all of the factory speaker wiring put an aftermarket amp in and run speaker wires from there. It would also sound better I'm sure. for the tires search and ye shall find Basic Tire Information That link is to a great tire information thread on here lots of good info __________________ "Only two defining forces ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American G.I. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom." http://www.wheelinrovers.com/ 91 Range Rover Classic 90 RRC Parts truck 94 Saab gas mileage beater

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02-10-2008, 07:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
wgripp Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8 Gallery: 0	MSGunny, Thanks for your fast reply. I meant 31 inches tall! Regarding the factory adapter, is it something I could hook my preamp outs on the headunit to? Or, does it go inline with the wiring harness out of the headunit? How much did your adapter cost? Finally, where is the amp located, in case I choose to bypass it? Thanks again! Bill

02-10-2008, 07:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
Ben Rover Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 65 Gallery: 0	In regards to the radio... I spent 2 weeks trying to use the stock harness. Eventually I got fed up and cut them off. I ran new wires through the truck to all the speakers and hooked them all up to my own wiring harness. The only downside is losing the amplified rear speakers, which means less bass, but that's gonna be rectified soon with new low range speakers and a simple bypass. I may even re-use the stock one I removed from the truck

02-10-2008, 08:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
wgripp Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8 Gallery: 0	Ben, How did you get the door panels off? I tried poping off the rear door (trunk) panel, and those crappy plastic snaps broke and the MDF wood notches on the panel itself broke too. I still think I'm going to try to use that amp, if possible. Is it feasible to replace the factory amp with an aftermarket one that will be compatible with the stock speakers? Thanks again! Bill

02-10-2008, 12:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ben Rover Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 65 Gallery: 0	The door panels came off with a loud crashing sound and a lot of swearing... I just got some more of those blue plastic pins and replaced all the ones I broke pulling it off

02-10-2008, 03:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
wgripp Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8 Gallery: 0	my pins are red! where did you buy them from?

02-10-2008, 05:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ben Rover Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 65 Gallery: 0	I got some similar pins from Canadian Tire. They weren't the right ones, obviously, but I convinced them they wanted to go there.

02-11-2008, 02:53 PM	#11 (permalink)
wgripp Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8 Gallery: 0	Where is the amp located in my car?

02-18-2008, 07:12 AM	#13 (permalink)
Ben Rover Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 65 Gallery: 0	Beware going to a Best Buy or any radio install shop. At the counter they're always very confident they can do the job but when the truck rolls in I was quoted over 400$ of parts and labor. And that was bypassing the stock amp and plugging in the radio straight in like I ended up doing anyways.

03-04-2008, 03:49 PM	#14 (permalink)
wgripp Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8 Gallery: 0	okay so there are two modules under the passenger seat. One is large ( I assume this is the amp) one is very small (I assume this has nothing to do with the sound system.) What wires do I connect to bypass it? Thanks again! Bill

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03-05-2008, 03:16 AM	#15 (permalink)
Ben Rover Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 65 Gallery: 0	After weeks and weeks of searching I finally found a complete wiring diagram for the sound system. I'd post the .pdf here but it seems too big. PM me your email address and I can send it to you if you'd like.