audio install

STV · Postby **STV** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 6:19 pm

Hey all,
i have finally gotten around to getting a system to replace the 15yo CD player in the MX-5, it originally had the 1.5 din radio cassette, and a single din cd player using the radio as an amp only.
So i now have only a single din CD player, and want the install to look the goods, So... Does anybody know what parts i need to fill the spaces left over?
ant part numbers from mazda or if anyone has anything lying around which they mant to get rid of, i dont really care, but i need to install this thing ASAP!
looking at it sitting on the floor is driving me up the wall!

Thanks and regards
Steve

muzza2 · Postby **muzza2** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 6:26 pm

u can get a sun-glasses holder that fits in their nicely
i have one at home that i'm still yet to install....

unsure where to get one from (mine was from Mr Lowmiata)
but i think mx5mania.com or miatamania.com has em
(i looked but couldnt find)

maybe someone else could shed some light

STV · Postby **STV** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 6:36 pm

Thanks muzza,
i am pretty sure that i should be able to get the bits from autobarn or something like that. But i dont really have the time to go and try to find them around here!
cheers

rodent · Postby **rodent** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:03 pm

That 1.5 din hole is really annoying isn't it..? The official Mazda cubby hole, as well as the ones at Strathfield/Ryda (which are pretty much exactly the same) are only 1 din, which still leaves an ugly 1/2 din gap.

If you attach the fascia ring around the new HU you can sorta disguise it a bit, but then the thing won't sit flush in the console.

If you're really anal though you can get a new centre console fascia from the '96-97 NA's, which use a proper inset 2 din spacing so everything lines up and is flush. Mania has them for $80, or you can try your local Mazda dealer (the part #'s have been mentioned on this forum so do a search for it).

Hope that made sense

jonno.

STV · Postby **STV** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:23 pm

thanks jonno,
i will head into a strathfield or something like that and grab one of the single din cubbies, as for the other... i dunno, i might even just see if i can get a black piece of plastic to fill it.. i will see what i can find.
Thanks for your help though
Steve

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:19 pm

If you dont mind spending a bit more $$$ get the '97 radio facia from Mazda. Mid way through '96 Mazda ditched the 1.5 DIN head unit for a single DIN unit and redid the centre console to suit. So you can fit your single DIN head unit and single DIN cubby box into the console all neat and factory looking.

Price for the '97 facia is about $80 I think, the cubby is around $20.

Bevan · Postby **Bevan** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 4:01 pm

happi_steve wrote:thanks jonno,
i will head into a strathfield or something like that and grab one of the single din cubbies, as for the other... i dunno, i might even just see if i can get a black piece of plastic to fill it.. i will see what i can find.
Thanks for your help though
Steve

The early '90 Astina's also came out with the 1.5 DIN compartment and their radios are only a single DIN slot. They all have a half DIN cubby holder as standard and they are a common car so ringing up wreckers and asking for 323 Astina might be easier.

STV · Postby **STV** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:33 pm

Thanks Garry and Bevan,
i might look for one of the astina cubbies as i pretty much blew my budget on the deck itself!
if i can just ask for a clarification...
does the Astina have a 1.5 din cubbie, or just a half din one?
either way, having a one din cubbie and a half din cubbie aswell would still do the job.

Thanks again for the help guys! This forum is an absolute God-send!

zhenjie · Postby **zhenjie** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:43 pm

Encounted the same issue with the weird DIN centre console on a 1989 NA. Decided to get a full radio surround from the USA which holds the Headunit and a few gauges in.

I'm curious. Where did you go to find a wiring harness for the headunit to Mazda connections? I cant find them at Autobahn because they said they dont make it for Mazdas.

rodent · Postby **rodent** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:59 pm

Yeah I couldn't find'em either. If you know your stuff (and have the manuals for your new unit and the factory one handy) you can solder the new harness in yourself.

I tried doing that once and nearly blew my $900 Rockford MP3 unit so I ended up calling Strathfield to come around and install it for me. T'was the burning capacitor smell I think that gave it away

.

jonno.

STV · Postby **STV** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 11:10 pm

zhenjie,
i just snipped and soldered the connections on all the ones i have done in the past, i thought that i would do a better job of it than someone at a Strathfield etc (we all hear of the horror stories!). I am more concerned with the actual mounting of the deck rather than the wiring.
Steve

Bevan · Postby **Bevan** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:43 am

happi_steve wrote:if i can just ask for a clarification...
does the Astina have a 1.5 din cubbie, or just a half din one?

Deifnitely just a half-DIN cubby.

Bevan · Postby **Bevan** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 2:52 pm

Bevan wrote:
happi_steve wrote:if i can just ask for a clarification...
does the Astina have a 1.5 din cubbie, or just a half din one?
Deifnitely just a half-DIN cubby.

Oops, sorry, just re-read everything. It is a half-DIN cubby, but this would mean that you'd need a full DIN sized cubby as well, so you'd actually end up with two compartments.

Not sure if this is the look you were going for but would be cheaper than the full facia i'm guessing.