Aftermarket head unit wiring

Audio, Electronics and Lighting questions and answers
User avatar
Bauer
Fast Driver
Posts: 349
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:49 pm
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: Launceston, Tas

Aftermarket head unit wiring

Postby Bauer » Sat Apr 24, 2010 9:29 pm

I am going to do a head unit install next weekend (bought myself an Alpine CDE 101E head unit)

I had done a few head unit installs in my time on the tools and didnt look back fondly at those days where I had my head in a dash trying to wire up the unit. I am sure Im too old for that now. Then I saw someone point out wiring harnesses. Mazda to ISO then ISO to "brand"(in my case Alpine). These were about $20 each so that 2x$20 to do the job

Then I saw a Mazda to aftermarket harness for $15ish. Plugs directly in to the mazda plugs but was simply coloured wires coming out of the harness. These were colour coded and named in the same way most aftermarket head units colour code their wires. What this meant to me was that I could do a quality join (soldered and heat shrunk) on the work bench. I did this today and I must say that the connections would be 50% better than what I would have done inside the car and I could stand up while I was doing it.

I got my harness from http://myworld.ebay.com.au/original_car_stereos who I cannot speak more highly of for the 1 time I have dealt there. Aeropro part # AP7901F

Image

So if you want to keep your original plug and are happy to do a bit of work, this is the go.

Stu
cheers
Stu

User avatar
Okibi
Speed Racer
Posts: 10899
Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB SE
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Contact:

Aftermarket head unit wiring

Postby Okibi » Sun Apr 25, 2010 2:44 am

In my sons car I used a Mazda to ISO then an ISO to alpine plug - both from supercrap.

Even then I still needed wire up about 2 or 3 extra wires that for some reason hadn't been used in the ISO socket :roll:
If you had access to a car like this, would you take it back right away? Neither would I.

NMX516
Speed Racer
Posts: 2057
Joined: Mon Jun 19, 2006 12:05 pm
Vehicle: NB SP
Location: Brisbane

Aftermarket head unit wiring

Postby NMX516 » Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:07 am

Yep, I've done the same. Sure beats trying to solder in the car and of course the head unit can be easily unplugged and the factory one put back in if ever necessary.
Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever.

User avatar
broady
Racing Driver
Posts: 1243
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:32 am
Vehicle: NA8
Location: Sydney NSW

Aftermarket head unit wiring

Postby broady » Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:09 am

Okibi wrote:In my sons car I used a Mazda to ISO then an ISO to alpine plug - both from supercrap.

Even then I still needed wire up about 2 or 3 extra wires that for some reason hadn't been used in the ISO socket :roll:

I did the same, but with Pioneer. All I needed was to hook up a ground. Made the job SO easy!
Image
人馬一体 NA8
Tein SS, Torsen T2, BD, Maxim Works→RS*R, ARC, Koyo, SSR, Sparco, Flyin' Miata & bling!

6/5/2010

User avatar
sliq
Speed Racer
Posts: 3414
Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:33 am
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Sydney
Contact:

Aftermarket head unit wiring

Postby sliq » Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:30 pm

i might undo my current shitty soldering and just do this. so much cleaner and a lot less headache
i can't brain today.. i have the dumb..

User avatar
snshami
Racing Driver
Posts: 625
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2010 11:21 pm
Vehicle: NA8
Location: Doreen, Victoria

Re: Aftermarket head unit wiring

Postby snshami » Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:43 am

I found a fully built up hardness from Ebay for $6.50 delivered from the UK. You cannot beat that :D
------------------------
1997 NA8 Neo Green - Limited Edition

User avatar
Bauer
Fast Driver
Posts: 349
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:49 pm
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: Launceston, Tas

Re: Aftermarket head unit wiring

Postby Bauer » Sat Feb 05, 2011 12:13 pm

snshami wrote:I found a fully built up hardness from Ebay for $6.50 delivered from the UK. You cannot beat that :D


Got a link to the one you bought?
cheers
Stu

User avatar
snshami
Racing Driver
Posts: 625
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2010 11:21 pm
Vehicle: NA8
Location: Doreen, Victoria

Re: Aftermarket head unit wiring

Postby snshami » Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:07 pm

------------------------
1997 NA8 Neo Green - Limited Edition

User avatar
Hammer
Speed Racer
Posts: 2849
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB SP
Location: Sydney
Contact:

Re: Aftermarket head unit wiring

Postby Hammer » Sat Feb 05, 2011 3:54 pm

This is definately the go. So easy to refit the OEM radio unit should you want to return the car in original configuration.
H@mmer - 1994 Clubman | 2002 SP
Image
GO TOPLESS!!!

User avatar
SuperMazdaKart
Racing Driver
Posts: 1980
Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 9:10 pm
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Adelaide

Re: Aftermarket head unit wiring

Postby SuperMazdaKart » Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:23 am

If only the previous owner of my car had the sense to do it like this.....

Image

Having audio problems now with it. Although the Sony Xplod system was working for quite a few years in it's defense. I guess since the Mazda plug is long gone, it'll be up to a pro audio installer to convert the remains to ISO plug. I sure as hell aint doing it lol.
Image

User avatar
snshami
Racing Driver
Posts: 625
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2010 11:21 pm
Vehicle: NA8
Location: Doreen, Victoria

Re: Aftermarket head unit wiring

Postby snshami » Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:33 pm

Bauer wrote:I am going to do a head unit install next weekend (bought myself an Alpine CDE 101E head unit)

I had done a few head unit installs in my time on the tools and didnt look back fondly at those days where I had my head in a dash trying to wire up the unit. I am sure Im too old for that now. Then I saw someone point out wiring harnesses. Mazda to ISO then ISO to "brand"(in my case Alpine). These were about $20 each so that 2x$20 to do the job

Then I saw a Mazda to aftermarket harness for $15ish. Plugs directly in to the mazda plugs but was simply coloured wires coming out of the harness. These were colour coded and named in the same way most aftermarket head units colour code their wires. What this meant to me was that I could do a quality join (soldered and heat shrunk) on the work bench. I did this today and I must say that the connections would be 50% better than what I would have done inside the car and I could stand up while I was doing it.

I got my harness from http://myworld.ebay.com.au/original_car_stereos who I cannot speak more highly of for the 1 time I have dealt there. Aeropro part # AP7901F

Image

So if you want to keep your original plug and are happy to do a bit of work, this is the go.

Stu



Hi, are you happy with the Alpine. What kind of harness did the Alpine come with. Did it have connectors at either end or was it a single connector to the unit with cut and stripped wires at the other ?
------------------------
1997 NA8 Neo Green - Limited Edition


Return to “MX5 Audio, Electronics & Lighting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 59 guests