Hi. I have a 97 3.2TL. I have been reading this forum for many hours (6+ hrs), but I am still confused. Some post says that you have to run new wires from ALL the speaker to the new HU to by-pass the oem external amps, and some post says that you don't and you can install the new HU with just a harness. Does anyone know definitively what is the correct way to hook up a new HU?

I do not want to be sending a high lvl signal to the oem external amp, as I know everything is gonna sound like crap then.

If I do have to run new wires, can anyone give me some info? So far I have read about how to run new wires from the front door, but what about the dash tweeter or the rear speaker? I dont' really care about the dome light "center channel speakers" that much as it sounds like a pain in the arse.

Also, anyone have a cheap fix for the squeaky/slow front window problem? I found the post that mentioned it was a recall under normal warranty period, but since it's past the warranty period already ..... guess I am outta luck.

Thanks.

 

I just recently installed a new HU in my 96 TL. I didn't do any rewiring and I like the way it sounds. I tried to find where the wires run for the dash tweeters but stopped after I kinda screwed up my passenger side vent....be careful if you take it off because it breaks so easily. Anyways, the dash tweeters are wired in with the front speakers. And as for the dome light tweeters, they are hooked up to the deck separately from the other speakers, with their own blue harness. I didn't bother rewiring any of the speakers since I'm not running any amps.

 

I just used the harness and everything worked fine. I am NOW using new wires since I added amps shortly after, but when I just threw the deck in with the factory wiring, everything worked just fine.

 

Yeah, I did my own HU swap and it is a bit confusing at first. Hopefully this will help.

The normal harness will wire SIX speakers (2 tweeters, 2 door speakers and the 2 rear deck)

The 2 mid-ranges requires some fancy work.

 

Or just a headunit that has a center channel hookup (like simgarcha said, it has a seperate wiring hookup, just like the big one that goes into the deck, but smaller). Honestly I dont even know if they make those, but I'm sure they do.

 

wow! Thanks for the info. I guess I am going ahead with this project. The oem HU is not bad, but I itch for some fancier flashing lights and some more storage space! Any comments about this look?



Anyone knows of any places with good prices for Pioneer HU in the GTA area? Right now it looksl like futureshop, but I was hoping I can find a better deal elsewhere.

Also, so I would need the HU, the harness, and what else? Brackets? (what is brackets?)? The plastic storage bin that goes underneath? (what is that called?)

Sorry if I sound like a newb. I am fairly mechanically and stereo audio incline, but not car audio in particular. Thanks.

 

I recently found this out as well, all you need is the head unit, and the mounting kit. (kit should come with a wiring harness that is color coded to match the wires in the dash, so when you have to splice the wires together (all you have to do is strip the wires, twist them together, and electrical tape them), the colors all match up. When you say you need a mounting kit, they should also get you the plastic piece that fits in place of the factory deck. mine had an extra kubby below the deck, it was sweet!). But any good stereo place will know what you need, just tell them you are doing the install yourself, and they should give you the 1. wiring harness and the 2. mounting bracket (or whatever the piece is called that slides into the dash to hold your deck, and it should have a kubby under the deck so you can put cd's and stuff in there. if the kit they try to sell you doesnt have that, i'd find another place that has them. its well well worth it.

 

our cars dont have an oem external amp....that was second generation tl's im assuming u read that in the audio forums. but yea...you will need a dash kit to hold the headunit and a wiring harness and most newer model headunits the colors will match up fine.

 

Thanks all for the info. Finally got a place to put my wallet instead of the cup holder!

 

HAHA, no kidding. Thats my favorite part, wallet and remote for the HU.

 

i miss that thing...cus im rockin stock system right now. damn i need a new speaker amp

 

I wish I could hook you guys up...I got a 50x4 (peak) Kenwood MP3 player for 200 bucks (cost) from a buddy. I have another friend too that used to be able to get MTX at cost, but I'm not sure if he can anymore, and someone jacked my MTX. :'(

 

this thread answers my question

 

Use a Metra dash kit, it'll give you a little "bin" for storage below the headunit.

 

Yep. Everyone is correct. Pts for all.

I like Pioneers products. I had a pioneer headunit and have no complaints!

 

FYI - The metra dash kit part number that you need is 99-7892, it has the little storage bin. Installing on Mon when new HU arrives. Great info from all!

 

I just installed a clarion vrx 745 vd (dvd w/ touchscreen) in my 97 TL. I had originally used the metra dash kit but found that the Scosche Sound Kase SKHA634 is look bad ass. it has four ejectable disk slots at the bottom instead of the little cubby hole and looks very professional. Also, the extra wiring harness for the tweeters I hooked up with a simple RCA speaker wire extention that I could hook up to a front RCA audio output on my new head unit. Works good. And I got 2 MTX platinum series 10" subs in the back that I hooked up to my clarion with RCA extentions in ran to the amp in the back. Real cool sound. Now I want to get a new sub box cause mine takes up all trunk space.