vinovelo

For all those who have installed CD changers you know what I mean and for those that dont:.....

I decided the easiest way around the CD-R problem with the Bose unit
(no excuse to not playing CD-R's, non at all), was to install a cd changer
in the trunk. At least that way I'd get additional functionality along with
a solution to the CD-R problem.

BTW: The CD-R problem is NOT a media problem. Many have stated that
use of specific or special media solves the problem Not true. In some cases
this helps but in others it does no good. Bose just didn't use the right laser
pickup in thier units. I could find no media that consistently solved this issue
for me. Some worked part of the time at best.

I selected an inepensive Pioneer unit which had a control panel that would
neatly fit inbetween the seat heater switches in the center console.

The biggest problem in removing the stinking radio to access the antenna
connection, needed to install the antenna switch for the unit. One must
take apart the entire center console up to and including the climate control
module! This is rediculous! Some 21 screw and several parts to the console
must be removed to acess the three screws on the side of the radio that
holds it in place! What were they thinking? All this because there were
two plastic table beneath the radio housing that prevented the radio module
from removal without cascading the removal of the entire center console.
Sheesh!

If you decide to do this allow an extra hour or so to carfully remove the
center console parts and deal with them carefully. They are extremely
easy to damage and scratch. The shop manual proved very valuable
for removal diagrams. :chainsaw:

That said the install worked well. I mounted my unit underneath and attached
to the NAVI box in the trunk and was able to tap off the power wires going
to it. (another area where the servce manual helped). The sounds is quite
acceptable (for a FM boradcast unit) and the control unit fits unobtrusivley.

For anyone up for a few hours of knuckle scraping interior ripping frustration
it's a worthwhile solution for the CD-R problem and having a 6-12 pack changer is nice.

I can e-mail copies of the console removal etc for anyone needing. I'd post
them but am unsure how to.

/Steve

fsttyms1

you should have gotten one that plugs into the headunit so you didnt have to use rf. there are acouple of them out there. alpine is one of them

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, the Alpine changers plug right in. No FM modulator needed.

vinovelo

Interesting. The Pioneer also has a direct connection cable but I did not see
anywhere on the back of the Bose unit that it would connect to. Connectors
did not match anywhere.

FWIW the FM modulator sounds fairly decent. No hiss or interference.

I have a cheap unit in the trunk of my Miata and there is notcible FM interference
but with the engire runnning and especially the top down you just can't hear it.

(I'm not about to rip apart that center console again.....)

Thanks,

/Steve

fsttyms1

the pioneer may have that cable but it doesnt work with our headunit. the alpine does and plugs in so there is no loss in sound quality.
whats so hard about pulling the radio out? it can be done in less that 5 min

ArN 2000 TL

That was my solution to the CD-R problem as well. I bought the Alpine unit which was a direct plug and play with the Bose head unit. I had to remove the center console anyway because i was doing the Navi-conversion from back in the day at the same time. I still hate the fact that my radio cannot play cd-rs and that i have to get out of the car and dump them in the changer every time, yet i can hop in my friends 15k civic and it plays all the cdrs with no problem :chainsaw:

djinstinct

I would love a copy of that console removing diagram!

vinovelo

Lemme get my scanner re-installed and scan in those few pages.
If I can't post them I'll e-mail them directly. They are of particular
help because there is a sequence to removing these pannels. If
you try to remove a mid pannel without the one behind it first and
muscle it at all you can easily dammage the plastic pieces. Also
some things are a bit asymetrical. For example a side panel to the
console on the dravers side had a screw holding it in place at one
point whereas the passenger side does not.

And...it takes more than five minutes to do all this, especially the
first time, and especially if you do dot want a batch of scratched
up trim pieces.

The sequence:
- remove fake wod trim. no screws
- remove rear console pocket and slide bacwards to remove. 2 screws
- Remove cup holder and holder tray. 6 screws
- Remove shifter trim ring. no screws
- remove driver and passenger consol sides. 1 screws
- remove shifter cover. 4 screws.
- remove seat heater switches and disconnect cable.
- pull out shift cover
- remove 6 screws holding radio and A/C unit and pull forward.

I'm listing this from memory so I'm sure there are one or two steps
and some screws to add.

All this because there are plastic tabe that prevent the removal of
the radio A/C unit from simply sliding forward. It all cascades back
to the rear console.

/Steve

davey73

Could'nt those plastic tabs just be cut? That way it would only take 5 mins.

vinovelo

The tabs are screw mountings that hold the two panels (the radio face and shifter
cover) together. If they were to be cut there would be loose panels and the console
would creak for sure.

I sure did think about cuttting those suckers out at one point though....

/Steve