Headunit help!

[Renzo]

Well, I bought an "open-box" Alpine CDA-9883 head unit at Best Buy on Black Friday. It was $100 (orig. $205) and the only thing that was missing was the wiring harness. Now, I can get one from the Alpine parts store but I was wondering if this is something I can only get from Alpine or if I can buy one from any car audio store.

[Slv97rRs]

Re: Headunit help!

you could get it from any car audio store as long as they sell alpine but all they are going to do is call alpine and order one, and probably charge you more than if you were to just order it from alpine yourself. but i would start by looking on ebay and maybe some car audio fourms to see if someone has one

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Headunit help!

No actually you cant really get them from a car audio store, they would have the harness for your vehicle but not the radio.

You can order it from Alpine most likely, but your best bet is ebay... thats where I have gotten harnesses in the past.

I actually have to order a new pioneer one soon because Ive changed headunits so often, everytime I re-wire the harness it gets shorter and shorter and harder to wire up.

[Renzo]

Re: Headunit help!

Yeah, I think I'll try the Alpine parts website. Its only 6 bucks (plus the 11 shipping) so it won't be so bad. But let me ask you something strtracer98, how hard is it to hook up yourself? My best friend said we could do it together but I didn't know he knew how to do it, 'cause I sure as hell don't know how to do it. So any tips in advance would be helpful.

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Headunit help!

Its really easy, you need the harness for the radio that you are ordering from alpine, and the harness for your car that you can pick up from best buy, wal mart, etc etc....

The kit you buy from best buy will plug into the car, where the stock radio is currently plugged

You take the alpine harness and match the colors to the best buy harness and connect them with wire connectors / crimp caps.


Along with the harness from best buy, you will need to buy a GM Antenna adapter which converts GM mini plug to the aftermarket full size antenna plug. That also just plugs in, no wiring.

Also, if you dont already have it, you need the dash kit to fit your aftermarket radio into the stock radio hole, since the stock radio is much larger than the alpine

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Headunit help!

Actually looking at your cardomain looks like you already have a aftermarket sony radio, so you wont need the dash kit or the antenna adapter or the best buy harness


When you pull the sony headunit out, you will see between the two harnesses where all the wires are connected with wire ties more than likely, you will connect the alpine harness to it just like that


You will have to remove the silver "cage" that the sony radio sits in, and locks into the dash kit and install the alpine "cage" in the same manor the sonys was installed.

[Renzo]

Re: Headunit help!

sorry, that was my old car, i have a 2000 firebird now. Stock radio. But thanks man, I feel pretty confident after you explained it to me. It sure beats saving myself the 50 bucks Best Buy will charge me.

thanks for the help

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Headunit help!

No problem if you need more info dont be afraid to ask, its better to ask then F' Something up

[96firebird311]

Re: Headunit help!

I actually have to order a new pioneer one soon because Ive changed headunits so often, everytime I re-wire the harness it gets shorter and shorter and harder to wire up.

Any Circuit City uses Metra "speed harnesses". Two harnesses for each car. One that goes from the vehicle harness to a universal plug style end. Then a second harness that goes from that same universal plug style end to a standard Pioneer end. (Or sony, Eclipse, JVC, etc) So no crimping to do at all. Tell me THAT'S not pimp!:naughty:

So you can just walk into Circuit City and buy the Pioneer end speed harness and just clip off the universal plug connector on the other end. Boom. Brand new Pioneer harness. Or spend the extra few bucks and buy the vehicle side harness too. No crimping at all.

And for car audio INSTALLATION, use Circuit City over Best Buy. Other than using the speed harnesses mentioned above, they solder every single connection when hardwiring is needed. Best Buy uses clear crimp caps on EVERY radio install and all other hardwiring. Also, Circuit City offers free installation with headunit purchases. Circuit City also sells Metra parts where as Best Buy sells Scosche. Donno if it's just me, just all of Metra's dash kits seem to be better quality and have a better fit. I'm sorry, but it's all true. Best Buy carries better name brands IMO (Rockford, Alpine, Infinity vs Polk, Kicker, MTX), but their installation techniques corporate teaches them blow.

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Headunit help!

lol that would be the easy way to do it...

[Renzo]

Re: Headunit help!

hey guys, another quick question. I found this wiring harness on ebay for 10 bucks and i wanted to know if that'll work for my alpine cd player. My model is cda-9883 (which says it is compatible to my cd player on the description). and i'm positive it is the right one but i wanted confirmation from one of you experts in this field. Here's the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...TODAY.m238.lVI

I appreciate all the help guys!

Renzo

[Renzo]

Re: Headunit help!

anybody can help me?

[96firebird311]

Re: Headunit help!

Looks like a standard ol Alpine harness to me....

[Vanquish]

Re: Headunit help!

They have universal harnesses. They are very cheap and will work with any vehicle. But, in reality, every harness is completely universal. Only problem is, they won't match color for color, so you have to know what each wire is used for on the harness, so that you can match it up accordingly to the head-unit.

[RadRacer]

Re: Headunit help!

That should be the right harness. I got mine for my old Clarion from eBay for $4 to my door! Much better than the $20 from Clarion. Then go to Wal-Mart or another audio store and get a GM harness. Take the two harnesses and crimp the matching colors together and it'll plug right into your stock stereo's harness. Then you'll need an antenna adapter and a mounting plate. Same exact thing others have said :D