Installing CD Changer-Question?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,500
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From: Lower, Slower Delaware, formerly from Mobtown, MD (Baltimore)
Installing CD Changer-Question?
Have a '97 and want to install a Sony CDX454RF 10 disc CD changer. has a wire remote control. This unit uses a vacant FM channel to work.
After pulling the AM/FM out, to what are the wires connected to on the radio. I'm reading something about a FM modulator may have to be used.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
After pulling the AM/FM out, to what are the wires connected to on the radio. I'm reading something about a FM modulator may have to be used.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
According to the installation instructions, all you have to connect is 4 wires.
The only one that actually touches the OEM radio is the antenna cord, however, GM uses an other-than-standard size plug for the antenna, so you may have to get 2 adapters for the end of the cable attached to your changer (one normal, and one reversed). The radio will then play the CD audio on whatever channel you set up the changer to transmit over.
The power cords also have to be hooked up:
In the top left corner under the passenger floorboard kick panel you should find 3 unused wires. Black is ground (connect to black wire from changer), orange is constant +12VDC (connect to yellow wire from changer), and yellow is switched (connect to red wire from changer). This will get you working, however, the switched wire in that harness is on when the car is in acc mode or running. You may have noticed that your radio doesn't turn off with the car, but waits until you open a door, that's called Retained Accessory Power (RAP). If you only use the 3 wires in the pigtail your changer will turn off with the car, but the radio will keep playing static until you open a door.
To power the changer with RAP:
Instead of connecting the red changer wire to the yellow wire in the pigtail, connect it to a wire that is powered with RAP. The easiest place to find that RAP wire is under the passenger floorboard fuse box. Pull up the fuse box (two or three screws and a plastic clip), on the grey connector (C2) pins E10 and F10 (both orange, but I used F10 since it was on the bottom row and easier to get at) supply 12V RAP power to the stock radio amps. You can use a wire tap like this to attach the red wire from your changer to the orange F10 wire that's powered by RAP.
Confused yet?
The only one that actually touches the OEM radio is the antenna cord, however, GM uses an other-than-standard size plug for the antenna, so you may have to get 2 adapters for the end of the cable attached to your changer (one normal, and one reversed). The radio will then play the CD audio on whatever channel you set up the changer to transmit over.
The power cords also have to be hooked up:
In the top left corner under the passenger floorboard kick panel you should find 3 unused wires. Black is ground (connect to black wire from changer), orange is constant +12VDC (connect to yellow wire from changer), and yellow is switched (connect to red wire from changer). This will get you working, however, the switched wire in that harness is on when the car is in acc mode or running. You may have noticed that your radio doesn't turn off with the car, but waits until you open a door, that's called Retained Accessory Power (RAP). If you only use the 3 wires in the pigtail your changer will turn off with the car, but the radio will keep playing static until you open a door.
To power the changer with RAP:
Instead of connecting the red changer wire to the yellow wire in the pigtail, connect it to a wire that is powered with RAP. The easiest place to find that RAP wire is under the passenger floorboard fuse box. Pull up the fuse box (two or three screws and a plastic clip), on the grey connector (C2) pins E10 and F10 (both orange, but I used F10 since it was on the bottom row and easier to get at) supply 12V RAP power to the stock radio amps. You can use a wire tap like this to attach the red wire from your changer to the orange F10 wire that's powered by RAP.
Confused yet?
