Head Unit install question
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Arnold Ziffelville CA
Head Unit install question
I went by the audio shop and the guy told me that if I change the head unit and door speakers I can't use the stock wireing, I need re-wire the whole thing. Is this true? Is there an easy way to do this? Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
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From: Windermere FL
Re: Head Unit install question (reyderz86)
Yes and no. In a C4 crappy bose system, the stock wires go to amps where the speakers are, not the speakers. If you install a deck, you need to bypass the amps. I usually recommend rewiring with 14 gauge wire. Better than stock and easy to do.
[Modified by 92TripleBlack, 7:43 PM 6/24/2002]
[Modified by 92TripleBlack, 7:43 PM 6/24/2002]
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Arnold Ziffelville CA
Re: Head Unit install question (92TripleBlack)
When you say "goes to the amps where the speakers are", does that mean the amps are by the speakers and not behind the dash?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: Head Unit install question (reyderz86)
When you say "goes to the amps where the speakers are", does that mean the amps are by the speakers and not behind the dash?
Bose puts the amps at each speaker and none of the bose stuff is compatable with aftermarket pieces.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 275
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From: South Bend, Indiana
Re: Head Unit install question (reyderz86)
Your audio shop told you wrong. You can get a converter at Best Buy's automotive audio install department that will link a new head unit to your present Bose amps/speakers/wiring if that's what you want. I just installed a Pioneer DEH this way for someone and it worked great.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
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From: Windermere FL
Re: Head Unit install question (jimtreber)
There are two types of wire harnesses: The converting type and the adapting type. The converting type cost $50-75 and convert the radio output from high output 4 ohm rated power to the 1 ohm input of the amps for the bose system. The other harness is the $10 one available from walmart, etc. This one is meant to be used in all GM cars and plugs directly into the wire harness in the dash of the car. For corvette owners with bose systems, they are useful for getting power hookups. Unfortunately, many owners also hook up the speaker wires to their radios. This doesn't convert the power and sends the wrong rated power to the amps. They will work for a little while but eventually either the amp or the radio will fry. Its kinda like plugging a 110volt TV into a 220volt washer outlet. Hope this clears it up. I also hope this is what they did with the Pioneer DEH as this is one of the most common mistakes made with those radios as they say just plugs into a GM location. It does, as long as it isn't Bose.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,941
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From: Arnold Ziffelville CA
Re: Head Unit install question (reyderz86)
I ended up just using the antena, ground, and power wires. Hooked those up, and everything else is new wiring and new speakers.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
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From: Windermere FL
Re: Head Unit install question (jimtreber)
Sounds like the correct line converter if you are plugging the deck into the stock system. I haven't used one in a long time but the regular harness wouldn't have those.