Installing a Head Unit in a P10

[MoReace]

I would look a new head unit for my P10. I wans thinking Pioneer, or maybe Panasonic. Is this something that I could do myself. I'd have to get harnesses and what not, but after that is it doable? What does it entail? You think I should pay the $100 installation fee. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[endfro]

Do it yourself. Its so easy.

Right near the climate controls are two screws.. unscrew them. Take out the ash tray. Right above the stock deck are two more screws, take them out. Then you pull the entire "console" piece off. Disconnect the buttons above the stock deck so you can pull it out. Then on the left and right side of the deck there are two screws. Unscrew them. Pull the deck out and unclip it.

There ya go you have your stock deck out.

Make sure you save the things that screw into the left and right sides of the stock deck. They are what you use to mount your aftermarket deck. Also, the only way you can ground the power for the deck is by screwing it down there. So you have to do that in order for it to work. =]

There ya go.

[AznVirus]

is it really hard to do all the wiring yourself if you dont know a lot about wiring? is it all just plug in? will i have to wire some extra wires?

[endfro]

Naw man its really easy. Just go up to Best Buy, Circut City, Audio King, wherever yo uwant to. And get a wiring harness for your G20.. make sure its for the right year etc.

After that all you do is match the wires on the harness to the wires on the head unit. Red on the harness connects to red on the head unit. Yellow on the harness connects to yellow on the head unit. Its really smiple and easy to do.

Then you plug it in and there ya go.

[MoReace]

endfro, did u do this yourself? U make it sound too easy. Does anything have to be done to the stock amps in the trunk? Right now the head unit is putting out 0 watts per channel. A new head unit could put out 50 watts per channel. Combining this with the stick amps seems to me like it might cause a problem or at least distort sound quality. :bandit:

[nis.k.a.]

It is REALLY easy to install as I do EVERYTHING myself. You won't get that good of sound quality with the stock amps and speakers. There's a lot of background noise and cell-phone interference. Seriously, I'd do a total aftermarket system, it sounds much, much cleaner. The stock amps are freakin' cheap and worthless. I had my Pioneer Premeir DEH 7200 hooked to the stock system for about 2 months, did that ever suck ass. When I installed my entire system, it was SO much better (which is to be expaected). I absolutely hate interference and noise. Trust me, it's not worth the hassle to install a nice deck with those crappy ass speakers and amps.

[MoReace]

what's a total system? I was looking at a deh too, but am in a budget. stock sound isn't that bad and has no interference. does it get worse w/ a new head?

[A380Driver]

Ok guys a couple things I have learned from installing a head unit. Remember that there are factory amps in the car. On the new radio that you get, there will be a (blue?) "power turn-on" wire. This is the wire that you will have to hook up to the following:

1) power antenna
2) amp turn on wire that goes to the car
3) any other amp that you have

Now, what I also suggest that you get is an inline dB reducer. This is becuase a new head unit is sending out an amplified signal to the amplifiers and it is getting double amplified. You can solve this by two ways.

1) Get a little unit that reduces the signal coming out of the head unit. Go to a local shop and ask them, they will know what you're talking about.

2) Buy your own amps and rewire the speakers to those amps. This way you can use the pre-outs (RCA) ((if your new head unit is so quipped, most are)) and hook those directly to an amp. The preouts are NOT amplified, so that is why you would have to send them to an amp.

Option #2 is obvious more money and more time consuming, so I suggest going with option #1.

When you get a wire harness, on the back of it, it should say 91-96 G20 or something like that...its basically a NISSAN harness. I would suggest going to Home Depot or any other electronics store and buying "Butt-end connectors" This is to put the two wire harnesses together. The one to the Car, and the one from the headunit. You can then use a lighter and hold it to the plastic from the "butt end connector" after you have crimped it down to shrink the plastic.

Another thing you will notice is that the G20 has TWO antennas...one in the back, and one in the winshield. They make an antenna adapter for this. You will need this antenna adapter. It goes from the (stock) two prong, to a (new) one prong. Unless you buy a head unit with the so-called "diversity antenna" thing...but ive never seen that.

Remember, dont use the cage thingie that comes with a new head unit. Use the two mounting brackets. They should say how to mount it to a nissan in the manual.

What I found on my Kenwood is that the brakets dont set the radio out "far-enough". What i mean by that is when you put the black console cover (the one with the two a/c vents and hazard switch) the radio wont stick out far enough to put the "little plastic athstetic plastic snap on piece" around the radio. So I had to buy 1/4 spacers and put those behind the screws when you screw the radio in. Then it will fit and make it look nice.
Note: IT may be different for your radio...who knows?

Hope that helps...

Ohh umm im not sure if pre 93.5 have stock amps...they may not...you should consult ur FSM

[nis.k.a.]

You could buy the spacer, but my Pioneer looks much cleaner without the frame. What I mean as a whole system is aftermarket amp and speakers and re-wiring everything. This is the only way your gonna get super clean sound (assuming you use high quality equipment). Buy what you can afford, but realize the higher price stuff is not just more expensive, it's better in all ways. Though two amps may both be rated at 50W, the higher end one is most likely underrated and will have much better clarity, build, and have a better constant than the cheaper one. If you just want sounds, buy anything.

As a comparison. I have the Pioneer Premier DEH-7200, Phoenix Gold ZX250, Phoenix Gold ZX350 (with LPL44 gain controller), Phoenix Gold .5 farad cap. one JL Audio 10W6 (3 ohm), Infinity Kappa 60.2 component set, and Infinity Kappa 4x6 coaxial plates in the door, all wired with Phoenix Gold everything (including distribution blocks, power/negative cord, and patch cord), Pioneer CD-RB10 (changes Bus cord from changer output to 2 patch connections for audio on TV's). MA Audio 5.6" LCD monitor, and a PS2.

My cousin has some cheap Sony whatever head unit, Visonik amp, (2) Visonik 12's, Visonik crossover, stock door speakers, (4) Visonik 5.6" LCD monitors, and a Sega Dreamcast. He wired his car with crap stuff, and some ghetto connection to get his TV's working.

Though he pounds harder, he doesn't hold a candle to me when it comes to clarity, constant power, and noise (cable noise). Why? because he cut corners just to get it working. I cut no corners and he now regrets it. I ABSOLUTELY kill him in all ways except SPL.

Just a thought

P.S.- His system is a lot heavier too! I told him, like I am to you, he wouldn't listen! :o :silly2:

[A380Driver]

Nice setup!

Well I agree...i mean if you can spend money on it...by all means...if you have enough money, your options are endless...however..some of us...well arent that lucky

Also...it depends on where your priorities are. If you only have a certain amount to spend...do you spend it on better performance...or blowing your ear drums faster...preferably, i like to keep my hearin and would rather tweak out the SR20

my $.02

[AznVirus]

Originally posted by A380Driver

Another thing you will notice is that the G20 has TWO antennas...one in the back, and one in the winshield. They make an antenna adapter for this. You will need this antenna adapter. It goes from the (stock) two prong, to a (new) one prong. Unless you buy a head unit with the so-called "diversity antenna" thing...but ive never seen that.

does the P10 come with two antennas? if so, is it possible to wire it to the one in the windshield and take out the one on the trunk?

[A380Driver]

Originally posted by AznVirus


does the P10 come with two antennas? if so, is it possible to wire it to the one in the windshield and take out the one on the trunk?

Hmmm good question. On mine, 93.5 G20, it has two antennas...however, I think the one in the winshield might be preatty weak. I wouldnt suggest removing the one in the trunk unless you plan on only CDs and really local radio stations. I wouldnt even know what to plug the hole up with...

some people have asked about getting one of those small black rubber fixed antennas...thats kinda cool...but then again, I like how mine retracts so no stupid idiots can go around breaking people antennas off at concerts and other public get togethers...

Speaking of public places....im so sick of people banging their door into mine...i have like 4-5 marks at least...and i try to get an end spot away in the middle of nowhere!! GRRRR heh...anyone else get really banged up?"

[AznVirus]

Originally posted by A380Driver


Hmmm good question. On mine, 93.5 G20, it has two antennas...however, I think the one in the winshield might be preatty weak. I wouldnt suggest removing the one in the trunk unless you plan on only CDs and really local radio stations. I wouldnt even know what to plug the hole up with...

ya i pretty much only play cds, hate listen to all the talking in between songs. you could plug it up with bondo or something else, just like how Honda owners plug up the two holes where the H emblem goes. oh ya, and mine should have two also since mines 95, dont think they would change that.

Originally posted by A380Driver


Speaking of public places....im so sick of people banging their door into mine...i have like 4-5 marks at least...and i try to get an end spot away in the middle of nowhere!! GRRRR heh...anyone else get really banged up?"

i know what you mean. i have like 2 or 3 on my doors. :finger:

[MoReace]

anyone put just a hed unit in? Does it sound the same. I really hate the look of the stock system, but I think it sounds fine to me. A new Pioneer unit wont decrease the quality will it?

[A380Driver]

A New head unit will sound great. But if you use the stock amps with it, you have to decrease the dB out of the head unit by around half...its about $15 for a dB decreaser.