Well since finally installing my aftermarket headunit I thought I may create a FAQ of common issues I saw while troubleshooting my installation.

Q. How to even get to the darned stock headunit:

A.
(Note: Getting access to everything is easier from the passenger side BTW.)


Q. How the heck does this 12V powerpoint plug come off?

A. THe catch on the plug that looks like you lift it? pinch it instead.


Q. Stuck screws on the headunit?

A1. Tighten them a slight bit then unscrew them.

A2. If you have access to a mini blowtorch, heat each screw before trying to remove it.

A3. Use a ratchet with a 1/4 inch socket and a screwdriver bit.


Q. What dash kit should I use?

A. Depends on what option you want.

1. Scosche NN1648B: Convertible from 1 DIN to 2 DIN. Faceplate surround is a close match to the stock dash pieces. Side brackets are a little flimsy but they hold firm once everything is installed.

2. There are also Metra kits on the market that offer single or double din configurations. They tend to be made of better plastic but use the stock mounting brackets for the headunit. They also tend to come in black plastic.

Here is how it looks with the Scosche Kit:



Q. What wiring kit should I use?

A1. WITH Bose Metra 70-7551.
A2. Without Bose Metra 70-7550


Q. I want to keep my steering wheel controls, how can I do that?

A. First you will need to have a headunit that can accept remote control. A majority of them out there are capable but double check the specs. Second, you will need to purchase a steering wheel control module. Again, you have two primary choices, either PAC or Axxess. The PAC is more widely known but has to be manually programmed. The Axxess ASWC will automatically program itself for your car/headunit combination.


Q. I wired everything up but the headunit won't turn on.

A. The ground in the harness can be a little iffy. I ended up just running the ground to the metal bracket at the base of the dash support.


Q. The headunit turns on but no sound comes out.

A. You need to hook up the amp trigger wire so the Bose amps turn on. It's one of the blue wires.


Q. My trip computer no longer cycles when I press the trip button.

A. On the smaller harness that went into the back of the original headunit there is a brown wire that needs to be grounded. Just splice it into the headunit's ground that was discussed earlier.


Q. My aftermarket headunit has crappy reception? What happened?

A. The Maxima uses an amplified antenna that needs power. That second blue wire in the harness needs power. Attach it to the power antenna lead out of the headunit or add it to the amp trigger circuit. If you continue to have poor reception try flipping the Diversity plug adapter.


Q. I can't get my steering wheel remote adapter to work!

A. Like the trip computer the steering wheel controls need to have the ground (brown w/ white stripe) wire hooked up in order for the controls to work.


Q. I have everything installed but there are gaps between the A/C vents and/or the climate control. What gives?

A. It's a very good possibility everything won't go together perfectly the first time. Without the wires installed do a few test fits to make sure your HU is mounted in the right postition and everything lines up the way you want it to. If you are using the Scorsche kit you will need to install the top screws for the mounting rails in order to get a proper fit. Be sure to lift the HU when tightening the screws in order to get the proper alignment.

 

Great job man! You may get some flack for duplicate thread but it will help out those who are in need of help with installs.

 

Updated with a minor edit- Use a ratchet, 1/4" socket and a screwdriver bit to remove the HU screws. &Pic of the Scoshe dash kit.

 

Awesome info!
Hv my 4300 coming in this week... Got this post bookmarked!

 

After a quick read, the only one I would change is this one.

There is NO ground in the stock harness; the stock radio is grounded via its metal brackets, once they are screwed into the dash metal. ALWAYS ground at other metal/dash support.

 

Hi. I have a question. I have a 5.5 gen 2002 maxima with the standard audio system (6 speakers, looks the same as the bose unit but with only one cd instead of 5, with no bose tag anywhere to be found). It works perfectly and I was wondering if I could add a subwoofer to this system without changing the main unit. The speakers all around still sound great. All I want is to add a sub and that's about it. Would the system be able to handle it without any mod ? I'm not very good at this so pardon me if I'm not really clear.

 

Your gonna need Ofcourse an amp for the sub an the sub it self, go to a stereo shop an get a line converter which basically splices into your rear speakers an converts to rca's so it can plug into the amp. Follow the directions on the package of the line converter or use google. Then get an amp install kit for the sub amp an wire it all up, you will need to find a wire to use so that the amp will turn on with the stereo instead of always bein on with or without the key, but a aftermarket HU is always best an will help all around

 

I believe the op is referring to the metra wire harness, it has 2 ground wires one per harness an they need to be grounded, I used the same one as him (my bro in law,op) an it had the 2 ground wires

 

Thats exactly what I said. Just ground at the base of the dash support bracket. There is a stud and nut on each side that is easy to tap into.

 

I would suggest the 68750-VENTC part instead of the schosche or metra double din kits. It's much more expensive, but it looks better. Then again I am retarded OCD about my car.

 

But only IF you can afford one, IF you can find one and IF you can deal with the gap on the bottom.

 

I beg to differ...I installed my Pioneer AVH4200DVD two days ago and my Metra 70-7551 harness had a ground wire on it. The 70-7551 is actually a 2 connector harness, the one connector has RCAs for the rear speakers, a turn on lead, and ground wire for the factory amp. The second connector has the RCAs for the front speakers, as well as your power, battery, remote turn on lead, and illumination wires. I grounded my stereo and my parking brake bypass to this ground wire on the first connector and it worked fine. I checked the connector and followed the ground wire onto the stock wiring and it does in fact lead into the cars factory wiring. (Id seen posts where some said the ground wire didnt lead to the cars factory wiring)...

Now our stereos DO ground through the antenna and the stereo chassis...but if this ground on the Metra connector really were a "phantom" wire that didnt lead to a ground...then how is my parking brake bypass working and Im able to view DVDs while Im driving if this ground wasnt really a ground?

 

I'm glad I just saw this, I'm putting mine in Monday. Thanks!

 

VERY informative! Too bad I didn't have this before I installed my AVH-P3300BT

 

Very nice write up.

 

I never said the black wires weren't a ground I just said they were an unstable ground. In my first couple of installations (In a week and a half I installed 3 different headunits) it did work but it quickly became an unreliable ground as I worked with getting the trip computer/steering wheel controls working. Plus with anything electronic you really want to have a nice solid ground. Flaky ones tend to damage electronics.

 

very nice......thanks

 

Should I get a PAC ROEM NIS2 or just get standard metro 70-7551?

 

Hey guys, i have a 2004 Maxima SE and i just installed a new head unit and i have to have the Vol. on 46 just to faintly here the music. I had found the 'Amp turn on' disconnected, but when i reconnected it to the head units turn on wire it resulted in the same thing.(the head units turn on signal is 13VAC). Oh yeah, my head unit also as 2v preouts

 

Its the HU preouts, you should get PAC ROEMNIS2

 

Got that today, wired it in and still the same result, im thinking maybe i should splice in some RCA's i have and connecting it to the pre-amp out as opposed to the harness that goes into the radio. The noise level got better but still quiet, i hope this is it lol. Do i need to reset the amp when i change the radio?

 

great writeup frogman. i have very poor reception and didn't realize the fm antenna is powered thanks for the info. i have the exact same problem as shall91. bought a pioneer deh33hd from crutchfield w the free harness, hooked it up and now barely hear anything. i think replacing all 4 speakers and sacrificing the bose amp will be better than dealing with their crap. I'm going with 5.25 2-way pioneers in the rear that i had from a previous car, and picked up a pair of sony xplod 6.5's for the front for $40 from best buy. i think even with cheap speakers i will be better off than i am now. I'm not looking to do amps and subs, just want some tunes as i drive. any feedback appreciated

 

I'm a little confused on the radio wire deal, what wires do i hook up to allow the power to go the antenna? I have horrible radio reception and thought it was my deck, i have a 5.5 and i'm using the metra 70-7551. Froggmann i think you actually gave me advice on my original install, but i never knew about the powered antenna thing and it'd be nice to have actual radio reception again lol

Thanks

EDIT: Nevermind, got it all figured out Now my radio works well again! Don't listen to it all the time but when I do I enjoy quality signal. Thanks Again!

 

closet viewer....1st post here! Anyway....I bought the scoshe kit and a brand new gxe vent and I'm trying to decide which one to use for my 3300bt install. Im leaning toward the scoshe for the simple fact that it wont have the "gap". Any suggestions on how I can get rid of the "gap" so that I can use the gxe?

 

Does anyone have a reference for how to install the ASWC adapter? I downloaded the instructions from their website, but they're picturing a 16 PIN adapter which I can't find. What was attached to my BOSE was a 10 PIN and 6 PIN adapter, but no 16 PIN.

I have a 2002 Maxima SE BTW.

I've been struggling for days! Axxess tech support was ZERO help. Crutchfield really couldn't help either. Hopefully you guys can!

 

Hello everybody! Ive been hanging around here for the past few months....since I bought my 02 maxima! The amount of useful info I've got from this forum is amazing! Anyway, this being my first post, I've decided to share some pics of my double din pioneer that I installed and the leds in the instrument cluster and hvac.

http://forums.maxima.org/album.php?albumid=6075

 

Which dash kit do people recommend for 2001 AE with Pioneer Double din deck ?