Can someone please advise how best to get the stereo out of the Xterra dash, I assume I have to take the dash apart, any advice much appreciated

Bill

The pictures are missing, but you may find what you need. Just did a search for "remove radio".

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22925&highlight=remove+radio

Copy of a slightly edited email I sent to Crutchfield this morning.

I just competed my installation of the following equipment in my 2002 Nissan Xterra, most of which was purchased from Crutchfield.

Now installed are:

Pioneer GM-X304 Amp (4x30rms)

Pioneer TS-WX75 Subwoofer

Infinity 605CS component speakers

AIWA MP3-CDC MP3 stereo receiver

Sony DRN XM tuner


RESULTS - Firstly, I am thrilled at the sound, I completed the project yesterday and could not wait to fire it up. I was not disappointed, I stuck a Morrissey MP3 into the AIWA: let me say, I have never had component speakers before, and will never be without again. Unbelievable! Having the tweeters up high makes all of the difference.

I am happy with Crutchfield, your support, which I called upon two or three times, is excellent.


THE INSTALL - I am 49 years old and have installed quite a few car stereos over the years. I wanted this project to be my best, both in sound and as a clean install. Installing the AIWA and using the wiring harness was fairly straightforward, but I could not have opened the dash without your very detailed instructions. The universal DIN pocket fit perfectly. It’s actually quite easy once you know what you are doing.

I have the AIWA front amplified speaker outputs driving the still factory rear speakers. I have the REAR RCA outputs of the AIWA split and going to the two RCA inputs on my power amp. The power amp is bridged such that half the amp is driving the front speakers, the other half driving the subwoofer. Note that this arrangement fades in reverse, as I fade to the rear I actually increase volume to the amp, and hence the amplifier/subwoofer/front speakers. The way I set this up will easily allow me to upgrade my amp or subwoofer should I desire (but right now it sounds so good I can see no reason to).

AMP - I mounted my amp under the passenger front seat, which is really the only place in the Xterra short of all the way in the back. This affords fairly easy routing of power from the battery (about 6' run, I used 8 gauge wire), and ground is the bolt holding the front seat to the chassis. Most wires are run easily from the amp to the wiring harness near the AIWA through the center console, which is apart due to the AIWA install.

SUBWOOFER – I simply put this in the rear cargo space and ran the wiring along the panel holding the carpet down. Easy.

COMPONENT SPEAKERS - This was the toughest part of the job. My Xterra is configured with pillar tweeters from the factory. Firstly, and Crutchfield should be aware of this, it is next to impossible to try and find the point where the factory wiring splits to drive the factory installed door speakers and pillar tweeters. After a while I gave up on this and decided to wire directly with new wire.

Getting the door panel off is fine with your directions. Getting the pillar trim off required a phone call to Crutchfield, which helped and its actually quite easy.

Running the wire through the rubber seal on the main car body to the door is very difficult, its hard to reach inside and get access. I had to pop the seals to get the wire through, and I am going to have to go back into this part of the project and remove the door (I will need a friend to help hold the door, could not do this on my own) so that I can get this right and the seals back on.

Once I had the wire run from the pillar tweeter to the door, wiring the crossover was straightforward. I mounted the crossover in a plastic bag, and wrapped in eggshell foam, and it fit nicely in the door next to the speaker holes. The door speaker trim kit (142SAC656) did not work out so well. In fact, I could not find holes that would align properly, and I spent way to much time trying. I ended up using them as spacers to keep the speaker off the door frame, but I had to drill and mount the speakers directly into the door. I mounted the door speakers in the optional foam mounting kit as well.

The Infinity pillar tweeters fit fine, I completely removed the existing factory tweeters, and opened up the whole in the trim slightly with a knife so that I could mount the tweeters. They fit fine and look good.

BOTTOM LINE - This system sounds great, I just want to be in my car, period !!!!

Glad it worked out for you. Thanks for the info. :sun: