Advice Needed-Splitting Climate Control From Radio

[Oggy]

Hi all,

 

Looking for some advice here.

I have a fourth gen legacy and want to put a better radio in it to get sub controls etc etc.

Problem though is that the climate control and radio is one huge unit, no issues wiring in a new radio/cutting up my head unit to make the new radio fit but I'd lose my climate control.

There are two connectors to the displays/controls so guessing climate and radio.

On the back of the entire unit there are two connectors also, the white connector needs to be plugged in for both radio and climate control to work but the black connector seems to just do the display for the climate control, climate control remains on when I pull that cable out.

 

I'm guessing I have to leave the original head unit in place and somehow wire in a new radio to sit above and have two running at once or wire in new climate control settings.

 

Any useful advice would be appreciated

[starionesir]

It is much easier to use the JDM climate control kit so you can add whatever radio you want without having to hack everything up. You can sometimes find the kits on here used for a good price and then don't have to wait for the stuff to be shipped from japan.

[starionesir]

This is what I'm talking about. This one just sold though.

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/jdm-double-din-kit-239697.html?t=239697&highlight=jdm+double+din

[JBear]

I highly endorse that plan. It's what I did, came out factory perfect, and we actually prefer some of the minor differences in the JDM climate controls like the lower profile temperature wheels. I didn't wait long at all for the dash kit from Japan either, I don't think it took a week.

[SPooky_leggy]

It is much easier to use the JDM climate control kit so you can add whatever radio you want without having to hack everything up. You can sometimes find the kits on here used for a good price and then don't have to wait for the stuff to be shipped from japan.

 

+1 on this idea, it will look cleaner and probably cheaper than trying to rewire all your climate control plus radio and running the possibility of it looking like crap....

[whitrzac]

It is much easier to use the JDM climate control kit so you can add whatever radio you want without having to hack everything up. You can sometimes find the kits on here used for a good price and then don't have to wait for the stuff to be shipped from japan.

 

I ordered my JDM kit on sunday. I had it by friday.

 

~$295

[starionesir]

Thats quick. I got mine locally so wasn't sure exactly on shipping time.

[JBear]

But everyone agrees, whether they've sprung for that solution or settled for something else: the JDM way (not unlike most JDM ways with our cars) is sexier than a three-balled tomcat.

[anti]

http://www.avojdm.com/index.php?cPath=26_54_60

 

It looks like you would want the 003 version for your car (or maybe thee 004 or 007?). Most that are sold here are the 002 for the dual climate control.

[Oggy]

Hi all,

 

Thanks for the advice. So it would just be a simple plug into the existing cables the car has or do I need adapters etc.?

 

Also the radio I already have from my old car (Radio is less than a year old) have will only take up half the space.

Reckon I could squeeze a satnav in there?

Wire it in so it turns on and off alongside the ignition?

 

I know that I could get a huge screen and forget my old radio but trying to do this somewhat on the cheaper side.

Part of me is saying that I should just wait til I have a decent system like the Kenwood DNX 7200 (just not as expensive as the kenwood, a £300 one should easily cover my needs) before changing anything. Might as well do it all at once instead of half doing a job with cheap parts.

 

Opinions?

 

P.s. Do I need an amp if I'm getting more powerful door speakers? Various forums say yes and no!

[JBear]

You would need a harness adapter, which is made by one of the members here, because the HVAC gets it's power from the stereo and the JDM cars have a plug for it that ours don't. This harness essentially adds the plug. That harness requires assembly, but it isn't especially complicated. There is a topic here with all the information you need, along with pictures, links and part numbers, essentially a walk through:

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/official-dual-hvac-double-din-jdm-kit-thread-113589.html

 

Your p.s. question has a case specific answer, but I'd say probably not depending on the aftermarket head unit. They seem to be getting more powerful every year, and depending on the speakers you get, your deck may or may not have enough power to drive them efficiently.

[JBear]

You may also want to consider this option, since you already have a H/U:

 

legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/fl-single-din-console-panel-single-din-radio-cubby-hole-239824.html