Stereo Question

[CAJUN TITAN]

I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR FACTORY RADIOS AND I WANT TO CHANGE MINE. HERE IS THE PROBLEM I WENT TO A CAR STEREO SHOP TODAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT SINCE I HAD THE PREMIUM SOUND ROCKFORD FOSGATE SYSTEM I COULD NOT INSTALL AN AFTER MARKET STERO WITHOUT DOING ALOT OF REWIRING AND MAYBE CHANGING OUT THE SPEAKERS. IS THIS TRUE?

[eakes]

Define a lot of rewiring. I had the RF system? in my LE for about 3 days after delivery, then it was gone. Do you HAVE to change the speakers? NO, but you will if you want better sound. I retained the front door speakers and dash tweeters in my install but use larger speakers in the rear (rear speakers are in-place but not used). Others have changed speakers all-arround.
The first thing you will need to replace the RF is the dash bezel for the XE stock radio - it has a double-DIN opening and is available from Nissan parts suppliers (like your dealer). You will also need a wiring harness to connect the new HU to the factory wiring.
There are a number of other things to be considered. All of these have been discussed in great detail in many theads on this forum. Do a search for 'Stereo replacement' and you will find a great deal of info.
Bottom line - it can be replaced, there are a number of different ways to do it and it is not terribly difficult.

[bestatchess]

The RF system includes a head unit (Panasonic) mounted in the dash. The head unit is connected to an amplifer (mine had a Clarion sticker) mounted under the driver's side dash up on the firewall. The amp drives 8 (KC) or 10 (CC) speakers. In a CC, the speakers are: two tweeters and a center channel on the dash, one 6x9 in each front door, a tweeter in each rear door, a speaker in each rear door, and a sub in a plastic box under the driver's seat. My speakers had the indicia "Clarion 2 ohm" and "35W".

To swap out the HU and drive the OEM speakers with a new HU, you need to bypass the RF amp. For many other vehicles having OEM stereos with external amplifiers you can buy what is known as a "bypass harness". This basically connects the speaker outs of your new HU to the speaker wiring of the factory harness at a point downstream of the OEM amplifier. I haven't seen a "bypass harness" for Nissan's RF system. However, Eakes has solved this problem and has previously posted on this site instructions for jumpering around the RF amp using wires and Molex pins. I think you can probably find this by using the search function for posts by Eakes.

In addition to jumpering around the RF amp, you would need a pigtail/connector adapter that would connect the harness that comes with your new HU to the factory harness connectors located behind the dash. That pigtail/connector adapter is available under the designation Scosche NN03B. Crutchfield also sells an adapter as described at this link:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-bVFsSsa...an+1995+%26+up

And also the replacement dash bezel mentioned by Eakes:

http://www.courtesyparts.com/Merchan...de=68260-A60CC

Now when you completed all of this, you would have a new HU driving crappy 2 ohm speakers and sub. Depending on the characteristis of the new HU, it might not work so well with the 2 ohm speakers.

[CAJUN TITAN]

Thanks Guys For All That Information It Helped Out Alot. I Guess I Have To Decide What I Want To Do.

[TickleMeTitan]

contact jl audio. they have the total solution, designed for your exact dilema.