[FoCo NoCo]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum! We own (5) NV vans for our business, and we are very happy with all of them.

Recently I decided to pick up a used '04 LE CC as an emergency backup work vehicle/road trip camper-puller. I bought the thing knowing that the stereo wasn't working, figuring "I've installed about a dozen car stereos over the years, I can figure this out." Otherwise it is in nice shape, the guy even had the front axle replaced with a newer one, as the 04s are problematic.

It has the somewhat unusual option of the Rockford Fosgate 10 speaker system, in-dash navigation, and rear DVD system. Currently, the NAV works fine, and I can display the HVAC info on the NAV screen (as well as access the vehicle electronics section of the menu), but the stereo and DVD system do not work. I can load a disc in the DVD player, so everything appears to have power, but I haven't tried the 6-disc changer so far. I checked the fuses, nothing wrong there. I disconnected the battery, no dice. (But I did enjoy the alarm system in all it's glory!) So at this point, I'm stuck.

I can take it to the dealership, and they can charge me around $1000 to fix a crap system, just to regain the functionality of the rear DVD and listen to sports talk radio. Maybe in a sick way, that actually makes sense.

Or I can leave it to our local misfits at Car Toys to try to figure it out. I'd say I have little confidence in their abilities, based on what they told me. It seems nobody at their shop, nor anyone they could contact, has dealt with this combination of features, and came out the other side alive. Consider their minds blown, I guess. I'm waiting to hear back from them, we will see, I guess.

Or I could try to figure it out myself (with your help?). I'm not anxious to tear the dashboard apart, or custom fabricate anything... let alone try to sort through whatever needs to be done to make existing systems work while trying to improve any part of this sound system (which seems to be universally loathed by folks who appreciate quality audio). It sounds exhausting, from what I've read. I haven't seen anyone who has a definitive solution to this problem. But it is kinda fun to solve problems sometimes, so maybe it will just be a way to fix the problem and learn a little more about car audio/video in general.

I'd love some input from the community! What would you do?

 

[Blackbeauty]

I suggest you take a trip to GA... Spend a minute... I know someone who can make that system better than aftermarket... It's just a click (in my sig) away....

 

[FoCo NoCo]

I got a little more information from the original owner: his son inserted a CD with a sticker label on it (so it is thicker than a normal CD), it got stuck. He tried to pull the disc out with needle nose pliers (and failed to do so), and in the process, they blew the 20a fuse under the hood. When they replaced the fuse, the radio didn't come back to life. Any ideas on what I could/should check based on that info?

Thanks for the link Blackbeauty, that is one intense system! Your avatar is very distracting, by the way!

 

[Walrus]

I suggest you take a trip to GA... Spend a minute... I know someone who can make that system better than aftermarket... It's just a click (in my sig) away....

This. This is the truth.

 

[FoCo NoCo]

I also tried disconnecting the battery for an hour, as I had originally only tried it only for a minute. Still no stereo or rear DVD!

Also I thought I'd pull out the factory HU. With it completely disconnected, everything works exactly the same... navigation is still good, DVD player has power, but screen does not power up.

I decided to try out something called "Just Answer", they claim that you can talk to a Nissan mechanic. I sent in a question about it, I guess we will see what they say.

I'm also going to give a used OEM HU a chance, found one on eBay for $92. I suppose if I could just get the factory system working, that would at least buy me some time. I'd like to do an aftermarket system eventually, but it appears that the entire NAV bezel needs to be removed, and a non-NAV bezel installed in it's place (which includes the HVAC vent openings). The Metra 95-7406 dash kit and Scosche NN1451B Specialty Installation Dash Kit both appear to be made for the non-NAV bezel. I am getting the impression that these have to be modified to work with the NAV bezel, but I'm having trouble finding any solid step-by-step information- just before and/or after pictures.

 

[FoCo NoCo]

Just thought I'd finish out this thread. justanswer.com was kind of a waste of time, they make it sound like a Nissan mechanic is ready to answer your question, but once you give cc info, it becomes more clear that the responses are automated. Someone did get back to me (a non Nissan mechanic) and suggested that replacing the head unit was the last resort.

Something internally was fried with the radio. My fear was that there would be an issue elsewhere. Didn't want to spend the time/money if all I was going to do is rip it out and install something else.

So I did replace the HU, and everything is working again! DVD, CD etc. Ugh this system is showing it's age, though, haha. Navigation has come a long way since then. I think if you could easily update the HU, I'd be all over it. But as far as I can tell, it is quite the job to gut out to RF amp, speakers, get a different bezel, retrofit a new screen at the top of the dash, etc. It turns out that a working factory system is just fine for me, after all it is just a tow vehicle/backup vehicle.

Props to everyone who have put in the work!