Installing a stereo, with a twist.

[axd]

Hi, I'm obviously new here. That said, I recently got a 1994 J30. I love it, best car I've ever owned (beats out my 1994 G20 because of heated seats + Wisconsin weather.) Anyways, the stereo crapped out on me almost instantly. When I got it, it would play tapes no problem, and CDs occasionally. Now it thinks there's a tape in there when there isn't, and the CD player is just dead. I've heard these old Bose units are total crap, so I'm not surprised.

Thing is, I'm not exactly rich, so I couldn't afford a new head unit. Well, the other day my friend gave me the OEM head unit from his '05 Mustang. I've never actually installed a car stereo before, but from what I've seen, it's not too hard. I'm just wondering if it will be extra complicated, being that I'm installing an OEM part from another car. Does anyone know if this presents an additional problem? Any extra steps I need to go through? Is this a horrible mistake and it will never work?

EDIT: Additionally, anyone know a trick to get the tape player to work in the meanwhile?

[yodawill2000]

First off you need to know that the Bose System has a low pwr signal to the speakers and each speaker has its own amp.It will sound like crap unless you get a scosche adapter or the likes to lower the signal to the speakers.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1...p=678

You have to search his site for a 94 Maxima because they had the same systemA J30 search there will show nada

If not, you need to replace all the speakers.Bose uses 1 ohm speakers by the way.I just replaced my head unit. And Welcome to NICO !!!!!

[axd]

Thanks! I figured it was something like that. The problem I'm having is that I cannot, for the life of me, figure out if the head unit from my friend's car has low output too - I'm fairly sure it had an external amp, but he has no idea (he had his professionally installed) so I may not need a signal adjuster if that is the case. I think I'll go ask on a mustang forum. The head unit is a Shaker 500, if anyone happens to know...

[yodawill2000]

I can almost assure you Ford didn't use a 1 ohm speaker system.

[#1 Sailor Scout]

Thanks! I figured it was something like that. The problem I'm having is that I cannot, for the life of me, figure out if the head unit from my friend's car has low output too - I'm fairly sure it had an external amp, but he has no idea (he had his professionally installed) so I may not need a signal adjuster if that is the case. I think I'll go ask on a mustang forum. The head unit is a Shaker 500, if anyone happens to know...

I wouldn't use that on the J30 audio if I were you. That stereo will fry the harness on the J.

Your best bet is to sell the shaker & upgrade to your traditional aftermarket.

A nice head unit will cost about $130 plus tax. Trying to get that Shaker system into the J would cost about $200 plus tax & some blown fuses.