Nissan pathfinder 94 / 95 Clarion Active sounds system Bypass..Solved

[boogar]

Hello again.

Ok this is what I came up with.

After removing the factory headunit, and stripping off the factory mounting brackets( to be used later) Tip #1 Dont buy a dash kit for this install, you wont need it.

I went to my local nissan dealer and asked the nice guy behind the service counter for a 94/95 pathfinder 6 or 8 speaker stereo wiring diagram.From that I found Wires to get 12v constant and a switched source for the amps remote turn on.As a ground wire isnt in the harness for the pathy I used a body ground behind the radio.

Tip#2 Dont buy a metra or anyother wiring harness adaptor if you have the Clarion Active Sound System....it wont work.

It seems nissan likes to throw curve balls....with the late 94 and early 95 models of pathfinder, they might have use 2 diffrent types of radio plugs.

Either way youll want to have a multi-meter handy to pick out the right wires to cut out of the dash harness

Now to the fun part....the amps.....Behind the passengers side rear panel in the cargo area, you will find 2 small silver amps.

Unplug those amps and remove the mounting screws...after that set them on fire.

The plugs your left with contain the wires you will need to wire your speakers.

For this portion of the install you will need a 9 volt batt, this is to "pop" the speakers...dont worry its safe..its only 9 volts, and when done right gives you a popping noise thru the speakers.....this will help you locate the right speaker wires.

Now that you have the amps out, go around and pull all the speakers out, while your doing this take note of the wire colors in the plugs for each speaker.

These colors are what you will be looking for in the amp wiring harness...write them down so you dont space them.

A word on speakers.

Depending on what speakers you pick to replace the 5x7s,6x9s or 4x6 that came with your pathy, you may have to open the speaker holes a bit more to get a good flush mount.Spacers also work well on the door speakers...providing you remove the stock baskets in the doors.

Install all the new speakers however you choose.

Ok ....with the 9 volt batt and diagram from a nissan dealer.Start to locate the wire colors you wrote down earlier.Now....at this point you can make the polarity of the wires what ever you want.Seeing as how all four pairs of wires has both a striped wire and a solid colored wire, I set all the striped wires as positive and all solid colors as Negitive.

Now that you have the colors matched up for front and rear, right and left, you start cutting ONE pair at a time...this way you dont get confused.Using the 9 volt batt...hold one of the speaker leads to the positive on the 9 volt and tap the other wire on the negitive..it will make one of the speakers pop...( not in a bad way...its safe I tell ya)This will conferm you have the right speaker.

Repeat this step 3 more times on each set of wires you trace back with the diagram.

What you will end up with is 8 wires. to save time clamp butt connectors to these ends.Now get a roll of speaker wire from rat shack or best buy.Depending where you place the amp you might need more or less wire than most...mine took 50 feet, and I put the apm behind the drivers side seat on the floor, inside a covered amp rack....no neon....thats just tack.

Anyhow......place the amp where you want it and stretch out 4 strands of this speaker wire.Strip back the ends on both sides, and connect the ends to the leads you set up earlier.

Now you have 8 really long speaker leads, that are hooked up to the wires running thru the body of the pathfinder and to your speakers.

Now route those wire thru or under the carpeting and youll be in good shape.

I know it sounds like alot of work, but running all new speaker wires between the little door jamb harnesses and under the dash is a major pain in the ***. no to mention getting wires into the celing and back to the amp.

This way DISPITE what some people have to say, is the best way of replacing an entire stock clarion "active sound" system.

Items youll need

Interior panel puller or small blunt pry toolPhillips screw driverBlack tape or butt connectorsrazor knifewire crimperMulti testerTone generator or 9 volt batt.

I hope this helps someone...if I forgot anything im sure SOMEONE will let me know.

Peace for nowBoogar_the_Great[/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

[IdahoPaul]

Hey Boogar,Seems like you got a handle on the pathfinder stereo woes. I am just getting kicked in the lower region by this truck my kid bought. Your tips with the battery should save me a ton of time when he wants to replace the stereo.I do have a problem / question that you might be able to help with.We really don't want to replace the sound system right now, due to money issues but we really want to fix a drain on the battery that is ever present.I have traced the open circuit to the amps in the rear compartment. They are always on. Is this supposed to be right? The wiring appears to be original as we pulled the dash apart and the stock radio and wires don't appear to be tampered with.

Any ideas,Paul

[staylong]

Hi Boogar

Need a bit of help please. Just bought an old 1995 Pathfinder and the speakers and audio system is shot.

Stuck her in Liberia West Africa I could only get a Sony CD deck and four Sony Explode (whatever) speakers. I saw your post and thought I coulkd figure it out but.....

The first thing I did was to make all new templates to fit the speakers on and they are ready to go in.

Then I started to check the wiring as you said. I found two amps in the back rear (Clarion). Two are obviously the amps (alloy and sinks) but attached to the smaller is a square plastic box about three inches by three inches. What is that?

I want to by pass the amps and go straight the the new head unit. I would like to use the existing wires. I see front right speaker has black gray combination yet I dont see that at the old head connection or the connection at the amp? Straight away I was confused.

Do you have any color coded wiring diagrams that you used?

If not it looks like I may have to just run new cables to everything. Then it will be a case of figuring out how to get from the doors to the new head unit and from the overhead speakers down to the floor neatly???? Any ideas.

Cheers.Staylong

[Squeaks]

i just bought a new stereo and i have it working but i now have no dash lights. they where working fine befor i put in the new radio but now they don't work. have have checked the fuses and they are all find can anyone help me