removing stereo for aftermarket

[deener99]

is it hard to take out the bose stereo in a 96 q45t i have the subs from my old car and wanna hook them up and thought i might has well put in new speakers and a new head unit. want to put in a touch screen. put in stereos in many cars but nothing this fancy. any help would be appreciated or should i just take it to a specialist to put it in

[Infinitiguy19]

http://www.carstereohelp.com/stereoremo ... stereo.htm

I mean no disrespect sir but I think you should find everything that may go wrong with the vehicle first. For instance make sure all the fluids have like new colors, are at the correct level.... Make sure the Automatic Transmission (A/T) is working properly...

Because if everything was working fine why would the previous owner sell the car? And I have not seen too many people get tired with thee cars, Most simply don't want to put another penny into them.

[Q451990]

Pretty easy... just know that the Bose system uses independent amplifiers on each speaker, so the system is set up with line-level audio going from the head unit to each speaker. This might mean that you need to run new speaker wires of a proper gauge for the amplified output from your new head unit.

The factory service manual is located at www.nicoclub.com/FSM/

Heath

[BadQ45t]

So I went and looked into all the options for my 97' which is no different then you 96'. You can either keep the Bose speaker setup and use a harness and box that sits in between you new head unit and the bose speakers. If your not in love with the bose speakers then you need to buy the harness from Crutchfield or the like, pull the head unit out, run new premium speaker wire, install new speakers along with an amp (if your doing a premium system you want outboard amps) and then your done. The issue with this is that your looking at 2k at least by the time your done with this operation and unless you're really good at doing it yourself, and this is a good 5-6 hours of work according to my stereo place...that means a good DIY'er will spend 2 weekends doing it since you don't have all the right tools and experience. In the end I was going with a Pioneer Nav/iPod/MP3/Bluetooth unit that was going to keep the Bose speakers...but I have been putting it off since I think the prices of those units are going down and I just don't drive it enough right now to justify. Plus much like other posters here most people tried to talk me out of it .

So for these cars if you want better than Bose you have to pay LOT!!

[qship96]

plus, you now have a beacon for thieves!

[Unnatural1]

Removing the factory stereo equipment is straightforward. The factory Bose set up uses active speakers all around. The head unit is basically a preamp sending line level output to each speaker. The Bose amps are prone to failure in these cars (this is what happened with mine). I'd recommend just replacing all of it. My set up uses an Alpine CDA-117 head unit, Zapco Ref. 350.2 amp, Morel Dotech Ovation II 6.5" components. I'm running a sound quality (SQ) set up. As with many SQ set ups I'm only 2 channels up front with high quality component speakers. I ran an extra set of RCA cables to the back because I plan on adding a sub to the setup. It took the better part of a day to install everything but I ran all new speaker wiring, etc... But, if you've done this kind of work before you should have no trouble.

[deener99]

alright thankx guys how are the stock alternators on the q's cause my old system was 2 12 inch type r's and wondering if i should replace the alternator for one with higher output or just get a farad cap

[Unnatural1]

I'm only running a 350 watt 2 channel amp. I had also replaced my alternator with a Denso reman unit prior to installing everything. I don't know the exact output of the O.E. alternator. But, since the Q was a premium car that usually means you get a relatively high output alternator. That's not much of an answer but you might do better in the Audio and Security forum under the Tech Section.

[qship96]

Stock alternator is 105-110 amps {denso rebuilt is the same as stock output} at high RPM ONLY. What the specs dont make clear in the FSM is whether this is actual engine RPM, or RPM of alternator shaft itself after taking into account the pully ratios?????? Not a lot of extra available amps to power aftermarket amps/accessories after providing the necessary amperage to run all the stock electrical components standard in a Q.

[Jesda]

The stock alternator isn't even enough to recharge a dead battery after a jump start, much less drive a large amp. I suggest a small 10" sub and amp with speakers driven by an aftermarket head unit.

[BadQ45t]

You would be surprised what you can do just buying an upgraded battery. i have 400x4 Alpine amp and a 200x2 bridged Alpine amp powered off an old 84' 300ZX alternator. I use a high amp battery and never have any issues when cranking it up at night while powering my Hella (illegal) headlights and my PIAA fog lamps. If your battery is in good shape your fine really, especially with the newer more efficienct amps.

These are circa 1997 and still work fine and draw alot more wattage than the 600x4 amp I put into my XTerra in 2006, but XTerra also has the same brand high amp batter (they are not Optima, I had bad luck with those), it is a batt my mechnanic had to special order and are the best I have ever used. I will get the name if your intersted, cannot remember right now.

[qship96]

Batteries, no matter how big and strong only store energy, they do not produce it. If your electrical demands are greater than what your alternator can generate, you are discharging the battery......larger {reserve time/amp hours rating} battery just takes longer to discharge than smaller battery.

[LEMHEAD16]

I have two amps (one 4 channel and 1 mono) in my Q with an optima battery and have no charging or light dimming problems.

You will want to run new speaker wires from your new deck to bypass the factory amps. There is nothing harder about installing a stereo in a Q than there is in any other car.

[BadQ45t]

Same here, in the Z can crank it up o show off how loud I can make it at night with the lights all going and never have a light dim or the gauge dip (yes god an AMP gauge and an oil pressure gauge)...all powering, as Qship called it, the Disco Danny digital dash. I just run the big battery mostly because the Z has been a battery drainer when not in use.

Bottom line i wouldn't worry about power unless your dropping in some 1000 watt amps...

One day Qship you'll come to the Bay Area, we will share a beer and I will take you for a drive in my cherry 84' 300ZX and you'll take that Disco Danny comment back. The fact that my seat air effect (that Z has the best drivers seat ever) and all the digital stuff still works is pretty cool for a 27+ year old car.

[qship96]

geez do some hold grudges ........And no, sorry to disappoint, but I have no need to take a ride{but we could still get a beer and talk Z} to relive the disco Dan,Tokyo by Night dash......you seem to forget that I owned a 1986 300zx TURBO......fully loaded 5 speed,t tops,leather/digital package,over-buttoned stereo complete with equalizer,digital compass,steering wheel controls, hokey "G" meter,electric 3 way adjustable shocks, blow up seats......FULLY loaded with all the toys{gimmicks?}......drove it for 150,000 miles before I was tired enough of it to trade it in on a brand new G20. {also had a brand new 1979 280zx before I got the 300}

Sure, the z31,especially in the turbo version, was fun when new{ so was the 280}, but quite frankly, I felt that neither stood the test of time as a great sports car,a collectible, especially when the much superior 1990 model Z was introduced.

[Jesda]

You won't see any immediate evidence of electrical issues. The diodes on the alternator will slowly melt. Could take months, could take a couple years.

[BadQ45t]

Looks like your holding the grudge, I was trying to show off the olive branch and just agreeing to disagree and part as friends.....but hey, your loss. My Z runs great, handles very nice, and I bought it brand new....I am not asking you to like it, but appreciate what someone else has...but looks like you don't have that in you.

I have exactly 2 alternators in 28 years and so I guess I am still waiting for Jesda's predicted meltdown. I just wouldn't worry about it, unless your going to put in some kind of massive setup the stock will work for many many years.

[qship96]

No grudge whatsoever....just expressing my opinion on a car I owned and personally put over 150,000 miles on.


oh,by the way,by the time i traded it in at 150K+, it was on its second alternator, having worked extra duty powering Cibie H4 headlamps with 100/90 watt bulbs, and a pair of Piaa 90 PRO combination projector fog/driving lamps with 100 watt bulbs,along with an ADS 4 channel amp and 2 100 watt Alphasonic sub amps......

How many miles are on your Z?

[Lokim]

No grudge whatsoever....just expressing my opinion on a car I owned and personally put over 150,000 miles on.


oh,by the way,by the time i traded it in at 150K+, it was on its second alternator, having worked extra duty powering Cibie H4 headlamps with 100/90 watt bulbs, and a pair of Piaa 90 PRO combination projector fog/driving lamps with 100 watt bulbs,along with an ADS 4 channel amp and 2 100 watt Alphasonic sub amps......

How many miles are on your Z?

Mmmmmmmmmm... AAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS AAAAAAAMMMMMMMPPPPPSSSSSSS.....

[qship96]

are they even still in business? They used to be popular,they were the "power plate" version, nice slim grey colored amps that fit under the Z seats easily.

[Lokim]

I had an ADS 4-channel bridged powering a pair of Memphis 3-way 6x9's in my Dart on high-pass with a pair of Memphis 10's in the trunk and a class D amp pushing those. Those 6x9's absolutely SANG! Looks like they're out of business, though...

[Unnatural1]

These guys are using the a/d/s/ logo...http://www.adst.cc/english/

Same company from back in the day?

[qship96]

Cant be the same company, as their website says they were founded in 1997,and located in china! The original ADS was an American company,and the amps were actually made in the USA {how rare these days?} They either bought the name, or the original ADS company did not maintain their trademark after going out of business,and this chinese company decided to use it to possibly add a {false} sense of familiarity and brand recognition.

[BadQ45t]

The Z has 164k on it, all original. I also have Hella offroad lights in the standard fittings with PIAA driving/foggers. I have only replaced the alternator one time, the original one lasted from 1984 until 2002, put in a Nissan Reman'ed and all good.

[BadQ45t]

Seems like most of the main parts of this car were very well made actually. Original starter still, 1 transmission rebuild (5 speed) original motor, 1 radiator replacement. Even the stereo lasted until 1997,

[qship96]

Surprised the 5 speed needed rebuilding? mine was working fine at 150+K when I traded, even original clutch- slave cylinder was only part of transmission system that failed.Does it have t tops?

[BadQ45t]

It went out around 100k. I had a guy in Phoenix that I though knew what he was doing rebuild it and they made it worse. I had a guy in LA replace it. The Nissan transmission was very strong, given I was 24 years old when I bought it I drove it hard and fast in the first 5 years. I am only on the 2nd clutch.