Replacement Stereo in 2002 QX4 WITH Navigation

[LI QX4]

I've got a 2002 QX4 (Infiniti version of the Pathfinder). I just bought it from someone, and I want to upgrade the stereo to an after-market head unit
(mainly, so that I can have bluetooth, sirius xm, HD radio, etc...)

My QX4 has factory navigation (which I don't need, and which is obviously outdated and obsolete on several levels), but the important thing here is that the nav unit ALSO controls the HVAC, AND displays the HVAC settings ...

The HVAC has mainly manual controls/old-fashioned buttons,
but ... the temp, fan speed and directional (head, feet, etc.) are displayed on the screen,
and, more importantly, the ONLY way to control the fan is via the touchscreen...

When I started shopping for a new stereo,
I was surprised that the Crutchfield site said that 0 units are compatible.

I called Crutchfield, and several local car stereo places to ask if that is correct,
and, if so, what the issue(s)/ are... No one seems confident about the answer
as to whether I can or cannot install an aftermarket stereo, nor what the potential issue(s) are ...

I've heard various things, including ...

1 - It should work fine...

2 - 1 will/might lose ALL ability to use my HVAC;

3 - I will/might lose the nav screen, but would still be able to use the HVAC controls
(but wouldn't be able to SEE the settings, as they are adjusted).

4 - I will/might lose the audio from my HVAC,
but still be able to see the screen and use the touch controls on it.

So ... I'm wondering whether the negative info I've received is just rumor and innuendo,
or if I really would be creating a nightmare by opening this can of worms.
I really would love to have a more updated stereo, and the ability to listen to satellite, HD, etc... but I'm not anxious to spend hundreds of dollars on a stereo and install,
and to then end up with a unit the either doesn't work, or ruins the other aspects of the car's electronics...


Separate from these supposed issues, I've also read that some people have found that the aftermarket units simply don't pair well with Bose internals, speakers, etc.,
and there new units sound worse than the factory units...

Do you have any experience and/or insight into this,
i.e., if I install (via a pro ... I wouldn't attempt this solo),
an after-market stereo into my 2002 QX4 with factory navigation,
will I encounter any of these issues.

Alternatively, I would consider installing a double-din with a large screen,
and putting a new (separate) HVAC unit into the current radio slot,
but I don't know whether the wiring would allow that,
nor whether the Pathfinder AC unit would fit in the current radio slot.

(I can send you some photos of the dash, if that would help.)

Thanks!!!

[vonscorpio]

Long shot here with the age of the post, but did anyone ever figure this out? Considering buying a QX4 with navigation and will need to update the stereo.

[mdmellott]

The integrated navigation and climate control system makes for a difficult transition to switch to something else but it can be done. Getting the standard climate controls for a QX4 that does not have a navigation system is required. Separating the two systems then allows you focus on a replacement multimedia audio system. The following NICOclub post has several approaches users took to tackle this. update-removed-navigation-and-rewired-a ... 01-30.html

[vonscorpio]

Thank you! I pulled a CarFax on the truck, and it’s a nope. Listed as clean title, found out it was actually a salvage/rebuilt. Sad too. Records of them fixing the sway of death.
However, this is very good to know for future reference: avoid the model with navigation.