stereo install help please

[taylordog2]

so i just picked up a 96 cima about 2 weeks ago, absolutely love the car but it needs help with the stereo. i have a Clarion VZ409 head unit that for the life of me i cant think of way to put it in the dash...my car has the big a** tube tv that has controls all around it for your navi and climate and music... so i cant cut into that anywhere to put in my head unit.....i took out the tape deck and my deck would fit in there perfectly but all those controls are in the way.. i'm lost on what to do here it would be greatly appreciated if anyone could shed some light on this topic.

-Dayne

[Q451990]

to NICO Dayne!

We don't have a ton of experience with JDM cars on this site... a little from our members in Austrailia, but not much else. Could you post some pictures of your car for us? It will help us with ideas, and give those of us who are always looking at picture of JDM cars something to drool over.

Thanks!

Heath

[taylordog2]

yeah not a problem, i'll post some pics today right after work. and i dont know about drooling cuz i'm all stock but i like it hoping that will soon change tho! so there's really not alot of JDM members on here?

[Lokim]

Naw, just us USDM G50 owners trying to get you to part out your JDM G50 and ship us the parts!

[BadQ45t]

He said it was a Cima so nothing for you 1st gens to see or want a part out.

[Lokim]

He said it was a Cima so nothing for you 1st gens to see or want a part out.

Oops! I guess I was just feeling... wait for it... "Presidential."

[Lokim]

Hey Taylordog, you seen any G50 part-outs over there?

[taylordog2]

Sorry it took so long..been really busy with work, anyways here's what I could get in pictures so far I'll take more if you would like just let me know. I have a complete sound system sitting my trunk that I can't use and it's blowing my mind lol.







And this is whats under all that...



Here's a picture from when I got it





Don't know how helpful any of these are but I got my fingers crossed. If not I'll tear apart everything again and take pictures of it all

[BadQ45t]

Well I can tell you that unit never made it into a US Q45 in that timeframe. I have no screen at all in 97' and I don't think they got them until 2000. What you need is a kit to convert all of your factory outputs to the aftermarket one. If this was in the US I would send you to Crutchfield and they would probably have something that would work right out of the box. You should check www.crutchfield.com to see what they have available for a later model Q45 (which is your Cima). In the US there are also kits available for newer cars with screens like yours to convert them for aftermarket screens, also available from places like Crutchfield. YOu do not want to start cutting wires etc so that is where an install kit like that would come in. Maybe there is a place like that in Japan or perhaps send an e-mail to Crutchfield and see if they have an idea.

[Lokim]

A/C vent delete, mount the deck nice & high!

[taylordog2]

That's what I want to do, but how? Dont I need an adapter?

[Q451990]

I think the problem will be the climate control. I would start looking for a salvage Cima with a standard radio/climate setup, and see if the connectors match up somewhere. At some point the two have to have a common wiring connection. For the US Q45 of that year, there's a separate climate controller with a digital display which is plugged in to a module somewhere behind the dash. If all you need is the display - that would be awesome... maybe the radio head unit just duplicates the display function of the regular unit and connects to that control module.

If you can find JDM service manuals, it will tell you a lot.

Once you get it to a standard climate control/radio setup, then you should be able to install your aftermarket audio equipment. Lots of work, but I'm sure it can be done...

Heath

[Q451990]

Here are a couple of pictures.

1997 Q45


2000 Q45


I would try to convert to the 2000 style trim with the separate climate controller - then you'll have a nice double-din sized hole for your aftermarket stereo, and the nicer looking clock!

Heath

[BadQ45t]

I agree, since this is such an early model you're probably not going to find a direct connector, but you should be able to get a harness from Crutchfield for the radio functions. You should try to replicate the non-display version with a separate A/C controller like the US came with, best to find one in a junk yard as suggested.

It wouldn't hurt to shoot an e-mail into Crutchfield, they know alot of aftermarket stereo installations. There are kits now to replace OEM screens that have A/C, Radio and many other functions built into them...one of those might help you out.

[taylordog2]

alright well i gave up on finding parts...my buddy has lived here for 25 years after he got out of the corps and he told me good luck finding that lol there is 2 other cimas on base and they have the same system i do. so my alternative to an adapter or different stock head unit is to take the tube tv screen out of the mounting bracket completely slide my new head unit in where the tape deck sat dremel the face plate a little bit try to make it look pretty but it is what it is...and go from there. now thats as far as i've got with the head unit which i'm sticking to that plan i think its the most plausible one i've come up with..also i'm curious where any of you ran the wire through the firewall and from the cabin into the truck??? i have no idea where to run the ones into the trunk. theres a bunch of stuff behind the back seat itself since they are both power seats that recline? who does that...anyways thanks in advance i really appreciate hearing from you guys.

also i'm not promising anything but if you have any JDM requests i can keep my eyes open

[BadQ45t]

Do you have a 6 CD Changer in the trunk? My 97' does and there is a wiring path that goes from the headunit to the trunk. If you do not have that your probably just going to have to pull up carpet and figure out a path back there.

[taylordog2]

I do have the disc changer

[BadQ45t]

Okay, so than for sure you have the path....you just need to find that path and you can run to the trunk no sweat. There is a FSM (factory service manual) available for download, I don't remember the path, someone will chime in and give you the path...it will show you right where it is and you'll be in the trunk no problem.