Swapping Q45 radios

[psychic_mechanic]

I've got a 94 Q45t and the Bose radio works great, except the LED display does not light up.

Can I swap in a radio from a newer Q without much trouble? They look about the same size, and it would be nice to have a CD deck in the dash.

While I can solder and swap connectors, It would be really cool if this was a plug-n-play exercise.

-Vinny

[VA99Q45]

I was going to replace my radio with a new one. The part guy at the dealer told me that I have to get a new security code from the dealer to reprogram the new radio or else the new radio does not work.

[DougQ45]

I put a 97 with the in dash CD player in a 90 with the help of a $15 pin adaptor. See http://www.carstereohelp.com. Very helpfull folks.

[Q451990]

For plug n' play, you'd probably need to stay with 1994 or older. I'm not sure how this applies to the Bose Systems. I know the line level output changed between 1990 and 1991 but I'm not sure about different models, years, etc.

http://www.installdr.com/Harne...g.pdf

Heath

[psychic_mechanic]

Thanks for all the help!

[DougQ45]

Mine was completely plug and play. No security codes etc...

[Qdemption]

You know I have tried contacting carstereohelp.com via e-mail several times with no responses. All I wanted to know was if you could swap radios.

I have a 92Q and I want to keep bose but I also want a CD player. Has anyone done this with a 92?

[Rex]

There's an adapter to allow for this. Not sure which one, but I know there's a Bose CD player on ebay right now that includes thos adapter.

[elwesso]

Rex.. Would you be able to use that head unit and still maintain control of the factory CD changer....?

[Q451990]

The older Q's had a separate controller for the CD Changer that mounts in the center console, so there aren't control built into the head unit. I've heard of people using H/U from other Bose Nissans with the factory CD player in the Q.

I made an adpator out of about $5 in parts from Radio Shack that plugs into the DIN connector and used a Sony CD changer with RCA Audio outputs in mine... works great! Qdemption - If you have some time to play, and are handy with a soldering iron, let me know and I'll post the pin-outs. Total project took a day or two the first time.

Heath

[elwesso]

hmmm... My CD changer is controlled right though the head unit......

[Q451990]

Yep... that was an upgrade in the 1994 revision. Gotta remember - in 1990 (actually 1988 when the car was designed) CDs were still kind of new. I bought my first CD player (a Sony Discman) in 1990 or 1991, and played it through one of those tape adaptors.

Heath