2004 saab 9-3

[GemaRastem 10+ year member]

I'm installing a system for my friend who just bought a 2004 saab 9-3. I'm having trouble finding an aftermarket HU install kit. Anybody know where I can find them, or am I gonna have to use an external processor?

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[btdickey99 5,000+ posts]

I am falling into the same product with my 2005 Volvo S40....**** new cars

 

[toke1234 10+ year member]

Keep that newer saab looking factory ftw with some wood grain. haha Or atleast put a very nice high end deck in there. Good luck on your product search.

 

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

My friend has a '97 Saab 900S, basically same model only older, and there isn't a wiring kit in existence for it. We went to a local shop and they were at least able to pull up a diagram of the factory harness. I ended up just chopping it off and crimping the wires directly to the stereo harness.

The other thing is the dash kit...again good luck finding one. We just cut one out of wood and painted it to match the dash.

 

[hoxie08 5,000+ posts]

I got a 2000 Saab 93 Viggen and i dont ever see **** for it... hit a dog, just to get a new bumper the dealership was gonna charge like 1200 but I can get it for 800 but thats straight from a factory somewhere. Good luck tho!

 

[gl0ck 10+ year member]

a few saabs i have done were actually a tool out, and then used a univeral pocket with. and i think it was a vw or euro harness not to sure

 

[CaptinFocker 10+ year member]

ugh not this again. Let me put this simply, The wiring system that is used in the newer 9-3's being post 2003 has royally screwed any major attempts of adding anything to the system. Saab had the brilliant idea of using mostnet. Thus said you can not replace the headunit per say. If you remove the factory head unit the car will not start. The mostnet system is basicly just data, if you break the system the car will not start. The only way to get an aftermarket headunit would to be 1) fresh wiring of the car. or 2) add a second head unit somewhere in the car or push the existing one back into the dash. Both can be costly, The door speakers, and dash speakers can be upgraded. The parcel shelf(rear deck) is tricky. They are wired directly to the headunit. I know all of this because I myself have a 03 9-3 and have been fighting with it to somehow add aftermarket speakers into it.

Any questions?

 

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

So will just unplugging the head unit, leaving everyting else untouched, not hooking anything else up, just simply unplugging the head unit, cause the car to not function?

If not then just uplug the head unit and tie the harness up somewhere out of the way and wire the new one up yourself. It's not that hard. Power from batt, ground somewhere, run a remote straight off the ignition, then just run the HU to the speakers.

 

[gl0ck 10+ year member]

ugh not this again. Let me put this simply, The wiring system that is used in the newer 9-3's being post 2003 has royally screwed any major attempts of adding anything to the system. Saab had the brilliant idea of using mostnet. Thus said you can not replace the headunit per say. If you remove the factory head unit the car will not start. The mostnet system is basicly just data, if you break the system the car will not start. The only way to get an aftermarket headunit would to be 1) fresh wiring of the car. or 2) add a second head unit somewhere in the car or push the existing one back into the dash. Both can be costly, The door speakers, and dash speakers can be upgraded. The parcel shelf(rear deck) is tricky. They are wired directly to the headunit. I know all of this because I myself have a 03 9-3 and have been fighting with it to somehow add aftermarket speakers into it.
Any questions?

So Basicly relocate the radio to the trunk? like a 2003 T harness or the honda relocation harnesses. Def doesnt sound to hard.

 

[CaptinFocker 10+ year member]

just unhooking the headunit will cause the car to not turn on. The relocation of the headunit is alittle more tricky because of the fiberoptic junk. Go to www.saabcentral.com and search for dam stereo. You will find everything you need to know. Im running on about 3 hours sleep so I dont really want to get into it right now

 

[btdickey99 5,000+ posts]

That sounds like too muchcrap for just another head unit....

 

[CaptinFocker 10+ year member]

its waaaaaayyy to much work just for a headunit.