what will i need for cd player installation?

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

im gettin a headunit Alpine CDM-7874 off a forum member , the wiring harness is cut though and it does not come with a "locking chassis"

this will be my first cd player install , going in a 89 buick century (double din ) ,

heres what i think i need

Metra GM Custom Installation Kit (99-4544)

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Metra-GM-Custom-Installation-Kit-99-4544-/sem/rpsm/oid/10358/catOid/-13116/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

this is it right? and also its gonna be harder to install becuase the wiring harness is cut right? couldent i just buy another alpine wiring harness and then a buick wiring harness and just have them plug into each other instead of having to do each wire by itself ?

Click to read more...

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

By mentioning that it does not come with a locking chassis are you meaning that the deck isn't going to be supplied with its original mounting sleeve? That wouldn't really be of any issue if you were putting it into a Toyota or a Nissan and could just ISO-DIN mount it (two screws in either side of the unit's chassis which would attach it to the radio bracket behind the dash that the OEM unit lived in)

How short are the wires in the wiring harness cut? Short or cut does not necessarily imply unusable - it just may be a bit of a pain. In the event of an unusable stock harness, however, yes were I you I would have a look around on eBay and replace the Alpine harness then get the applicable wiring harness adapter to wire it into your Buick's stock harness (IMO those harness adapters are worth their weight in gold...)

 

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

By mentioning that it does not come with a locking chassis are you meaning that the deck isn't going to be supplied with its original mounting sleeve? That wouldn't really be of any issue if you were putting it into a Toyota or a Nissan and could just ISO-DIN mount it (two screws in either side of the unit's chassis which would attach it to the radio bracket behind the dash that the OEM unit lived in)
How short are the wires in the wiring harness cut? Short or cut does not necessarily imply unusable - it just may be a bit of a pain. In the event of an unusable stock harness, however, yes were I you I would have a look around on eBay and replace the Alpine harness then get the applicable wiring harness adapter to wire it into your Buick's stock harness (IMO those harness adapters are worth their weight in gold...)

ok so ill need to get a alpine wiring harness, a buick wiring harness, then a wiring harness adapter? am i going to be looking for some kind of special alpine to buick thing, or is it more a generic type item ?

i thaught that the deck wiring harness and car wiring harness were supposed to click into each other and thats it? and also will i need an atenna adapter? or would just the wiring harness cover everything ill need?

edit::

also its not commin with mounting sleeve, but thats supplied in the dash kit correct? or will it have to be a specific type ?

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

ok so ill need to get a alpine wiring harness, a buick wiring harness, then a wiring harness adapter? am i going to be looking for some kind of special alpine to buick thing, or is it more a generic type item ?

If the wiring harness on the head unit isn't usable due to the wires being cut too short then you'll need an Alpine harness for the stereo. If the wires are still long enough to be used then you won't need that at all.You won't need to buy a Buick wiring harness - I assume that Buick saw fit to equip that car with one when they built it (Is a factory stereo coming out to be replaced with the Alpine? You'll not need to buy anything from GM for this install......) You'll then need to get the appropriate wiring harness adapter for your particular car. This will splice onto the Alpine harness, matching color for color, wire for wire, then THAT plugs directly into the plugs for the stereo which should already be present behind the dash.

i thaught that the deck wiring harness and car wiring harness were supposed to click into each other and thats it? and also will i need an atenna adapter? or would just the wiring harness cover everything ill need?

A harness adapter will click into each other. You're not going to be able to simply attach the Alpine harness to the plugs for the OEM Delco radio....you'll need to aforementioned harness adapter to do that. Some GM products require an antenna adapter and some don't. If the one in your Buick is smaller than the port for the antenna lead on the rear of your new Alpine then you'll need an adapter for that (these are pretty cheap - don't sweat it)

edit::
also its not commin with mounting sleeve, but thats supplied in the dash kit correct? or will it have to be a specific type ?

Amounting sleeve will NOT be supplied with the dashkit. Mounting sleeves are supplied with the stereo by the unit's manufacturer. If you're not getting the sleeve poke around your local stereo shops and see if they have one left over from an ISO-DIN install that they'll give you or sell you on the cheap. Barring that they can usually be picked up on eBay cheaply.

 

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

If the wiring harness on the head unit isn't usable due to the wires being cut too short then you'll need an Alpine harness for the stereo. If the wires are still long enough to be used then you won't need that at all.You won't need to buy a Buick wiring harness - I assume that Buick saw fit to equip that car with one when they built it (Is a factory stereo coming out to be replaced with the Alpine? You'll not need to buy anything from GM for this install......) You'll then need to get the appropriate wiring harness adapter for your particular car. This will splice onto the Alpine harness, matching color for color, wire for wire, then THAT plugs directly into the plugs for the stereo which should already be present behind the dash.

A harness adapter will click into each other. You're not going to be able to simply attach the Alpine harness to the plugs for the OEM Delco radio....you'll need to aforementioned harness adapter to do that.

Some GM products require an antenna adapter and some don't. If the one in your Buick is smaller than the port for the antenna lead on the rear of your new Alpine then you'll need an adapter for that (these are pretty cheap - don't sweat it)

Amounting sleeve will NOT be supplied with the dashkit. Mounting sleeves are supplied with the stereo by the unit's manufacturer. If you're not getting the sleeve poke around your local stereo shops and see if they have one left over from an ISO-DIN install that they'll give you or sell you on the cheap. Barring that they can usually be picked up on eBay cheaply.

yea there is a stock radio in there now...

thanks alot for clearing all this stuff up for me //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif , so now i am pretty confident i will be able to install this myself ... playa1 (the member i am buying this off of) said the wires are long enough to be installed 5 times over so i should be good with the wires that come with it

but a quick question... after i pull out the radio there should be a wiring harness comming from the car that plugs into the back of the stock radio right? assuming that i DONT use a harness adapter i will have to CUT the stock wiring harness comming from the car to attach the alpine wires + car wires together right? if this is the case then i would rather just buy a new alpine wiring harness but i think im wrong because that dosent seem to right to me....

EDIT:::

ok i think this is it http://cgi.ebay.com/Chevy-GM-Buick-Radio-wire-Harness-Stereo-Plug-connector_W0QQitemZ5848814599QQcategoryZ32812QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Chevy GM Buick Radio wire Harness Stereo Plug connector

so this buick radio wire harness stereo plug connector clicks into the wiring harness comming from the car correct? and then on the other side there will be single wires comming out (this is so i dont have to cut stock wiring harness correct) then these single wires comming out will match color for color with the alpine wiring harness right? so its just a simple matter of color matching?

 

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

so this buick radio wire harness stereo plug connector clicks into the wiring harness comming from the car correct? and then on the other side there will be single wires comming out (this is so i dont have to cut stock wiring harness correct) then these single wires comming out will match color for color with the alpine wiring harness right? so its just a simple matter of color matching?

??

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

yea there is a stock radio in there now...
thanks alot for clearing all this stuff up for me //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif , so now i am pretty confident i will be able to install this myself ... playa1 (the member i am buying this off of) said the wires are long enough to be installed 5 times over so i should be good with the wires that come with it

Good to hear. That eliminates one potential problem (and makes for one less thing to have to buy - always a good thing) and makes life easier all the way around.

but a quick question... after i pull out the radio there should be a wiring harness comming from the car that plugs into the back of the stock radio right?

Correct. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

assuming that i DONT use a harness adapter i will have to CUT the stock wiring harness comming from the car to attach the alpine wires + car wires together right?

Again, correct. This is also the exact reason I suggested the stock-to-aftermarket adapter (like the one you linked to on eBay below) in the first place. For under $20 to get one to me they are worth their weight in gold. Why bother hunting down wiring schematics and fooling around with a DMM to work out which wire is which if yadon't have to?

EDIT:::
ok i think this is it http://cgi.ebay.com/Chevy-GM-Buick-Radio-wire-Harness-Stereo-Plug-connector_W0QQitemZ5848814599QQcategoryZ32812QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Chevy GM Buick Radio wire Harness Stereo Plug connector

so this buick radio wire harness stereo plug connector clicks into the wiring harness comming from the car correct?

Yep //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

and then on the other side there will be single wires comming out (this is so i dont have to cut stock wiring harness correct) then these single wires comming out will match color for color with the alpine wiring harness right? so its just a simple matter of color matching?

Correct again. As easy as the harness adapter makes your life as far as installation goes why wouldn't you want to use one, says I. These adapters are readily available almost everywhere that sells car audio gear. I don't know what you have available in your area but you don't have to get it off of eBay and wait for it to ship if you don't want to. Circuit City will have them. Best Buy will have them. Almost any specialty car audio shops will have them. Shoot - even Wal-Mart carries them! Have a look back in the Automotive section where the stereo stuff is.
Good luck with your install!

 

[Ricky616 10+ year member]

guys will that adapter work onn my 2001 cavalier i cut the original harness but i still have it on the back of the stock stereo

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

guys will that adapter work onn my 2001 cavalier i cut the original harness but i still have it on the back of the stock stereo

According to the eBay listing it works for the GM products it is applicable to up to 2000.

It might work for an '01 Cavvy and it might not. Were I you I'd look for the one that specifically states it is applicable for your car.