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Pathfinder stereo question

OK, so I know about the stereo installation hiccups that are involved in Nissan units with the integrated amp, and this problem has probably been done to death, but if someone can at least point me in the right direction, I'll be on my way.

So, I'm trying to install an aftermarket unit in a '95 Pathfinder, which seems to have the '94 stereo harness (no amplifier ground wire). I can install it, have the amp switched on, and get sound, but the lowest volume level is still extremely loud, probably because I'm running the

40W/ch amp that is in the new head unit, plus that is then going through the Nissan amp. I can switch off the internal amp for use with external units. Problem is, when I do this, it seems that I have to go out of the pre-outs on the head unit, for the rear speakers anyway (strangely I still get no sound from the fronts when I enable this option)

I'm now thinking about just bypassing the Nissan amp entirely, but to do that, I need to know where the thing is! Also, does anyone know of a location and schematic for the amp wiring so that I can just route the speakers right past it, without having to run new wiring throughout the truck? Also, does the amp power both the front and rear speakers, or rears only? If I used the pre-outs, and still went through the factory amp, what input voltage does it require? A quick check with my DMM shows 3V out from the factory head unit, but I want to verify that.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Steve

Reply to
Stephen Niece
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The amp is located under the front passenger seat. Cannot help you with the rest. Note that when I had a new '94 PF, the local custom stereo joint chose to install a new stereo without using the Nissan amp. They used the head unit to power the front speakers and a 100 watt amp to power the rear speakers. Not quite like a new Bose system, but acceptable back then.

Reply to
ppointer

Thanks, even having the location is leaps ahead of where I am now. Given the close proximity of the head unit and amp, I don't expect that it will be too hard to get the proper pin-outs sorted. (hopefully) Although I'm sure that using the Nissan amp is possible, it just doesn't seem practical unless you have a stereo designed to be used with an amp, has all the pre-outs for all the channels, and has no internal amplifier.

Steve

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Reply to
Stephen Niece

Did you check out Crutchfield?

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Reply to
Truck

Ah! Now there's what I need! That will do the job perfectly! I never even thought to check out Crutchfield, figuring the only options were to wire in new speakers, or to live with the high volume levels.

Thanks, Steve

Truck wrote:

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Reply to
Stephen Niece

Glad to help with the link. I've had it bookmarked almost forever. :-)

Let me know how you make out with it as I've toyed with the idea of updating my factory radio as well (to something newer with mp3 cd support) but I am no way into `hacking apart' the wiring and everything to do it. This adapter just looked sweet.

Wil

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Reply to
Truck

I had actually already picked up the regular wiring harness adapter (makes stereo installs soooo easy) I actually also found converters locally, although they only have 2 channels each, so I need a pair. They also cost a lot less than the Crutchfield one ($50CDN for the pair, rather than $50USD plus shipping, plus duty). The only trick I have is that I need to find somewhere to mount them, the Crutchfield one looks a little more compact, and comes with the harness integrated, which I already had.

I'll post how things turn out. I'm hoping to sit down with the soldering iron tomorrow and get this sorted out.

Steve

Truck wrote:

Reply to
Stephen Niece

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