tadek13.rx8.

I need some major help. I am not totally clueless in terms of electrical wiring however I welcome all advice and help offered with my isssue. I recently ordered a touchscreen unit for my car, this is the link to the one I ordered. Mazda RX-8 DVD Player, Mazda RX-8 Navigation System, Mazda RX-8 GPS DVD, good choice for your car.
I ordered this one specifically because the supplier claimed no rewiring was required, basically claiming it was switch and plug in. This had not turned out to be the case as none of the cables are a direct fit without cutting the wires. The supplier claims no responsibility and the worst I can really do is give them a bad review. My cry for help is basically any information regarding wire adapters that would help me avoid extra work, or if anybody from the Chicagoland area knows any good shops where they can help me. My ideal advice would come from someone who maybe had ordered and installed this same unit, but any advice is welcome. Thank you.

firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

I can only assume that's a Metra kit with some no-name off-brand double-din headunit bolted in. If this is the case, here's the instructions for the Metra kit. Essentially, just make sure you plug in the correct harnesses in the correct spot (hazards, fan, etc) and then just wire up the harness that plugs into your factory harness and the harness that plugs into that no-name headunit color to color. So the yellow coming from the car-side harness (should be included with your purchase, not the actual factory harness) connects to the yellow coming from the aftermarket headunit. Same for the rest of the colors.

If that's not the Metra kit....or even a copy of the Metra kit....and it's some proprietary Chinese dash kit, nobody is going to be able to help you without being there in person. Could be anything in there. Best take it to a professional.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. But it's tough without actually seeing what you have in person. Maybe post pics of everything?

tadek13.rx8.

Yes I will post pictures later today, and thanks alot. Yea I knew that worst case I would have to go wire by wire. All the wires match up essentially. I was only curious as to whether anybody knows of any adapters that would allow me to just cut the wires off say the dvd unit and then plug into the connector for factory wiring. I tried to return the purchase to no result as they claim I have no real reasoning behind the requested return/refund. Thanks again for your reply and advice.

ninjajim4

iTrader: (4)

i'm in the city, parents live up in Skokie actually. i could lend you a hand, but don't really have any free wknds til Decemeber.

at a quick guess i'd say you just need the right harness, bose vs non bose etc or maybe even S2 vs. S1. i'd just go on ebay and get one for 5 bucks. you shouldn't ever need to hack up your harness

tadek13.rx8.

Yup- It turned out to be really less complicated then it may have sounded. Auto zone has adapters- so I only need to cut the wires coming from the new unit - and put all wires through the adapters. Only real time taking task will be to make sure all the wires put through the adapter are paired up correctly to the OEM plug, but not really complicated if I put the time and just be patient.

Matts Vos

How did it turn out? I got the exact same thing and have the exact same problems, can't install it at all nothing except the actual radio stuff connects properly. Even the bracket doesn't allign, did yours?
Edit: got the bose system

tadek13.rx8.

It turned out good. Cutting and connecting an adapter plug is what I had done. My bracket also did not align with the new unit - so what I did is use a metal grinder to trim the OEM bracket as a temporary solution. Everything works with the unit apart from my hazards - ( wouldn't fit due to bracket ) , and I have no control over heat/ac controls. ( only adjusting the settings like where I want heat/ac to blow etc. ). Finally I have no steering wheel control until I order the missing plugs that never came with my unit. The solution is to order Metra Part # 95-7510 | Mazda RX8 Dash kit | Metra Online, it has the brackets needed and plugs that are missing. Apart from these small things my head unit works great, and is all wired up ready to just be taken out and have all the wiring plugged it.

firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

Glad you got it up and running, but sucks you essentially paid $450 for a random no-name headunit. And a headache.

Matts Vos

Dammit.. I need the hazards light otherwise it won't be allowed on the road, and heater/AC is very welcome as well (especially heater since we get winters -0C's and I dont want to sit in my car freezing my nuts off..). Didn't got the steering wheel control plugs ether..

So i'm going to send it back then, wasted 240 euro's on shipping and customs ffs..

Anyone can recommend a good radio that goes well with the metra kit? I'd like to have seperate buttons that you can twist for the volume and radio freq and to hook it up to a usb and play video's

Edit: Is it an idea to just buy the metra kit and only use the radio unit, leaving the rest of the crap stuff in the garbage bin? Will steering wheel (with the adaptor), hazard light and heater/ac work then?

tadek13.rx8.

Yes. If you get the metra kit , it should work. I won't promise you but the way the shop I went to do it for me is that everything is in place ready to be connected once I get the metra kit and plug the missing plugs. My hazards and everything will work. Temporarly I do not have those things but heat still works, only like I said no control over it. I have the setting for it to blow on hottest - at face and feet, and I can control how strong the fan will be. So I not complaining, because like you said winter is coming. So basically once I get the metra kit- I will take out my cover with head unit and simply replug it and put the correct bracket on and everything will be how it should.

The unit I have is actually good but troublesome in terms of buying all the parts and cutting wires. You would need to buy unit- and then the metrakit. But it has everything. Hardrive storage for music/videos as well Ipod and USB intergrations ports. sd card slot. You can hook up tv and cameras- gps unit is fun as well as practical as it measures everything. Avg speed , time driving, time stopped while driving- max speed etc. Plus it comes with all the languages so I have fun switching off between languages. I also wanted to seperate twister buttons. One is for volume. and the other is for frequency/fastforward while watching movie or listening to music from ipod/sd card etc.

tadek13.rx8.

Thanks. I mean yea I guess I had a headache for a brief period - but the unit is great. It may be a no name brand, but it has surpassed my expectations- my only problem was with the supplier.

firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

If you just move the actual headunit out of that crap kit and into the Metra kit, everything (minus steering wheel controls) should work fine. As for the steering wheel controls, you'll need another adapter. Hmmmm... for that brand name.... not sure. Does it have a little port in the back that look like a headphone jack labeled "W/R" or "Wired Remote"? Or does it have an actual wire on the harness labeled "Wired Remote"?

If you've decided you want to send it back and go with a different unit, I recommend the Alpine INA-W910. I was the hugest pusher of Pioneer stuff for the longest time, but they've really been disappointing me lately. As a professional installer, I have my hands on A LOT of headunits. In these past few years, I've watched Pioneer cheap out here and there. But not Alpine. Just open the box to an Alpine navigation unit. Look at how it's care for and packed in there. Look at the quality of the harness, etc. Then open the box to any other brand. You'll see what I mean. Pioneer still uses an old nearly-antiquated satellite radio connection too. And Alpine's UI is actually pretty user friendly (something Pioneer always had going for them). On screen visuals to help see exactly what's going on with the multiple crossovers and EQ options.

Matts Vos

I decided to buy the metra kit, take the headunit only from the crap chinese kit (it looks really good actually) and get a steering wheel control adaptor. I can't tell untill tomorrow what the thing looks like when I get it all back from the Mazda dealer (had major maintenance done as well, I just dont have the tools to do it myself) but once I know I'll let you know

@tadek sorry for hijacking your thread, hope you don't mind!

tadek13.rx8.

Crap Chinese kit? Is that the one you ordered or the one I have? By the way- I assume you live in Europe, seeing as how you ordered in euros, what country you live in? In regards to the thread hell no I don't mind, when I started it members who replied were very helpful and I do not see why I should close the thread for time being if other members have a similar problem as they will have information now. Like I for example had no idea that adapter plugs would be needed for my hazards and steering controls, nor that a bracket was needed to fit the unit. Now people can read what to expect and hopefully will not have the minor headache I had hehe.

Matts Vos

Yeah I think its a pretty crappy chinese kit because its not what they said, at all. I live in the Netherlands btw I think a minor headache is a little underestimated lol

@firebirddude this is all I got

firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

In addition to brackets and front face?


If you didn't get the actual dash kit (crappy or not), then you REALLY got taken.

Regardless, the black harness IN NO WAY fits anything in the RX8. It's a Metra 70-1784 connector. That connector fits many German cars (VW, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, etc). The white plug harness is just the A/V harness for the unit. Most every headunit has a separate harness for all its RCA connections.

You guys got ripped. No doubt about it. Without the Metra kit, you don't have a chance in hell of installing it.

Matts Vos

Yeah I got the front face, but no brackets..

Edit: just to confirm, the metra kit will make this work?

firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

yep

tadek13.rx8.

Yes metra kit will make it work- you have same kit that I ordered. However you might still might have to cut something - not too sure because I first had unit installed and now I waiting for metra kit to arrive to replug. I personally like it. These past two days have been a little colder in the morning but the unit has no problems. Works and responds quickly. Depending on whether or not you ordered rearview camera - half of those wires aren't required- the ones for the video in video out, audio in audio out.
I have never been to Netherlands. ;/ I made it as close as Zeebrugge in Belgium. I am originally from Poland but now reside in the USA.

Matts Vos

Thank you guys so much.. <3
@ Tadek Temps been around 7C today and will be dropping throughout the rest and coming week so yeah you really want some heat. I've fallen in love with the in-seat heating things, gets comfortably warm in just a minute! and yeah I have the rearview camera as well.

edit: So does steering wheel controls work with this as well or do I still need a separate adaptor for that? And if yes do you have a clue on which one works with our brandless headunit lol

tadek13.rx8.

So far , all I know is that without the metrakit adapter plugs, my unit works. However- the unit is missing its side lighting due to lack of power going to lights around the system. Yes, the seats are amazing - in the summer I always turn it on for my gf or other passengers hehe. Even after 4 years I still get a laugh when I see someone reacting to the heated seat in summer lol. I have not yet connected the metra kit plugs so no idea if steering wheel controls will work. I assume yes, because the unit has a configuration setting so that you can set your steering wheel controls to the unit. If the metra kit won't work then I doubt I will really worry about it. If you connect it first let me know hehe. For now I still waiting for the kit and then when I have a chance I will dismantle unit and plug it in with the adapter plugs.

firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

???

Matts Vos

Hmm I looked at the back and there's nothing saying any sort of that . No wire as far as i can see ether.

firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

Hmmm..... does it come with a remote at all?

tadek13.rx8.

Yes Sir. It came with a remote. Standard universal remote for the headunit.