zerobanger

I bought mine from trussvile mazda today. came to 260 shipped to california.

My local dealer wants 340 + tax.

LOL.

moatz

Does anybody know who makes the CD and MP3 player?

It is not BOSE, because on the BOSE website, it states:

"Bose does not manufacture components such as radios, cassette- or CD-players. Because they are selected by vehicle manufacturers, related service issues are handled by your authorised car dealer."

I spotted "FMS Audio" on one of pics that Superfan posted. And they seem to be a valid company.

Anybody know a website?

syntrix

http://www.guide2detroit.com/e-card/fmsaudio0009.htm

and fmsaudio.com says a permission denied message or something like that.

fms is on my stock HU sitting in the house now.

eccles

FMS Audio, Panasonic, and Clarion manufacture the audio components. Apparently there are some onboard diagnostics that will identify the manufacturer, but I couldn't get them to work: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...threadid=12967

eccles

I believe they're a subsidiary of SANYO.

moatz

Yeh, I have found out the FMS is partnership between Ford, Mazda and Sanyo.

They are the stereo components behind the Aussie Ford Falcon AU, as well.

There is a list of their components on this page:

http://www.semic.sanyo.co.jp/news/ev...atc_e/outl.htm

but not much else.

Obviously their website is not yet built or they have not got a public facing html page.

bobclevenger

CD changer is made by Matsushita.
MP3 player is made by Pioneer
Head unit is made by FMS

All info from markings on the units in my 8.

ptiemann

I received my MP3 player from Trussville yesterday and started to put it in. Thanks to this thread and the photos I even got the bolt out quickly. I cut the blue tape to have more slack with the main unit.

Now I can pull out the main unit ~ 3 inches but I fail to remove those two AC plugs at the bottom. They *have* to be unplugged, right?
Any pointers where to push or pull?

-Peter

syntrix

They must come off.

Reach around, or tilt the unit down so you can see... put a towel down around the shifter and front of the HU.

YOu will find little tabs you press, and then you pull the connector off.

bobclevenger

The tabs are in the centre of the connector, on the bottom. Push the tab inward (toward the body of the connector) with something like a pocket-sized screwdriver (flat blade, 1/8" wide) while pulling the connector off. I couldn't do it with just my fingers.

Be sure to get all the connectors all the way on (until they click) when you put everything back in!

ptiemann

Thanks Bob and syntrix, I kind of had seen where and how to push those plugs but just couldn't do it. The fact that I re-broke my left middle finger last Tuesday doesn't make this easier.

On lunch break I asked a coworker with healthy hands for help and the two plugs are off now.

Tonight I hopefully will complete this job.

ptiemann

(hours later)
I got it installed and it works fine. I'm happy with the result although there are 2 tiny dings on the console (not the front plate but the leather imitation next to it, on the passenger side).

And I lost that bolt, it fell down into some abyss behind the stereo, and I couldn't get it out today. Doesn't make a noise during driving, so I guess I just let it sit whereever it is.

Didn't someone else lose a size 10 socket there?

bobclevenger

Uh, That would be I <raising hand sheepishly>.
I know where it is. It's just hard to get to without tearing out a whole lot of stuff. The carpeting fits TOO well! -- and isn't very flexible.

syntrix

10mm with a 2 foot extension. Worked great for me.

Put some putty in the end of the socket so when the nut comes free, it won't fall out of the socket.

ptiemann

hm, the putty idea is good, but would you worry about it once it's in there? It cannot really fall anywhere where it would damage the motor, or?

zerobanger

this needs to be a sticky.

I installed it today, took about 1 hour and 20 minutes from start to finish. No problems. I would have never found that bolt thingy without the detailed explanations. very good write up.

Kleinies

Hello Guys,

I installed my MP3 yesterday. It took me about 2 hours from A to Z. Special thanks to superfan for the pics.
I found additional usefull infos on
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...ocs/index.html

All went fine .... until those !!@##¤¤?? connectors.
So I left them in, and did the job like that, my shift **** sometimes activating my warning lights! Some sport, though, to remove the two red screws behing the unit. I had to use the make-up mirror of my girlfriend to locate them properly.
Happy that the cables were long enough.

Thanks again for all the usefull comments

MaRX8

Well, I finailly got mine installed today. I got it as a Christmas present, and this has been my first real weekend where I didn't have to something the whole day. So I installed my Mp3 player. Thanks to everyone on all the tips they supplied. Especially that picture of where the bolt is. I spent an hour trying to find it, and that's even after looking at the picture. I seriously came back to the computer twice to make sure I was looking in the right spot. I eventually found it by feeling, and the reference pictures posted here. I had the blue tape in the back, eventually I pulled it enough to get my hands in there to get rid of the blue tape. Once you un-hook the plugs, it's all downhill and coasting...

In fact I was going so smooth, I forgot to hook up my A/C controls.

So I remembered when I read Pcorsaro post on here. About the controls not working. So I had everything all tidy and clean up, and had to go in and pull everything out again.

But it when much quicker the second time around. This is cake now. I could install these blindfolded, which when taking out that bolt I basicly was.

Thanks again everyone for the great info. Now it's time to fix all my ID3 tags... :D

superjcp

New member here....purchased my RX-8 through my company's S-plan with Mazda and got a sweet deal on a Nordic Green RX-8 with 6 Speed Manual, Touring Package, and Splash Guards.

Through all the great posts on this site, I ordered my MP3 unit (and some all weather mats) through the Trussville Mazda site and it arrrived the next day!!!

I read through this thread and I installed the MP3 unit myself in just about 1 hours time. Thanks to all that posted as it made it much easier to do...MP3 player is so much better than having to switch between disks....not to mention it displays all of the song info on the LCD!!!

Many more mods to come....adding custom pinstriping to the car today......and much more on the horizon.....more horsepower and a spoiler.

Drive fast....drive safe...

Omicron

Welcome, superjcp! Sounds like you're gonna fit right in... :D

And yes, the DIYs are great, aren't they?

superjcp

Thanks Omicron! I am learning about my car......did alot of research before I bought it. I have been a big fan of the Wankel enginer for quite some time....and I thought seriously about getting a RX-7 3rd gen....but I know that engine had longevity problems and demanded alot of attention...so I ended up with a 1997 Mitsu Eclipse Spyder GS-T in 97 and had that for 5 years....went back to a truck for a year and a half...got tired of it...and had to get back into a FAST car....and here I am!

Had the car a week and already changed or added 4 things.....and looking at doing so much more....money flying everywhere!!! I love it though....making the car mine...and unique to me...

rx8spiritR

nordic green.....huh.....no wonder you like the FD....i bet you like the MB also

superjcp

Huh?

In 97 when I bought my Mitsu, Rx-7's were hard to find......I tried...

2PIPES

WAS THERE RCA HOOK-UPS ON THE STOCK HU? WANT TO PUT IN A SMALL AMP FOR A SINGLE 10" SUB.

bobclevenger

No, there are no RCA jacks on the stock head unit.