Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

Finally got all my HVAC and display problems solved yesterday. My HVAC controller was bad and got a replacement (with cable) from another forum member, plugged it in, problems solved.

Tekne3k

I'm having the same problem. The box where the AC plugs into seems to be deffective, any Idea where I could get one?????

J_Owens

what problem are you having? are you just having all heat? or all a/c? if so you dont need a new one you just have to take apart your current one and re solder it, our car has a very common problem with the solder breaking apart and causing you to either have all a/c all the time or all heat all the time, i had all heat all the time, i was lucky and it was winter when it happened, there is a whole thread on how to take apart the controller box and where to solder to make it work again, i was iffy on it as well but when i took it apart i saw the cracks with a magnifying glass saw the broken solders, re-soldered it and it worked perfectly =) i dont have the thread anymore, maybe someone on here still has it, if you go through all the pages when this problem first occured you will see the link to the thread on one of the pages on this thread =)

Toxic Gecko

DIY HVAC fix thread

J_Owens

nice, thanks, ima save that thread again as well =)

Tekne3k

Well the at first the AC was compressor was ON but the fan wasn't blowing and but now the AC is just always ON so I just took out the AC and heater fuses.

BTW the thread is for a stock radio, I have a Metra kit so this can't help me at all...

Im in Jamaica so I don't give a sh*** about the heat but every time I drive my car when I come out it looks like I jumped in a pool with my clothes on

J_Owens

strange, i dont know about that

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

just FYI, the metra kit is now available from Crutchfield, and if you buy a HU that's 129.99 or higher from them, they give you the kit for 50% off AND you get free shipping

hmm, Crutchfield HQ is located in Charlottesville, only a couple hour drive from me, maybe i should make a visit...

firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

Seems like a great deal.... but when the price of the f900bt is $330 more on crutchfield versus amazon.... kinda kills it.

Out of curiosity, I was pricing some other DD navi units. Pioneer Z3 = $490 more. Kenwood DNX8120 = $370 more. JVC KW-NX7000BT = $360 more. JVC KW-NX7000 = $275 more. Alpine iVA-W203 = $150 more.

raphy3

I lived in Cville for about 5.5 yrs. The crutchfield there is *****. They have almost nothing in terms of HUs in stock. Heck, there isn't even guarantee that they will actually have the metra kit in store. I think they're a good business, but their storefront leaves a ton to be desired. Save yourself the trouble and just buy it online.

Jus' givin you a heads up. I've only been gone 1.5 yrs and it was heading downhill when I left.

raphy3

Actually that thread should help you. The heater control carries over from the stock units to the metra faceplate, and the bad solder points come with them.
Unless you are having the problem that some other people had in this thread with only heat or cold no matter what setting they chose, where the axxess box is at fault, in which case the update to the axxess box should help you hopefully.

J_Owens

has anyone let crutchfield know how much cheaper there compition is? if so maybe they will lower it, or if they are like corksport they wont care and will keep it high lol, i got a catalog from them in the mail one time, kinda think they are trying to reach the more rich ppl who could careless if they could get it cheaper to get there business rather then getting business from ppl who knows where they can get it for cheaper thats the feeling i got from there catalog anyway, just seemed like that to me imo. oh well tho

raphy3

One thing that was useful about crutchfield back when I had one near me is that the staff in the store seemed somewhat knowledgeable about HU's, installation, and car audio, etc. Normally you'd say "duh, of course they should be", but sometimes you go to places and they really just have no clue. But yeah, the only thing I bought from them was an install kit for my old car for ~$25, which would probably have been $15 anywhere else.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

crutchfield is good for product info/reviews and such, but they're way too overpriced. You're better off using them for research and then purchasing elsewhere, as helpful as they are they really need to do something more competitive pricing wise. (especially with ebay etc.)

RotaryResurrection

iTrader: (3)

You buy from crutchfield if you expect the highest level of service. By that I mean sales and support. Always being able to get someone on the phone, who can speak clear english, and actually will know what product and what tech issue you are talking about. Someone who can tell you 99% what will or will not fit in your vehicle. Someone who can tell you 100% what they have in stock and do not, what the price is, when it can be in your hands, etc. Plus they offer all the correct wiring, adapters, mounting places, etc. for specific vehicles as well as install directions specific to each vehicle. And the ability to return your purchase if everything is not 100% of what it should be, with no questions asked.

Yes the price is higher but the service cannot be beat. No one even comes close.

With that said, I usually browse their catalog and website to see what I want or need and then compare prices elsewhere. I am usually willing to "take a chance" on buying elsewhere to get a good deal. By this I mean, the seller may be shady; their communication may be poor. The shipping time may be slower, and they may be selling stuff that they don't actually have in stock. Sometimes you even take a chance and wind up with a b-stock or refurb part instead of a new in the box part.

And then other times you buy from a cheaper seller and everything goes 100% smoothly, as it has for me in my last few online electronics purchases ( total of 3) AVIC head units with sirius interfaces).

For those who do not want to take chances, there is crutchfield. And they are usually cheaper than most local car stereo shops also.

RotaryResurrection

iTrader: (3)

Also, for those of us with PAC steering wheel interface boxes in the rx-8. I can confirm the statement made a few pages back, about the programming of the unit. The instructions tell you to program it with the key in the ACC position, and this was how I did mine originally. I noticed the wheel controls worked, but usually responded slowly and not as expected, and were inconsistent at times.

It was suggested that the unit should be programmed with the car running, as the operating impedance of the control buttons actually changes slightly in this condition. So I reprogrammed mine tonight with the car running and the controls now respond about twice as fast and seem much more predictable and normal. Still maybe not 100% of how they were with the stock HU, but certainly up to my expectations.

Something to try for those with the SWI boxes.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

I'm not sure I agree with that, I've stumped them a number of times, I've not had 1000% omgzzzers experience with them, perhaps you have but I have not. They are pretty decent as far as online vendors go, but given the choice between that or a reputable shop I can visit in person, even if it's a little bit of a drive, I'd still opt for the local shop. that's just me, I don't like buying mobile electronics on the web because the more and more people do that, the more and more they force real shops to close, and then pretty soon we're all running around with prefab boxes or something...yikes....

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

I have two remaining problems with my Metra kit install. One is electrical and one is fitment.

The electrical is something I probably need to hunt down as something seems to be lose as a violent bump or heavy electrical draw on that area will shut everything down and reboot. I'm guessing a loose or shorting wire or fuse.

The second one is a fitment issue that I just noticed yesterday. I tried playing a DVD yesterday in my DDX-8120 and it opened just fine but wouldn't close all the way as the Metra face plate seems to be blocking something. Anyone else had this problem?

RotaryResurrection

iTrader: (3)

I've never liked flip/retractable face decks...too much to go wrong. The avic-n3 in my truck was opened one time and set to stay open at all times, and has never been allowed to 'flap" since because I know those damn gear drives that run the face flip/flap are very sensitive.

If you have more room on the top of your deck than the bottom or vice versa, you might need to slot out the mounting holes in the plastic mounting plate for the deck, to let you move the deck a little bit so that the face will clear the edge of the dash trim. If this is not possible you might even have to grind a little relief into your dash kit to allow proper movement of your face without binding...this would be a last resort for me, though.

Those full-flip face decks do require more room than a standard deck...you might find that you have to space the deck out away from the dash some to get it to work right.

Ryoma-kun

Just started reading about this metra kit. I figured as much as the metra kit is only the frame and I'll need a headunit in it. I wondered, how do I know which headunit I should get and how do I know it'll fit at all inside the metra frame?

Tekne3k

Because radios are universal the only problem you might get is if you have a radio that open to get the CD out, then you wont be able to use the plastic part surrounding your radio, resulting in a gap

jujo

They'll do a good job. My car was the one Crutchfield R&D used for testing so they could start offering the kit. Funny thing is though my trunk release button stopped working. This was like a month or two ago. Still need to go back down there and have them sort it out. My only problem with it is that the clock runs fast.

hk8

Do they have a website? or where else can i buy this faceplate from?

RotaryResurrection

iTrader: (3)

huh?

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

fuse maybe?

edit: these kits are all over the place now btw, shouldn't be hard for anyone to find one anymore.