alcimedes

So I bought a used RX8 for a pretty good price from a dealer. One reason I got a good price was because the audio had been screwed around with, and wasn't stock.

Figured it wouldn't be too bad, I've done a lot of audio work before in my life so no harm no foul.

Get into the car though and I'm presented with an interesting problem.

The head unit added in was an Alpine CDA 9835. The nice part is with the 420i add-on, iPod support is a done deal, which is something I want.

The bad part is as it stands, the clock can't be set, and the steering wheel controls don't work.

So the final bit of info is this. That thing below the passenger's seat is the original head unit. It's been moved down there, and there's a black piece that covers it. Some wires have been clipped, I'm assuming those were the steering wheel controls etc.

So for those who have taken the RX8's audio apart, should I mess much with this setup? Do I just add the iPod controls and forget about steering wheel controls? I can probably just set the clock another way if necessary, don't mind that much.

So I call upon the expertise of other RX8 owners to help guide me here.

Images of the setup are below.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Damn...that's rough............looks like a 12 yr old did the install.

Good Luck. The stock system sucks though....so it may not be all bad

kachud

The only way to get the steering wheel controls to work is to go back to the stock head unit or find a after market head unit that can be wired to the existing switches. The remote controls in the HU on the passenger side no longer function so it is not worth wiring them to the steering wheel. Personally I would try to get an after market head unit. The box on the passenger side can be chopped considerably by someone who knows what they are doing then it would fit behind the radio so you won't see it. My $0.02

truemagellen

ummmm ghetto install u got there...afew options though

does it sound good?

I can't tell if u have the 6sp but if u do definitely put the audio controls next to the shift boot...much more accesible and that hand is free far more often...there is a tendency to bump the steering wheel controls when turning...so just forget it

u could buy a stock unit and put it back in :D

but really best thing would be to pull out the alpine unit and put in a double din (or larger) sized lcd touch screen and you are good to go

alcimedes

In that case then, does anyone have a link to a color audio wire map? Before I decide one way or another, I'd like to know what I'm getting into. Audio work without a wire map sucks, but is doable.

I didn't think it would be such a crackerjack install, but life's full of surprises. However since my buddy just got the rebuilt engine back in his 7, we might have time to do an audio project some weekend before MRR.

truemagellen

hey where do you live? I was going to go to MRR but it is up in the air now

alcimedes

I'm in Minnesota, Twin Cities area. Maybe I'll bring a soldering iron and some spare wiring just in case someone down there has some experience ripping apart the center console.

I HATE working on botched wiring attempts. You open it up and you have no idea what you're going to find. I'm sorely tempted to just toss in the stupid iPod part from alpine and call it a day. All I really want is music at this point. The speakers are still stock, and there's no amp in the mix. Probably means some time next summer I'll be running a sub box, some updated speakers and an amp. However, at this point my wife is happy about how much we've spent on the car, and not really looking to spend another $700 on audio parts.

As long as I can keep her happy about us getting this car, that's worth more than a kick *** audio system.

I only drive 2 hours a day, I usually spend 12 or more with my wife.

truemagellen

oh hey u posted in the regional section I forgot :D

taking apart the center console is easy

I live near where 394 and 100 intersects

if u want the stock HU back I'm sure we could find one for u for cheap...then u could sell the rest of the componenets

who knows...lets brainstore...this is a puzzle

truemagellen

here look at this to get an idea on how to take apart the center console...I've done it about 10 times now for the audio/video install DIY work I did on my car

alcimedes

Just in case anyone wants to know. The work that was done on my car was done at Ultimate Electronics (formerly known as Audio King).

In this case it was the one in Roseville, MN.

So, anyone have a suggestions for a good place in MN to get audio work done on an RX8?

lurch519

one thing you can do is get a current alpine head unit, anything cda-9851 and up, and you can get a swi-alp interface that will plug into the head unit, and connect to the factory steering wheel controls and allow you to use your controls.

truemagellen

a friend of mine owns a custom audio shop off hwy 12 (end of 394)

otherwise there are lots of places...Visions is one...I forgot where you are located Alcimedes but there are many places