The 1st comprehensive 2008 impreza dash & radio removal guide

[TVu1987]

great stuff. thank you so much

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[fog hat]

Originally Posted by Spaz0351

So I have a question about the 09 wrx Non-navi. Hence it is a clarion head unit do you believe I would be able to use a $100 sirius clarion connect to get satellite radio or would I have to use the subaru $400 connector.

Unfortunatly NO! I tried that first thing. the Clarion (and any other sirius device with external controls) has a round connector similar to a S-video, and as you can see from the pics posted above the back of the stock head unit has a large rectangular input connector.

If you look at the Ipod install pics, the ipod plugs into the rectangular black hole in the back of the stock head unit and because the stock head unit cant support both the sirius and the ipod together Im guessing the Subaru sirius unit plugs into that same hole. I was pi$$ed off about when I fingered it out.

is there an easier way to do it?
i just bought a pioneer head unit and was wondering what parts i need to install it.

[subysnacks]

So fog hat, or anyone else,

Have you figured out a way to run Sirius and Ipod, can the wires be split, and a switch added.

Do you have to use the subaru sirius unit, or is there an aftermarket unit yet?

[rxbytran]

Does anyone have the pinout for the nav harness? I was wondering if it would be possible to install a PAC VCI-X onto the nav harness in order to turn on a backup cam when the car is placed in reverse. In order for that to happen you have to tap into the RGB sync wire as well as separate Red Green and Blue signal wires. Im not sure if those wires are present on the factory nav system.

[stewartg2000]

It's been about 10 years since I've installed a car stereo. I just picked up a 09 wrx last week and have a f700bt being delivered on Mon. I just wanted to clarify a few things before I get started.

I need the metra harness (70-7552) and dash kit (95-8902)? Are these available locally or only online?

Piggyback the illumination and dimmer wires... or just the illum?

Stereo bezel comes off with just a panel tool... no taking apart the entire dash?

Will I need to do anything differently to allow nav/video while in motion?

[DanzBorin]

i found the harness locally (you have to put in a pin/wire for the ground), but have had no luck with the dash kit...

you can probably take off the radio panel itself, but will most likely result in scratches... taking the dash part off isn't hard and will most likely be the best way to avoid scratches...

[elwray]

Originally Posted by stewartg2000

It's been about 10 years since I've installed a car stereo. I just picked up a 09 wrx last week and have a f700bt being delivered on Mon. I just wanted to clarify a few things before I get started.

I need the metra harness (70-7552) and dash kit (95-8902)? Are these available locally or only online?

Piggyback the illumination and dimmer wires... or just the illum?

Stereo bezel comes off with just a panel tool... no taking apart the entire dash?

Will I need to do anything differently to allow nav/video while in motion?

Those numbers look right for the wiring harness and dash trim kit.

I personally used the scosche parts so I can't vouch for the Metra pieces. If you're interested, the scosche parts are:
Dash kit (SU2027B/SU2027)
Wiring harness (NN04B/NN04)
You'll also need something like the Pac SWI-JACK if you want to retain steering wheel controls.

I got my stereo bezel off with nothing but my fingernails, prying from the corner.

I installed a Kenwood DNX5120, so allowing the nav/video while moving was nothing more than grounding the "parking brake switch connection". I don't know what Pioneer uses, but it's a popular HU choice so I'm sure the info is out there. If you can't find it here, you should try searching on other car forums since the disable would probably be the same or similar..

I used the illumination (pin 1 i believe) and left the dimmer wire unconnected (there wasnt even a wire on the wiring harness for it) since the way Subaru has "inverted" the normal dimmer control voltages and an aftermarket stereo probably won't recognize that. There may be a way to rectify that but I didn't even bother trying, since it dims with the illumination.

Good luck

[elwray]

Originally Posted by DanzBorin

i found the harness locally (you have to put in a pin/wire for the ground), but have had no luck with the dash kit...

you can probably take off the radio panel itself, but will most likely result in scratches... taking the dash part off isn't hard and will most likely be the best way to avoid scratches...

What kind of harness was it? The scosche harness I got last week from the web was actually spot on with pin locations and EIA colors ... not to say you shouldn't double check all the colors and locations, but I didn't even have to add that ground..

[stewartg2000]

Thanks. I got the metra 70-7552 for the newer nissans at my local car toys. The dash kit wasn't in stock, but they ordered it for me. I can live a week with a small gap. Using a small panel tool, I was able to remove the bezel easily with no scratching. I removed the stock HU and the ipod kit and set the bezel aside for tomorrow. I don't have steering wheel controls right now, but I might do a swap later.

Removing the ipod kit actually required taking apart most of the dash and center console to trace the cable and clip the zip ties, which was ok because I installed heated seats yesterday and wanted to put the switches in the center console by the cup holders.

Tomorrow the car goes into the dealer to get short throw, fog lights, sport grille, mirror w/ homelink and shock sensor installed, then I will install the pioneer head unit when I get home.

[DanzBorin]

Originally Posted by elwray

What kind of harness was it? The scosche harness I got last week from the web was actually spot on with pin locations and EIA colors ... not to say you shouldn't double check all the colors and locations, but I didn't even have to add that ground..

it was the metra nissan maxima/versa harness...

[DanzBorin]

Originally Posted by stewartg2000

Thanks. I got the metra 70-7552 for the newer nissans at my local car toys. The dash kit wasn't in stock, but they ordered it for me. I can live a week with a small gap. Using a small panel tool, I was able to remove the bezel easily with no scratching. I removed the stock HU and the ipod kit and set the bezel aside for tomorrow. I don't have steering wheel controls right now, but I might do a swap later.

Removing the ipod kit actually required taking apart most of the dash and center console to trace the cable and clip the zip ties, which was ok because I installed heated seats yesterday and wanted to put the switches in the center console by the cup holders.

Tomorrow the car goes into the dealer to get short throw, fog lights, sport grille, mirror w/ homelink and shock sensor installed, then I will install the pioneer head unit when I get home.

use the swi adapter for your steering wheel controls... I used the swijack, but that's for jvc, alpine, clarion, and kenwood... they make one that does pioneer...

it has a bit of lag, but works...

[GeckoTH]

wkderf, are your pictures still available somewhere? Looks like they've been moved, removed, or Photobucket is just being a jerk.

I'm pretty sure I'd be able to follow along / figure it out with the written descriptions, but photos are always nice

Where am I suppose to put the ground wire from the new dash at? There's no place for it.

[stewartg2000]

The bottom two holes where the head unit bolts down are grounded. I connected the ground from my head unit to one of the bolts on the mounting plate. Or you could tap into the ground wire from the stock harness.

[ASHRAF]

Originally Posted by GeckoTH

wkderf, are your pictures still available somewhere? Looks like they've been moved, removed, or Photobucket is just being a jerk.

I'm pretty sure I'd be able to follow along / figure it out with the written descriptions, but photos are always nice

+1
looks like a very helpful thread, just missing the photos now, photobucket sucks

[SVXdc]

Yes, Photobucket (and ImageShack, and probably others) will barf if you try to post the full-sized pictures — they limit the bandwidth, and will kill the links if they keep getting too many hits. It's also possible that wkderf deleted the pics.

You have to post thumbnails and set them up so that when a person clicks one it opens the larger version. Then whenever someone opens the thread, all they get initially are a bunch of little thumbnails (thus low bandwidth hit on Photobucket).

It's easy to do:

[URL=HTTP://address-of-big-picture.jpg]***91;IMG***93;HTTP://address-of-thumbnail.jpg***91;/IMG***93;***91;/url***93;

[noobsauce]

Originally Posted by SVXdc

Here are a few closer pics of the non-Navi 2008 factory radio (courtesy of Gary, who bought one on eBay).

It's made by Clarion. Model number (on front) is CZ641U6. Model number on the label is PF-2950A-A. Part number 86201FG640.

(click on these thumbnails to see full-sized images)

Front:

Rear:

Label on top:

Close-up of new-style 20-pin power/speaker connector:

The connector has two rows of 9 smaller pins, plus two larger pins on the far left and right sides.

It's physically the same as the one on the 2007 Nisson Maxima and Versa, although the pin assignments may be different. [UPDATED:] Most of the pin assignments are the same. I already know that Metra's aftermarket harnesses for the Nissan (into car: 70-7552, and into radio or reverse: 71-7552) do not include wires for ground or illumination.

As wkderf wrote in post #1, the Subaru car's harness has 13 wires populated — 4 speakers, ground, +12V battery (constant), +12V accessory (switched), antenna remote control, and illumination.

[UPDATED:] According to Subaru's wiring diagram, the car's harness has two pins for illumination and dimmer, just like on the 14-pin harness in older/other years/models. The new harness also has the two wires for "satellite switches" (remote control buttons on the steering wheel), and adds two wires for CAN bus. 18 wires total.

How much did your friend pay for it?

[SPT.WRX.2K8]

Could I use the navi radio that comes in the 08' STi in my 08' WRX sedan? When I purchsed the car in Nov 07' they said the 4EAT doesn't come with the navi or I couldn't have it installed...

[Bootsi]

Hey all...I have a question please...please..please someone help me

I ordered and received my Alpine iDA-X100 today. It came with the harness and dash kit.

Got everything apart, and wired with no problems...but I'm having trouble understanding 2 things:
1. Do I need to hook up the antenna wire from the new head unit?
2. (really stupid question) What is the wire/connector from the stock HU that connects to the flat thingie in the back? Is that the ground wire? I know...stupid question...

[SilverFleet]

Originally Posted by Bootsi

Hey all...I have a question please...please..please someone help me

I ordered and received my Alpine iDA-X100 today. It came with the harness and dash kit.

Got everything apart, and wired with no problems...but I'm having trouble understanding 2 things:
1. Do I need to hook up the antenna wire from the new head unit?
2. (really stupid question) What is the wire/connector from the stock HU that connects to the flat thingie in the back? Is that the ground wire? I know...stupid question...

To answer your questions:
1.You just take the antenna wire from the stock radio and plug it into the aftermarket radio. It plugs right in.

2. That black wire with the flat thing: are you talking about the one that connects to the metal cage that surrounds the radio? If your trying to figure out how to hook up a ground to the new harness, it's really simple. Look at the pinouts that are posted in this thread, and get a wire from another radio harness. I stole one from the harness on my old 2002 WRX aftermarket harness adapter. You insert it where it goes on the Nissan-style harness and plug it in as normal.

I hope this helps!

[jndimaria]

aww the pics were deleted

i'm in the process of trying to remove the silver dash piece that connects to the a/c controls. this helps though!

[SVXdc]

Originally Posted by Bootsi

1. Do I need to hook up the antenna wire from the new head unit?

If you're talking about the new HU's power antenna control wire, yes it does need to be connected. The car has an antenna booster amp which needs to be activated whenever you listen to AM/FM.

Connect the HU's Blue "power antenna" wire to the Blue/White wire on a Metra 70-7552 or a Scosche NN04B harness.

On Nissans that use that same harness/connector, that wire is for speaker amplifier remote-on (which is why it's Blue/White), but on Subarus that same pin position is for the antenna booster.

ADDED: That Alpine HU has a jack on the rear for a steering wheel control interface (the PAC SWI-JACK), which you can connect to the car's two SWC wires. The 70-7552 and NN04B harnesses don't include those wires, but you could get a second harness and transplant two wires.

[elwray]

Originally Posted by jndimaria

aww the pics were deleted

i'm in the process of trying to remove the silver dash piece that connects to the a/c controls. this helps though!

If I'm thinking of the right piece:

Open up the front passenger door and pop off that side panel, then trace the silver a/c trim piece to the screw that holds it on behind that panel.
Unscrew that, and carefully pry it towards the a/c controls. The trim ends at the steering wheel trim. I don't believe it's screwed in over there, but it may be overlapped with a piece of the dashboard trim.

Be careful pulling it out; there are two (I think two..) wiring harnesses attached to the a/c controls..

[jndimaria]

Originally Posted by elwray

If I'm thinking of the right piece:

Open up the front passenger door and pop off that side panel, then trace the silver a/c trim piece to the screw that holds it on behind that panel.
Unscrew that, and carefully pry it towards the a/c controls. The trim ends at the steering wheel trim. I don't believe it's screwed in over there, but it may be overlapped with a piece of the dashboard trim.

Be careful pulling it out; there are two (I think two..) wiring harnesses attached to the a/c controls..

awesome! thanks!