New Headunit Installation

asilverblazer · September 30, 2010

First off, what I have:

4 Infinity Reference speakers powered by an Alpine MRP-F300 amplifier

2 Alpine subwoofers powered by an Alpine MRP-M500 amplifier

Kenwood DDX616 Headunit

Scosche GM21SR Integration Module

PAC SWI-Jack

So here is what I plan on doing:

Connecting the harness supplied with the Scosche module to the factory radio harness. Connecting this harness to the Scosche. From the Scosche module is another harness for connection to aftermarket headunit. I will match these wires up to the harness supplied with the Kenwood DDX616. With the exception of all speaker outputs (will be discussed momentarily). I will also need to ground the "Parking Sensor Wire" in the Kenwood DDX616 harness, to allow video to be played at all times (not that I intend to watch video at all times, but it will make installation easier than trying to locate the parking brake sensor wire ground). Also need to connect the "Reverse" in the Kenwood DDX616 harness to my reverse lamp circuit (A dark blue wire at the BCM supposedly) for future back up camera use. The Kenwood DX 616 uses RCA signals out the back, which I will use for amplifier signal input. I don't have the PAC SWI-Jack to know how that will get wired into this mess yet...

I'm currently looking for suggestions concerning, the "Parking Sensor Wire" should I ground it? If I choose to connect it the intended way, which wire is the ground for the actual parking brake circuit, preferrably at the parking brake. Also for the "Reverse" wire, where is the best place to tap the positive wire for back up lights with out the "illuminated entry" interferring? Back up camera suggestions; mount and camera with price being a big factor.

Anything I am missing?

ChRoNo16 · September 30, 2010

I would strongly suggest against mods allowing DVD's to be played at all times, not to suggest you would, but I wish I could tell you as a family how many dead people's cars weve towed because the corpse in the drivers seat got tempted to have a movie going... not pretty, anyways as far as backup wires and such, in all honesty, I would leave them alone until the day you install a backup camera, for one youll have to pull your head unit that day anyways, but for two most kits nowadays come with a whole set of instructions on how to do that. its just better to wait and be safe then splice something and fry something

Just my opinions, but I would just connect the harnesses and enjoy the tunes for now. backup cameras are nice, but leave that step for another day.

jryan51 · September 30, 2010

I put an AVIC D3 in some time ago. I found instructions on line in an AVIC forum of how to bypass. It wasn't so much for the DVD but it allowed one to type in an address on the GPS vs stopping and putting the car in park. It was

worth the time.

I put a camera in the tailgate (top cover now). I tapped the wire for the reverse lights right at the tailights. Had to go there eventually. Works like a charm. Plenty of power for the camera.

I had it in the tailgate bezel but I wanted more of a downward slant.

I can see my trailer hitch now.

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...ic=77552&hl=

asilverblazer · September 30, 2010

Any pictures of the new camera location and what it looks like on screen?

jryan51 · October 1, 2010

Any pictures of the new camera location and what it looks like on screen?

Don't have any and it raining...raining raining....

I just put it in the center of the plastic cap on the tailgate. Used a hole saw. Take the torx bolts out and you'll see a little hole in there that the camera fit into nicely. Not a whole lot of room but mine fit.

It's great for backing into spaces. As soon a the nose of a car breaks the line of site...stop. Perfect.

It was some ebay "bullet" led camera..about $100 but that was a few years ago.

asilverblazer · October 1, 2010

Got my new headunit in, waiting on my steering wheel control adapter thing, remote control and still need to decide on the rear camera. I need to clean up my installation a bit too and put the backseat back in, I don't want to do that until after I get my amplifiers set just right. I also need to run a 2' longer RCA cable to the subwoofer amplifier too.

Love the stereo, not so much the dash kit. Soon as I find one by Metra I'll grab it, seems that it should be the better kit available.

jdubya · October 1, 2010

I had the same problem with my dash kit. I ordered like 5 of them from different manufacurers. I have the metra one in now it looks the best out of all of them but still not perfect. There is a big gap at the top of the kit that annoys me.

Eddie 70 · October 2, 2010

Post some pics. I would love to do a head unit that will allow me to play DVD's. I have a collection of music DVDs that I would love to listen to.

Se77vN · October 2, 2010

Got my new headunit in, waiting on my steering wheel control adapter thing, remote control and still need to decide on the rear camera. I need to clean up my installation a bit too and put the backseat back in, I don't want to do that until after I get my amplifiers set just right. I also need to run a 2' longer RCA cable to the subwoofer amplifier too.

Love the stereo, not so much the dash kit. Soon as I find one by Metra I'll grab it, seems that it should be the better kit available.

I started my install tonight, I had a metra kit, it was pretty simple, however I still have everything in pieces at the moment. But I did fire everything up to make sure it was in working order--and it was yea!

The metra kit worked out great, and the axxess SW module I got was a breeze to install--no ripping apart the SW, which was a big plus. Hopefully I'll get the rest of my stuff in tomorrow, I need to get my subthump box modified first though as the RF's I bought are too wide to fit in the holes as is. Oh well, such is life with a custom install.

Any speacial tips for taking off the back seat and for taking the rear door panels off? I could not really find a good write up for the rear doors.

asilverblazer · October 5, 2010

It took me a couple tries to get the PAC SWI-Jack programmed correctly, but it works, surprisingly I must say. Same goes for the Scosche thing. I still need to tweak the amplifier gains/crossovers and head unit equalizer to get everything sounding the way I want. I'll try to get some pictures soon, I'm going to be on the look out for the metra dash kit locally, because I am really unhappy with the dash kit I have. It's really nice having my iPod integrated more seamlessly, the remote is nice, really happy with it .

asilverblazer · October 5, 2010

Any speacial tips for taking off the back seat and for taking the rear door panels off? I could not really find a good write up for the rear doors.

I don't remember anything particular on the GMT-800's but if you've had your front door panels off, it is very very similar. Back seat is pretty easy, several 18mm nuts at the base (deep 18m socket). Lift it straight up off the nuts and loose from the hooks in the rear. Make sure when you put it back in you catch those same hooks before you bolt it down.

Mine will be coming back out for final amplifier adjustment.