Help! My New Nav Unit Doesn't Fit!

JeepTherapy · November 12, 2007

So this weekend I finally finshed hooking up all the wiring harnesses for my Eclipse AVN6610 double-din dvd/nav unit. And the Nav deck doesn't fit in the hole in the dash! I was careful to pull the wiring harnesses out of the way from the top (took the dash cover off), and I still couldn't get it to fit.

It looks like the plastic support for the factory radio is in the way...the one with the rectangular hole that the white plastic pin on the back of the factory radio mates to. Is it? I don't want to cut that out if I can avoid it, as when I sell the truck I want to keep my head unit & put the factory one back in.

So - how do you get the afternarket Nav units to fit in the dash? Is cutting that plastic piece out the only way? If yes, what did you use to cut it with, back in that little space?

I am so close, yet so far!

Appreciate your collective wisdom!

Jeff

defragme · November 13, 2007

That sucks to have to trim. Just got through puttin a nav in my 07. Totally different dash, but I had to trim A LOT. And I also had to trim the dash kit to allow the front of the headunit to protrude a bit more, gaining some clearance. Doubt that will be an option with your type of dash though.

I would say that a dremel tool would be your best bet to trim with. But I didnt have one, so i used a fairly short handled pair of wire side cutters to nibble at the plastic until i made my cut. Another good choice would be a short pair of end nibblers (used for trimming floor tiles). This is all assuming ofcourse that you have enough room inside your dash to maneuver those tools.

Might be a good idea to rub a piece of chalk on the inside of the dash and see if you can tell where the headunit is bumping up against. It might rub some off when you push it in there.

Dont worry bout trimming that piece out, if you sell the truck the front screws will hold the stock cd in plenty good enough anyway. Especially good enough to sell it, then it's not your prob anymore anyways.

omegafiler · November 13, 2007

Yep, most of the DD nav units I've seen for these trucks require you to cut away the rear factory support bracket. Wouldn't worry about it though since I'm sure the factory unit will still work just fine without it - if you did sell it.

JeepTherapy · November 13, 2007

Yep, most of the DD nav units I've seen for these trucks require you to cut away the rear factory support bracket. Wouldn't worry about it though since I'm sure the factory unit will still work just fine without it - if you did sell it.

That sucks. If you cut that away, does the double-din nav unit just hang there off the front mount brackets with no rear support?

ScottyBoy · November 13, 2007

yep.

JeepTherapy · November 14, 2007

yep.

That just does not feel right bouncing down the road....has anyone had any issues with this?

defragme · November 14, 2007

yep.

That just does not feel right bouncing down the road....has anyone had any issues with this?

Well my last truck was an 02 which had the 1.5 din size opening for the radio. So I when I installed a nav I had to get a single din sized flipout screen. I had no clearance problems with that, but I didnt use any kind of rear support to mount it either. Also had a kenwood single din before that that was held up by only the dash kit. Never moved, bounced, etc. So the only thing holding those was some bent up metal tabs on the sleeve that goes around the unit. Your truck uses screws to hold the unit in place pretty solid, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Once again if you are worried about reinstalling the factory for selling the truck, that point shouldn't matter cuz hey, you would be getting rid of it anyway. If you are worried about the new unit, dont, because it is gonna be bottomed out against the inside of your dash after you get done trimming so it will definently have no room to move. Not even considering the sturdy screw type mount you will be using.

JeepTherapy · November 14, 2007

Your truck uses screws to hold the unit in place pretty solid, so I wouldn't worry about it.

If you are worried about the new unit, dont, because it is gonna be bottomed out against the inside of your dash after you get done trimming so it will definently have no room to move. Not even considering the sturdy screw type mount you will be using.

All good points - thanks. Time to dig out my dremel tool & cut away!

Thanks all

Jeff

November 15, 2007

For the record, Crutchfield says that unit won't fit.

Probably because of the lenght of the head.

I had a long conversation with them last week about why a Pioneer AVIC-D3 would not fit but a Z2 would. Turns out the D3 is about an 1/8th of an inch longer. I may be doing some trimming myself. I'm not sure the Z2 has enough features to warrant the extra $800 in cost.

crsmax · November 15, 2007

Hey Guys Newbie here... but was interested in installing the Pioneer AVIC-D3 in my wife's truck. Aside from the fittment issues, does anyone know if the stock CD changer at the bottom console can be retained if using the Pioneer AVIC-D3 or will the changer unit have to be removed? Thanks for any input.

ScottyBoy · January 19, 2008

I'm not sure the Z2 has enough features to warrant the extra $800 in cost.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the main difference between the two is the navigation system. The d3 has a cheaper system. It requires you to actually have the navigation disc in the cd slot while you use the nav system, thus preventing you from listening to CD's while using the nav, or playing dvd's for the rear passengers. I think the nav system in the z2 has a built in hard drive which doesnt require you to insert the nav disc every time you use the nav system.

chrisb009 · February 8, 2008

I have the Z1 (software upgraded just this week to Z2) in my 2003 HD. the Z1/2 series does have a hard drive....and everything is stored on it to include your CD collection. If you are trying to decided on the Z1/2 series I highly recommend it. You will need to remove the rear plastic....and trim the "shelf" just a bit for the proper fit. The plastic shelf will help hold the unit in place and take some of the stress from the front mounting brackets. The "trimming" is necessary for most of the full screen units in the silverado line.

Chris