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Upgrading the stereo

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Old 07-24-2004, 01:01 AM
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nope, but when i go junkyard hoping in florida, i'll bring along my camera, and if i see one, i'll take a pic of it.. and we can all spend hours staring at it. lol.


-justin
Old 07-24-2004, 10:34 PM
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Default Re: Upgrading the stereo

Originally Posted by jr's3800
Originally Posted by alex_r357
Originally Posted by Jake
I have a 91 SSE and I have the AM/FM/Cass stereo. I want to upgrade the stereo but stay within the factory head units. Anyone have the factory CD unit or have used one of the later model units? I want to still retain the steering wheel controls.

Jake
I also have that same problem. I thought of going with a CD changer, but the ones I've looked at were too expensive for my budget. What I came across at a junkyard today is a factory cd player on a '93 Bonneville. I tried putting it on one of the '90 models at the junkyard, and I can see that I can make it fit into the factory location with almost no modifications. However, all of the connectors were cut off on the older bonnie, and I still don't know if they are compatible. I think i'm going to go back to the junkyard, and buy it tomorrow. I'll see if I can make it fit on my car. They have refund, and besides - you can't go wrong with a CD player for $40!! My question is: does anyone here have any experience doing this swap?
A CD player from an 93 should swap into an 89 as they use the same harness... , the 1993 Tape deck, and CD units both use the same Tuner/Amp section, the only diffrence would be a unit with or without the 5Band Eq
Ok. Here is an update. I bought the CD player from the '93 bonneville that i mentioned earlier. when I came home I found that the harness is exactly the same! The unit installed with almost no problems, BUT... the car that i pulled the CD player out of has (among other connectors) one that is black, with a reddish bit, and has 2 green wires going to it. My '89 has that same connector, but instead has 3 green wires. One is light, and two are dark, I think. Installing all of the connectors, including the one I just mentioned resulted in the CD player turning on, but locking up and only reacting to the "set" and "eject" keys. However, when i completely pulled out the connector with the green wires, the system worked!!! Only, now I lost my steering wheel controls. I was wondering if anyone knew where I can get a wiring diagram, or something that could help me figure out what'* going on. But, on a more optimistic note - the system sounds absolutely AMAZING!! It'* extremely clear, and has more bass response than the cassette unit I had previously. By the way, the new CD deck has a 5 band equalizer as well .
Old 07-25-2004, 11:32 AM
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I believe the steering wheel controls on your car operate on a different principle. However I would need the wiring diagram from an 89 to prove it. If that'* the case you may have some trouble making them work.
Old 07-25-2004, 05:22 PM
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Originally Posted by fuddyduddy121
I believe the steering wheel controls on your car operate on a different principle. However I would need the wiring diagram from an 89 to prove it. If that'* the case you may have some trouble making them work.
You just had to bring my hopes down hadn't you? :( Do you know of a place where I can get some detailed wiring diagrams for our bonnies? The chilton'* manual doesn't have a lot of information about the stereo system.
Old 07-25-2004, 05:26 PM
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Oh, and Jake - sorry if i'm sorta stealing your post here. I still think this is relevant information, and if you are lucky enough to find a cd player from a later model Bonneville, I would really recommend the upgrade, even if I don't find a way of using my steering wheel controls. But something tells me I'm gonna figure out a way...
Old 07-26-2004, 01:23 PM
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Well, I did a few minor modifications to the connectors, cut a few wires here and there, and the stering wheel controls work!! That'* for anyone who ever doubted me So now I have a '93 SE CD deck working flawlessly in an '89 SE, with the steering wheel controls!!
Old 07-26-2004, 01:40 PM
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Good Job! We do need to know how you accomplished it.
Old 07-26-2004, 01:45 PM
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Thanks! I'm working on a detailed description with photos right now
Old 07-26-2004, 03:06 PM
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Ok. This tutorial is meant to help you change your cassette player from an '89 Bonneville with a CD player from a '93.

Before:


After:



The mounting brackets are very easily interchangeable betwen the decks. Just take your stock deck, remove the mounting brackets and put them on the CD deck. It'* very simple.

The connectors all simply snap into place. The only modification has to be done to the wiring of one of the connectors.



This so-called "evil" connector (i think i've heard that term being used on this forum somewhere) on your '89 will have three wires going to it: two dark green on one side, and a yellowish one closer to the center of the connector.

However, the '93 connector only has two wires - a dark green and a light green, in the same location as the two dark green wires on your '89.



Now what you would need to do is take your '89'* "evil" connector and snap two wires - the yellow and the inner dark green wire(the one that is closer to the yellow wire).



And that is it! Plug the connectors in and enjoy a very rare '89 Bonnie with a stock-looking CD player!
Old 07-26-2004, 09:08 PM
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Do you have a problem with the VF display on the climate control not dimming?


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