did you wind up finishing the install? does the door close without any modification to the brackets that mount the deck?

 

I finally had some time tonight so I have substantially finished my install. The only thing that I have not done is fine tune the speed control function on the DCI. It comes preset at settings that you may find to be okay or you can make adjustments to it. I'm sure there are write-ups on this elsewhere in the Forums but I took the car for a quick (not pun intended) drive and the volume does go up and down as advertised. I'm just not sure yet if the factory presets are good for me.

The big question on this Forum seems to be the fit. YES, the radio door does close and it doesn't interfere. That is, the large volume knob protrudes the farthest and if you touch it with your finger, it goes to Pause on a CD. I opened and closed it several times and nothing changed (it didn't Pause) so I will conclude that there is no interference as Crutchfield stated.

Earlier I stated the factory front separate speakers must go. Frankly, the HU sounds so much better that I might leave things alone. I can use the $200 bucks saved from new speakers/Dynamat to pay down my kid's student loans or, alternatively, buy an FIPK...LOL. As for the HU set-up, like I said earlier, I'm not 20 so it takes me a little longer but I have it down now. It's actually kind of easy. I really like the extra usability of the dash controls with the DCI - money well spent in my opinion.

I hope that this information is of value.

 

awesome info. thanks for the writeup.

one follow-on question, did you have to modify the stock mounts to get it to sit "deeper" ? also did you use the trim ring it came with or not?

 

Mounting: The new HU hss pre-tapped holes that accept the factory brackets. I installed the new brackets without modification and carefully slid it in. I needed to carefully move the wires around as I inserted the HU and, without applying any pressure, it met resistance about +-1/4" away from a flush fit. I then started to reinstall the 4 screws that attach to the dash and it tightened flush without and resistance. One thing that may be peculiar to my car is that the screws that mount the brackets to the HU were so tight I could swear that they were installed with an impact wrench! I mean they were seriously tight. I have good screw drivers and made sure that I had the correct size Philips bit but one stripped. I had to run down the local Tru-Value to get the exact replacement screw (new HU does not provide these) and then had to use a pair of Vise Grips to get the stripped one out.

Trim Ring - I didn't recall a trim ring so you had me concerned for a moment. I went out and looked at mine and there is a ring. Installation instructions make it look like you have to install it but Crutchfield says it is pre-installed (it was). There is a gap at the top and the bottom looks like it rests below the opening. Could I have screwed up? OF COURSE! But I don't see how. The brackets can only be mounted on the HU in one set of holes and I have the radio door properly reinstalled. From what I recall, the brackets appeared symmetrical but maybe they are not. If not, I would have had to install both of them upside down. Also, I didn't bend the brackets. Truthfully, I haven't driven the car during the day and I had to bend down to check out the fit tonight so I don't think the gap would be noticeable. If someone else installs this HU, maybe they can let us know how there's fits. I am perfectly fine with mine and I don't want to pull it out unless someone tells me I mounted the brackets upside down (which I don't think that I did).

 

can you post a pic perhaps? id love to see it. it sounds like its all good and ready to go, im just curious.

 

In my last post, I commented that there was a gap at the top and the HU seemed to sit below the bottom dash door trim opening. Note that I reinstalled the radio door in the evening. Sunday morning, I took the car for a short ride down the coast and, while at a signal, I noticed that the bottom of the radio door was not flush with the adjacent trim (this contradicts my prior post). When I got home, I tried to put some pressure on it but it wouldn't snap in. So, I removed the radio door trim and noticing that I had managed to damaged one of the the plastic "prongs" that a metal trim clip attaches too. It didn't break off but it is weak enough that it will not allow me to reattach it. For now it's fine but I will be replacing it. With two of the bottom 3 clips secure the HU trim fits perfectly on the bottom and the top gap is reduced. In a normal driving position, I don't notice the top gap. Since new HU's are universal, I would have to believe that this would be the same with an Alpine, Kenwood, etc. Crutchfield tells you that there could be a slight gap.

Pictures - well, I'm not sure how to post them and I would rather wait until I replace the radio door bracket so you can get a better idea of the fit. If you want to see it as it is, I guess I could take a picture and try to upload it. BYW, the new HU trim easily snaps off - I checked this when I had removed the radio door trim.

DCI - very cool with SGV. I am going to tweak my settings as the car is driver 95% of the time with the top down. It's pretty cool how it auto adjusts the volume 1 level at a time (up or down) based on speed. I am going to try adjust the programming with a more aggressive setting.