Aktiv Disabling/Aftermarket Install:
Here is my 10-step
procedure for disabling the Aktiv system and installing an aftermarket
stereo, count on a day to install it. It is worth the effort though, the
finished product will sound awesome.
There are alternative ways of installing an
aftermarket stereo using the Aktiv amps. Some methods work properly sometimes,
most don't. Aftermarket head units will usually buzz and pop if installed
with the Aktiv amps still in place. This procedure the only way to get
rid of the blasted things.
The Aktiv amps must
be removed for the stereo to sound any better than stock. Some have used
Crutchfield's special line level
adapter (part #55303PWR1) which has worked well for them so far, but then
again you still have the factory sound. If you want stock sound,
just keep the stock system and don't bother. Otherwise, here is how you
do it:
- To begin: a.
Release the Heidelberg head unit by poking four pieces of coathanger wire
simultaneously into the two holes on each side of the unit. Unplug the Heideberg
from the car and remove it. b.
Next, remove the panel under the dash in the drivers' side footwell. There
should be six screws, including one near the fusebox. c.
Now remove the driver's door panel. Start by removing the inside grab handle
cover. Pry the cover off from the bottom with a large flathead and remove
the two screws underneath. The door release (the part you pull to unlatch
the door on the inside) surround must also come off. They slide off toward
the rear of the vehicle. This can be tricky, use a small flat screwdriver
and work it back until it slides off. Next, pop off the triangular trim piece
near the side-view mirror. Slide off the Aktiv speaker cover (pry it off toward
the front of the vehicle) and remove the one lonnnnnng phillips screw. Now
unscrew the door lock knob. Finally, remove the three screws (total) in the
sides of the panel. Pull the panel back toward you and disconnect the window
and mirror switches. The map pockets do not need to be removed and they cannot
be unless the door panel is removed first.
-
There are three wires total
that run to each door panel from the red plug in the back of the stock
head unit. After removing the door panel and unplugging the Aktiv amp,
find the three colored wires that match those in the red plug. Cut them
at alength you can reattach if you want to reconnect the Aktiv later.
-
Start on the driver's side.
There is a small blue and white wire at the head unit that splits and goes
to both the driver and passenger doors, so we can only use this wire for
one side (the passenger). The blue and white wire must be capped off at
the driver's door. An additional single wire must be run to the drivers
side door (since it is easier to get to). Feed it through the head
unit opening to the driver's footwell, then route it through the rubber
hose containing other wires that go into the door panel. Now you
can use the blue and white wire for the passenger side later.
- Find the two fattest wires
in the door panel and label them "power" since they used to power the door
amp. Forget these wires exist, cut them off and cap them. An additional small
wire runs from the head unit's black plug to the door panels. Match the color
and cut the wire at the door panel as above. This wire allowed the Heidelberg
to signal to the amp to turn on, but since it is no longer needed we'll use
it for our fourth speaker wire.
-
At the new head unit, connect
the four wires to the left (right)
channel outputs.
-
Look at your rear deck speakers
and find out the color of their wires. Find the same color wires in the
door panel and cut them as above. Connect to the rear channel wires (in
the door) from the new head unit.
-
Now you should only have
two wires left in the door, which go to the dash speaker. Connect them
to the front channel wires (in the door) from the new head unit. You are
finished if you only want to use four speakers, a six speaker setup involves
the following.
-
If you are putting in new
door speakers, 5 1/4" speakers fit in the space where the Aktiv amps were.
If you would like to keep the stock 4" speaker inside the Aktiv amp, move
the rear cover of the Aktiv amp/speaker unit by unscrewing the three screws
that hold the unit together. Disconnect the internal speaker wire and connect
your own wire to the speaker. If you want to maintain a sealed speaker
setup, drill a hole in the back of the unit big enough for a wire to fit
through. There's a big place you can drill and miss the circuitry of the
amp.
-
How you wire this third
speaker in is up to you. I wired in series with the front speaker and it
sounds great. See my FAQ
for series and parallel wiring help.
- Next, repeat these steps for
the passenger side (except running the new wire in step 3).
Finally, install your head unit like any other vehicle with the wires remaining
in the head unit's black plug. For now, you can use a multi-tester to find
out what is + and -, or consult a good source like Mobileaudio
or Yahoo
Car Audio Listings to find out how to set
up the remainder of your system.
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