Georgia Fiero Club Forum
All Things Fiero => Tech Tips, Tech Questions => Topic started by: GTRS Fiero on May 02, 2020, 08:38:41 am
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I had a factory radio. Some years ago, I installed a Monsoon radio from Paulv. It came with an adapter. Simple install. No cut/splice. The radio looks great and works fine, but dometimes the display is gibberish.
I purchased a radio from Fiero Tom. The radio came with an adapter, and has the aux port.
I've actually met Fiero Tom. Nice guy. He demonstrated some options for me.
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Did he provide a plug and play harness or one that required splicing into the main harness?
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As I typed that post, I went looking for the box. I just looked again. No idea where it went. Everything is in the box, somewhere. I'll find it, because I'll need it to finish an article.
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I've seen several illustrations in his postings for the radios and they have the harness like you can buy at WalMart. They only have the plug on one end and you must cut the factory harness underneath the dash and splice in.
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I found the box. The harness is this (https://www.amazon.com/Metra-70-1862-Turbowires-12-Pin-Harness/dp/B0007WRQKI). Metra 70-1862. Plugs on the ends.
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I'm not taking credit for this, but this may have been by my request. For any vendor with a good product, I sometimes work with that vendor to improve their product.
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This is the best way, in my opinion. No need to cut the factory harness and no repinning. It's plug and play.
https://replacementradios.com/gm-wiring-adapter-89-20-pin-radio-to-pre-89-12-pin-car-rs-gmwa-1862-a3-p-166.html?osCsid=418e1b030a22cefdee6706d646c34632
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It's basically the same plug.
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It is, but both ends are already attached.
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It's basically the same plug.
No, it adapts Delco 12-pin plug to Delco 20-pin mini-plug.
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I'm trying to figure out if my radio works with the bass boost or not.
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I'm trying to figure out if my radio works with the bass boost or not.
The new Monsoon radio? Work with the subwoofer system?
Not without a quick mod...
The factory radio supplies high current switched DC to power the subwoofer amp.
The Monsoon also supplies switched DC, but it is not nearly enough current to run the amp. (Mostly used as a "turn-on" signal for power antennas, and such.)
The preferred method is to run "BATT" or "IGN" 12 volts through a relay, and use the switched 12V from the radio to turn on the relay.
Some people run "IGN" 12VDC directly to the amp, but that leaves it turned on whenever the key is on, whether the radio is on or not. (You may hear mild static or popping, or even alternator noise.)
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Hmmm. Well, good to know.
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It's basically the same plug.
No, it adapts Delco 12-pin plug to Delco 20-pin mini-plug.
Please excuse my ignorance. I have both plugs side by side. They appear identical. Same pins on each end. What am I missing?
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Real early Monsoon that had the old style connector? Normally the stock radio has the 12-pin connector, and the later Pontiac radio will have the smaller 20-pin connector, hence the need for an adapter.
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So, what is the difference between the two adapters?
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The adapters I've seen that some of the sellers provide with the radios only have the plastic harness end on one end. The ones I get have the plastic harness end on both. One that the chassis plugs fit into and the other plugs direct into the radio. I've seen the ones at Walmart that just have one end on them. The harness wires have to be cut and hard spliced into the adapter.
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Wiring is not something I enjoy doing, so I usually insist on a complete harness when buying such things.
Some vendors work with me; others have a different reaction.
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The new radio in my white car came with a plug for it's connector ending in wires. I bought a 12-pin GM plug also ending in wires. Now days, these things all conform to a universally accepted color code, so all I needed to do was match the colors to splice the wires together. Very easy, and it works fine.
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Which radio did you get?
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I'm trying to figure out if my radio works with the bass boost or not.
The new Monsoon radio? Work with the subwoofer system?
Not without a quick mod...
The factory radio supplies high current switched DC to power the subwoofer amp.
The Monsoon also supplies switched DC, but it is not nearly enough current to run the amp. (Mostly used as a "turn-on" signal for power antennas, and such.)
The preferred method is to run "BATT" or "IGN" 12 volts through a relay, and use the switched 12V from the radio to turn on the relay.
Some people run "IGN" 12VDC directly to the amp, but that leaves it turned on whenever the key is on, whether the radio is on or not. (You may hear mild static or popping, or even alternator noise.)
I think this was the situation with the Formula Fastback. When turning on the ignition, whether the radio was on, or not, the sound system would pop and gauge needles would peg and unpeg. It had a factory subwoofer and an aftermarket radio.
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Which radio did you get?
Pioneer. I've been buying Pioneer brand audio electronics since the 70's. Always good stuff.
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I meant which model?
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I meant which model?
Pioneer DEH-S1100UB
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That's right. And you used the humount.
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I did have to wire in a relay to correct that when I updated the head unit.
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Great. Gonna need one of the wiring experts to fix mine.