Touchscreen compatibility issue, requesting advice
#1
tadek13
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Touchscreen compatibility issue, requesting advice
I need some major help. I am not totally clueless in terms of electrical wiring however I welcome all advice and help offered with my isssue. I recently ordered a touchscreen unit for my car, this is the link to the one I ordered. Mazda RX-8 DVD Player, Mazda RX-8 Navigation System, Mazda RX-8 GPS DVD, good choice for your car.
I ordered this one specifically because the supplier claimed no rewiring was required, basically claiming it was switch and plug in. This had not turned out to be the case as none of the cables are a direct fit without cutting the wires. The supplier claims no responsibility and the worst I can really do is give them a bad review. My cry for help is basically any information regarding wire adapters that would help me avoid extra work, or if anybody from the Chicagoland area knows any good shops where they can help me. My ideal advice would come from someone who maybe had ordered and installed this same unit, but any advice is welcome. Thank you.
I ordered this one specifically because the supplier claimed no rewiring was required, basically claiming it was switch and plug in. This had not turned out to be the case as none of the cables are a direct fit without cutting the wires. The supplier claims no responsibility and the worst I can really do is give them a bad review. My cry for help is basically any information regarding wire adapters that would help me avoid extra work, or if anybody from the Chicagoland area knows any good shops where they can help me. My ideal advice would come from someone who maybe had ordered and installed this same unit, but any advice is welcome. Thank you.
![Wiggle](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/wiggle.gif)
#2
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I can only assume that's a Metra kit with some no-name off-brand double-din headunit bolted in. If this is the case, here's the instructions for the Metra kit. Essentially, just make sure you plug in the correct harnesses in the correct spot (hazards, fan, etc) and then just wire up the harness that plugs into your factory harness and the harness that plugs into that no-name headunit color to color. So the yellow coming from the car-side harness (should be included with your purchase, not the actual factory harness) connects to the yellow coming from the aftermarket headunit. Same for the rest of the colors.
If that's not the Metra kit....or even a copy of the Metra kit....and it's some proprietary Chinese dash kit, nobody is going to be able to help you without being there in person. Could be anything in there. Best take it to a professional.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help. But it's tough without actually seeing what you have in person. Maybe post pics of everything?
If that's not the Metra kit....or even a copy of the Metra kit....and it's some proprietary Chinese dash kit, nobody is going to be able to help you without being there in person. Could be anything in there. Best take it to a professional.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help. But it's tough without actually seeing what you have in person. Maybe post pics of everything?
#3
tadek13
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Yes I will post pictures later today, and thanks alot. Yea I knew that worst case I would have to go wire by wire. All the wires match up essentially. I was only curious as to whether anybody knows of any adapters that would allow me to just cut the wires off say the dvd unit and then plug into the connector for factory wiring. I tried to return the purchase to no result as they claim I have no real reasoning behind the requested return/refund. Thanks again for your reply and advice.
#4
i'm in the city, parents live up in Skokie actually. i could lend you a hand, but don't really have any free wknds til Decemeber.
at a quick guess i'd say you just need the right harness, bose vs non bose etc or maybe even S2 vs. S1. i'd just go on ebay and get one for 5 bucks. you shouldn't ever need to hack up your harness
at a quick guess i'd say you just need the right harness, bose vs non bose etc or maybe even S2 vs. S1. i'd just go on ebay and get one for 5 bucks. you shouldn't ever need to hack up your harness
#5
tadek13
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Yup- It turned out to be really less complicated then it may have sounded. Auto zone has adapters- so I only need to cut the wires coming from the new unit - and put all wires through the adapters. Only real time taking task will be to make sure all the wires put through the adapter are paired up correctly to the OEM plug, but not really complicated if I put the time and just be patient.
#6
How did it turn out? I got the exact same thing and have the exact same problems, can't install it at all nothing except the actual radio stuff connects properly. Even the bracket doesn't allign, did yours?
Edit: got the bose system
Edit: got the bose system
Last edited by Matts Vos; 11-24-2012 at 12:55 PM.
#7
tadek13
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#9
Dammit.. I need the hazards light otherwise it won't be allowed on the road, and heater/AC is very welcome as well (especially heater since we get winters -0C's and I dont want to sit in my car freezing my nuts off..). Didn't got the steering wheel control plugs ether..
So i'm going to send it back then, wasted 240 euro's on shipping and customs ffs..
Anyone can recommend a good radio that goes well with the metra kit? I'd like to have seperate buttons that you can twist for the volume and radio freq and to hook it up to a usb and play video's![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Edit: Is it an idea to just buy the metra kit and only use the radio unit, leaving the rest of the crap stuff in the garbage bin? Will steering wheel (with the adaptor), hazard light and heater/ac work then?
So i'm going to send it back then, wasted 240 euro's on shipping and customs ffs..
Anyone can recommend a good radio that goes well with the metra kit? I'd like to have seperate buttons that you can twist for the volume and radio freq and to hook it up to a usb and play video's
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Edit: Is it an idea to just buy the metra kit and only use the radio unit, leaving the rest of the crap stuff in the garbage bin? Will steering wheel (with the adaptor), hazard light and heater/ac work then?
Last edited by Matts Vos; 11-25-2012 at 11:57 AM.
#10
tadek13
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Dammit.. I need the hazards light otherwise it won't be allowed on the road, and heater/AC is very welcome as well (especially heater since we get winters -0C's and I dont want to sit in my car freezing my nuts off..). Didn't got the steering wheel control plugs ether..
So i'm going to send it back then, wasted 240 euro's on shipping and customs ffs..
Anyone can recommend a good radio that goes well with the metra kit? I'd like to have seperate buttons that you can twist for the volume and radio freq and to hook it up to a usb and play video's![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Edit: Is it an idea to just buy the metra kit and only use the radio unit, leaving the rest of the crap stuff in the garbage bin? Will steering wheel (with the adaptor), hazard light and heater/ac work then?
So i'm going to send it back then, wasted 240 euro's on shipping and customs ffs..
Anyone can recommend a good radio that goes well with the metra kit? I'd like to have seperate buttons that you can twist for the volume and radio freq and to hook it up to a usb and play video's
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Edit: Is it an idea to just buy the metra kit and only use the radio unit, leaving the rest of the crap stuff in the garbage bin? Will steering wheel (with the adaptor), hazard light and heater/ac work then?
The unit I have is actually good but troublesome in terms of buying all the parts and cutting wires. You would need to buy unit- and then the metrakit. But it has everything. Hardrive storage for music/videos as well Ipod and USB intergrations ports. sd card slot. You can hook up tv and cameras- gps unit is fun as well as practical as it measures everything. Avg speed , time driving, time stopped while driving- max speed etc. Plus it comes with all the languages so I have fun switching off between languages. I also wanted to seperate twister buttons. One is for volume. and the other is for frequency/fastforward while watching movie or listening to music from ipod/sd card etc.
Last edited by tadek13.rx8.; 11-25-2012 at 04:08 PM.
#11
tadek13
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Thanks. I mean yea I guess I had a headache for a brief period - but the unit is great. It may be a no name brand, but it has surpassed my expectations- my only problem was with the supplier.
#12
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Dammit.. I need the hazards light otherwise it won't be allowed on the road, and heater/AC is very welcome as well (especially heater since we get winters -0C's and I dont want to sit in my car freezing my nuts off..). Didn't got the steering wheel control plugs ether..
So i'm going to send it back then, wasted 240 euro's on shipping and customs ffs..
Anyone can recommend a good radio that goes well with the metra kit? I'd like to have seperate buttons that you can twist for the volume and radio freq and to hook it up to a usb and play video's![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Edit: Is it an idea to just buy the metra kit and only use the radio unit, leaving the rest of the crap stuff in the garbage bin? Will steering wheel (with the adaptor), hazard light and heater/ac work then?
So i'm going to send it back then, wasted 240 euro's on shipping and customs ffs..
Anyone can recommend a good radio that goes well with the metra kit? I'd like to have seperate buttons that you can twist for the volume and radio freq and to hook it up to a usb and play video's
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Edit: Is it an idea to just buy the metra kit and only use the radio unit, leaving the rest of the crap stuff in the garbage bin? Will steering wheel (with the adaptor), hazard light and heater/ac work then?
If you've decided you want to send it back and go with a different unit, I recommend the Alpine INA-W910. I was the hugest pusher of Pioneer stuff for the longest time, but they've really been disappointing me lately. As a professional installer, I have my hands on A LOT of headunits. In these past few years, I've watched Pioneer cheap out here and there. But not Alpine. Just open the box to an Alpine navigation unit. Look at how it's care for and packed in there. Look at the quality of the harness, etc. Then open the box to any other brand. You'll see what I mean. Pioneer still uses an old nearly-antiquated satellite radio connection too. And Alpine's UI is actually pretty user friendly (something Pioneer always had going for them). On screen visuals to help see exactly what's going on with the multiple crossovers and EQ options.
#13
I decided to buy the metra kit, take the headunit only from the crap chinese kit (it looks really good actually) and get a steering wheel control adaptor. I can't tell untill tomorrow what the thing looks like when I get it all back from the Mazda dealer (had major maintenance done as well, I just dont have the tools to do it myself) but once I know I'll let you know ![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
@tadek sorry for hijacking your thread, hope you don't mind!
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
@tadek sorry for hijacking your thread, hope you don't mind!
#14
tadek13
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I decided to buy the metra kit, take the headunit only from the crap chinese kit (it looks really good actually) and get a steering wheel control adaptor. I can't tell untill tomorrow what the thing looks like when I get it all back from the Mazda dealer (had major maintenance done as well, I just dont have the tools to do it myself) but once I know I'll let you know ![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
@tadek sorry for hijacking your thread, hope you don't mind!
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
@tadek sorry for hijacking your thread, hope you don't mind!
#15
Yeah I think its a pretty crappy chinese kit because its not what they said, at all. I live in the Netherlands btw
I think a minor headache is a little underestimated lol
@firebirddude this is all I got![Frown](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/frown.gif)
![](http://i46.tinypic.com/35k35eh.jpg)
![](http://i45.tinypic.com/21ll44g.jpg)
![](http://i49.tinypic.com/2h6sig8.jpg)
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
@firebirddude this is all I got
![Frown](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/frown.gif)
![](http://i46.tinypic.com/35k35eh.jpg)
![](http://i45.tinypic.com/21ll44g.jpg)
![](http://i49.tinypic.com/2h6sig8.jpg)
![](http://i45.tinypic.com/2diglys.jpg)
#16
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In addition to brackets and front face?
![](http://www.jewellet.com/images/v/Mazda-RX-8-Navigation-Running.jpg)
If you didn't get the actual dash kit (crappy or not), then you REALLY got taken.
Regardless, the black harness IN NO WAY fits anything in the RX8. It's a Metra 70-1784 connector. That connector fits many German cars (VW, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, etc). The white plug harness is just the A/V harness for the unit. Most every headunit has a separate harness for all its RCA connections.
You guys got ripped. No doubt about it. Without the Metra kit, you don't have a chance in hell of installing it.
![](http://www.jewellet.com/images/v/Mazda-RX-8-Navigation-Running.jpg)
If you didn't get the actual dash kit (crappy or not), then you REALLY got taken.
Regardless, the black harness IN NO WAY fits anything in the RX8. It's a Metra 70-1784 connector. That connector fits many German cars (VW, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, etc). The white plug harness is just the A/V harness for the unit. Most every headunit has a separate harness for all its RCA connections.
You guys got ripped. No doubt about it. Without the Metra kit, you don't have a chance in hell of installing it.
#19
tadek13
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I have never been to Netherlands. ;/ I made it as close as Zeebrugge in Belgium. I am originally from Poland but now reside in the USA.
#20
Thank you guys so much.. <3
@ Tadek Temps been around 7C today and will be dropping throughout the rest and coming week so yeah you really want some heat. I've fallen in love with the in-seat heating things, gets comfortably warm in just a minute!
and yeah I have the rearview camera as well.
edit: So does steering wheel controls work with this as well or do I still need a separate adaptor for that? And if yes do you have a clue on which one works with our brandless headunit lol
@ Tadek Temps been around 7C today and will be dropping throughout the rest and coming week so yeah you really want some heat. I've fallen in love with the in-seat heating things, gets comfortably warm in just a minute!
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
edit: So does steering wheel controls work with this as well or do I still need a separate adaptor for that? And if yes do you have a clue on which one works with our brandless headunit lol
Last edited by Matts Vos; 11-29-2012 at 01:35 PM.
#21
tadek13
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Thank you guys so much.. <3
@ Tadek Temps been around 7C today and will be dropping throughout the rest and coming week so yeah you really want some heat. I've fallen in love with the in-seat heating things, gets comfortably warm in just a minute!
and yeah I have the rearview camera as well.
edit: So does steering wheel controls work with this as well or do I still need a separate adaptor for that? And if yes do you have a clue on which one works with our brandless headunit lol
@ Tadek Temps been around 7C today and will be dropping throughout the rest and coming week so yeah you really want some heat. I've fallen in love with the in-seat heating things, gets comfortably warm in just a minute!
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
edit: So does steering wheel controls work with this as well or do I still need a separate adaptor for that? And if yes do you have a clue on which one works with our brandless headunit lol
#22
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If you just move the actual headunit out of that crap kit and into the Metra kit, everything (minus steering wheel controls) should work fine. As for the steering wheel controls, you'll need another adapter. Hmmmm... for that brand name.... not sure. Does it have a little port in the back that look like a headphone jack labeled "W/R" or "Wired Remote"? Or does it have an actual wire on the harness labeled "Wired Remote"?