Problem: No CD player. This stereo is probably stock. The cassette player works but...
Solution: A new stereo from Crutchfield. I wanted a low cost cd player that would play MP3s. The new stereo is an Aiwa.
First things first - Disconnect the negative battery lead. As we all know, the Miata battery is in the trunk.
Second, remove the center console. Five screws. Don't forget to hook the wire back up when you put it back together.
Remove the console face plate and extract the old radio. Three more screws. See the connector between the air ducts. Don't forget that one either. At this point it is obvious to me that I am not the first person to replace this radio. At some point it was removed and later put back.
Crutchfield provided excellent instructions.
It was about this time that the following conversaton occurred.
G: Do you thing you should have had someone install it for you?
R: Do you know how many of these I have installed?
G: No but your going to tell me, right.
R: Not if your going to be that way about it.
G: Well.
R: More than ten.
In no particular order:
1. Installed Rob's Pioneer into the 1972 Pinto at age 14.
2. Installed used Audiovox in my 1976 Comet at age 16.
Also installed a 200 watt amp.
3. Installed the Audiovox again, this time in a 1979 Chevette.
The 200 watt amp was here again. In the end this car had 10 speakers
including two 10" subs. This is the reason my hearing is bad today.
4. Installed radio in iMike's GMC truck. I think this may have been the
same Audiovox, yet again.
5. Attempted to install an Alpine(?) in Tim Howorth's Toyota truck.
If I recall correctly there we a couple of wires I couldn't figure
out how to hook up. He ended up getting 'professional help'.
6. Installed the stock radio from Tim's Toyota in my 1984(?) Plymouth
Horizon. Used the 200 watt amp again. I made a speaker box that
rode in the back seat. I later sold the speaker box to Ronnie at Jitney.
I think he got the old Toyota radio as well.
7. Installed a radio in John Lemmings Monte Carlo. Someone later mentioned
later that I got the channels crossed. That is when I pointed out
that I hooked them up while we were driving.
8. Possibly installed a radio in John Deatons Fiesta. Not certain about
this but I do remember working on it.
9. Installed Alpine Amp in Wade Thorntons car. He had a nice Alpine
system already.
10. Installed Alpine in my Horizon. The 200 watt amp had yet another home.
11. Installed 10 disc JVC cd changer in my 1993 Acura Vigor.
At this point I tossed the Alpine, the amp, and an CB.
Long live 'Pioneer'. That was my old CB handle.
"How about it, Hangman, what's your 20?"
12. Worked on Ron's boat's stereo while waiting on the Guntersville
Dam to lift us thru. The radio was already mounted but not wired in.
We disconnected the battery while in the lift.
13. Installed the Aiwa in my Miata.
I am sure there were others but I can't remember any details.
Crutchfield also provided wiring harnesses. Nice clean work bench. Here I am getting ready to solder the wiring harnesses together. I borrowed the electrical tape from my neighbor. I was out all of heat shrink tubing.
Harness complete and plugged in. Don't forget to plug those console connectors back in when you put the car back together.
Powering up the new unit before reassembling the interior. Someone needs to learn how to turn the automatic flash off on the digital camera.
Dash console back in place. The stereo looks good, eh! I am listening to Rocket 95.1 FM. I wish they would play some U2. I hope I remembered to plug the connector back in.
All done. Here I am listening to U2 on a CD-R. I put all their albums on a single disc. That is why I wanted this thing to play MP3s.
14 seconds later...
Did I mention I forgot to plug one of the connectors back in. Now I have to take it all apart again. I also need to put a new piece of electrical tape in the lazy eye.
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