Hi there,

 

I have a 1999 Forester that still has the original factory AM/FM radio and casette player in the dash with a space / cubby underneath it. I would very much like to install a CD/MP3 player but have no idea how. Shop installation i $120, but i would rather avoid this fee and also learn some more about my subaru! I was wondering if anyone could tell me how easy this is, if there are any guides or manual for doing this? Do i need to remove the casette player or can i install a CD player into the space that is underneath that looks like it is meant to receive a CD player?

 

Any advice, instructions, tips or pointers really really appreciated!

I had a 2000 Forester with the same setup. I had Best Buy do the installation on it when I upgraded to a Pioneer single disk CD player. I waited until they ran a sale with FREE installation. It only ran me $50 for parts (an adapter). It took about 30 minutes for Best Buy to complete the job.

 

~Howard

If you buy your Stereo from Crutchfield ( http://www.crutchfiled.com ) it will come with everything you need to install it, including detailed instructions. All Subarus need is the wiring harness. To istall that it's just a matter of hooking up like colored wires to one another. This may require a $15 wire stripper and crimper from your local hardware store. Other than that it's just a matter of popping the dash trim off, undoing a few screws and then reversing it all with the new stereo. All of which Crutchfield shuld tell you how to do. Check out their site and feel free to call them and talk to them. Once you consider the things like the free wiring harness and instructions they seem to have the best prices.

 

Keith

If you buy your Stereo from Crutchfield ( www.crutchfiled.com ) it will come with everything you need to install it, including detailed instructions. All Subarus need is the wiring harness. To istall that it's just a matter of hooking up like colored wires to one another. This may require a $15 wire stripper and crimper from your local hardware store. Other than that it's just a matter of popping the dash trim off, undoing a few screws and then reversing it all with the new stereo. All of which Crutchfield shuld tell you how to do. Check out their site and feel free to call them and talk to them. Once you consider the things like the free wiring harness and instructions they seem to have the best prices.

 

Keith

I forgot about Crutchfield. I used them for my speaker upgrades but to install the radio I got lazy and had Best Buy do the work.

 

~Howard

Here's another vote for Crutchfield. I have purchased several systems from them and installed them myself. Their customer service is great and as RallyKeith mentioned, they will include detailed instructions for your specific vehicle, as well as wiring harness adapters, speaker wire adapters and a dash panel adapter kit if your vehicle needs it. All of these extras are free when you buy your components from them. This can save you a bunch of money and definitely saves you a bunch of time and makes the installation very simple. The main thing to remember is to take your time and be very careful when removing and reinstalling the factory dash trim pieces. Sometimes these are pretty flimsy and the mounting tabs can break off if you're not gentle with them. Good luck and have fun!

Thanks for the advice all. I phoned crutchfield and they talked me through just how detailed their installation guides are, and said they hadd all the bits for my model/year.

 

Here's hoping i don't wire it all up to my wipers!

Welcome to the forum, Tapdancer! I notice you are in SF, and several of us SF Bay Area folks are going to meet at the Barnes & Noble in the El Cerrito Plaza on the 15th (a week from Sat). Come on out and meet with us and show off your new CD Player (if you have it in, or get pointers if you don't)!

Keith, I came across this while searching for info on adding a CD player to my '97 Impreza. If I read between the lines, the new gen cars are not all speakers wired with a common ground (as are the old gen cars) so all I need to do is wire up the stereo to the existing wiring and I should be good to go. I'm just trying to verify that fact. I didn't buy my stereo from crutchfield so I feel guilty calling them for information. Say hello to your dad for me. ---ed---

If you buy your Stereo from Crutchfield ( www.crutchfiled.com ) it will come with everything you need to install it, including detailed instructions. All Subarus need is the wiring harness. To istall that it's just a matter of hooking up like colored wires to one another. This may require a $15 wire stripper and crimper from your local hardware store. Other than that it's just a matter of popping the dash trim off, undoing a few screws and then reversing it all with the new stereo. All of which Crutchfield shuld tell you how to do. Check out their site and feel free to call them and talk to them. Once you consider the things like the free wiring harness and instructions they seem to have the best prices.

 

Keith

I have a Pioneer head unit in my 96 Outback (model DEH-7600MP). What I did was buy a adaptor kit that plugs directly into the factory harness and has bare ends on the other end. I wired it up to the harness that came with the radio. Now the radio is simple plug and play. If I decide to get another car and want to put the factory radio back in, I simply disconnect the harness and plug the factory radio back in. It's quite simple. I got the adaptor from Best Buy for 12 bucks and the wires are color coded the same way the aftermarket radio harness is, so it's just a matter of matching up the colors.

 

RC!

wally world also sells adapters really cheap, not sure if they sell one for the newer models. they have one for like "various imports" or something that works on the XT6. but verify the labeling - it doesn't work for the XT6 you have to figure the wires out yourself. if you found one for the newer models i would bet the wiring would be right though. XT6's are strange birds, like that needs to be said.