Everything you wanted to know about radios but were afraid do ask

[nipper]

Found this on a mailing list:

 

I do not normally interest myself in other than the performance type

forums but a chain of events got me looking for more info on the Legacy

electric antenna to close the gap on a few questions I have. I think

from what is supplied here, and what some are asking here, I can say

that now I almost qualify as an expert on the subject. I say ALMOST

because there are still some anomalies in my part number catalog versus

what has actually been observed.

 

To really understand the "Mysteries Of The Mast", It may be helpful to

first understand the curious factory radio situation. When the first

gen Legacy was introduced as a sedan, The radio/cassette/CD combo was

provided by Clarion. There was an electric antenna option which

apparently Clarion was responsible to provide wire harness, electric

antenna motor, and mounting brackets. The motor, brackets, and

telescoping mast with toothed style cable were all provided and listed

as an antenna assembly with one part number.

 

When the Legacy wagon was introduced a year later, for whatever reason,

the radio combo was provided by Matsu************a, under the familiar brand

name of Panasonic, with corresponding responsibility for harness,

electric antenna motor, and mounting brackets. Well, Matsu************a went to

somebody other than did Clarion for the motor, and had the foresight to

list the telescoping mast as a separate subassembly. The result for the

wagon; different harness terminations, a different style smooth cable to

mate with the different style motor take up reel, and different Subaru

part numbers for the radio, the motor assembly and a separate Subaru

number for the mast, none of which are interchangeable with the Clarion

equipment on the Sedan.

 

Apparently, to "normalize" the disparity in part number designations

between the sedan and the wagon, Subaru later created a "synthetic" part

number for the sedan mast corresponding to the format of the wagon OEM

part number, even though Clarion did not provide a break out.

Curiously, they also created another part number with a totally

different format, for an antenna mast "option" for the sedan, which is

priced considerably lower than the OEM number. Probably went straight

to the motor vendor for it rather than thru Clarion.

 

The wagon radio has the word Panasonic at the lower right corner of the

multi monitor display window which is in the upper right hand corner of

the radio. The cassette door cover will also have the alphanumeric

characters P113...P for Panasonic. Not certain what the Clarion

equipment has but I'm told it's some similar identification. Most cars

do not have the CD player, which is what gives the most trouble and the

reason for my search also for a radio combo after having it repaired

twice already. It may be the CD player, which is a separate unit in the

same bracket housing is a Clarion. My parts manual only list radio w/

cassette and radio w/o cassette.

 

To see a picture of a stock 92 Legacy wagon radio/cassette/CD combo go

here

 

http://members.aol.com/ssspoon/cdradio.jpg

<http://members.aol.com/ssspoon/cdradio.jpg>

 

Now the part numbers as listed in what appears to be a factory catalog;

 

AM/FM Radio

 

w/o cassette

 

Clarion

 

90 SOA333D165

 

91-94 86201AA200

 

Matsu************a

 

90 86201AA140

 

w/ cassette

 

Clarion

 

90 86201AA110

 

92-94 86201AA340

 

Matsu************a

 

90-94 86201AA350

 

Power Antenna Assembly

 

Sedan to 8/90 90-91 SOA447D465

 

Sedan from 9/90 91-94 86321AA090

 

Mast Subassembly 86322AA110

 

Mast Subassembly SOA447D466 (non listed option)

 

Wagon 90-94 SOA333D470

 

Mast Subassembly 86322AA020

 

Subaru of America has changed the alphanumeric formatting of many part

numbers from SOA to non SOA somewhere in the early to mid 90's. So you

might have a part which if not identical is interchangeable and that

part may have two numbers, with the old still in stock along with the

new, and at different prices. Motor mounts or trans mounts are another

example of this I have experienced. If your parts man is sharp he can

save you a few bucks by looking up the cross reference, but the dealer

may not want him to tell you.

 

The following is from my source for a later Subaru OEM radio with remote

CD changer I went to

 

Hello, These stereos were designed for use in 2000 up Subaru Legacys and

Foresters, and were manufactured in 2003. 90-94 Legacys had a 2 piece

wiring harness and 2.5 DIN or 5 inch dash opening. In 1993 Subaru

initiated a single plug wiring harness in their Impreza model with a 2

DIN< 4 inch, dash opening. This was adapted to the Legacy and Outback in

95, and is standard throughout Subaru since then, with the exception of

the 2000-2004 LTD's with a 3 DIN opening. So, these are plug and play

for 93 up Impreza, 95 up Legacy, all Outback, all Forester, and all Baja

models. I have adapted them to the 90-94 models with an adapter harness

and a 1 inch spacer to accomodate the odd dash opening. Through 99

Subaru had the clock function in the radio, but in 2000 they put the

clock in the instrument panel, so these radios don't have a clock. 90-94

Legacys had either a single DIN radio with a 1.5 DIN compartment or a

1.5 DIN cassette/radio with a single DIN compartment. I can put just

about any Subaru option in your car, but right now I have the original

Legacy radio/cassette with a 12 CD changer under the passenger seat of

my 91 Legacy, but my recommendation is the original radio/cassette with

a new 6 CD changer under the seat, or if you had the radio only, a 95-99

radio/cassette which has a clock with a new 6 CD changer under the

passenger seat. I also have options for large and small compartments.

Robert (Pinkfull) rdean@inlandnet.com <mailto:rdean@inlandnet.com>

 

DSCN0399 from a 95-99 radio/cassette which has a clock with a new 6 CD

changer under the passenger seat is one recommendation. The radio is the

same as yours except for the auxiliary input between the FM/AM button

and the 1/REW. This allows you to plug in your iPod with a mini-RCA

cable from the headphone/output. Beneath it is a CD changer controller

which connects to a 6 or 12 CD changer beneath the passenger seat. It

involves quick splicing in 5 wires. I have the mini-RCA cable, new 6 CD

changer, used 12 CD changer, and extra magazines. Also, the changer set

up could be used with your radio.

 

I would recommend replacing your single CD changer unless you can find

NOS. This is older technology and less reliable. Also, unless you like

"stock" I would not recommend continuing to repair it.

 

The CD changer "part numbers" belong to Nikon. The Subaru Number for the

radio is 86201AA151, made by Panasonic, the Subaru number for the

controller is H6240FS040, the 12 Disc changer is CDC 1205, and the 6

disc changer is RDC 605, all made by Clarion.

 

The 6 disc changer will fit in the glove box, but won't leave room for

much else. Personally, I find under the passenger seat quite easily

accessible. Try it yourself; it isn't much of a lean to reach under the

back of it.

 

Once you have removed your stereo, you will need to assemble the

mounting brackets to the replacement units, splice (I will furnish color

codes) in five wires to the small harness plug without cutting any

wires, lean toward the passenger side and feed one end of the changer

cable up and through to the stereo opening, press the cable up under the

lower edge of the console going back to the passenger seat, go under the

seat tracks and feed out past the back of the seat. Now plug the

controller into the radio, the cable into the controller, the lights and

power for the controller, the antenna, and the two radio plugs. Slide

the assembly in, 6 mounting screws, 4 trim screws, cupholder, and

ashtray. Plug the cable into the changer and slide it under the seat,

slide the door open, slip a magazine in, close the door. Allow the

changer to finish its cycle, push the power button on the bottom right

of the controller, and adjust the volume as it starts to play.

 

In order to listen to the radio or cassette, the controller must be shut

off. Also, it is advised to have everything off when plugging in the

auxiliary RCA cable.

 

I have another option DSCN0582 from the 98-99 Legacy/Outback Limited :

AM/FM/Cassette/CD with Weather Band, CD changer controls, and clock.

This is the Subaru Premium Stereo system from 98-99, the last year with

the clock in the radio. With this stereo you have radio, cassette, CD,

and clock in the console plus the option of putting a new changer

beneath the passenger seat. Minor scuffs on the display face are not

noticeable in normal use of the vehicle. The spacer is cherry wood and

has since been darkened by stain, or you can make your own. This will

require an adapter harness and 1 quick splice.

 

Installation for both systems require a stubby philips, a magnetic

tipped philips, and pliers. It takes about 10-30 minutes.

 

If you didn't require a clock, there are several more options available,

but both of these systems offer what you want. I can put 6 or 7 CD's in

the console, but none include the clock.