996 Stereo Upgrades in Here
#317
Rennlist Member
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To speed along installation - I made my own wiring harness. I have a 2004 S 986 with MOST/Bose so I needed the Avin unit to convert the RCA to MOST. Note: the giant dongle on above that came with the unit has a front L/R out - you can plug that straight into the MOST adapter - that's what I'm doing.
My harness grabs power from the car and then I spliced in a plug to take power to the radio unit (which does not use my factory pin layout) and the MOST adapter. Here's the basic wiring diagram:
![](https://i.ibb.co/XsfhgtP/undefined-Imgur.jpg)
I believe I've located the ground and 12v power on my car's radio harness:
![](https://i.ibb.co/VpZS87m/IMG-2799.jpg)
The BROWN and RED are definitely GROUND and 12v
![](https://i.ibb.co/WD9cvWK/IMG-2798.jpg)
On the other side - one of those wires is the speed/volume control and using it for your yellow or switched power will cause the radio to shut off as you move the car.
So... I know power and ground - I just don't know what is switched. Also, the way my car will keep the radio on until I open the door adds another confounding variable, because this head unit appears to just stay on. That's not ideal. I'll try to mark this up, but here's the pins I've got to work with on my harness:
![](https://i.ibb.co/fYPSh8N/IMG-2793.jpg)
I'm about 90% considering putting a small switch inline with the red 12v line and just using it to force the radio off when I stop the car. I welcome any input/guidance the greater gang can provide.
My harness grabs power from the car and then I spliced in a plug to take power to the radio unit (which does not use my factory pin layout) and the MOST adapter. Here's the basic wiring diagram:
![](https://i.ibb.co/XsfhgtP/undefined-Imgur.jpg)
I believe I've located the ground and 12v power on my car's radio harness:
![](https://i.ibb.co/VpZS87m/IMG-2799.jpg)
The BROWN and RED are definitely GROUND and 12v
![](https://i.ibb.co/WD9cvWK/IMG-2798.jpg)
On the other side - one of those wires is the speed/volume control and using it for your yellow or switched power will cause the radio to shut off as you move the car.
So... I know power and ground - I just don't know what is switched. Also, the way my car will keep the radio on until I open the door adds another confounding variable, because this head unit appears to just stay on. That's not ideal. I'll try to mark this up, but here's the pins I've got to work with on my harness:
![](https://i.ibb.co/fYPSh8N/IMG-2793.jpg)
I'm about 90% considering putting a small switch inline with the red 12v line and just using it to force the radio off when I stop the car. I welcome any input/guidance the greater gang can provide.
Last edited by fazm; 08-19-2023 at 10:42 PM.
#318
Rennlist Member
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Here's a pic of my homemade harness:
![](https://i.ibb.co/6ZZnrkn/IMG-2807.jpg)
The connector on the top is what plugs into the car harness in the post above. The connector on the bottom connects to the unit's harness. They are all sharing the 12v/ground/switched. I liked this set up because all the devices need the same things and having separate connectors means I can easily switch the pins.
![](https://i.ibb.co/6ZZnrkn/IMG-2807.jpg)
The connector on the top is what plugs into the car harness in the post above. The connector on the bottom connects to the unit's harness. They are all sharing the 12v/ground/switched. I liked this set up because all the devices need the same things and having separate connectors means I can easily switch the pins.
#319
Race Car
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MOST bus cars don't have switched power to the radio. The radio turn on/off is controlled by canbus.
If you don't have switched power out of your canbus adapter you can tap switched power at the expansion plug in the console. That's an unused 4 pin plug.
If you don't have switched power out of your canbus adapter you can tap switched power at the expansion plug in the console. That's an unused 4 pin plug.
#321
Race Car
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In your 8-pin plug the wires are:
Red/black = battery hot
brown = ground
gray/black = dash lights
white = switched power out to the antenna amplifier
I don't know what the other colors are, one is a radio mute from the telephone prep and one is the speed signal as you found.
To get the radio to turn on with the ignition you either need a canbus adapter that has a switched power out which it seems you don't have.
Or you can find the 4-pin telephone prep connector that's tucked into the driver's side of the console and use the green/black wire which is switched power.
Red/black = battery hot
brown = ground
gray/black = dash lights
white = switched power out to the antenna amplifier
I don't know what the other colors are, one is a radio mute from the telephone prep and one is the speed signal as you found.
To get the radio to turn on with the ignition you either need a canbus adapter that has a switched power out which it seems you don't have.
Or you can find the 4-pin telephone prep connector that's tucked into the driver's side of the console and use the green/black wire which is switched power.
#322
Rennlist Member
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Nvm. It's definitely a power/wiring issue. I must have had the radio's switched power wired to the speed control for audio pilot. That said, I can't find a switched power line at all in my harness. The radio will just stay on regardless of what the ignition is doing. I'm fairly certain I've identified the power and ground. Pics in a bit.
Interestingly, the 101 projects book is not correct in its wiring diagram - at least for the CDR23 with Bose/MOST
Interestingly, the 101 projects book is not correct in its wiring diagram - at least for the CDR23 with Bose/MOST
![](https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlist.com-vbulletin/505x638/2003_porsche_boxster_s_stereo_wiring_5b26e7c50af59b6bffe2c3c3c4cec11f55ab00ed.jpeg)
CDR-23 Boxster radio wiring
#323
Rennlist Member
#324
Rennlist Member
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Well, boys - we did it. I routed the phone prep cable up into the radio cavity, piggy backed on the switched 12v and plugged it back up. I'm in business!
I'll do a post with all the pics (still need to do one for the wheel hub bearing, too).
I'll do a post with all the pics (still need to do one for the wheel hub bearing, too).
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PBradz (08-22-2023)
#325
Burning Brakes
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If you can, post about the sound quality and features of the unit? Mine will be here next week. It fits flush? The top part of the bezel just looks like it would jut out.
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fazm (08-20-2023)
#326
Rennlist Member
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Yep. I'll take any pic you want.
Sound quality is great out of the gate so far. It is a step up from the becker unit, for sure
Sound quality is great out of the gate so far. It is a step up from the becker unit, for sure
#329
Rennlist Member
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Looks really great! I'm pleased. I have traffic and t swift on a screen in my car. I need to go back in and clean up some wiring and possibly add my line out converter - I have a minor ground loop whine for some reason.