iwant996

Hi I did a search but couldn't come up with much, sorry if this is a commonly asked question.

I want to change the stock radio in my '99, do i have to make my own harness? does no one sell the harness pre made? I was hoping this would be easier.

Here's a pic from today for reading my thread

tekkie

i just hooked up my jvc radio using this tonight, worked perfect https://www.amazon.com/Metra-70-1787.../dp/B0007WW64O

stan23

https://cai-store.com/

KoB

This. Rod Birch will set you up. He owns and drives a 996 and actually knows what works.

JayG

$60 VS $6?

ejdoherty911

some say you get what you pay for...the $6 one does not include removal keys, antenna connection, instructions, and technical support, also the quality is cheaper.

Subaru BRZ - $30,000
vs
Porsche 911 - $130,000

tekkie

it does include the instructions, the keys and antenna connection are also on ebay / amazon etc for dirt cheap

and the quality is not cheaper it looks like the same harness that cai uses as metra is the only company to my knowledge

for anyone who can follow basic instructions you can put together the harness in a few mins

if you buy a stereo from crutchfield it includes all of these things for free, including support and very detailed instructions thats what i did

there is no rocket science to such basic things

JayG

Removal keys a few $ on ebay
antenna connection a few $ on ebay
Technical support - internet -free

Profit - huge

Its a Metra harness, most likely the same as the other one

KoB

OP didn't ask for cheap, he asked for easy. You want cheap, get Metra. You want easy, go to CAI.

I've used both, both work fine. Last I knew, FWIW, CAI was assembling their own kits using OE VW parts.

tekkie

making your own is easy but yeah if you want a pre made one CAI is the way to go... but i dont know if they have kits for the OP's stereo either which needs to be taken into consideration.

at the same time if you purchased the parts and took them to any car stereo place, even bestbuy I am sure they would only charge a few bucks to put the harness together and I am sure most of them can do it the same day.

5CHN3LL

Crutchfield doesn't have the greatest prices, but they always include a harness if you need one - even the $75 refurbished headunit I bought included the necessary harness. And it was even fully documented.

tekkie

exactly, the stereo i purchased was the same price there as everywhere else and it had free shipping + all those accessories and I wanted the harness adapters for the speakers which I couldn't find anywhere else so I had to order those from them anyway so it was a no brainer

5CHN3LL

Be sure to read the documentation - for '99 model-year 996's...two of the harness wire must be reversed. If you fail to notice this note on the instructions, your radio's switched power will be connected to unswitched 12v+ and the constant +12v the head unit wants will inexplicably be switched +12v.

Please do not ask me how I know this.

Crutchfield also include "universal" radio removal tools. These double as a handy self-torture device, which is nice. With other tools, you don't get to remove your radio AND punch holes in both palms at the same time. It's a real time-saver for the self-mutilators among us.

tekkie

lol yes be sure to wear gloves with these ninja stars they send you I thought for sure last night I was going to slit my hand open but with gloves they worked fine

ejdoherty911

If you read the reviews on the cheap $6 unit, "you get what you pay for" plays out. Lots of unhappy people. CAI, while not cheap, will work the day you install it and a year later. They are not the same harness or made with the same materials.