I've searched, I swear... which head unit???

[Unco]

Hi all. New here. Name's Dan. I bought a 1992 Festiva a few months ago (see signature). Now I'm getting ready to put it on the road after fixing a few little things with it.

When I got the car, it had a fairly reasonable Pioneer CD player unit in it... problem was, it was sticking about 1 inch off the dash and it was held in by insulation tape

So today I went to the wrecking yard and got an OEM Clarion cassette/radio unit off a Mazda 121. It fitted perfectly (I guess you get that when it's the same car, just different badges).



I'm happy with it. I can plug in my FM modulator into the cigarette lighter and play MP3's, but eventually I would like to get a proper MP3/USB player like the one I have in my LTD. I'd like to know if anyone knows of an aftermarket head unit (I have a bias for Kenwood) that will fit without any modifications.

I'm currently using the 4 plug wiring harness. I picked up an adaptor harness to accept Ford radios (single plug) in case I come across a Ford radio that will fit, but I would rather something that can play MP3's either on CD or via USB stick.

I know that if I get an aftermarket head unit, I'll have to get an adaptor harness or make my own, but that's no problem, as long as I can get something that fits perfectly using the factory brackets.

Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[gotrootdude]

Your steering wheel is on the wrong side..... lol

[Unco]

I guess that might be a problem outside of Australia

[stefan]

Looks good. The pioneer head unit was most likely not installed right if it was sticking out... I have a big head unit with a flip out screen and it even sits flush in the dash.

EDIT! Did the 121 have a chrome 'mazda121' badge on it? If so ill buy/trade it from you!

[CharlieZ]

Dan, what is the blank panel just below the heater-AC controls? Just a blank panel. My '90, U.S. market Festiva has the radio there.
BTW, welcome.
CZ

[m715]

Hi Dan Glad to have you with us! The console setup looks good. I have always used the Metra brand adapters for my head units, except when they have had the harness butchered up before I got there myself with good luck. All mine are in the dash instead of in my consoles. My consoles have two divided compartments in them, and all that I know of here were like that. I like the Pioneer units because of their Supertuners myself, and have used them since the 70's withn the exception of some Alipines and Kenwoods in the 80's. All should work well, and a speaker upgrade will make a big difference too. I use 6 1/2" or 5 1/2" in the doors, and anything from 4" in the stock locations, to older Kicker sidekick cabinets from the mini truck days, or such with a sub box using 2 12" powered by a modest amp. You have many options, but hatchbacks can be a challenge to fill with sound without rattles sometimes. We also had with a radio delete car a storage pocket that fit in the space where your block off is in your dash.

Michael

[Unco]

thanks for the replies and the welcome.

Looks good. The pioneer head unit was most likely not installed right if it was sticking out... I have a big head unit with a flip out screen and it even sits flush in the dash.

EDIT! Did the 121 have a chrome 'mazda121' badge on it? If so ill buy/trade it from you!

the pioneer head unit was not installed properly at all as it was just held in place by electrical tape. it sat where i now have a blanking plate just below the A/C controls. the problem with that spot is that there is a metal bracket about 6 inches from the dash surface. so allowing 1 inch for wiring, i would have to find a head unit that is only 5 inches deep and there's no such thing. so how did you guys get around that?

i too also had the storage pockets where the mazda radio now sits. it was all simple enough to re-arrange and the blanking plate came off the mazda too.

i don't remember seeing a chrome badge on it, sorry.

from looking at a few wrecks, it looks like the mazdas had the head unit in the console and the fords had them under the A/C controls.

[benms79]

agreed with every one else, pioneer not installed properly, i would put it back to save $ from buying a new one. because all head units will be just about the same dimensions depth wise,if you buy a new one. the only diffrence will be the hight,they have a 1 din,1.5 and a 2 din being the largest.or if you want to spend the $ get the kenwood, a single din (1) will fit perfectly were your blank plate at.

[stefan]

the pioneer head unit was not installed properly at all as it was just held in place by electrical tape. it sat where i now have a blanking plate just below the A/C controls. the problem with that spot is that there is a metal bracket about 6 inches from the dash surface. so allowing 1 inch for wiring, i would have to find a head unit that is only 5 inches deep and there's no such thing. so how did you guys get around that?

Something seems weird... I just measured the sony head unit I used to have installed, and it is 6.5" deep... and it sat flush... The pioneer head unit I replaced it with was atleast an inch longer and it too sits flush.

Maybe the dash is diffrent behind the radio in the right hand drive cars?

[Unco]

after all that i had a second look and you're right. the problem was a bent ground connector that the previous owner had screwed to the bracket thus stopping the head unit from going all the way in. sorry to trouble you all. i'll be looking for a USB head unit in the future now that i know it will fit in.

[Unco]

they had a special on the Pioneer CD/MP3/WMA players at the local autObarn ($129AUD + $25 fuel voucher) so i got one this morning. took me about an hour to fit it in. bye bye FM modulator! cheers everyone.

[CharlieZ]

Looking good Unco. You did a fine install too. By the way, what is, and why, a "fuel voucher" on a radio?

CZ

[Unco]

thanks CharlieZ. i like the installation too, even if i say so myself.

the head unit cost $129. at the time of purchase you get a form that you fill out and post to an address, you then get a $25 Shell fuel card back in the mail.

with the price of fuel these days (we were paying up to $1.50/L or more only a few weeks ago) every bit counts.

so basically, i've only paid $104 for a Pioneer head unit that plays CD's, MP3's and WMA's. that's really cheap over here... for a Pioneer HU

[CharlieZ]

Whew! When I read "fuel voucher" I thought it was another kind of tax on one of life's most important fluids. Adult beverages being the other "taxed" important fluid.

I think only the very wealthy can get by with importing non-compliant cars to the States. Guvmint regulations dried up that process years ago. Maybe when the 5 door Festy becomes an "official" antique, It might get easier - but certainly not cheaper. In any case there would be a lot of hoops to jump thru. I live near a large military base with a lot of transients. I don't see any of the neat cars the guys brought back to the states like I did in the 50s. H*** our bureaucracies regulate who much water out toiletss can flush. So, importing a car? I can't even imagine. Anyhow, thanks for the info on the fuel voucher.
CZ