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Suzuki Factory Radio; AM,FM,CD,MP3,AUX AND REMOTE $25?!
Topic Started: Jul 14 2013, 11:01 PM (6,641 Views)
Stiffchezze
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Sir Metrologist

Tbone78 came over today, so I had the opportunity to spend a few more minutes with the head unit. Lots more pics of the installation and some really exciting info too! But it's late so I'm going to bed. :coffee
Until tomorrow, here is a teaser pic of what the unit looks like at night. And yes the lights are completely controllable by the dimmer: ^o)
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Stiffchezze
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Sir Metrologist

Installation first, crazy new stuff later. :P
So this is how I mounted the unit. Probably better ways of doing it, but this is the way we went with. This was a high speed installation, as I did not have the time I normally do to make everything just right. :spaz
This is the right side (top of radio at the top of pic) The only place the Metro brackets lined up with holes in the unit. The screws are from the original mount from the Reno.
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This is the left side. Once again the only place the screws would line up. It doesn’t really matter though. After the unit is bolted into place, because it is the top on the right side and the bottom on the left, it is a VERY solid mount.

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This is how I bent the stock Metro bracket to accommodate the heat sink on the left side. Easy bend with a vice.

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As I said earlier in this thread, this unit needs to sit about 1/8” higher in the hole than the stock unit. This is how I trimmed the dash to make it fit. Not my best work at trimming the dash, but this dash will be replaced soon with a ‘98+ dash so I wasn’t that careful with the cuts. Notice the cuts at the top and bottom of the pic.

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And with the radio mounted.

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After all is said and done, this is what you see.

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All I can say is don’t be scarred. Yes it requires a bit of modifications, but they are very minor. It is totally worth the look, the ease of use, and the sound in the end. :rocker
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94RHDRollerskate
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Forum Stud Muffin

Digging this mod. Of course it comes after I get a new head unit for Christmas...
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Freeman
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The Family Man

I ended up not going with this radio. It was a VERY close second though. But the used units I was looking at were about $30~35 shipped and I still had to add the subwoofer output ($7). I ended up with a double DIN new unit from Amazon for $50. If I hadn't found that sale, I would have bought this no doubt. It looks very good and clean. Definitely a good investment.
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Stiffchezze
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Sir Metrologist

TurboEF is correct.

No, the unit does not have RCA outputs, but if you need them you could add a RCA output converter,
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About $10.

But MOST amps have High-level inputs that would allow you to hook straight up to the amp with no problems.
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Normal things you would do to a OEM radio to hook up an amp. ^o)
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Freeman
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The Family Man

Yup! I had no issue with the additional wiring or anything. Just, for the cost, I couldn't pass up the new radio deal. But using this radio with an amp is very easy with the converter. I'm pretty sure you can get them online, radio shack and maybe even walmart.
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Stiffchezze
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Sir Metrologist

YES! It DOES work with a steering wheel remote! :O

After I got the unit home and starting wiring it up, it took me a minute to realize what pins 13 & 16 said.
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REMOCON GROUND and FRONT REMOCON DATA ? :ermm: :hmm

REMOTE CONTROL!!!

I then remembered that yes, that Reno had a steering wheel remote control on it, and I had left it behind! :O :banghead

Quick trip to the lot later and I had it pulled. Turns out that for this unit there is NO intermediate control unit for the remote. The remote is wired DIRECTLY to the back of the unit! :banana

We got to test it Saturday and it works PERFECTLY! :rocker

But how, you ask, can this get hooked up to the steering wheel? In an earlier mod (Link--->Secret Eco Mode; Ford's new Auto Stop-Start Technology On a Metro? YES!) I discovered that our clocksprings already have extra wires in them for such an animal. B-)

We did not have time to get it mounted this weekend, but I thought I would go ahead and post pics of what we found and what it will look like. Sorry, but a couple of the pics are a bit fuzzy.

This is the remote
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Inside is just a bank of resistors. Because of this you *could* make your own remote, or an additional remote. Think of the options!
:hmm A back seat remote or a remote in the trunk area for tailgating. Would be nice for those that use their Metro’s for camping. Or if you wanted to get REAL crazy with it, maybe one under the hood for when you’re working on your Metro. :evillol

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The first round of plans (there is ALWAYS revisions :D ) is to use the steering wheel access panel to mount the switch.
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You can see it is right at the same size as the panel

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This is about what it should look like after installation. Not the best, but it should mount with minimal modification.
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Next time Tbone78 gets a chance to swing by, we’ll see if we can get it wired up permanently! :thumb
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Freeman
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The Family Man

Oooh! I like this. What about modifying the original steer wheel to accept the steering shaft of the metro? Too far out?
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Stiffchezze
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Sir Metrologist

A few updates (one year later :D ):
A unit similar to this one is available in a single DIN model, so all you early Metro folks can get in on the fun.
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A few questions I've gotten in PM's so I thought I would share them:

Pin 6 is a power antenna wire NOT an amp turn on wire. This means that it is 12v ONLY when the radio is "Radio" mode. If you switch over to CD or AUX, it turns off. It is better to use a splice off of pin 4 (ACC B+) for an amp turn on.

Pin 15 "N/C" = "No Connection"

Backlight
Geo side first, Radio side second
illumination, orange, pin 10, hook to pin 3
dimmer, orange/white, pin 3, hook to pin 11

In reality, it doesn't mater. It's just a set of 8 light bulbs and they could care less what side is plus or minus. :P

And no, it doesn't have a clock. :(
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Mythstae
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Stiffchezze
Jan 10 2015, 01:10 AM
And no, it doesn't have a clock. :(
:ermm:
...seriously?
Mind = Blown.

A stereo without a clock.

It just... doesn't compute.
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