SVX / Legacy radio compatibility

[b3lha]

I see what you mean. It does look like a PC2-29-4. I was just going by the connector on the radio I bought from a UK owner. I think his car was a 94. I guess you need somebody with a 92 UK car to pull out their radio and confirm what is at the back.

[svxistentialist]

What do you need to know Phil?

My '93 UK car has the radio out and the cage out. Tell me what you need information/pictures on.

These connector designations you mention here are Greek to me. I just expect them to plug and play.

Joe

[b3lha]

David wants to know if the radio connector is like this:

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/ima...w200_th200.jpg

or like this:

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/ima...w200_th200.jpg

[SVXdc]

I (and I'm sure others) would also be interested to see pictures of the sides and rear of the outer cage (what the SVX's radio door attaches to).

If you can easily separate the inner cage (i.e., if it isn't welded in), it would be nice to see pictures of its exterior, too.

The numbers such as "PC2-44-4" and "PC2-29-4" are simply Autoleads' (aftermarket harness manufacturer) part numbers for their wiring adapters.

[svxistentialist]

OK guys

I'll get back to you later with pics and the skinny.

Joe

[svxistentialist]

OK Fellas

Here are some pictures of the cages and connectors:

(click on thumbnails to see larger versions)



These are the two sides of the CD slide in male connector


And these are the two sides of the male slide-in connector for the radio side

[svxistentialist]

Pictures of the cages:


Above is how the inner cage slots into the main frame


This one above is a view into the main box frame. You can see where the guides are for the smaller cage, which is secured at the back.


And this one shows the rear of the inner "slider" cage.
You can see the central locating screw. Also you can see where the two rectangular male connectors fit, and see the locating screw slots as well.

More to come.....

[svxistentialist]

This is a few pics of the white connectors I think you are interested in.


This above is a picture of the larger connector


While this above is the smaller one.


Above is a clear shot of the wiring in the back of both connectors. These are on the radio/aerial side.

Joe

[svxistentialist]

You can view a full series of the photos all in large format for fine detail in my svxistentialist photopost album here

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=562&ppuser=66

under svxistentialist:Technical

Let me know if this shows all you need.

Joe

[SVXdc]

Many thanks, Joe! Your pictures are very helpful.

Could I trouble you to add a couple more to your photo album — a straight-on side view of the two cages docked, and a side view of the two separated, one above the other. It's a little difficult to tell the depths from your angle shots.

Does the car's 7-position connector have 5 wires populated?

It looks like the cage's mating connector has only 3 wires.

That would mean the car's connector doesn't include the wire for the motor antenna, and the cage's connector omits that and both illumination wires.

Does the radio illumination simply come on whenever you turn the key to Accessory or Run? Is there any way to dim it?

Does your SVX have a motorized antenna? Does it extend whenever the key is on Accessory or Run?

How does the little plastic "Subaru" faceplate attach? Are those round things magnets? Or what does the back of the faceplate look like?

If you were to cut off the faceplate holder, and bend flat the two tabs on the sides of the outer cage, do you think a "modern" single- or double-DIN radio could be mounted in the outer cage?

[svxistentialist]

Phew David! That's a heck of a lot of questions! And me thinking I had answered everything!

Answers below where known, photos later:

Originally Posted by SVXdc

Many thanks, Joe! Your pictures are very helpful.

Could I trouble you to add a couple more to your photo album — a straight-on side view of the two cages docked, and a side view of the two separated, one above the other. It's a little difficult to tell the depths from your angle shots.

You're welcome. And yes, will take those later for you. There is a fair bit of work sizing them smaller for the website and waiting for each to upload.

Originally Posted by SVXdc

Does the car's 7-position connector have 5 wires populated?

It looks like the cage's mating connector has only 3 wires.

That would mean the car's connector doesn't include the wire for the motor antenna, and the cage's connector omits that and both illumination wires.

Regards the first, that smaller white male connector has 4 wires from the radio male "slider connector". You can clearly see that in the big picture two posts up.

Rather strangely the female socket that it plugs to has only 3 wires leaving. Can you explain that? [Your second point, I suspect?]

I would agree with this third statement.

Originally Posted by SVXdc

Does the radio illumination simply come on whenever you turn the key to Accessory or Run? Is there any way to dim it?

Yes. It does. And no. It does not respond to the dimmer button on the end of the stalk.
No, it can't be dimmed. The illumination has two colours. Green like you would expect, and a press of the "ill" button for 2 seconds+ changes all to amber. Amber is a little easier on the eyes, but the green is no way over-bright.

Originally Posted by SVXdc

Does your SVX have a motorized antenna? Does it extend whenever the key is on Accessory or Run?

Yes it does. Turning on the ignition does not extend it [unless the switch is in the ON position], neither does turning on the radio extend it. Like the European ones this model has an independent 2-position switch on the console. When the switch is ON and the ignition is ON the aerial will be extended. When the switch is OFF the aerial will be down.

Yes, before you ask, this means you can have the radio on with no aerial extended. You will notice it by the reception being poor, if you do not take account of the aerial switch position. This is a minus point for this configuration.

A positive benefit is that you can turn on the stereo/CD during an automated car wash without having your aerial blitzed off!

Originally Posted by SVXdc

How does the little plastic "Subaru" faceplate attach? Are those round things magnets? Or what does the back of the faceplate look like?

I don't remember. I think it just clicks into place. The round things are not magnets. They just keep the plate at the correct separation. I think it springs against them before clicking into place. They probably also act against it vibrating and making noise.

Originally Posted by SVXdc

If you were to cut off the faceplate holder, and bend flat the two tabs on the sides of the outer cage, do you think a "modern" single- or double-DIN radio could be mounted in the outer cage?

Good question. Yes. I happen to have a double din unit here. I took it out of my Japanese RVR because the Japanese radio frequencies are not correct here. If you did what you are suggesting a double-din would fit OK. If you notice in the 5.08 post above, the outer box is wider at one point to accommodate the slider-cage? The double din unit I have will fit even the narrow part of the outer box.

However, to get it to slide straight in I suspect the plastic cover may have to be taken off the outer cage. When in the open position it does not fully move clear of the rectangular opening. Maybe a double din unit would fit without taking it off, it's only a few mm. Mehh. I think it would be better to take off the cover.

Joe

[svxistentialist]

Photos as requested now uploaded to the album

Joe

[SVXdc]

Originally Posted by svxistentialist

Photos as requested now uploaded to the album

Thanks! I've been occasionally getting questions from other SVX owners in Europe, so all of these pictures give me a much better idea of how the factory radio is installed and wired.

Now I just need to figure out if Subaru changed to the single 14-pin harness (instead of the 7- and 9-position pair) at some later model year. Otherwise I'm not sure why Autoleads would say to use the adapter with the 14-pin connector.

Originally Posted by svxistentialist

Regards the first, that smaller white male connector has 4 wires from the radio male "slider connector". You can clearly see that in the big picture two posts up.

Rather strangely the female socket that it plugs to has only 3 wires leaving. Can you explain that? [Your second point, I suspect?]

Interesting. BTW, I call it a "7-position" connector since it has slots where up to 7 pins/wires could go. For reference, here's a close-up from your picture:

I thought I was seeing a 5th wire, but it must just be a shadow.

I have no doubt that the connector includes +12V Accessory, +12V Battery, and Ground (and those three are picked up by the cage's mating connector).

No surprise that Subaru omitted the motor antenna wire, since you have a separate switch for that.

Your 4th wire is Illumination + (at pin #5). So if you were to install an aftermarket radio that has a dimmer wire, you'd have something to connect it to

However, to get [a double-DIN radio] to slide straight in I suspect the plastic cover may have to be taken off the outer cage. When in the open position it does not fully move clear of the rectangular opening. Maybe a double din unit would fit without taking it off, it's only a few mm.

On the US cage, I'm able to temporarily open the door a little wider to slide in a double-DIN radio. I'll bet you could do that on the European cage as well.

[b3lha]

Hmm. That's definitely a PC2-29-4 connector in your SVX. Maybe I got my two cages mixed up. Perhaps the cage with the 2-44-4 connector was from the Legacy.

[svxistentialist]

Originally Posted by b3lha

Hmm. That's definitely a PC2-29-4 connector in your SVX. Maybe I got my two cages mixed up. Perhaps the cage with the 2-44-4 connector was from the Legacy.

Phil.

You are from Lincoln. Or thereabouts.


Explain?