Page 1 of 1
Help! replacing Macintosh head unit in 2001 Liberty B4

Posted:
Sat May 18, 2013 12:43 pm
by Janus
I've pulled the dash fascia part off, unscrewed the headunit/A/C stack so I can pull it out. Nowhere in my research did I find that the stereo is hard wired to the amp. There are 2 cables that are not removable in the back of the head unit. They must run to the amp under the drivers seat.
I've got the Subaru adapt harness, but it looks like I need to unplug the head unit from the system at the amp rather than at the head unit.
how do I then connect the new head unit to the amp?
any advice?
Re: Help! replacing Macintosh head unit in 2001 Liberty B4

Posted:
Sat May 18, 2013 1:08 pm
by Janus
Ok got the head unit out. Cables to unplug were about 20cm from the head unit. Now though I'm stuck with cables that seem to short to reach the new head unit as I've lost 20cm unplugging the old one.
Re: Help! replacing Macintosh head unit in 2001 Liberty B4

Posted:
Sat May 18, 2013 1:40 pm
by nickknack
You can buy an aerpro adaptor from supercheap, it will plug into the HU plug to make installation of a new HU much easier, looks like this:

Unfortunately I think it's a pain to attach the mac amp to an aftermarket HU, easiest option is to buy a new amp at the same time then run RCAs. Otherwise, this might help with the amp wiring:
http://nzlamb.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/ ... formation/
Re: Help! replacing Macintosh head unit in 2001 Liberty B4

Posted:
Sat May 18, 2013 2:12 pm
by Janus
Thanks, I ordered a Subaru adapter from the stereo seller (eonon), it doesn't fit.
The adapter they provided me with looks nothing like the one you posted a pic of, the pic one you posted would fit..
might head to supercheap.
there are a couple of other cables I don't know what they do. 1 goes to the amp and it looks like there is a port at the back of the new head unit it will fit into (EDIT: NO IT WILL NOT), round pin plug about 8-10mm diameter. Other two also round but narrower plugs (4-5mm), and look like the make a circuit as the two I need to plug into the head unit would also plug into one another, single pin male and female.
Bugger what a pain!
Re: Help! replacing Macintosh head unit in 2001 Liberty B4

Posted:
Sat May 18, 2013 2:16 pm
by nickknack
Two of the plugs are antennae plugs, I think you need a nissan antenna plug to adapt them into one for use with a new head unit. Can't help with the other stuff, I got rid of the mac amp at the same time as the head unit sorry.
Re: Help! replacing Macintosh head unit in 2001 Liberty B4

Posted:
Sat May 18, 2013 2:19 pm
by Janus
Yeah the cable with the thicker round connector doesn't go into the new head unit. Wonder if I can get an adapter for it.. might go to super cheap and see if they can help.
Re: Help! replacing Macintosh head unit in 2001 Liberty B4

Posted:
Sat May 18, 2013 2:33 pm
by nickknack
Honestly I doubt it! But a specialist car audio shop will have more of an idea than your average supercheap employee. From memory one shop told me it couldn't be done, need a new amp as well, and another told they could rewire that plug but that would lose the connection to the parcel shelf sub.
Re: Help! replacing Macintosh head unit in 2001 Liberty B4

Posted:
Sat May 18, 2013 2:49 pm
by Janus
Dreams of am easy install have been squashed.
lights won't turn off now, urgh.....
Re: Help! replacing Macintosh head unit in 2001 Liberty B4

Posted:
Sat May 18, 2013 2:51 pm
by nickknack
Sorry!

Re: Help! replacing Macintosh head unit in 2001 Liberty B4

Posted:
Sat May 18, 2013 2:53 pm
by Janus
Hehe, thanks fir the help anyway mate, guess my pre purchase research was not sufficient.
what's with these lights nor turning off, damn.
Re: Help! replacing Macintosh head unit in 2001 Liberty B4

Posted:
Sat May 18, 2013 3:30 pm
by Janus
Ah, knocked the parking light switch on top of the steering column.
Re: Help! replacing Macintosh head unit in 2001 Liberty B4

Posted:
Sat May 18, 2013 3:39 pm
by Janus
Urgh, boned. Anyone has any suggestions on wiring this up without needing to buy a new amp, I'm all ears..
Re: Help! replacing Macintosh head unit in 2001 Liberty B4

Posted:
Thu Jan 02, 2014 12:21 pm
by fr0styballz
Janus,
How did this all end up?
I'm about to embark on a single din head unit install on my B4. Did you end up installing a single din?
Re: Help! replacing Macintosh head unit in 2001 Liberty B4

Posted:
Wed Jan 08, 2014 4:52 pm
by jp928
There is a very good audio man at
http://ae64.com/Ordering.htm - Dave Carter. I have used him twice now for cables that WILL fit, as long as you advise him of eveything.
I have put new HU in an 04 Outback and an 08 gtb now with his help.
Also look here for Mcintoss wiring info -
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=749402jp 08 gtb 6mt wagon.