I did a search and all I could find was installation kits and wiring harnesses for 1992-1996 ES300. I already have an Alpine CDA7875 cd player and a seperate 7" flip out screen. I want an installation kit that lets me use both DINs for my 2 units. How do I bypass the factory amps? Is there a wiring harness for the 97 ES300? 2 DIN hole Installation kit? Thanks

 

Anyone?

 

I have a 95 es and did ALL of the installing myself, but like I said, its a 95. I couldn't tell you anything with certainty. Also, why try to bypass factory amp, are you adding another or going off of the head?

 

Well, I would be going off the HU so I either have to bypass the HU amp or the factory ES300 amps

 

Well, to avoid this I simply ran new speaker wire (stinger), but to avoid this you may be able to locate the factory amp and disconnect the speaker wires (in whatever proff. manner poss.) and have them connected to the new head, but remember that the speakers still need to get the signal so your going to have to find out the fact. amp's output to the speakers and have those hooked up to the head. This will allow all of the other functions to work still like your antenna and so forth ( have heard removing fac. amp causes antenna to only go half staff). I would recommend running new components and new wire and a good multi channel amp, but if you don't want to invest in all of that right now than this is all I can think of. Post again if you have any more ques.

 

hmm, well I don't have to worry about the antenna because it is built in the rear window. I'm worried about the wiring harness and installation kit a lot too. thanks

 

Have you ever thought about hard wiring your new radio. It is much eazier than you might think. Go to a web site or look in a lex manual and find out what wires are what, or even grab a volt tester if you know how to use one and simply splice into the wires. You'll save 20$ vs. buying a harness, and if you want to know I'll tell you how I did my wires to where if I want to use the fact. harness I still can because it's still FULLY attached to the car. Also, on the install kit, have you thought about fabrcating your own. I have a few pics of my car that should still be on the main page of the es threads if you want to see what I'm talking about. And to be honest, my radio is a lot more secure the way I installed it than it would be if I would have purchased a kit (and I think it looks better to). Just tryin to help

 

how do you make the brakets for a installation kit, if you make it yourself? Also, if I get the ABS plastic, how do I make it a clean straight cut, I want it to look good most importantly. thanks

 

before metra made the 92-96 hu kit everyone else had to do a full moulded install i know a few es 300 that had it made for around 200
if you use the wrong antenna wire it will not go up all the way
i have no stock audio anymore and my ant works perfect
the ant is full of stupid extra wire though
i remember trying to get a remote (14.4 vdc) signal of it was a real pain so i just ran a new wire up front instead
unless you make alot of audio equipment i would say pay a local shop to make it for you
or it will look like hell
of see if a 92-96 kit can be fiberglassed and moulded to fit yours nicely

 

I used the factory brakets and screwed them into the holes that lined up with the alpine ones. Easy as that. The radio is more secure than a crapply made install kit would be. And for the plastic, I used .5 inch thick plexy which cut with my jigsaw. Make SURE the blade is sharp or it will splinter the plastic. Also, I cut the plastic big and filed and sanded down to make cosmeticaly pleasing. Hope this helps.

 

ABS plastic won't look good. a shop did an installation on my car with abs plastic covered with vinyl and it looked like crap! they also rewired all the cables to the speaker b/c the factory ones wont work. you can use the pre-existing mounts, all u have to do is provide support below your stereo unit. the shop put 2 pieces of mdf under the deck to support it. i went to another shop to have the face plate done with mdf and vinyl and they were gonna charge me $200 for it. so i made one myself using 1/2in thick mdf and it supports the deck very well unlike ABS where the deck gets loose very easily.


here's what i did on my car. the vinyl can be bought at any fabric store. the plastic frame came from the shop so i used it.

 

FLiP Sp33d, See that you have a '98, as far as I know the audio system is the same in a '97 (mine).

I want to take my car into a good shop here in L.A. to have them upgrade the speakers, add a quality sub, and put in a new HU. I was wondering if you had a factory cd changer in the glove box? It's one feature that I like, but could possibly do without if I got a mp3 HU.

And hey, since I know nothing about how the audio system is set up from the factory, would the factory changer interface with most(all?) HUs? Might have some more questions later...

 

unfortunately, my car didnt come with a cd-changer. as a matter of fact, my car is bare to the bone with no leather, moon-roof, or even traction-control. i think the cd changer is from pioneer and im not sure if it would work with other HUs. NYC ES3 has a factory HU with aftermarket subs in his trunk, maybe you can ask him for information...