Just got an O5 S model and want to know the easiest way or best way to remove the head unit, speaker door panels and rear panels in cargo area to run wiring. Thanks!

Did some digging and this is what I found:

http://tinyurl.com/5m47t

Its a pic of somebody upgrading their Frontier Stereo which has the same dash and stereo an Xterra has.

Now to figure out the doors and the rest fo the stuff.

I didn't take any 'how-to' pics, but this is my '05 Frontier stereo pic.

Just finished up the head unit install. Not too hard to do. Took me a couple of hours to do it. I highly recommend it and it sounds great with just factory speakers. Will sound awsome when I upgrade the speakers. I got me a nice Alpine head unit as I am a big Alpine fan.

Recomendations/Instructions:

1. Get some duct or durable tape and spread it under the A/C-Heat Controls. This will prevent scratches as you remove the entire center of the dash. If you don't to this step be very careful as there are small metal clips that will easily scratch this area as the center dash dangles from wireing harnesses after removal.

2. Pull up/out on the bottom of the center dash near the Heating and A/C knobs. This should free up the bottom of the center dash. Don't worry about the top as it is screwed in.

3. After doing number two it should make enough room to put your hand under the top "tray" (on the dash on top of the factory head unit) in the space you created between the head unit and the tray. Will be a tight fit but if you have small to medium size hands you should be able to do this. Use that hand to push the tray out of the dash board. After it comes loose you can also pull the tray out from the top side as well.

4. Unscrew the single screw under the tray that you just pulled out. This will free up the entire center of the dash. Remove the center dash and let it dangle on the shifter.

5. Remove 4 screws that hold in the factory head unit mouting brackets. When this is done you can remove the head unit.

6. Unclip the wireing harness.

7. Get a friend to hold the head unit on a work surface. You will need to use a lot of weight/force (two hands) to remove the screws that hold the brackets to the factory head unit. These screws are tighter then a biatch (and easy to strip if not carefull) which is why you should have a friend help you here.

8. Bolt factor brackets on to new head unit and install kit and reverse steps 1-7 to install it.

**Obviously this does not include the splicing of wires and installation of wireing harness, but that is a no brainer.

Hope this helps!

Thought I'd add some pictures for the above procedure....
Also - i took apart the dash to see what was what, then ordered the HU and install stuff. I have not put the screw or tray back in, since I'd just have to take it out in a few days when the stuff comes in. The center dash doesn't rattle or fall out or anything if you need to drive with it just snapped in place for a few days. (I don't want to take that tray out twice, it's a little dicey)









Now - how to get those frickin' door panels off - HELP!!!

I posted these procedures on another thread because i thought that thread was getting into the entire 05 install. also didnt even notice this thread. here it is agian

to remove the door panel for rears and fronts are the same.
1. pop up the back (elbow) arm rest
2. pop up the front (wrist) arm rest (this one is very tricky, use force, also becareful)
3. unscrew the 2 screws that are revealed.
4. pop out two covers on the door release.(1 cover looks like a 'C' shape, the other is a 'dish' shape)
5. unscrew that screw
6. pop out the entire door panel (only should have removed 3 screw total)

might want to do step 4 before doing step 2. this will give you access to the wrist arm rest and save some damage.

lots of popping!!!!

Click here for pics:

http://www.xterraownersclub.com/forums.html

These are actually pictrues of an 05 Frontier BUT if you compare the X and the Frontier they are VERY similar. The dash is identical and the doors are very similar.

When I do my install I will post pics. Should be doing it next weekend if my stuff I ordered show up next week.

Hope that helps.

I think this is what you mean?

Click here for Frontier door pics

Ooops my bad... in the famous words of Homer J Simpson. Dohhhh!!! Now where did I put my Duff Beer?

tried the instructions above, works great.

However, I tried to install my pioneer from my previous X. I still have the harness and all and its all crimped. Behind the factory radio, there are 2 plugs one is smaller then the other. The bigger one is what plugs into the harness correct? What do you do with the small one? from what i remember from digging after the install in my original there was a small plug to that wasnt connected.

Anyway, connected what i thought was right. Powered up and all but no SOUND? was i supposed to do something with the other small plug?

Thanks

Don't have time to provide specifics, but that second harness is mostly speaker connections. That set up hasn't changed since 1995, so I'm not sure how it would have worked on your old X without using the second harness...

Let me know if you need more specific detail and I can provide it later today. I just installed a new Pioneer HU and it worked perfectly (what an improvement!)

I did notice one discrepency in the harness I bought and the wires on the factory harness - looked like it was ground related but since I grouned directly to metal behind the dash it did't matter.

Also - did your old or new X have RockFos? - that could make slight diff. If you ignore the second harness MAYBE you were still getting signal to your RF amp on the old one???

So that 2nd (smaller) harness is just for the speakers? So i have no clue how the other one worked. I did have an amp in the old one. No RF system in either. I searched before and I thought that 2nd small harness just has to do with amp and would not be needed.

Also, my harness is spliced with the power and something else with my XM Direct adapter. Didnt hook that up yet when i tested. Dont know if that would have caused no sound in the system.

Really lost.

If I remember right (2 days ago!) the front speakers were on the bigger harness, the backs on the smaller harness, so that could explain it. The smaller harness had a few other things like amp control I think - it wasn't just speakers but I don't think it was anything important.

I can probably get more detail from the instructions with the harness I got (later tonight when I get home), but I think that just showed wire colors and what they are for the aftermarket harness, which is now deep in my dash.

Worst case senario - spend $15 and get a new "95-up" nissan harness. If you are using the Pioneer without the amp now, it might be easier to start over since it will be different.
Or - someone must have posted more detail on the specific wiring pinouts sometime in the last 10 years! This is one of the few things that did not chance in the 05.

Here's a link to a few different wiring diagrams for a few different Nissan headunits. Hope this helps

http://www.velocitymotorsport.com/install_notes/nissan.htm

Nice! P501 on the second link is what I have, and what I have been refering to.

Thanks. Just looked at the harness on Crutchfield and it shows two (the small and the bigger one). They just gave me back one harness so thats what looks like is missing. Gonna just buy a new one and rewire.

Can any of you give me the size of the door speakers? Also, has anyone changed out the dash tweeters - any thoughts on how to get at these without destroying the dash? Also - stupid question but are the dash tweeters something that is purchased separately or do they come as a set with the door speakers??

I am planning to replace my '05 stock system this weekend (or at least get the process started) so any info is appreciated! I plan to post detailed step-by-step and pics of progress. So far the only piece I have pinned down is the Pioneer AVIC-D1 nav/head unit.

here are some other 2005 helpful threads that might answer a lot of your current/future questions.

size thread

remove stuff

some entire new sound systems

just to answer your question right now,
stock front speakers: 6X9
stock rear speakers: 6.5"

when you buy aftermarket component speakers they should come with tweeters.
you need to use something thinner than 1/8" thick when mounting your tweeters. any thicker and you will not be able to put the factory cover back on.

removing your tweeters are very simple:
1) pop the cover off
2) unscrew the 4 screws holding it down(use small socket wrench w/ phillips bit OR phillips bit on vise grips)
3) pull out tweeter and disconnect wire

check your PM

Okay fellas, I replaced the head Unit in my 2005 Xterra per the instructions detailed above (thanks very much!)...but now...I have one little problem..

My "Airbag Sensor" on the drivers side is blinking on and off now...does anyone have any idea what I did wrong? Or what it is I forgot to do? Or what I didn't do at all?

Thanks for any and all help!

Mike

This may work although your issue is slightly
different then mine. Its worth a try though.

Fix for air bag issues

Thank you for the link and the detailed instructions you gave there...I will try this later today and report back with my findings.

I have to have my windshield replaced (most likely) later today aslo...a nasty rock chip and crack (7"-8") from my I-5 commute to work last night....my baby is 10 days old and already this!

Too bad I am a cheapie and have a $500 deductible!

OK, I managed to pop out the bottom, no problem. I'm having a hard time finding this screw though. It's up by the tray, right? That seems to be what the pic showed. Should I be running my hand all the way from the bottom (under the AC controls), all the way to the top? There's lots of stuff in the way (AC controls, head unit...) Am I completely missing something here? It seems like I'm doing this the hard way, but can't figure out what the easy way is

thanks,
--Fishhead

You gotta pry the top tray out - the screw is under/behind it.
You can reach up/under the opening exposed at the top when the front panel is partially lifted up, and push the tray up a bit, and/or try to pry it from the top (I kinda did both). The tray is a pain to get out, those little tabs are stiff and durable but even if you break one, the other tabs and gravity will hold the tray firmly in place when you are done. I found removing that tray that first time to be the hardest part of the install - felt like it was gonna snap but it didn't.

Ahh, that's it. OK, I had tried getting that d@mn tray out, and it wasn't budging. That makes perfect sense though. I'm stuck in class until 9, then I can try and rip apart the front. I've got my 7" LCD in the mail

--Fishhead202

post pics when your done man

Will do!

5 trucks for both mtbcyclist and 05_X!

I followed their instructions and my head unit install went flawlessly. My only additions to their procedure:

• With my head unit (Alpine CDA-9847) and install kit (Schosche from Crutchfield) I was unable to utilize the side brackets that supported the OEM double DIN unit. I had to use the DIN mounting sleeve that came with the head unit.
• I also fabricated a support strap from the back of my head unit to the back of the Schoshe bracket. It supports the head unit at the correct angle and makes everything a lot more sturdy feeling.
• There is plenty of room behind/above and below the head unit. I took advantage of the space and wrapped my wiring harness adapter in foam to keep it from flopping around.

Thanks again for the help you guys...sometimes disassembling a dash is like watching a magic trick. Without your help I would still be struggling to get the top panel off and I would have probably scratched up the front of my dash.

regards,

Odd, I installed the same head unit and had no problems with the kit from crutchfield.

Glad I could help. I myself did research and found most of my info on the frontier forums cause when I did my system the 05s had only been on the market for about a month. That alpine head unit is sweeet for the money spent.

hey fella's.. just wanted to know if the stock 05 S-model has rca connectors on the back for wiring a sub? anybody

Nope.

I'm about to do this to my 3-day-old '05 Xterra S. I'm installing the Alpine CDA-9847 and I want to add both XM radio AND the Alpine iPod adapter (KCA-420i).

My question is: is there enough room inside the dash to mount the XM direct box, the Terk XM Alpine digital adapter, and the KCA-420i back there? I'd like to have it all hidden in there instead of elsewhere in my new X.

Thanks!

Steven

there is a lot of room under the unit. as for mounting something there...i doubt there is something you can mount it too. theres no flat area you can mount it too. you might have to run the wires around and mount your equipment under the driver or passenger seat.

If you pull the shift knob off and pull up the panel with the tray in it from around the shifter, you could fit the 420 and the xmd100 under there. It's a nice flat spot, and neither of those components are really big. You could actually fit the xmdalp behind the radio and velcro it or wire tie it to the dash brace so it's not floating around in there. The case on it is plastic so it's really light. That way you don't have to worry about coming up short on the ai-net cable.

This is an update for anyone having a hard time connecting to the factory battery in the 05 Xterra. Follow this link: http://www.titantalk.com/forums/titan-vi...ima-sirius.html

He has a pretty good way of installing a new power cable to power his system. I know it is a Titan but the wiring is almost the same.

Hopefully this helps you guys out.

Thanks for the advice! Looks like I'm going to get the 2006 Alpine CDA-9856 with the new iPod adapter that's built-in to the unit, so I'll just have to find a spot for the xmdalp and the XMD100.

I'll post pics and info once I get it all in there.

Thanks again,

Steven

Okay, I finally got my new head unit (Alpine CDA-9856) and other stuff (xmalp adapter, iPod connector cable, etc.) today, so I'll be doing this either tonight or tomorrow afternoon (maybe both!). I'll take picks and file a report once she's done.

Wish me luck!

Steven

dang... i guess i broke my center piece because i just pulled the entire center section out... i didn't have to unscrew the top tray... it came out with the rest in one big piece!?!?!?!!

I think they may have changed that bit on some models as mine has a clip in the middle, not a screw/bolt combo.

^^bump^^ Seen lots of reqeusts for this thread.

My center console didnt have that center screw. I just pulled whole thing popped out

If anyone has this for an 02' can you start a new thread... Would be very appreciative.....

I'm looking to throw in a Sat radio and a gps, does anyone know how much of the dash removal may have changed for an '07??

Hasn't changed at all.

My X just has the stock. I just purchased the Alpine CDA-9885, getting it installed this wednesday. Hoping this deck will greatly improve the sound, if not I'll be looking into switching out the speakers. Not looking to get a sub, just replace the six speakers. Anybody have suggestions as which speakers are the best?

Ok, I tried both the tricks mentioned early in the thread to cancel the blinking air bag sensor light. Neither one worked. Any other little tricks before I take it to the dealer?

Just wanted to thank mtbcyclist and 05_X for the post and the pictures! I used to install stereos in my rides when I was younger, and generally did a pretty "ghetto" job at it.

Haven't done it in years, and thanks to your posts, it went off pretty much without a hitch. Hate to think of what might have happened if I just went in there and started pulling on things and unscrewing every screw in sight.

Bump

Seems the stickies got de-stickied in the recent hosing.
Can this be made a sticky again?