My radio finally gave up and Alpine was unable to repair it.
Apparently, some component leaked resulting in a loss of the right
channel. I decided to replace it with an aftermarket but wanted
something that looked more retro and closer to the Jag radio (green
display). I found a Kenwood that I liked the looks of and it even
had a clock as a bonus! This model only came with a cassette player
but, as I really only listen to the broadcast radio, this didn�t
matter.
The big problem with aftermarket radios is that they do not have
the face shaped to fit into the J-slope and don�t come with an
adapter harness for the 20-prong male plug in the Jag. I am aware
that there is a company on the internet that sells a fascia adapter
and harness for about $60.00 with shipping for both. However, I
came up with an alternative way I would like to share to adapt the
radio that I think worked quite well and didn�t cost anything. With
about an hour or two�s worth of work, a fascia can be created from
the front of the old Jag radio and a harness adapter created from
the female 20-pin plug from the radio. Photos are attached.
-To create the fascia, remove the front from the old x-300 radio
and push out all the buttons from it. Trim out the plastic dividers
that separated the buttons to create a rectangular opening. I used
a combination of wire cutters, hobby knife and razor saw. Widen the
opening as necessary to fit the aftermarket radio being installed.
-To create the wire harness, unscrew and remove the back of the old
radio and pull off the top of the radio. The 20-pin female plug is
attached to a circuit board that can be lifted out of the radio.
Using a soldering iron, heat the back of the circuit board around
where each of the 20-pins enter from the plug, place the tip of the
iron directly on the pin and push the pin through the board. Do
this for each pin. Continue to heat the back of the board with the
iron around the pin holes while gently prying the plug away from
the circuit board with a flat screw driver. The plug separated from
the circuit board quite easily for me using this technique. The
plug is numbered for the pin positions but I found it easier to
read by numbering the pin locations with a marker. The wiring code
is on the back of the circuit board where the plug attached or you
can find it in the archives by searching my name. Solder the
aftermarket radio wires directly to the female plug pins to create
your own harness adapter. I used heat shrink around each of the
soldered wires which is not necessary but prevents any shorts and
stabilizes the pins in the plug. This can all be done on the
workbench and avoids having to cut and solder the original Jag
wires. The new radio can now be plugged directly into the original
wire harness in the Jag.
-To install the radio with the fascia, I found that the aftermarket
radio needed to protrude further out of (continued on part 2)–
Mick 95 XJ6 Sovereign
Eastern PA, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
If you are willing to part with the remnants of the stock radio and send
them over to Holland, I will gladly
pay for the shipping costs.
Maybe I can help someone in need of repair of stock radio.
At 12:53 24-2-2009 -0800, you wrote:>My radio finally gave up and Alpine was unable to repair it.
Apparently, some component leaked resulting in a loss of the right
channel. I decided to replace it with an aftermarket but wanted
something that looked more retro and closer to the Jag radio (green
display). I found a Kenwood that I liked the looks of and it even
had a clock as a bonus! This model only came with a cassette player
but, as I really only listen to the broadcast radio, this didn’t
matter.
In reply to a message from Jos Raven sent Thu 26 Feb 2009:
Mick and Jos, will this type of modification work with a car that
has the Harmon Kardon premium sound? I’ve heard that the HK system
operates with an active set up and speakers need to rewired and
crossovers fitted!!!??? I have an aftermarket head unit but it
doesn’t have the 6 pin DIN socket that the HK amplifier plugs into.
Would I still get sound without the amp connected this way?
Cheers,
Lawrence.–
The original message included these comments:
I did this a few years back but installed the facia supplied by Nexia UK.
In reply to a message from Mick sent Tue 24 Feb 2009:
Mick;
This is absolutely brilliant and a huge help to me. I would
also like to upgrade my '97 XJ6 into the world of Bluetooth
and sat nav but cannot find any available units designed to
fit directly into the XJ6. I’ve been told that it is even
harder with the Harmon system due to impedence issues with
the speakers. Mine is the base radio, so it should be
easier.
Do you think your harness mod would work for a '97 as well?
Could you please repost any actual wiring diagram you have.
I wasn’t able to find it by searching the archives (my
ineptitude, no doubt).
Also, do you have the link for the guy who sells the fascia
and harness aftermarket?
Many thanks in advance!–
The original message included these comments:
The big problem with aftermarket radios is that they do not have
the face shaped to fit into the J-slope and don�t come with an
adapter harness for the 20-prong male plug in the Jag. I am aware
that there is a company on the internet that sells a fascia adapter
and harness for about $60.00 with shipping for both. However, I
came up with an alternative way I would like to share to adapt the
radio that I think worked quite well and didn�t cost anything. With
I’m going through the same thing myself, and have bought a second hand
Alpine unit, from the US with what I hope is the correct plug on the back
to allow me to use the CD Changer…this is the link to the harness and
fascia adapter place, I’m finding out if theyll ship to Aus…if not Ill be
doing the mod by Mick too…
In reply to a message from Dean Kitching. sent Mon 3 May 2010:
(See the other thread 1st May on this as well)
I used eBay UK item 250553138150 which is both the special
fascia and the interface plug & socket - so there should not
be any wiring problems. They are Autoleads products which
may be available over there ?
Several top-end Blaupunkt units include Bluetooth nowadays
or you might wire in a Parrot interface for your mobile.
The slot behind the curvy Jaguar fascia is a standard DIN
fitting, so any modern radio should fit without too many
problems - the fascia panel is only to make it look good !
Haven’t actually done the job myself yet - just gearing up
for it ! MOT comes first !
Thanks for that, Ill probably use them . Ill try the new cheapo radio on it
way, to see how the speakers are, I cant really tell at the moment ,and if
they’re ok may upgrade the radio in the future…
Its easier here to buy online from o/seas than make 20 phone calls with no
result locally I find…
The original radio may be repairable here, but Ill try all this first for a
quicker result…I pulled it out and had a look, but other than some thermal
grease leakage off the back plate, which I cleaned up to no result,
couldnt really see any obvious problems on the boards , but testing them as
such is a bit beyond me…
Cheers,Dean
parts 1
In reply to a message from Dean Kitching. sent Mon 3 May 2010:
(See the other thread 1st May on this as well)
I used eBay UK item 250553138150 which is both the special
fascia and the interface plug & socket - so there should not
be any wiring problems. They are Autoleads products which
may be available over there ?
Several top-end Blaupunkt units include Bluetooth nowadays
or you might wire in a Parrot interface for your mobile.
The slot behind the curvy Jaguar fascia is a standard DIN
fitting, so any modern radio should fit without too many
problems - the fascia panel is only to make it look good !Subject: RE: [x300] X-300 after market radio installation using OEM radio