Stereo System to Replace stock system on 1988 GT (Page 1/3)
rebeck02 AUG 02, 03:55 PM
Can anyone suggest a reasonably priced / decent quality stereo system with a CD player to replace the stock system in a 1988 GT? Thank you. reb (Roger)
Raydar AUG 02, 06:36 PM
If you can find an early nineties Pontiac Monsoon system, you'll need a harness adapter, and an antenna cable adapter. Then you're golden.
replacementradios.com sells the adapters. (They used to sell the radios, too, but seem to be sold out.)

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 08-02-2023).]

Vintage-Nut AUG 02, 09:06 PM
Check-out Crutchfield / '88 Fireo

https://www.crutchfield.com...tfitmycar/mycar.aspx
Patrick AUG 02, 09:41 PM

quote
Originally posted by Raydar:

If you can find an early nineties Pontiac Monsoon system...

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE




Raydar, where do you jam the CDs into on that model?
cvxjet AUG 02, 11:37 PM
The one that Ogre has posted is an older version with cassette....the later version has the CD...And there is a guy in the Mall the sells them (When he has some) modified to allow iPod connection. (Fiero Tom- second page of Mall postings); https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum4/HTML/075303.html

[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 08-02-2023).]

theogre AUG 03, 12:14 AM
⚠️
Used and many "restored"/"rebuild" car radios may work now but soon dies because many parts in them are on the "last leg."
Example: 20+ year old capacitors die because cabin heat when park outside often see 150-200°F and best caps hate that. GM and most other never use best parts in most things in a car.

Old CD DVD and BRay units often also Optical problems.
Inside the "head" have "mirrors" and lenses w/ metal coating and metal reacts w/ air & crap and is Dead, Very Dead, and no DIY or "Pro" will be able to reflash those parts right. Some parts look to be Mirrors but isn't. It/they are beam splitters and must have correct coatings or is Dead.
I've lost count for dead CD/DVD units just for PC and most of them dies in 3-5 years often for same reason.

Is very likely part of why replacementradios.com etc no longer carry radios for 80's & 90's cars.
Even if they get enough units to sell... Hard time selling "cheap" and replacing a lot of old caps and other parts. Worse, some other 30 year old thing break soon and have "warranty" problems costing more money.

Several GM units I have worked when put in storage no longer even turn on.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

MarkS AUG 03, 01:53 PM
Thing about the Fiero is the radio size. It is a DIN 1.5 size. Most "affordable" new CD players are single DIN size: https://www.crutchfield.com...&nvpair=AG_Type|ffCD Adapters are available but I myself never liked how they looked in the Fiero.

I've done the later model GM players shown above and they worked good but agree they can be finicky, especially the volume controls crapping out. I've done something like this https://www.ebay.com/itm/175671549087 just a used deck, not modified like this one. Worked good but the lighting was not red like this guy shows and was bluish, didn't look great at night. I replaced it with and earlier model Pontiac CD player from a TA that looked almost identical to the stock cassette deck. That worked & looked nice, it went with the car when I sold it. I might still have the CD deck with the bluish lighting if your interested for the cost of shipping. It hasn't been used in years and have no way to test it now. PM me if interested.

If I were to do it again, I'd go this way: https://www.retromanufactur...riant=41987652124828 you could get a used CD changer for the trunk to use with it.
lou_dias AUG 03, 03:01 PM
the problem with those mid to late 90's 1.5 DIN stereos is the power/volume knob constantly malfunctions.
I can't currently turn one of my units on.

There was yet a newer version released 1998-2002 that is 1.5 DIN and looks a little different that is more reliable.

It can be seen here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/295646566938

There's a CD and Monsoon version as well if you look around.

[This message has been edited by lou_dias (edited 08-03-2023).]

css9450 AUG 03, 03:29 PM
My 88 has one of the fancy UX1 radios and I had to send it to a place in Saginaw Michigan for repairs, but it's been perfect ever since. It was expensive, but worth it since I'd rather have that then some ugly aftermarket radio that doesn't match anything.
Mike in Sydney AUG 05, 07:09 PM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:

⚠️
Used and many "restored"/"rebuild" car radios may work now but soon dies because many parts in them are on the "last leg."
Example: 20+ year old capacitors die because cabin heat when park outside often see 150-200°F and best caps hate that. GM and most other never use best parts in most things in a car.

Old CD DVD and BRay units often also Optical problems.
Inside the "head" have "mirrors" and lenses w/ metal coating and metal reacts w/ air & crap and is Dead, Very Dead, and no DIY or "Pro" will be able to reflash those parts right. Some parts look to be Mirrors but isn't. It/they are beam splitters and must have correct coatings or is Dead.
I've lost count for dead CD/DVD units just for PC and most of them dies in 3-5 years often for same reason.

Is very likely part of why replacementradios.com etc no longer carry radios for 80's & 90's cars.
Even if they get enough units to sell... Hard time selling "cheap" and replacing a lot of old caps and other parts. Worse, some other 30 year old thing break soon and have "warranty" problems costing more money.

Several GM units I have worked when put in storage no longer even turn on.




Dang, Ogre, to quote Oddball from Kelly's Heroes,



Rebek02 (OP), I got three Fieros and all have the Pontiac Grand Prix,7-band equaliser AM/FM/CD player. I've had two over 7 years and have had them modded to accept an input from an external source. All three are over 25-years old and I've never had any problems. They look stock which is good because in my state of New South Wales my cars carry Historic Registration. To qualify, you can't have anything that wasn't available when the car rolled off the assembly line so looking stock is a real advantage over here.

I think the Grand Prix radio is a good solution. Just be careful if you get a used unit & make sure it plays or can be returned.

(BTW, capacitors can be replaced even in Australia.)

[This message has been edited by Mike in Sydney (edited 08-06-2023).]