Kudos to Kevin for supplying a product and giving outstanding customer service. The radio that I got would only play a CD for about tem minutes and quit. He responded to my emails very quickly, and was able to resolve my problem.
Thumbs up, and if I could give you another positive rating I would.
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08:09 PM
Dec 12th, 2002
kru Member
Posts: 611 From: Effingham, IL, USA Registered: Jun 2002
Got my radio yesterday afternoon and immediately installed. Compared to stock, it's one sweeeeet sounding radio. It's looking almost new with no sign(s) of use.
Installation was a breeze...took me sbout an hour. Also had to do the subwoofer mod which was no biggie.
Thanks Kev for the prompt service.
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04:03 PM
Dec 19th, 2002
kru Member
Posts: 611 From: Effingham, IL, USA Registered: Jun 2002
I still have more of these radio/CD packages and I just placed an order for even more. I have some coming from late-model Chevy vehicles this time too, for those of you who prefer the green display. I also have a couple Pontiac radios coming without the EQ.
I am also selling them on eBay, but the prices are higher because of their fees.
Time to spend some of that Christmas cash that you know you're going to get!!
Thanks.
[This message has been edited by kru (edited 11-08-2003).]
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08:51 PM
Dec 22nd, 2002
kru Member
Posts: 611 From: Effingham, IL, USA Registered: Jun 2002
Now it's official. You got some Christmas cash. What better use is there for it than to spend it on your Fiero? You probably even got some CDs for Christmas, didn't you? How convenient...
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02:33 PM
Dec 28th, 2002
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
Here is a bump and a picture of the radio I bought from Kru a while back..... it is one of the best investments I have made for my car so far !!! Thanks for the excellent service !!
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09:16 AM
naskie18 Member
Posts: 6258 From: Commerce Twp, MI, USA Registered: Jun 2002
So after making my comments in the above post I re-read this thread (which I probably should have done before installing the radio last night and before posting a few minutes ago, but hey, I'm an idiot). So anyway, here's what I did (and didn't do) during my installation. I couldn't get the radio in because of that triangular metal bracket, and didn't remember tgowens advice to use a screwdriver to pop the rivets out, so I just got a reciprocating saw and cut the top 3/4 or so of the bracket off. The other thing I did is I forgot to plug the blue plug back in, could somebody please tell my what the blue plug is for? I drove my car into work today and listen to the radio/cd the entire way in and didn't notice any problems, except that I think my headrest speakers were not working. Also, now that I'm looking at the picture of the wiring harness, I think I forgot to plug in another plug. In the pic below, I know I didn't plug in the blue plug, and I don't think I plugged in whatever color plug it is thats above the blue plug. Could someone please let me know what these two plugs are for? Thanks
Oh yeah, by the way, Kev, the radio rocks!! Thanks for a truely great product, it looks a heck of a lot better than the blue backlit Pioneer that was in the car
Nick
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10:07 AM
foxgapfiero Member
Posts: 2445 From: Bangor PA USA Registered: Sep 2001
Cleardark - I sent you an email response from my normal email account. I am having problems with the account you sent the message to, so please respond to
radios@replacementradios.com
As for which plugs do or don't need used, you should have received some brief instructions with the radio that address this issue. If not, I apologize. I'll sum it up here:
tgowens picture is not entirely accurate. He has been extremely helpful through this process and I thank him again for that, but he actually has a couple of the plugs mis-labeled in the picture that he provided. Basically, there is one plug on each side of the adapter that is not used in the Fiero application. (Keep in mind that this adapter is for other GM vehicles from the same vintage. Some of the vehicles had a slightly different plug configuration.) Anyway, on the car side of the adapter, you will not use the small black plug with one gray wire and two orange. On the radio side of the adapter you will not use the black and red plug with the orange, gray, black and tan wires (You can see these wires and this plug in the large picture a few posts earlier, although the tan almost blends in with the background.) As has already been mentioned, you will also have to remove the black cap that is on the white plug on the car side of the adapter.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
[This message has been edited by kru (edited 11-08-2003).]
No. They are just radio and CD. The CD/cassette combos were not available in Pontiacs until the last few years. They are not compatible. On top of being double-din size (too big), they are also not compatible from an electronics standpoint. I have been told that the radio works in tandem with the computer and will not operate if you pull it from the car. (This might be a bit of a poor explanation, but you get the jist.)
You could get a cassette player and a CD player in some Pontiacs in the late 90's, but they were separate units. You would have the CD player (like I'm selling) in the dash and a remote cassette player, or vice versa.
The CD/cassette units from other 90's GM vehicles are also too big (double-din), from what I understand. If you want a stock looking CD player, this is the only way to go. Otherwise, if you're set on a CD/Cassette combo, it's time to start modifying your dash and hacking up your wires. Don't do that to your Fiero!!
FYI - I got my CD/radio yesterday, installed it this morning with no problems! Although I discovered that the cass/radio that I had in there already had all the wiring adapters I needed (it was dated 1993)! So I didn't use any of the adapters you supplies, kru. Maybe I'll try and sell them on eBay.
Thanks!!!!
------------------ 1985 Fiero SE V6
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03:21 PM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
Originally posted by kru: Naskie18 - I'm not sure what the blue plug is used for either. When I state that it needs to be used, I am going on advice I read somewhere on the web that it should be plugged into the back of the radio in the top left corner (when viewing the plug from the back of the radio.)
So I pulled it out again yesterday and got all the plugs in the right place.
As tgowens stated, the white plug is the radio power connector.
The black plug is for the dash speakers, and the blue plug is for the headrest speakers.
Thanks again for a great radio, Kev!!!!
Nick
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02:09 PM
Jan 7th, 2003
AnimalGT Member
Posts: 1118 From: Chicago, IL Registered: Jul 2001
RossT referenced an alternate method for modifying your wiring if you have the factory Performance Sound System and want it to work with this set-up, but don't want to cut/splice any of your original wiring. I contacted him to get the specifics. I am including his response here.
Cut the white wire (from terminal E) in the middle of the adapter harness. Tape off the end that goes to the radio side of the adapter. (This will no longer be used.) Bare a small section at the end of the other half of the white wire (the half that is on the car side of the adapter). Then bare (do not cut) a small section of the red wire (from terminal F) and splice the bared end of the white wire into the red. Wrap with electrical tape. (Or, you could use a wire tap, if you prefer not to bare the red wire, but the results aren't always as good.)
The reason for this: the red wire is HOT when the key is turned. The red wire will now supply power to the sub through the white wire.
Your sub will be on whenever the key is turned on, but, if you're like me, you'll have the radio on whenever the car is on anyway.
[This message has been edited by kru (edited 11-08-2003).]
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01:28 PM
Jan 14th, 2003
kru Member
Posts: 611 From: Effingham, IL, USA Registered: Jun 2002
Hard to believe this post has had almost 1000 views, but hey, I'm still getting orders, so I'm going to bump her to the top again.
Just an FYI, I have a couple of the Monsoon versions of the UP3 radio this time. I've got them priced $20 higher. Again, that includes the adapters and shipping via FedEx Ground in the continental US.
Thanks.
-Kevin
[This message has been edited by kru (edited 11-08-2003).]
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09:04 AM
PFF
System Bot
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
Are the Monsoon UP3's a direct replacement for the regular UP3? I was wondering if using them required external amps or amplified speakers. I know GM used amplified speakers in the old Delco-Bose system. Just want to make sure it would still be plug and play with the Fiero system.
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03:02 PM
kru Member
Posts: 611 From: Effingham, IL, USA Registered: Jun 2002
so how many have you sold now kru? i kinda wish i would have bought one, but im alittle late now, the one i got from the junk yard wont play cd's and its a no return item.... i pulled it from the car. it was only 30 bucks though. its a much older style cd-player than the ones your selling. The one i really want comes out of a 91 caddy. im sure other cars have had them also. but i know the 91 caddy has the cd-player that I want.
matthew
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08:56 AM
kru Member
Posts: 611 From: Effingham, IL, USA Registered: Jun 2002
Between here and eBay, I've sold 50+ radios. Both supply and demand seem to be drying up a bit, but I've still got about 15 radios. I'll keep doing it as long as I can still offer the package at a reasonable cost.
I checked into the Cadillac CD radios and they are hard to come by, which translates to cost prohibitive, especially when I'm not buying them in quantity.
I am looking into adding some early 90's Pontiac CD players to my inventory. That'll give people at least one more choice.
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01:08 PM
Electrathon Member
Posts: 5233 From: Gresham, OR USA Registered: Dec 2002
It looks virtually identical to the UP3 radio with EQ that is pictured at the beginning of this post. The only thing that makes it visibly different is the Pontiac logo is in white in the top left corner and next to it, Monsoon is printed in white with the Monsoon symbol.
From a feature standpoint, I don't think there is a difference.
The Monsoon version was the top of the line stereo available in the late 90's. The system included some special speakers and an amp, I believe, but you can use the radio by itself. I have sold a couple and have bench-tested all of them using a wiring harness like the one you will get with your radio, so it has been verified that they do work without the rest of the Monsoon system. You might be able to purchase the rest of the Monsoon system somewhere and use it in your Fiero too, but I have no experience with that.
Thanks for asking.
-Kevin
[This message has been edited by kru (edited 11-08-2003).]
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11:15 AM
Jan 23rd, 2003
kru Member
Posts: 611 From: Effingham, IL, USA Registered: Jun 2002
I just received another shipment of the Pontiac CD radios and I now have three of the Monsoon versions of the UP3. This was the top of the line system in the late 90's and in 2000 when the UP3 radio was available. If you want to be a little different from everyone else that's doing this conversion, this is the radio for you. It's $20 more than the normal UP3.
If you're interested in a stock-looking CD radio but want to save some money, try the non-EQ Pontiac model. It still has great sound, the amber (red) display and looks great in the Fiero.
As usual, all prices include the new adapters, installation instructions and shipping via FedEx Ground in the continental US.
Thanks.
[This message has been edited by kru (edited 11-08-2003).]
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11:38 PM
Jan 24th, 2003
mgbringo Member
Posts: 198 From: Fargo, ND 58104 Registered: Dec 2000
