aftermarket radio

[Saab900SDave]

I got a quick question. Im gonna order the Radio Mounting Kit from genuinesaab.com and i was wondering if i need to buy the wires. Cause its $31 and i dont know if i need them.

[trexturk]

Well the wiring kit just plugs into your stock wiring, so you don't need to cut your sock wires.

I just installed a cd player in mine and i just cut up the stock wiring.

So you don't NEED it, but it would be easier if you had it.

[AlanH]

FYI, if you decide to get the wiring kit you may want to consider another source such as Crutchfield or a local car audio shop. I picked mine up locally for about half the price genuinesaab.com wants for theirs.

NOTE: if you use a source other than genuinesaab.com, tell them the harness is for a late-80s VW, not a Saab. For some reason, neither Metra or Scosche list a harness for our cars. The VW harness works just fine, though, you'll just need to swap the two power wires when you hook it up to your headunit.

The part you're looking for is a Metra 70-1784 (which is what I used) or a Scosche VW01.

Edit: Here are a couple of links to harnesses that will work for you:

http://www.cardomain.com/item/SCOVW01B
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-bgGqdQ9SlQq/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=11&g=103000&I=120701784&o=m&a=0&cc=01&avf=N&search=

[ricot83]

whatt do u mean when u say swap the 2 power wires...on the harness to the car or the one to the radio.... it doesn't make sense

[AlanH]

Sorry for the confusion.

There are two power wires - one that's always hot (it keeps the presets from being erased when you turn the car off) and one that is switched on when the ignition key is turned to the accessory position. When you use the VW harness, the wire coming out of the connector that is marked as always hot is actually switched and the wire that is marked "accessory" or "switched" (or something to that effect) is actually always hot.

So when I said "switch the wires", I meant you need to connect what looks like the always-on power wire to the switched power wire on your headunit and vice-versa, connect what looks like the switched power wire to the always-on power wire on your headunit.

No harm will be done if you don't get it right; you'll just lose your presets every time you turn the ignition switch off.

Let me know if you'd like more info and I'll try to get pin numbers, etc., for you.

Alan