Porsche 944 - Installing an Aftermarket Car Stereo

[@squeakychairproductions6813]

This man is a true legend! Thank you for all your videos and efforts!

[@Peakren]

Great video!! Does anyone know where I can get those stock harness? I got a Blaupunkt Stockholm R24 for my 1980 924 and I´m having trouble finding the wire harness for it.

[@hampsonlaboratory1363]

Finding a 4x6 speaker that fits well inside the early doors can be a challenge. Either the magnet sticks out too far and hits the window guide or the speaker frame itself is slightly the wrong shape and won't sit flush with the door. I guess the other issue is that most tweeters protrude and contact the stock grille. Do you have any tips or tricks to finding a speaker that fits like stock? I recently tried to revert back to the original equipment and found some old Blaupunkts that looked absolutely perfect but I think the voice coils were broken since they made no sound at all.

[@edredas]

Very true. Most original speakers no longer work at this point despite looking new. There are some speakers out there with tweeters that will fit behind the cover. It’s just hit and miss finding which ones do. If you can find a good picture of one before ordering just check to make sure the tweeter doesn’t protrude above the surface of the side of the speaker.

[@jackallen6261]

This is my next project actually, I have an 86 944 Turbo with a Sony after market stereo installed right now but it's a CD head unit and I am BIG fan of the JVC Bluetooth (no CD player) head unit (I have it in three other cars already) So for the sake of continuity I will be installing one in the 944. Thanks for the video!

[@edredas]

Cool, good luck with your project! I have a JVC in my turbo, but this was my first non-CD player unit. I really like that is can use an SD card which has been even better than using a USB thumb drive since those stick out and get in the way.

[@jackallen6261]

Just an update. I installed the JVC unit in my 951 a couple of weeks ago and a PO had cut out the factory connectors but they installed short pieces of wire color coded to the aftermarket harness that seems to be universal these days and did a nice job so it was a simple matter to just color match the new harness. Took about 20 minutes start to finish.

[@flori5548]

Edredas, thank you so very much for all your videos - more than once the have kept my 944 running! After installing a new old radio I finally found out a omeone has tampered with my “ignition” cable -> #2 in your Video. Can you tell me where this comes out near the fuse box? Where could I grab “IGNITION” electricity when adding a new cable? Thank you so much from Germany - Fabian

[@edredas]

If I remember correctly, on an early car it should be the upper fuse #9 for the the power sunroof, etc. This runs to the sunroof/radio relay behind the console. Its a rather big relay with a diagram on it and should have all the wiring you need, if it is still in tact. I hope that helps!

[@B34rhenz]

Just bought blaupunk sqr05 to replace kenwood from my 1986 GE280 mercedes. Would this complicate installation? Checked several Audio service but they seems uninterested as perhaps I am not buying any new audio head from them

[@edredas]

So it sounds like you're wanting to replace your stereo with a stock unit? If the installation was done correctly using an adapter, then you should be able to remove it and plug your new one in. However, if the wires have been cut then you might have to track down a harness in order to get the radio to work. I hope that helps!

[@B34rhenz]

edredas just bought removal tool. Will see how it goes.

[@tylerdurden7067]

Does this work on a 83-84? Are the wires the same? The adapter?

[@edredas]

Yes, for the most part. If you have an aftermarket head unit already there’s a strong chance that they wires have already been cut. I also find that these adapters typically only work with factory Blaupunkt Reno and Charleston units which were very common. However, some other factory units may have different plugs. Good luck!

[@MichaelPSmith-mps]

I am a little confused with the dimmer switch hack. I appear to have the same setup. Two red wires. What I was wondering is is it even necessary to pull the spade out of the second red wire third from the top? Wouldn't it just be possible to run that wire directly to the cigarette ashtray?

[@edredas]

Yes, rather than connecting that wire to the adapter, you can just connect it to any wire that gets a signal when the parking lights come on. I used a sleeve over my wires and was wanting everything to connect through the adapter, but I really didn't have to. I hope that helps!

[@med8tor1]

Now I can do the stereo upgrade myself too. Thanks.👍

[@edredas]

What year of 924 or 944 do you own? I could never find a wiring diagram to verify that this adapter worked with early 944 and was wondering if anyone with one has tried it?

[@med8tor1]

edredas I have a 1987 924S and an '89 944 turbo. Both has aftermarket stereo but it's the 87 that I want to change.

[@Zooba330-8]

Hello....all your 944 video have been helpful to me as I just purchased an pasadena yellow 1984. Where do I get a tool that takes out the radio like you showed? Mine isn't turing on - what should I check? Thanks so much

[@edredas]

I got this one from Amazon. It was really cheap too! I've replaced it since then though but it was a pretty good radio until the display went bad. Thanks and good luck!

[@P1983sche]

Hmmm, I have an 83, 944. I hooked up my radio with the existing harness and matched the colors (hardwired) because I can’t seem to locate an after market harness. I can get the radio to power on and off, all of my speakers work etc. However the radio will not shut off with the key and I have to turn it off manually, now I am getting a parasitic drain unfortunately. Any ideas?

[@edredas]

Sounds like the radio is getting power all the time. If everything is wired correctly, it could be that the ignition itself is stuck thinking that the key is in all the time. Try spraying some lube down in there and see if that helps.

[@michaelgoodley7266]

Link to the wiring harness and radio PLEASE!

[@edredas]

Here's the one I used: www.crutchfield.com/S-7GObYomHE9u/ymm/1987-Porsche-944-Wiring-Harnesses.html

[@Supershadowman32]

Amazing video, one question does the aux work?

[@edredas]

Yup!

[@Supershadowman32]

@@edredas goat!

[@CashMoney-xi7bi]

The cable in my 944 are not like that at all and i can’t find any information

[@edredas]

I have come across some cars with completely different wiring. The wiring in the video is the most common that is used on the Reno and Charleston units. Other head units seem to have their own wiring and there isn't much info available on them, so you'll have to use a multimeter to figure out the wiring...

[@TheFlyingBus]

I am driving my dad's 1986 Porsche 944. It has an aftermarket radio. For some reason I am not getting audio from all speakers (when I test L/R front/rear with balance controls most sound from left side and front). We can't remember if it has the stock speakers or not. How would you advise troubleshooting this? How often does the speaker wiring go bad requiring replacement? I am interested in upgrading stereo and speakers myself but looking for information on speaker wiring to understand what may be required.

[@edredas]

This is actually rather common and most of the time it is caused by old factory speakers that no longer work. The simplest way you can test if the speaker is bad is to take the speaker out of the door and hook up a known good speaker. If it works then you have found your issue! Usually the wiring doesn't go bad and doesn't need replacing but if there is a short then that could be your issue. That said, if the test speaker works then you can probably rule out a short, if it doesn't it could be the head unit. I hope that helps!

[@wesleysauble7534]

Hey, edredas, love the video but got a question. I have a 83 944 that I'm trying to figure out if the stock alarm system is causing a no start issue. However, for the life of me I can't figure out how to get to the radio, let alone remove the radio. Its the stock Pioneer Super Tuner. I can't find any release holes for it or anything to pop it out. Any suggestions would be awesome!! Thanks

[@edredas]

Hi, all the stock radios were Blaupunkt however removal of a Pioneer is similar. Just remove the bezels and you’ll find slits on both side of the unit where you will insert tools. Those tools look a little different than the ones I used but it’s the same idea where you just insert them and pull the radio out. I’ll leave link so you can purchase some. Thanks. www.ebay.com/i/401179823385?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=401179823385&targetid=888730200652&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9009958&poi=&campaignid=9426322747&mkgroupid=98144264760&rlsatarget=pla-888730200652&abcId=1141016&merchantid=116330194&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-bn44qaB6AIVho7ICh2DswQNEAQYASABEgJXGfD_BwE

[@edredas]

Also check out my series of videos on the 1984 Silver 944. In them I show how to remove a Pioneer headunit. I hope that helps!

[@wesleysauble7534]

Thanks for all the help man will check into everything!!

[@craigtullius9613]

Nice information , I never knew what all the different color wires went to , so I just never installed a unit. Now I can , thank you ,👍👍👍👍👍

[@edredas]

Awesome! Good Luck!

[@billdenbow2338]

My Blaupunkt Portland radio only has 2 speaker wires black and white,going through the fader control on the console,this is an '86 model.My radio is not working properly,only one side. Wish the wires were as long as those in the video!

[@edredas]

Here's a link to a video where I removed the fader switch at the owners request. The fader was broken inside and causing volume issues, which could be the issue you're having. If you are installing a new radio, getting rid of the ancient fader setup might be the best option. On the fader you will find wires running to each speaker and you can just hook your wires there if you wish. I hope that helps! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZDUqJerlJp5pNkm18s

[@kylecapaldi8823]

So i was wondering if it mattered the year of the Porsche because i have an 83 944 and on the website it says that the wiring adapter doesnt fit with my car.

[@edredas]

+Kyle Capaldi I tried to find a wiring diagram for the early cars to verify but came up short. If I remember correctly it doesn't mention that it fits the 924S but as you can see it does. The wiring should be similar to the early 944. I hope that helps and let me know what you find out so I can post it here. Thanks!

[@kylecapaldi8823]

Thank you for getting back to me. i will be ordering the adapter so and ill let you know it it fits or not. Thanks again.

[@mp3229]

Very helpful, thank you mate

[@quikman8]

does the adapter fit for a porsche 924 1980 mod??

[@edredas]

I wouldn't think so. At the moment I can only verify that it works on '85.5 944's and 924S if you do the illumination mod that I showed in the video. That said, it may work on 1981 and later 924's and early 944's but I haven't verified that yet!

[@quikman8]

ok thanks. do you know about any sites where i can find the right adapter? :)

[@edredas]

I'm not entirely sure such a thing exists for the early 924's. You might have some luck asking on 924board.org.

[@MichaelPSmith-mps]

Aren't installation kits generally required? Just ordered the Metra parts and was thinking back to previous installs I have done. I have always needed some kind of installation kit but it has always been on newer cars

[@edredas]

In most cases you need a kit to use single DIN head unit a larger double DIN slot. In this case I'm installing a single DIN head unit into a single DIN so there is no kit required. I hope that helps!