Project Sat Nav in new 09 Sport - Complete with working Trip Display!!!

[AndyThilo]

So this weekend hopefully I will be doing this.

So far I have got the following parts :

• Pioneer AVIC F700BT - Full Sat Nav, iPod, Bluetooth system
• 2 x Metra Mazda 6 harnesses from USA (2 required to fully populate pins)
• PAC Audio SWI-PS Steering wheel adator
• Facia adaptor to replace factory stereo with double din
• Mazda replacement steering wheel controls that do away with AI Net, and have Info button to control Trip Computer
• Replacement Mazda screen (not sure why this is needed)

Now there are 2 ways to get this hooked up, 1. using the bose amp via preouts from the pioneer. Now the UK version of the F700 doesn't come with the front and rear preout cables. However the USA version does so I've bought a replacement cable for a F900 and hopefully i'll have preouts. If not then see no.2

Then it's just a job of putting phono sockets on the metra harness to plug into the head unit.

If that wont work then I'll have to run 4 pairs of speaker wires down to the bose amp output and hook into the speaker outputs from the amp. Then i'll run a phono cable down to the bose amp for the sub and run it off the headunit.

Lots to do, i'll keep this updated.

Andy

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[AndyThilo]

Quick update.

The metra connectors came today, so i've harvested the wires required from one and put into the other. Also have bought some phone plugs and fitted to the front and rear speaker wires (remember that the Bose HU is line out not speaker level out.

The red connector is the Metra connector, this is where the car harness will plug into. The grey phone wires go to the Pioneer plug that plugs into the F700.

[AndyThilo]

Update

Got the dash out today to fit the PIoneer. Simply job really, the only hard part was getting the vent/speaker panel out. Not easy to do without marking the stereo.

Checked what would happen to the Aircon and trip display when the stereo was completely out, happy to report that both work as normal (well the aircon controls changed, but as I had no button to change the trip I couldn't test that although it displayed fine).

Unfortunalty I discovered that the UK spec F700 does indeed NOT have front/rear preouts, nothing coming out of either output. Checked the bose amp was operating by plugging in the sub out of the pioneer to the car and could hear some nice boom booming so the amp was definatly energised.

So I had to make a decision, do I a) bypass the amp and run straight to speakers, b) get a speaker to line converter or c) send the F700 back to amazon and get a F900 with fully functioning front and rear preouts as standard?

Well yes of course option c)


I'll be here tomorrow so I'll re do the wiring loom and hopefully get it installed. Gotta fit the replacement mazda steering wheel controls so I have access to the trip computer. I will loose AI Net controls, but no big deal, don't use them now anyway, not hard to turn a dial is it!


I hope this thread will be of use to people. I will get pics and instructions up when finished.

[andychamb]

Nice one sounds great (hopefully  ). I really want to see the pics of this and find out if it all works. When you have got it all in bits, have a look and see if you can find the running lights module and how to disable it!

Good Luck

Andy

[AndyThilo]

I dont have running lights on mine Mazday must have taken it off!

[AndyThilo]

Ok progress update!

Did a temp fit yesterday all works perfect. Sound is excellent through bose amp.

Off out this morning to finish and take pics. Few jobs to figure out but i'll get there.

Found out that the replacement facia is not compatible with the Pioneer double din cage and supplied trim. I've had to order a double din kit that includes a new surround so that the radio will fit flush in the fascia. Hopefully that will arrive this morning.

[AndyThilo]

Shes done. well 90%.

The new din cage came this morning so thats all fitting and it looks excellent flush with the dash.

All cables have been properly routed now, mic connected, GPS antenna hidden in a brilliant place (looks made for the job!) and iphone cable run to the drinks holder with no drilling done.

I also hooked up the PAC steering controller and that works 100%, I've not got vol up/down, track up/down, mute and source select through the steering controls.

Now I still have to replace the steering wheel controls as I have no access to control the trip but it looks like the wheel will have to come off to do it (the screws holding the switch panel in place are behind) so I may have to ask Mazda to do it. The new steering wheel controls has a 'Info' button on it to cycle the trip and does away with the phone button. I can live without the trip till then and the Pioneer has a clock, mind you so does my wrist .

I've taken lots of pics and will get them posted later with a write up. Maybe a video too!.

Cheers

Andy

[AndyThilo]

I should just add, that I have not had to cut or modify ANY factory loom wiring, everything is plug and play.

[AndyThilo]

Ok here we go then.

First job is obviously ripping the dash open. Very easy to do in the Mazda.

Before you start, remove any bluetooth pairings you may have (if you have factory bluetooth).

1. Remove the handbrake trim. It's only clipped in, you can put your fingers under the trim by the handbrake lever and also the other side of the cup holders. Tug hard and it'll come out.

2. Unscrew the gearknob and pop off trim surrounding it. Again only clipped in.

3. Starting at the bottom (nearest the gearstick) take off both shiney trim sides, open the glovebox to assist the passenger side trim.

4. Now take off the trim surrounding the air con controls and gear stick.

5. Remove the 4 screws holding the air con controls in place, pull the controls forward and disconnect the plugs (there are 2).

6. Remove the air vent/speaker grill. This is the hard part, it's difficult to get off. Protect the trim using tape and gently lever out with a flat blade screwdriver. Once out, disconnect all plugs and put aside.

7. Now there are 2 screws at the top of the stereo and 1 screw and a bolt at the bottom. Remove all these and the stereo will pull out, disconnect both plugs.

So now the radio is out and all trim removed ready for install.

First things first, the GPS antenna. I found a lovely location right in the top of the dash but hidden from view. If you look at the speaker top panel, either side of the speaker there are two holes. One is take up by some kind of sensor, the other is empty. The GPS antenna that came with the F900 fits in it perfectly, nice and tight. Pic below :




Next the Mic. The pioneer bracket is a huge piece of ****. So I did away with that and stuck it up by the lights. Not 100% happy but it'll work for the time being. I might try a new Parrot mic to see if that works.



Now you need to replace the top display (mazda part no. GS1DV7010) , well I think you do. The replacement I got from Mazda looks identical, but I think it controls the Trip computer differently. So swap that out, only 2 screws hold it in place. When it's in you can install the adaptor cable, (Mazda part no. GS1DV6609). This effectively goes inline with the existing plug and has a long single wire that goes to the steering wheel.



With the adaptor and antenna in place you can reconnect the other plugs and rest the trim back on top, do not click it back in place.

Next the stereo. As said before, the cage and stereo trim surround that came with the Pioneer is junk. Remove it all. Now order the following fascia adaptor, ebay number 400028650732 and the double din chassis 400026615808. You must use these 2 together to fit the pioneer. Now the chassis comes with 2 different sets of locking plates (these bolt on the side of the radio and click into the din chassis. You can vary the depth of the radio depending which you use and which holes on the radio you bolt them to. My first attempt had the radio set far too far back so I changed it and it's spot on.



Now you can get it in, plug the loom in first into the factory loom, FM antenna fits straight in, no adaptor required. Plug in the power loom to the radio, then the preout loom. Connect mic and gps antenna and switch on ignition. Now assuming the loom is wired correctly you will have no problems, all colours are like for like so mistakes should be minimal.

Tape up any unused wires and feed the USB and Ipod AV cables behind the dash down under the gear lever.

Once the radio is powered up, you can set up the PAC steering controller. It's VERY easy as long as you follow the instructions.



I couldnt find this in the UK, but ordered one from ebay and it came from the US in a week. Just search ebay for PAC SWI-PS.

With that programmed and tested you can tidy up the wires and put the stereo in. The stereo trim sits behind the top trim so lift that out of the way if needed. Once it's in, test all radio functions, GPS signal, FM and ipod. For the ipod you will need to enable Aux1 in audio settings to ipod otherwise you will have no audio.

If everything is working, clip the top trim back in (this holds the top of the radio in place securely. Next refit the air con controls, trim and such reversing what you did at the start.

The sound stock is very heavy on the bass but otherwise superb ( you can turn this down of course). The Bose amp and speakers do an excellent job with the Pioneer.

The finished dash :

[AndyThilo]

I hope this was of use to some people.

Just remember, if you have Bose, you need a Head Unit with preouts to stop it being a pain in the ass install.

If you need help with the wiring harness and hardware bypass for the F900/700 series or the PAC programming I will be only to happy to help.

Oh, dont forget the Metra wiring harnesses, you need 2, search ebay for Metra 70-7903.

And use this, this was a bible to me and this install. This PDF is for a Mazda MX5 install and a F90BT (basically a F900 with higher voltage preouts and ipod cable as standard). Read it carefully.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/jygzjx2mzmv/Pioneer Avic F90BT in 2008 Mazda MX-5 PRHT GT.pdf

[neeldub]

nice writeup mate.. glad to see everything working out excellent for you ..  

[Tim2100]

Excellent Writeup Andy.

Head unit aside, can you give an Idea on costs of this install with a breakdown.  Might give more people (ie Me) a possibiliyt of doing this if costs are known.

Cheers
Tim.

[AndyThilo]

Hi

Thanks for the comments, prices as follows :

Pioneer F900BT - £720 approx
Double Din Facia - £30
Double din cage with replacement surround £30
Metra Wiring Harness x 2 - £20
PAC SWI-PS - £40
Steering Wheel Switch Replacement - £25
Adaptor Harness - £8
iPod Adaptor £30

So you can see it's not a cheap install, but worth it, the bluetooth is very good, havent really tried the sat nav yet but the ipod is brilliant.

Now you can use a F700 if you want to save £200, however you loose the preouts and DVD capability. So plug and play wise it's easier to use the F900.

[shotts56]

Hi Andy - thanks for the above, a very interesting read.  I've been thinking about buying a new Mazda 6 Sport and getting the Pioneer P900BT system with it, and the above has answered nearly all of my questions about the system and how it would look.

I still have a couple of quick Qs, if you have a sec - firstly, I assume you can still work the unit using the steering wheel controls.  Is that correct ?  And secondly, what level of control of the ipod do you have with the unit, ie does it display artist/album name, can you change tracks etc ?

Thanks in advance for your help mate !

[AndyThilo]

Hi

As long as you use the PAC SWPS you retain full control over the stereo (well you program it so you can use what functions you want). I've got Vol up/down, track up/down, mute and source.

As said in the write up though you HAVE to change the switchs panel to the replacement Mazda one so that you can change the trip display.

As for the ipod connectivity it is 100% complete. Displays everything that the ipod does, it really is brilliant, shows album art everything. Pic below :



Hope that helps!