190e 2.6- New radio head ... leave the amp? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

haasman · #1 03-19-2005, 08:07 PM

I am need to replace the oem radio head in my 93 190e 2.6 (I am only getting sound out of the right side, F&R). I tried a different amp in the trunk and the same thing.

If I replace the radio head how do I utilize and keep the active bass amp in the setup?

Haasman

dbenz1 · #2 03-19-2005, 11:24 PM

Did you check your fader switch to see if its disconnected slightly? That can cause it to get sound only on one side.

If installing a new head unit, your going to have to match up the wires, that even means splicing the factory wires. Go to 2phast.com for more info on that.

haasman · #3 03-20-2005, 04:47 AM

Thanks Dan for the tip on the fader. I will check it out tomorrow.

To pop out the wood trim, what is best? I know the little fingers can break easily.

I'll also check out 2phast.

Haasman

dbenz1 · #4 03-20-2005, 11:29 PM

Quote:

To pop out the wood trim, what is best? I know the little fingers can break easily.

Pry the rear of the wood with a small flat head screwdriver. Wrap a rag around the head of the screwdriver so you wont damage anything. Pry up enough so you can use your fingers to pull the wood to the rear and it should disengage. But dont pull it all the way off because you have all the electrical connections still entact. Just pull it up enough to check to see if the fader is connected.

haasman · #5 03-21-2005, 12:22 AM

Thanks Dan

Checked the fader connections and they were tight. Seems like I am headed for the radio head decision ..... replace with another oem or get a after market.

Do you know how the door speakers amp connects to the existing wiring? I am thinking about if I do upgrade.

Haasman

danwatt · #6 03-21-2005, 09:21 PM

If you're going to upgrade, just re-wire everything. The fader really brings down the sound quality. The factory speaker system also utilizes a shared ground system which is a huge pita.

dbenz1 · #7 03-22-2005, 03:34 AM

If your going to buy an aftermarket head unit and amp, you might as well bypass the fader and run all new wires like danwatt said.

Quote:

Do you know how the door speakers amp connects to the existing wiring? I am thinking about if I do upgrade.

The wires start from the head unit. They run and split into a Y cable, one section of the Y goes to the fader and then it splits into four channels (one pair for the front speakers and one pair for the rear) the other section of the Y, goes back into the trunk amp which powers the door speakers.

haasman · #8 03-23-2005, 11:31 PM

Thanks Dan

So the second pair of "Y" wires that go to the amp (that powers the door subwoofers) is the input to the amp?

It simply amplifies whatever comes out of the radio head?

So if I want to incorporate these door spealers and their amp, I need to intercept them and connect them to the outputs (L&R channel) of what? The fronts or rears? Or it doesn't make any difference?

Sorry for all the questions .....

BTW, I have rewired several benzes and by passed the console fader switch. Are the L&R coming from the trunk obvious? Can they be found easily?

Thanks for the help

Haasman

dbenz1 · #9 03-25-2005, 03:52 AM

Yes the second part of the "Y" that goes to the amp is the input. The wires that power the door speakers is the output.

Im not sure what your trying to ask. But if your asking if you could power the front & rear speakers off the amp...well its not going to happen. The amp sends low frequencies to the door speakers and thats why they are subwoofers. It would sound really bad if you hooked them up to the front & rear speakers. Unless the amp is adjustable...then you could power the speakers off them. But if not, then you could do it by buying an aftermarket amp.

All the wires are located at the amp which is located on the right side of the trunk.

haasman · #10 03-25-2005, 10:14 AM

Thanks Dan

Where can I most easily intercept the Y? Right at the fader?

Haasman

dbenz1 · #11 03-26-2005, 12:42 AM

Yeah at the fader.

haasman · #12 03-28-2005, 12:05 AM

Since my car has the door speakers (active bass system) I need to find which wires I attach the four channels to at the fader. The car is all apart I just need to know where to attach them.

The attached image shows the wiring ..... so what I need to know is to what wires do I attach the new radio's LF (+,-), LR (+,-), RF (+,-), RR (+,-) to?

Haasman

haasman · #13 03-29-2005, 10:42 AM

Can anyone tell me what the red circled item is?

thanks

Haasman

Benz300 · #14 09-07-2005, 01:02 AM

haasman,
i'm trying to hookup an aftermarket headunit to the 190E as well.
The door subwoofers simply arent working.
Were you succesfull in operating the rear amplifier along with the subs in the doors ?
two questions,
1. where is the amp for the door woofers gettting the power from.
2. where do we get the wires which are going to the amp for speakers.
thnx.

haasman · #15 09-08-2005, 02:01 AM

I never got a clear answer so I simply took the L & R front channels and hooked them into the existing fader. Not perfect, not ideal but sure works well.

The amp is located in the right rear trunk area under the plastic trunk liner.

Haasman

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