[Tman]

I would like to replace the original am/fm/cassette that came in my 2001 with a basic (inexpensive) am/fm/CD radio. I suppose the speakers are lousy too(?).
I called Crutchfield and, surprisingly, they had nothing for the Insight. I next went to my local Circuit City and was told by two of their 'rocket scientists' that I should not mess with the OEM radio as it was powered by 120 volts!

Right.

Any tips or recommendations here would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

Tman

 

[gobuchul74]

Rocket Scientists, indeed...

People like this sometimes make me weep.

Anyways, any standard size (DIN?) radio will fit right in. It's not very difficult to do yourself, but a lot of places have free intallation, and if they screw up your covered. Try Best Buy.

 

[HafNHaf]

easiest radio swap i ever did! remove the glovebox (2 screws under door). remove 2 screws on right side of center cover. pry center cover away from dash. remove 4 screws holding radio to dash. disconnect and remove radio. swap side clips to new radio. install radio and all removed parts. enjoy!

and yes, ditch the door speakers! shallow-mount 6.5" will fit with no mods. regular-depth might need the back of the grill or the plastic speaker bucket trimmed out.

do a search on this site. plenty of info!

andy g.

 

[karlinhos]

hafnhaf is right on with this one. i swapped mine out, no problem. follow his directions on dismantling for installation.

 

[jbrasure]

Don't trust Crutchfield regarding their Insight data. I found that entering a 2004 Insight (rather than the 2005 that I really own) gives you more accurate information from Crutchfield.

Anyway, I just installed a Kenwood Excellon 789 headunit in my Insight. Well, actually I let a car audio shop do it for me. The installation looked easy, and they didn't have to make any modifications.

Then I added some Infinity 6012si speakers. They sound pretty good, and were easy to install myself. I didn't have to cut or grind anything to make them fit.

Now it's time for an amp and sub!!!

 

[Braxus]

Dunno how far you live from Downers Grove but there's a Fry's Electronics there. Every once in a while they have a sale fore a cheap CD/MP3 deck. Believe I saw one for roughly 40 bucks a few weeks back (Bay Area ads). May wanna keep a look out adverts in your local newspaper (or newspaper website).

It should be noted that most aftermarket AM/FM radio reception is poorer than the stock deck for some odd reason (at least from what I've read!).

 

[karlinhos]

It should be noted that most aftermarket AM/FM radio reception is poorer than the stock deck for some odd reason (at least from what I've read!).

i never experienced that , personally. but then again, i had a $300 head unit in there. i think a lot of that depends on the tuner quality too.

who knows, maybe the people who said that, when they installed their radios, did not plug their antennas all the way. hmmmmm..

 

[gobuchul74]

AM reception is poorer with aftermarket tuners. I've talked to professionals about it and they agreed and basically said there was nothing I could do about it. They recommended Pioneer head units as having the best reception, but thats what I have installed. If your in LA I'm sure you haven't noticed it, but I drive between Riverside and San Diego and listen to an LA station, reception just is not as good as it was with the factory stereo.

 

[IHonda2002]

Easy to replace. I'm no expert when it comes to cars, but I did this one myself in a few hours. Crutchfield has everything you need, including the harness to make it easy. It's such a standard DIN that there are hundreds to choose from. I have pictures that someone else sent me showing in great detail how to do it.

 

[karlinhos]

AM reception is poorer with aftermarket tuners. I've talked to professionals about it and they agreed and basically said there was nothing I could do about it. They recommended Pioneer head units as having the best reception, but thats what I have installed. If your in LA I'm sure you haven't noticed it, but I drive between Riverside and San Diego and listen to an LA station, reception just is not as good as it was with the factory stereo.

who listens to AM anymore???

(lol, j/k)

 

[Wayne M]

Reception and speaker polarity

AM reception and speaker polarity were problems in my car. Bought it with a Pioneer head of some type the had an inop CD player. Never have seen an automotive CD player that lasted any time. As I went back to the OEM stock radio, I checked the polarity of the speakers that were in the doors, and found them backwards, as 'hand wired' by someone esle. Corrected that, sounds much better. Have also installed some AudioVox speakers I've had for years in the rear mounts. Sounds great now.

The reason the aftermarket radios don't do AM is because the adapter harness plugs don't address the AM amplifier built into the base of the antenna. You have to use the wire from the adapter that supposed to go to the power antenna, or another wire that's 'hot' when the radio is on to run the AM amp.