DIY CD Autochanger fitting

[mgaut]

I've got an ancient pioneer 6 disc autochanger, compatible with my ancient pioneer head unit, and was seeking some fitting advice from anyone who has tackled this themselves.

In particular:

1. mounting on flat vertical "inside" where the roof panel stows away (I've got a piece of wood behind the carpet panel, that looks ideal for mounting the bottom holes ?)

2. threading the wires through the car; passenger side looks easy from boot into main compartment, but how best to get into the front ?

any hints and tips would be much appreciated, or is this best left to the experts ?

cheers

Mike

[The Surveyor]

Hi Mike

Is this for you're trip in June?

My Chimaera had it's Autochanger mounted vertically, centrally above the tank, fixed down into timber under the tank carpet. It never moved and didn't get in the way of the roof panel.

The cables went down into the void behind the passenger side seat belt, then out, under the carpet. They then were fed then accross the back of the seat and along the gearbox tunnel side of the passenger footwell, and up at the end to the back of the dash. Quite an easy route, and no cutting / drilling of the body needed.

The trim panel above the tank comes out easily for cable routing, and then it's just a case of tucking the cables under the carpet inside.

A man of your abilities should be able to DIY it...

Paul

[zippee]

Can't help with the wiring as mine was already there but I've mounted mine horizontally on top of the fuel tank. The angled bit of fibreglass on top pulls out and if you're careful you can cut a square in this to allow the front of the CD player to poke through.

[seasider]

mgaut said:

any hints and tips would be much appreciated,

2" Sticky Velcro

[mgaut]

many thanks; looks like that's the wiring route and 2 mounting options sorted.

Here's to some roof down summer motoring in France, with a few AC/DC ditties to tap one's fingers along too !!

thanks again for all the tips; that's given me the confidence to get this sorted.

Mike

[mgaut]

OK, so I've got the wiring sorted, but the mounting of the autochanger is causing me a load of grief.

If it sits horizontally on top of the tank, the only thing to mount it on is the carpet covering the tank, which doesn't seem ideal, and if it sits vertically on the glassfibre above the tank I'll need to offset it a lot to clear the boot surround in order to get the cassette out, and presumably drill into the fibreglass.

Also, is it OK to earth on the tank straps ?

cheers

Mike

[e2djh]

mgaut said:

OK, so I've got the wiring sorted, but the mounting of the autochanger is causing me a load of grief.

If it sits horizontally on top of the tank, the only thing to mount it on is the carpet covering the tank, which doesn't seem ideal, and if it sits vertically on the glassfibre above the tank I'll need to offset it a lot to clear the boot surround in order to get the cassette out, and presumably drill into the fibreglass.

Also, is it OK to earth on the tank straps ?

cheers

Mike

Hi Mike,
mine is mounted vertically as you are suggesting, above the space saver wheel. I will gladly pop over for you to see it in situ, and get a view on how it was done (not by me, hence no instructions :-) ). I think you have my number, but if not drop me an e mail.
cheers
David

[mgaut]

thanks David, but I can barely get a fag packet above the space saver !!

perhaps catch up for a beer and chat soon; will drop you a mail.

still open to some more ideas ......

Mike

[The AJP Griff]

seasider said:

mgaut said:

any hints and tips would be much appreciated,

2" Sticky Velcro

.I mounted mine on the boot floor,half way along the length of the fuel tank,on its side.I never had the jumpy cd problems when it was in this position,on my first griff,that i get now with the factory position,near the boot opening at the rear,board mounted.It is a different unit though,so i don't know how much difference that would make?

[barreti]

When I took the autochanger out of the Griff I found it was only mounted with Velcro.
It damned well took some pulling off too.
Twas vertically mounted close to the bottom of the tank - about 2inches up so you could get your hand underneath, which was handy when feeling around in the boot for things like bulbs, locking wheel nut etc.

[mgaut]

barreti said:

Twas vertically mounted close to the bottom of the tank

cheers; I'll give that a try tonight; I'll start by putting the roof panel in the boot then start looking for gaps !!

[crimsonchim]

My CD changer arrived on the day we were going away for a long weekend in the car, so I shoved it in the storage pocket behind the passenger seat and wired it up there, just for the weekend.
That was about 4 years ago and it's still there, no problems! It's a tight fit and can't move.

Cheers,

Andy

[e2djh]

mgaut said:

thanks David, but I can barely get a fag packet above the space saver !!

Oh, sorry Mike, must be a design change

mgaut said:

perhaps catch up for a beer and chat soon; will drop you a mail.

Now that does sound like a good idea

Cheers, David

[p400pls]

Mine is also in the pocket behind the passenger seat. I appreciate it all depends on the size of the unit but this one is a really good fit and it has always worked fine.

As a side comment, I had owned the car about six months before I found out there were cubby holes behind the seats, and then found the CD autochanger. A nice little extra.

[mgaut]

the storage pocket seems a sensible alternative, but where are you picking up an earth point ? My head-to-changer lead has an earth cable at the changer end.

Seat mounts into chassis perhaps ?

cheers

[mgaut]

right, everything in place (boot mounted) but need an earth point.

any clues ?

Fuel sender has a black wire on, which bible suggests earth, but I'm a bit worried about connecting to it.

[The AJP Griff]

mgaut said:

right, everything in place (boot mounted) but need an earth point.

any clues ?

Fuel sender has a black wire on, which bible suggests earth, but I'm a bit worried about connecting to it.

Why not just run another wire through with the changer to head unit lead,then you can connect it to the battery earth.

[mgaut]

did consider that as a last resort, but was thinking there must be a solution in that boot somewhere ?

[The AJP Griff]

mgaut said:

did consider that as a last resort, but was thinking there must be a solution in that boot somewhere ?

Running to the battery terminal is very easy,if you do it with the changer lead,also it's a very reliable connection point,which is why i like it.

[mgaut]

thanks Mike; unless I hear any alternative suggestions I'll give that a go tomorrow night.

Good luck with the AJP conversion; look forward to hearing the progress.

Mike