[LRNAD90]

So the tape deck has been working sometimes, and not others, and my wife got me a replacement head unit from Crutchfield for Christmas. It came with the "70-1758" wiring adapter (Audi VW, Saab, Merc and 02-03 Freelander)..

I spent an hour or two carefully joining the radio harness to the adapter, pulled the Factory Radio from the truck, and found that the two connectors in the tuck do not plug into the adapter harness. The one will connect to one side of the adapter harness Molex, but the speaker connections plug is both too long, and has the locking clip offset..

I called Crutchfield tech support and discussed with two different techs, who both assured me I had the correct adapter harness. One suggested cutting end out of the Molex block to accept the speaker connector (it has positions for 10 connections, but only uses 8, so in theory could work), except the locking clip is offset on the factory connector, and centered on the Molex adapter, so still won't physically connect. I could theoretically cut the top end of the adapter out so it would plug in and use a zip tie to assure it doesn't come apart I guess..

I searched and found three threads with lots of good info, one of which describes pretty much the same issue back in 2007 with the Crutchfield supplied adapter (way to go updating your documentation Crutchfield). And multiple posts saying just search for a Rover adapter online, but I've done that and come up with nothing.

Was wondering if anyone had come across an adapter that works, I'm NOT cutting the factory harness..

Earlier Threads I located and mentioned above:

Radio Upgrade

I searched first and found many things but most are inconclusive. I just received a Pioneer head unit to replace my ailing stock one. I ordered from crutchfield. The wiring harness that they supply is for a VW/Audi. It looks like it fits but it doesn't. The factory grey plug will fit into...

www.defendersource.com

radio/speaker connection.. not in archives. help!

Hi all., I am currently installing a new kenwood stero in my 95 90. I have wired it all according to the archive info (wire color connections, etc) here is my problem no sound is coming out of any speakers. the radio and all it's functions work fine hooked into the rover. i...

www.defendersource.com

'97 NAS D90 Radio

Hopefully none of this is new to somebody and a quick assist is available. The LR stereo system in my D90 quit, so the kids bought a new one to install. Installation went fine and the radio appears to be working, all the right visual cues, but there is no sound. I pulled the wiring info for...

www.defendersource.com

There is also an issue with the 1995 that the factory amp needs a turn on lead (no amp in '94, not sure how '97 crosses over). It is covered well in the threads linked above, but worth noting for anyone else that may come across this looking for answers. But this will have to be addressed outside of the adapter I assume?

Ultimately would love to find an adapter harness or pair of harnesses that are exact fits, hoping someone has come across it and I just can't find it with my search skills..

Attached are the further details supplied by Crutchfield tech..

SOLUTION FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO READ THE WHOLE THREAD - The Metra 70-9400 is the key to installing aftermarket HUs in the 1995 truck with the factory amp.

 

[LRNAD90]

Can you take photos of the Crutchfield-supplied harness connector and the factory harness connector?

Sure, Here you go, black plug is the adapter harness from Crutchfield..

 

[LRNAD90]

Aren’t those the standard ISO connectors? Make your own adapter following the wiring diagrams for the vehicle.

You can get the connectors with loose pins and crimp/solder them onto the harness that came with the radio.

Like this. Buy M-68-KIT Car Radio Female Speaker & Power 16 Pin ISO Connector

The linked connector appears to be the same as that used in the adapter harness supplied by Crutchfield. Would be happy to find the mates to both the gray and pink plugs in my Defender and make my own harness, will poke around on that page and see what I can come up with, thanks..

 

[LRNAD90]

Aren’t those the standard ISO connectors? Make your own adapter following the wiring diagrams for the vehicle.

You can get the connectors with loose pins and crimp/solder them onto the harness that came with the radio.

Like this. Buy M-68-KIT Car Radio Female Speaker & Power 16 Pin ISO Connector

I don't see anything on their site that looks like it would work, I emailed their support, see what they say..

the VW harness has worked for me in the past with a minor modification, the adaptor is wired so yellow wire is switched and red is memory, if left this manner your radio will always remain powered with or with out key in ignition.
to correct this concern, you swap those two and test, on occasions I have removed from pin locations to set properly, and on other instances I test and simply wire connector yellow to radio power and connector red to radio memory.

Yes, probably the same harness, and the notes included mention to swap the Red and yellow wires for Land Rover. But the factory connector for power/gnd/illumination plugs in, but the adapter is missing a pin to interface the Amp Turn-on lead. I can probably make a jumper to take care of that.

I may end up cutting the top and bottom of the Adapter off so that the speaker wire plug can connect to the pins, and zip tie it so it doesn't come apart, but would prefer a cleaner solution..

 

[LRNAD90]

Thanks for everyone's time researching and responding, it is much appreciated. Thanks @Pbfender15 for taking the time to take yours apart and snap the photos. That brown connector is what Crutchfield expected I would have. They said they used a '97 truck for their research, so it is really odd that the '95 has the only different connector, I guess it comes down to the radio model used, as the locking clip was offset on the Clarion in the '95 model..

@mgb2 , I assume buying the correct connector and removing the pins from the factory connector and swapping them over would be the best solution. I've never actually tried to do such, but see there are all kinds of 'tools' available for this.

At that point I wonder if the Metra harness is available with the extra pins on the gray plug side to accommodate the amp turn on as well..

@carlosz , thanks for the hints on the turn on leads. It looks like this JVC uses blue/white for the amplifier..

Well, so much for this being easy, but what ever just works out as expected when working on these things?

 

[LRNAD90]

Thanks @Chip for the offer to souce the plugs and build a harness, it is much appreciated!

For now, I ended up cutting the top out of the Crutchfield supplied harness as well as the bottom, allowing me to plug the ten pin connector into the spot meant for the eight pin connector. Not Ideal, but no factory wiring was harmed in the process. To assure nothing comes undone, I ran a couple of zip ties around the connection. My intention is for this to be temporary, ultimately I need to order one of these and just move the factory pin connections over from the ten pin to the eight pin plug. And then replace the Metra 70-1758 block with one that hasn't been cut up to accommodate the 10 pin connection.

I also was able to 'de-pin' (two bent paperclips ended up working) and moved one of the connections in the Crutchfield supplied harness to match up with the amp turn on in the factory gray connector (Yellow Wire in the factory gray connector). Crossed my fingers and reconnected the battery and turned on the the ignition. The radio came to life (at stupid volume levels of course) and is playing through all four speakers. Now I just need to figure out how to manage the settings on it and see how it sounds.

At zero volume there is an awful lot of white noise, which concerns me, but I guess we will see if I have missed something..

 

[LRNAD90]

Update number, I dunno, I've lost track..

So it turns out I can't use the speaker level outputs from the new HU to the speaker level inputs on the factory amp. The volume is pretty loud at level 1, and like I mentioned before there is a lot of loud white noise at volume level 0 when hooked up in this manor.

Tech number three from Crutchfield identified the issue as the amp being too strong in the new HU, advising they see this frequently. Initially he was going to send me a line level convertor to be able to 'turn down' the level of the outputs. But since the new head unit has pre-amp outputs, he sent me the Metra 70-9400 harness/adapter.

This still uses the same block from the original Metra 70-1758 Harness, but only has connections on the power side of the block (Gray Plug), and has an additional harness with four RCA connections to a ten pin plug that the pink speaker plug from the factory plugs into without modification.

I'm currently still using the original adapter for the gray plug connections as I modified it by moving a connection in the plug to interface with the amp turn on lead for the factory amp. But have disconnected the pink speaker plug from this harness and connected it to the harness with the RCA connections.

Success! Volume levels seem more realistic now, but I've only listened to it in the garage thus far. Still need to adjust settings and hear it on the road to make a final decision. I'm somewhat concerned that the line level outputs (4v) will not drive the amp enough (since it is looking for speaker level inputs), and I won't be able to get enough volume, but we'll see.

For those of you following along, The Metra 70-9400 seems to be the key to installing aftermarket HUs in the 1995 truck with the factory amp.

(I'll see if I can edit the original post wit that info for the sake of the next poor soul searching for the same solution)

 

[LRNAD90]

Oh yeah, so onto the physical mounting. It appears my factory radio was held in primarily by gravity, and with a little help from the cracked and warped plastic fascia piece (I'm surprised no one has 3D scanned and printed replacements for these, I've spent a couple of days carefully gluing it back together now). The mounting sleeve for the head unit was not physically secured to anything. Am I just lucky, or did others find the same thing?

So now onto seeing if I can finagle a way to actually screw the mounting sleeve to the center console, working the limited space of the single DIN opening. If anyone has experience with this to share, please do..

 

[LRNAD90]

That's awesome you found the right harness adapter. Maybe it would be best to replace the factory amp though. Run RCA cables to the new amp from the head unit and connect the speakers to it.

That is the long term plan, as well as a small powered subwoofer, probably in the MudUK Sub locker under the console. I think I have narrowed the amp choice down to the Soundstream Reserve RSM4.1200D. It is nice and compact and puts out 75w x 4 RMS with .05% THD (though not sure the lower THDs makes a difference in the very poor listening environment that is a soft top D90).

I'd want to mount the amp in the same location as the factory amp, which is about 8.25" l x 6.5" w x 1.5" d, so it limits my choices..

Haven't decided on a Subwoofer yet though (maybe a Kicker 46HS10 or Sound Ordinance B8PD), and will likely wait and do these together.

I found that too about the cubby radio mounting, so I cut out a piece of wood to secure the head unit into the opening. That was before I got another cubby with a plastic fascia in better shape. Maybe I'll cut out a sheet of aluminum and screw that in to go underneath the fascia.

So crazy that Land Rover didn't even secure the radio in the cubby?!?!

 

[LRNAD90]

Well the drama continues, I'm pretty much ready to pull the thing and send it back. When the engine is running there is a heavy engine speed related whine (actually worse on CD than radio). I'm using the factory ground and power leads from the factory wiring harness. There was no whine with the factory radio, this makes no sense. Usually this is a grounding issue, but since I am tapped right into the factory ground, I don't know.

Maybe I will call Crutchfield support again, but this has taken up way too much of my time/resources for what should have been a simple upgrade

 

[LRNAD90]

@Pbfender15 Yeah, I read through that, but thanks. Again, everything seems to point to grounding issues, but using the same grounds as the factory, so seems odd to me. I'll disconnect the Antenna and see if it helps I guess. They also mention the amp chassis shouldn't be grounded. The factory amp is mounted to the seat box with no isolation, so I can try unscrewing it and making sure it is not touching metal, but again, why no issue with the factory head unit?

 

[LRNAD90]

So for those interested, the saga continues. The RCA to speaker lead adapters resolved the connection issues, and it sounds okay as long as the engine is not running, but with the engine running there is significant Alternator Whine.

Crutchfield support has been great, patient and sent me adapter after adapter, and line filter after line filter with no change thus far. Now they are sending me a replacement head unit, as well as a different rca line out filter to try..

Why is it always those projects that you thought were going to be so easy, that turn into the nightmares..

 

[LRNAD90]

So for those who care, here is the latest update..

New head unit is subject to the same alternator whine (no surprise there). The RCA line filers that were sent out reduce the alternator whine significantly, but do not eliminate it. It is still clearly audible in 'quieter tracks of music' at low speeds. Of course at higher speeds the ST Defender is so loud, I start to wonder why I care that it still exists. I guess it is tolerable now, but still disappointing.

Tried a line input filter (on HU Power line) - Made it worse
Tried running a ground tie between the amp chassis and the Radio Ground - no change
Tried disconnecting radio ground from harness and running ground to amp chassis - no change
Tried isolating Amp mounting from chassis - no change
Tried grounding the RCA terminals to the radio chassis, per dozens of You tube videos - no change

Tried an pair of RCA line filters - these have some effect in reducing the noise, but have not eliminated it..

Maybe installing an aftermarket amp would eliminate it, but somehow I doubt it..

So no one else has had an issue with alternator whine after installing an aftermarket head unit?

So for know I guess I will pretend my D90 is turbocharged (sounds similar anyway)..

 

[LRNAD90]

What is really odd (to me), is that the factory head unit did not suffer from this issue..

Ground cables and alternator wiring are in good shape. No, I have not tried swapping out the alternator (believe the voltage regulator is built in, not separate). Given no other charging issues, and it wasn't present with the factory HU, that seems a bit extreme.