I was considering upgrading my aftermarket radio. Now I am thinking about going back original. I know some radios are listed for the Fiero, but I am sure there are other GM vehicles who used the same Delco radios in them. Is there a interchange chart somewhere?
The Chevy Astro vans used the same radios. There were also some Firebirds and other GM cars of the '80s and early '90s that had a similar radio. Usually, the display color was different, but the general appearance was the same. A good replacement is to upgrade to the Pontiac Grand Prix radio of the 2000 circa. It is branded Delco and Pontiac, is available in either cassette or CD, fits in the Fiero dash, has the correct color display, and is a direct plug and play if you purchase the harness adapter from WWW.ReplacementRadios.Com
I purchased a Firebird Monsoon stereo w/disc from Replacement radios......Not only are the buttons all orange to match the Fiero's lighting, the display is also orange so it really looks right. You can also get it with a jack added for the MP3 or whatever (I'm really up to date on latest tech!) The big problem with the Monsoons (or most later GM radios) is that they have a security program so when power is cut they will not play until you send a code to them....Replacement radios takes care of that problem permanently.
The newer radios with CD are nice. They are similar enough in look to pass as original. My issue is why go through the motion of upgrading my head unit to something that is not original just to get an option I would never use- CD. I would be more likely to go with an original Fiero head unit modified for bluetooth ot AUX in.
I have seen one on ebay modified for AUX is for $235. Is that the going rate for one of these?
I don't have any idea of what the modified units would go for. I have probably a dozen OEM radios but I don't know which ones work and which don't, except that I do know that the full pushbutton units don't work properly. The problem with the OEM units is that the rubber band drive belts for the cassette players are usually rotted and the player doesn't work. The newer units shown on the Replacement Radios site are available with just cassette. I have one in my collection. I also had one from a Montana that had both cassette and CD. The link I posted only showed CD units, but under Grand Prix, they have this one listed.
If you're in NC and not TN, I'd be willing to meet you around Fair Play and let you have the pick of what I have. No Charge. I have no use for them and I'm not willing to pull my radio out to test to see if they work.
[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 04-29-2020).]
Many vendors not longer sell Factor radios for Fiero and others w/ same plug. Because most are so old they need a lot of work to sell and see little profit. Ebay etc selling OE sound for old cars may work but often only a few months to years.
Example: most to all @ www.ReplacementRadios.Com are newer factory radios need plug kits to use in Fiero.
But you likely have added problem that cut out the OE plug so can't PnP the new factory radio.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
Thanks for the links. I have viewed them all. I can tell you for certain neither of my Fiero's had the factory radio plug cut as I remember when I installed the current aftermarket head units. Sad part is I lost my factory unit from my 1987 GT to a guy here on Pennock's early on when I was just getting in to Fiero's. The tape deck did not work. He was going to replace the belt. I sent the unit out. Never heard from him again.
I can clearly remember the one in the 1987. It is just slightly different from the links provided. I googled it. Here is a pic below.
Thanks for the help guys. I will poke around and see if I can come up with something.
If you're in NC and not TN, I'd be willing to meet you around Fair Play and let you have the pick of what I have. No Charge. I have no use for them and I'm not willing to pull my radio out to test to see if they work.
Thanks for the offer, but no way I can make it to NC.
Originally posted by fierosound: As The Orgre mentioned, the problem is finding original units that still work for bluetooth modification.
Example: The one in my car "died" and have tried 5+ since and only 1 newer model seems to works. Seems has power, CD Seem to work and not theft-locked but stopped caring and still haven't bought plug adapter kit.
Caps and Belts die just from age but isn't only things. Most OEM "Radios" from all car brands are made very cheap and have cold solder joints and more problems. Even many CD units have "bad" CD parts because laser assemblies dies over time. (Many PC and other CD and DVD dies for same reason. Many of them don't last more then 3 to 5 years even new sitting on a shelf.)
I've got a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix radio in each of my GT's. (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2000-PONTIAC-GRAND-PRIX-CD-RADIO-PLAYER-OEM-PART-16213372-S-89BNJHR370040558/163767278553?hash=item26214a5bd9:g:0fAAAOSwz21dIRTs) Both have been modified to use a 3.5mm jack. I purchased the converter plugs from Replacement Radios for a true plug and play install. Took me about 20 minutes from start to finish.
My iPhone 6s uses the 3.5mm connector for the headphones and I use a cable to connect the two. In my state in Australia it's illegal to touch your phone while driving unless it's in a holder mounted to the windshield or some other place. I hate hanging stuff off the glass so i invested in one of these as an experiment. (https://www.ebay.com.au/i/132652056066?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-139619-5960-0&mkcid=2&itemid=132652056066&targetid=892931907096&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1000157&poi=&campaignid=9767737412&mkgroupid=99377632986&rlsatarget=pla-892931907096&ab cId=1145981&merchantid=119069012&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImJHHiuuO6QIVzBErCh3jeguDEAQYAyABEgK5X_D_BwE) It works remarkably well. Plugs into the AUX port and does what I need.
If you want to invest a bit more, try the Parrot MKi9200 or MKi9100 Blue tooth unit. A bit price down-under but they work beautifully. I've got the MKi9200 in my '99 CLK and it provides true hands free capability, voice dialling, music streaming, etc.
Fiero Tom sells late model Pontiac radios that are bluetooth converted. Get your adapter harness from Replacement Radios so you dont have to cut and splice.
FWIW, I have done the electronic repairs that you can find pics of on line (capacitors in the amplifier), but the cassette belt continues to be an issue. I ordered a few, and the one in it now is not quite the right size. The issue is that you have to get a fresh belt.. and what with the digital revolution, a fresh belt of the right size is getting reeel hard to find. Soon, it will not be possible to repair vintage electronics if it uses a belt.
Chris, at the machine shop we had reels of various size O-ring material. That was because so many of the hydraulic pressure valves used in golf course irrigation stations used different sizes. We couldn't carry a big enough selection on every service vehicle, so we carried rolls of various diameter. We would cut a piece at an angle and use super glue to bond the ends to make a new ring. Do you think it would be possible to use this process to make new drive belts for some of the players?
Originally posted by fierofool: Chris, at the machine shop we had reels of various size O-ring material. That was because so many of the hydraulic pressure valves used in golf course irrigation stations used different sizes. We couldn't carry a big enough selection on every service vehicle, so we carried rolls of various diameter. We would cut a piece at an angle and use super glue to bond the ends to make a new ring. Do you think it would be possible to use this process to make new drive belts for some of the players?
Many are Cut "Square" belts and O-rings isn't same and can fail sooner then right belt.
If you find a O-rings that works w/o cutting might work ok. Cut and glue belts for small things often has problems. Even if you make a "perfect" belt, most can't, The glue joint area is stiffer and slippier and often won't bend right around and/or slip on very small pulleys. That can make speed changes you can hear in audio outputs.
+1 for Fiero Tom's units. This was $129 shipped with the adapters. Takes about 5 minutes to install and as you can see it could totally pass for original.
