Can anyone suggest a reasonably priced / decent quality stereo system with a CD player to replace the stock system in a 1988 GT? Thank you. reb (Roger)
If you can find an early nineties Pontiac Monsoon system, you'll need a harness adapter, and an antenna cable adapter. Then you're golden. replacementradios.com sells the adapters. (They used to sell the radios, too, but seem to be sold out.)
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 08-02-2023).]
The one that Ogre has posted is an older version with cassette....the later version has the CD...And there is a guy in the Mall the sells them (When he has some) modified to allow iPod connection. (Fiero Tom- second page of Mall postings); https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum4/HTML/075303.html
[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 08-02-2023).]
⚠️ Used and many "restored"/"rebuild" car radios may work now but soon dies because many parts in them are on the "last leg." Example: 20+ year old capacitors die because cabin heat when park outside often see 150-200°F and best caps hate that. GM and most other never use best parts in most things in a car.
Old CD DVD and BRay units often also Optical problems. Inside the "head" have "mirrors" and lenses w/ metal coating and metal reacts w/ air & crap and is Dead, Very Dead, and no DIY or "Pro" will be able to reflash those parts right. Some parts look to be Mirrors but isn't. It/they are beam splitters and must have correct coatings or is Dead. I've lost count for dead CD/DVD units just for PC and most of them dies in 3-5 years often for same reason.
Is very likely part of why replacementradios.com etc no longer carry radios for 80's & 90's cars. Even if they get enough units to sell... Hard time selling "cheap" and replacing a lot of old caps and other parts. Worse, some other 30 year old thing break soon and have "warranty" problems costing more money.
Several GM units I have worked when put in storage no longer even turn on.
------------------ 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)
Thing about the Fiero is the radio size. It is a DIN 1.5 size. Most "affordable" new CD players are single DIN size: https://www.crutchfield.com...&nvpair=AG_Type|ffCD Adapters are available but I myself never liked how they looked in the Fiero.
I've done the later model GM players shown above and they worked good but agree they can be finicky, especially the volume controls crapping out. I've done something like this https://www.ebay.com/itm/175671549087 just a used deck, not modified like this one. Worked good but the lighting was not red like this guy shows and was bluish, didn't look great at night. I replaced it with and earlier model Pontiac CD player from a TA that looked almost identical to the stock cassette deck. That worked & looked nice, it went with the car when I sold it. I might still have the CD deck with the bluish lighting if your interested for the cost of shipping. It hasn't been used in years and have no way to test it now. PM me if interested.
My 88 has one of the fancy UX1 radios and I had to send it to a place in Saginaw Michigan for repairs, but it's been perfect ever since. It was expensive, but worth it since I'd rather have that then some ugly aftermarket radio that doesn't match anything.
⚠️ Used and many "restored"/"rebuild" car radios may work now but soon dies because many parts in them are on the "last leg." Example: 20+ year old capacitors die because cabin heat when park outside often see 150-200°F and best caps hate that. GM and most other never use best parts in most things in a car.
Old CD DVD and BRay units often also Optical problems. Inside the "head" have "mirrors" and lenses w/ metal coating and metal reacts w/ air & crap and is Dead, Very Dead, and no DIY or "Pro" will be able to reflash those parts right. Some parts look to be Mirrors but isn't. It/they are beam splitters and must have correct coatings or is Dead. I've lost count for dead CD/DVD units just for PC and most of them dies in 3-5 years often for same reason.
Is very likely part of why replacementradios.com etc no longer carry radios for 80's & 90's cars. Even if they get enough units to sell... Hard time selling "cheap" and replacing a lot of old caps and other parts. Worse, some other 30 year old thing break soon and have "warranty" problems costing more money.
Several GM units I have worked when put in storage no longer even turn on.
Dang, Ogre, to quote Oddball from Kelly's Heroes,
Rebek02 (OP), I got three Fieros and all have the Pontiac Grand Prix,7-band equaliser AM/FM/CD player. I've had two over 7 years and have had them modded to accept an input from an external source. All three are over 25-years old and I've never had any problems. They look stock which is good because in my state of New South Wales my cars carry Historic Registration. To qualify, you can't have anything that wasn't available when the car rolled off the assembly line so looking stock is a real advantage over here.
I think the Grand Prix radio is a good solution. Just be careful if you get a used unit & make sure it plays or can be returned.
(BTW, capacitors can be replaced even in Australia.)
[This message has been edited by Mike in Sydney (edited 08-06-2023).]
My 88 has one of the fancy UX1 radios and I had to send it to a place in Saginaw Michigan for repairs, but it's been perfect ever since. It was expensive, but worth it since I'd rather have that then some ugly aftermarket radio that doesn't match anything.
Maybe you can post the information here for those who need a repair.
BTW, aluminum electrolytic capacitors are the 'weak link', and they'll gradually lose capacitance which the ‘typical’ life expectancy is about 20 years.
By replacing them and members who can solder, capacitors are cheap and buy 'Audio' capacitors.
Several people have recommended the Newport radios, like the ones that Crutchfield sells. I have one of those, and while it seems to work decently, including the Bluetooth functionality, it's complicated. Also, when you choose the amber lighting (you have a choice of amber or blue, switchable) the clock/frequency display is quite dim, and washes out in sunlight. This, in a "no sunroof" car. The display also doesn't dim with the headlights being turned on, IIRC. Again, it's manually switchable, in the menus.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 08-07-2023).]
Several people have recommended the Newport radios, like the ones that Crutchfield sells. I have one of those, and while it seems to work decently, including the Bluetooth functionality, it's complicated. Also, when you choose the amber lighting (you have a choice of amber or blue, switchable) the clock/frequency display is quite dim, and washes out in sunlight. This, in a "no sunroof" car. The display also doesn't dim with the headlights being turned on, IIRC. Again, it's manually switchable, in the menus.
Hello All, I appreciate everyone's feedback and insights. You have all been a big help and given me plenty of options. Time to seek and find. reb (Roger)
Maybe you can post the information here for those who need a repair.
I'm pretty sure it was these people: https://mandrautoelectronics.com/ It's been more than a decade since I used them and they've upgraded their website from it's earlier "Internet 1.0" appearance. But my headunit has been perfect ever since. Radio, cassette, etc. all good.
Used and many "restored"/"rebuild" car radios may work now but soon dies because many parts in them are on the "last leg." Example: 20+ year old capacitors die because cabin heat when park outside often see 150-200°F and best caps hate that. GM and most other never use best parts in most things in a car.
Old CD DVD and BRay units often also Optical problems. Inside the "head" have "mirrors" and lenses w/ metal coating and metal reacts w/ air & crap and is Dead, Very Dead, and no DIY or "Pro" will be able to reflash those parts right. Some parts look to be Mirrors but isn't. It/they are beam splitters and must have correct coatings or is Dead.
None of what is mentioned is a problem if the unit is properly "restored/rebuilt". Caps are replaced (proper audio caps), lasers are cleaned and calibrated, belts replaced (if any), lamps replaced, mechanisms clean/aligned/lubricated - there are several people that rebuild vintage radios back to new condition. They usually specialize in a specific type/brand, so you will have to do some digging on who does what.
Yes, if you buy one from a scrap yard - it may not last, but if properly rebuilt they can last another 10+ years.
I have rebuilt my vintage period correct Alpine deck and expect it to last another 30 years, even added full Bluetooth to it as well so I get the modern conveniences of hands free calling and music playback.
[This message has been edited by Mickey_Moose (edited 08-17-2023).]
its insane that with all the gm and chrysler cars made with 1.5 din radios that theres no [good?] aftermarket radios available.i have a 1.5 Pioneer DEH-P77DH radio with aux input,satilite radio and cd i may install.i bought it for a 1984 camaro,transfered it to a 1989 camaro which got totalled,transfered it to a ford areostar which blew a head gasket and currently have it in a 1996 dodge caravan.
Check out the tuner in your DEH-P77DH carefully. Mine always sounded like it was "off frequency" just a bit. Never got it sorted. I even had the service manuals for it. Couldn't find any way to adjust it. (I worked on commercial 2-way FM radio for a living. I know how to align receivers. Should have been about 1/4 turn on a coil core. But not this one.) OTOH, I don't know of anyone else who ever had a problem with a Pioneer tuner. I probably just got a "lemon".
Sorry... don't mean to "whiz all over" peoples' comments. Just my own experiences.
Check out the tuner in your DEH-P77DH carefully. Mine always sounded like it was "off frequency" just a bit. Never got it sorted. I even had the service manuals for it. Couldn't find any way to adjust it. (I worked on commercial 2-way FM radio for a living. I know how to align receivers. Should have been about 1/4 turn on a coil core. But not this one.) OTOH, I don't know of anyone else who ever had a problem with a Pioneer tuner. I probably just got a "lemon".
Sorry... don't mean to "whiz all over" peoples' comments. Just my own experiences.
i only listen to am or fm when i have to so i haven't noticed.
The next post, after yours, shows the CD version.
