Write-Up: Installing Double DIN head unit in '96-99 Riviera

looks good

Nice idea about glueing the trim ring into place. My double-din radio HU fit behind the opening so I didn't have to open the opening.

Thanks guys!
I thought it would go through the opening without cutting, but alas.... I really had no other choice either...so I dremeled. But I suck at that, so I basically had to glue tha trim piece. Luckily it worked out and actually gives it a better appearance I think.

Man, the inside of your car is looking awesome. The install is A+ work, and that dash kit is looking pretty as hell...

Good work and thanks for the write up, very helpful info.

Thanks! It's actually a 4 foot install, looks awesome from 4 feet.

I would like to remove some of the glue overlap (dang!) and I wish I'd cut the outline better. Plus, a real pro could fiberglass, or bondo the corners I cut... But I'm happy with it.

I got the dash kit on eBay a long time ago. I think I posted on it on anohter Riv site, but that's way back. Best money I spent. Really classed up the interior, and not that hard to do, just have to have patience (which I LACK in spades!!!!)

But you know what? I miss the clock and I miss the steering wheel buttons! LOL... This HU is pretty cheap, so a more expensive version would probably be better. This unit has no screens when you're on the radio, it's just a boring blue screen.... I'd like some pizzazz, but that's what "Made in China" means sometimes

For $200, I don't think I could do better.

OH OH OH!!!

It has a TV built into it, but I forgot, the digital switchover in February, so I'll have to get a digital converter for my car LOL!!!

Pretty cool man! I was a little worried until I saw the trim plate

Is there a gap at the bottom of the unit or is it just the picture?

looks nice man!

awesome!!!

Looks great. I want to do Wood and Double DIN as well.

manofmany wrote:

Pretty cool man! I was a little worried until I saw the trim plate

Is there a gap at the bottom of the unit or is it just the picture?

well, on this unit, with the adapters on, the face of the HU is actually a little further out than the OEM unit. Plus the size of it means there's no gap. HOWEVER, you'll see on the dash, that even though the OEM unit is double DIN, it has rounded corners. For my application, I had to cut out those rounded corners. So there's a gap at the corners only.

Think of it like this, if the dash had an opening that didn't have rounded corners, this HU I bought would fit through perfectly and be exactly the right size, with no gaps on top or bottom (remember the bottom part is deeper than the top). But with the rounded corners, you need to cut them off to make ANY HU fit.

Now, here's where a pro would come in and refill those cut corners in fiberglass, or whatever to make a square opening instead of the rounded corners....... I don't have that skill (or patience!)

Like I said, it's a 4 foot install, from beyond 4 feet, it's perfect. Less, you'll see the flaws.

I bet any double HU DIN will come with an adapter plate. I cut the tabs off the back of mine and glued it to my dash cover. (the dash cover is curved, so you'll have to keep the plate secured somehow). That actually saved my butt since without it, I'd be very unhappy with the final look (dremels suck!) But for now, it will work


Funny thing, the screen is an LCD screen. And the day after I installed it, it's been cold as all hell here. Well, LCD screens are bad in the cold, so until the HU warms up, the LCD screen is almost black..something to think about.

Oh, and if you do install a double DIN, make sure you get a HU you like. I paid $200 for mine, but that's CHEAP compared to really good units. but for me, it's just fine.

It's weird having TV in your car!!

I am just curious, but why were you not interested in keeping the steering wheel controls?

I am just curious, but why were you not interested in keeping the steering wheel controls?

They don't function when you take the OEM HU out unless you install the PAC unit.

This HU is really just a cheap chinese knock off, it works good and all that, but I was concerned that the PAC (I think I'm calling it right) wouldn't work with it, plus I was already pretty deep into the install and didn't want to add the time it takes to add the PAC (from what I read, it's pretty complex....??)

So I just removed them

Nice thing about all my work is I can put the OEM HU buttons back on and the original setup will be returned...little hassle. The new HU just clipped right in, no cutting of any stock wires at all.

Sweet setup! I like it! I just installed a 7" flip out touchscreen in my Riv! Mine doesnt look that good though.. WTG!!

OK. I am not sure how complicated it is. I a store install mine and had to take it back to get all the features programmed right. They probably spent at least 2 hours on it.

I have them should I decide to reinstall them. But I'm getting used to not having them.

The new HU doesn't have a clock on display all the time, and I miss that!!!

I have them should I decide to reinstall them. But I'm getting used to not having them.

The new HU doesn't have a clock on display all the time, and I miss that!!!

Looking at my dash, I've been thinking of a single-din DVD player without a screen installed where the ashtray is now, then a seperate LCD screen where the radio is. Anyone have any take on this? Anyone seen it before?

i installed a apline dd tv and hooked everything back up and noticed my ac control unit didnt work and it only has one plug but everything else works fine its a 1996 riv super

The A/C control doesn't work at all? Or doesn't work from the steering wheel? The steering wheel buttons use a serial connector that goes through the radio. You need a steering wheel interface (SWI) to keep those buttons working. Pacific Audio makes the only one I know of and it works great http://www.pac-audio.com/

neither works im not really worried about the steering controls mainly the ac panel in my dash, i bought a refurbished one for $300 and it does the same thing the buttons light up but no main display or beep, the buttons dont work i double checked myself before i hooked the battery up to test out my new toy and got a surprise no ac, what would cause this? its hot wit no ac, i need help or advice in what direction i need to go to make my riv cool inside, thanx

Check _ALL_ your fuses? They are stashed all over the car. Look under the back seat...

What does 'not work' mean? when you say the buttons light up, do you mean the backlight? Does the LED light up?

OP are you still running this unit? I'm interested in upgrading and would rather have something like this than a flipup receiver. Are there updated maps released that you can install?

Ah shit nevermind, this isn't a nav unit.

Hey deek, I just put in a pioneer unit, and put the steering wheel button adapter harness into the w/r plug in on the unit and none of my buttons work on the steering wheel, but HVAC works fine from the steering wheel......any suggestions?

What adapter did you use? What model SWI is it? The SWI-X needs an IR sender. The wired remote plugs into a specific jack on the back of the Pioneer if so equipped. You didn't plug into an aux in, did you?

If the HVAC is working that's a good sign for that part of the job - if none of the radio controls are working, I'd be looking at the connectors to that.