Gottinelli Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Hi guys, thanks to all that respond. I had the stock Shaker 500 in my '08 Califonia Special and installed the Shelby Premium Shaker Upgrade (4 speakers/2 door subs, amp and rear sub). I have since changed my head unit to a Pioneer AVIX x930BT for greater music contril/iphone integration/nav. Anyway, my installer couldn't (wouldn't?) find a way to integrate this head unit with the kicker 4.1 amp installed previously. I perjhaps mistakenly ordered the C2R·FRD' Radio Replacement Interface when I ordered the headunit thinking this would tie it all together. Question is: Is it possible to mate the Shelby Kicker 4.1 amp with an aftermarket headunit? If so, is there a harness you can direct me to or alternatively can the harness that used to mate the amp with my factory head unit be "manually" wired to run the system? Thanks for reading this long post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottinelli Posted June 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 P.S. Would this mate my Shelby Kicker 4.1 amp to my Pioneer Headunit? Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks! http://www.championmustang.com/modern/0509-shelbykicker-41-amp-adapter-wiring-harness-for-aftermarket-radio-p-3331.html?zenid=64b2cca14bd8014296a5a3335eea8836 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
03 DSG Snake Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 My car came with a Shaker 1000 originally. I installed a Pioneer Z120BT deck along with the harness to mate with the stock wiring. I later installed the Shelby Kicker kit. Since the Kicker 4.1 runs off the stock harness, it basically goes Pioneer Deck - Adapter Harness - Kicker Harness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jer Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 I have the 4.1 Kicker amp and Kicker door and trunk subs. I'm looking to install a Pioneer 930BT myself, and I sent this exact question to Kicker Tech Support. Here ya go: Use this to wire an aftermarket radio. http://www.scosche.c...io/product/1686 If you have any further questions let me know. Have a great day. Brett Nicely Product Specialist bnicely@kicker.com 405.624.8510 ext.7527 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottinelli Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Jer thanks for the reply. That harness looks frighteningly familiar to the one I purchased at the same time as my HU: "PAC Ford Radio Replacement Interface Allows aftermarket radio installation in select 2005-up Ford-built vehicles (model C2R-FRD1)" My installer (and therein might lie the problem) stated he couldn't get this adaptor (it's in and working all 6 speakers now ..the amp he removed and the sub isn't hooked up) to interface with the amp harness that comes with the 4.1 amp. My problem seems to be getting the harness coming off the 4.1 amp to integrate into the back of the HU if that makes any sense using the harness listed above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jer Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Jer thanks for the reply. That harness looks frighteningly familiar to the one I purchased at the same time as my HU: "PAC Ford Radio Replacement Interface Allows aftermarket radio installation in select 2005-up Ford-built vehicles (model C2R-FRD1)" My installer (and therein might lie the problem) stated he couldn't get this adaptor (it's in and working all 6 speakers now ..the amp he removed and the sub isn't hooked up) to interface with the amp harness that comes with the 4.1 amp. My problem seems to be getting the harness coming off the 4.1 amp to integrate into the back of the HU if that makes any sense using the harness listed above. Weird. Snake's reply directly above mine seems to agree that it SHOULD work... Jer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottinelli Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Yeah I'm trying to visualize what he posted. "Without much success!" I'm just wondering how the kicker amp harness actually mates with the aftermarket harness. Do the wires need to be manually connected, ie. cut and joined? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottinelli Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 In other words, my harness is in the car right now and operating fine. Do I cut the "plugs" off the Kicker amp harness and match the corresponding wires? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jer Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 In other words, my harness is in the car right now and operating fine. Do I cut the "plugs" off the Kicker amp harness and match the corresponding wires? The adaptor you bought makes your Pioneer radio look like a factory unit to your amp. Conversely, The harness Kicker supplies makes the amp look like a factory amp to your radio. So they should work together perfectly. No cutting, as far as I know. The big question is what your installer has done UP to this point. Did he undo the Kicker amp? Jer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottinelli Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Yes, he removed the amp and I have all the wiring. I understand the sequence from the other post. The harness that plugs into the head unit has plugs on one end. Geez, I must sound really stupid. How does the shaker amp then mate with the wires that are trailing off of that harness. In other words there are only plugs on one end...? Ie... Pioneer head unit.<.....harness plug.......> wires that are now hooked up to my stock wiring ----------------------//------------------ wires...........................> plugs ........ >Kicker amp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
03 DSG Snake Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Jer thanks for the reply. That harness looks frighteningly familiar to the one I purchased at the same time as my HU: "PAC Ford Radio Replacement Interface Allows aftermarket radio installation in select 2005-up Ford-built vehicles (model C2R-FRD1)" My installer (and therein might lie the problem) stated he couldn't get this adaptor (it's in and working all 6 speakers now ..the amp he removed and the sub isn't hooked up) to interface with the amp harness that comes with the 4.1 amp. My problem seems to be getting the harness coming off the 4.1 amp to integrate into the back of the HU if that makes any sense using the harness listed above. That is the harness I am using. In stock configuration is is basically the Ford OEM head unit, with space on the rear for 3 harness plugs. These plugs are the OEM harness for the audio system. On a stock car, the Kicker harness fits between the Ford headunit and the Audio System harness. Basically it gets in the middle of the 2, then branches off to the Kicker gear. For the Pioneer headunit, you have to solder the Pioneer harness to the PAC harness, which then plugs direct into the Audio System harness. So Pioneer -> Pac -> [Kicker Inbetween] -> and Audio System harness. If you have a Pioneer deck already wired into the factory gear, the Kicker harness is basically plug and play, other than having to run a separate wire for power and ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
03 DSG Snake Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 This photo shows the Kicker harness next to the amp: http://image.mustangmonthly.com/f/27390505/mump_1001_02_+shelby_kicker_stereo_upgrade+shelby_kicker_upgrade_kit.jpg Basically it is a 'Y" connection. Headunit <- -> Body harness for audio gear. The 'Y' stem goes to the Kicker amp itself. Finally there are the seperate power and ground leads for the Kicker amp, those are simple. How-To here btw: http://www.mustangmonthly.com/howto/mump_1001_how_to_install_a_shelby_kicker_stereo_upgrade/index.html It just doesn't get SUPER detailed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottinelli Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 I appreciate the time you're taking to explain this. Trouble is of course I didn't do the install and when he was explaining it to me it was a spaghetti mish mash of wires and I took him at his word. In Madison there aren't alot of install shops and I'm just really frustrated right now.....I mean I have sound, but the amp is sitting next to me and the sub isn't hooked up. Do you by chance still have the install wiring for the amp, the original instructions? I guess I'll e-mail for them in the am and try and find someone that can sort this all out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
03 DSG Snake Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Btw, I talked to the Kicker reps at SEMA last year and they said no way it would work with an aftermarket headunit. I decided to try anyways. It works fine for me, but you will catch some distortion at HIGH volumes, as if the amp is being pushed too hard. It is a very small amp, so this doesn't surprise me. By the time it gets that loud, it's no longer comfortable to listen to anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
03 DSG Snake Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 I appreciate the time you're taking to explain this. Trouble is of course I didn't so the install and when he was explaining it to me it was a spaghetti mish mash of wires and I took him at his word. In Madison there aren't alot of install shops and I'm just really frustrated right now..... I wish I took better pictures during the install. I've actually had the system apart 3 times. Once to install my original headunit, then the newer unit, then the Kicker gear. It is hard to take 'clean' photos because the wires do get to be a little much. If you can handle taking the dash trim apart (easy) then I would say give it a whirl. The Kicker instructions are pretty good, and like I said there is basically only one way to PLUG everything together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
03 DSG Snake Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Amp Instructions: http://www.teamshelby.com/shelbystore/docs/kickeramp_09.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottinelli Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Well this shop has done alot of work for me before. When I picked up my car I had no rear speakers and the sub lacked any control from the head unit (phase/gainon/off, etc) and the door subs lacked hardly any sound at all. That's when I took it back, the guy spent the next 4 hours trying to get it to work and that's where I am now. They are a reputable shop and strangely it was the same guy that had installed my shaker in the first place to my original hu. I just wanted the Pioneer and figured this was easy peasy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK PONY Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 The problem here is that the installer has removed sections of your factory wiring and bypassed your amp. Every shop I spoke to wanted to do the same to my '05 (with Shaker 500)...in the end I decided to do the install myself - easiest thing ever...just plug & play. Have your installer reverse everything he did and do it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottinelli Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Well, believe it or not, after all my posts I may just go with an aftermarket amp such as a Infinity Kappa 4. Since the sub has it's own amp I can just do the 4 6x8's and be done with it. That way I may bypass some of the comments re: DSP with the 4.1 and certainly have a few more configuration options with an aftermarket amp. If you guys know anyone that would like to purchase a hardly used Shaker 4.1 give me a shout.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
03 DSG Snake Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Well, believe it or not, after all my posts I may just go with an aftermarket amp such as a Infinity Kappa 4. Since the sub has it's own amp I can just do the 4 6x8's and be done with it. That way I may bypass some of the comments re: DSP with the 4.1 and certainly have a few more configuration options with an aftermarket amp. If you guys know anyone that would like to purchase a hardly used Shaker 4.1 give me a shout.... That is another option as well. I picked up the Kicker kit as a 'quick and easy' upgrade as well as to toss the heavier Shaker 1000 amps. Suits me just fine, but eventually I will replace it with aftermarket gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jer Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 I picked up the Kicker kit as a 'quick and easy' upgrade as well as to toss the heavier Shaker 1000 amps. Suits me just fine, but eventually I will replace it with aftermarket gear. Ditto here. Jer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottinelli Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Yeah I copy that. After last nights posts I went down into the garage and looked things over in detail. My two power lines going to the fusebox are still there so the installer left me with that part as well as the line going back to the trunk sub. I guess if I use the 4.1, I just have to connect the plugs at the sub and the power plugs under the dash to the shaker harness 9main amp power and sub power?) Ground it, install it under the glove box, plug into the audio harness and then see if indeed it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
03 DSG Snake Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 Any updates? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jer Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 Any updates? LOL... I was just on my way here to post the same thing! Jer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottinelli Posted July 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 Yeah, took it back and got it all hooked up correctly. Can't control the sub (gain, etc) with the h/u, but that's ok. FYI as you've pointed out, it will work! Thanks for asking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottinelli Posted July 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Yeah, took it back and got it all hooked up correctly. Can't control the sub (gain, etc) with the h/u, but that's ok. FYI as you've pointed out, it will work! Thanks for asking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottinelli Posted July 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 One final question, hopefully you guys will check back here as you have before. Did Ford fade the speakers artificially to the rear w/ the OEM radio? The reason I'm asking is this: on my AVIC x930-bt I need to have the fader set to the rear at least to a "5" to hear the rears at all and they certainly don't seem amplified as the fronts are at any fade setting at all. The installer verified the plug and play aspect, ie the 4.1 amp isn't hooked to the fronts and the door woofers. Just can't seem to get any amplification to the rears at all. It's cool that everything else works great (as above I can't control the trunk sub with my HU), but I'm glad it's working at the level it is with all the problems they had matching it all up (apparently). Am wondering now if I should replace the front doorw with a higher quality speaker as I'm hearing them now probably 90%. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jer Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 One final question, hopefully you guys will check back here as you have before. Did Ford fade the speakers artificially to the rear w/ the OEM radio? The reason I'm asking is this: on my AVIC x930-bt I need to have the fader set to the rear at least to a "5" to hear the rears at all and they certainly don't seem amplified as the fronts are at any fade setting at all. The installer verified the plug and play aspect, ie the 4.1 amp isn't hooked to the fronts and the door woofers. Just can't seem to get any amplification to the rears at all. It's cool that everything else works great (as above I can't control the trunk sub with my HU), but I'm glad it's working at the level it is with all the problems they had matching it all up (apparently). Am wondering now if I should replace the front doorw with a higher quality speaker as I'm hearing them now probably 90%. Any thoughts? That still doesn't sound like it's installed correctly, but I haven't swapped my HU yet, I'll let someone else who's more knowledgeable on this thread double-check your observations... Jer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwestercamp Posted July 20, 2011 Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 Btw, I talked to the Kicker reps at SEMA last year and they said no way it would work with an aftermarket headunit. I decided to try anyways. It works fine for me, but you will catch some distortion at HIGH volumes, as if the amp is being pushed too hard. It is a very small amp, so this doesn't surprise me. By the time it gets that loud, it's no longer comfortable to listen to anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwestercamp Posted July 20, 2011 Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 what deck is that, and how did you get the snake logo on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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