Stereo Upgrade Problem: Update and New Question

[BobN]

A few weeks ago I reported on my 98 Outback Ltd. stereo's CD player that had
broken. Last week I bought a stereo unit from my local auto recycler - from
a 2004 Outback, with the 6-CD changer but no tape player. The new unit fit
perfectly into the space and the original wiring harness connector snapped
into place, but the stereo would not work. It didn't even turn on, no
light, no clock, no static, nothing.

Was this unit DOA, or is the pin configuration of the wiring harness
different between a 1998 and a 2002 (or later) stereo unit?

I'd be surprised if the wiring had changed since the speaker layouts are the
same and both head units are made by Panasonic. But it could be...

I have found a wiring diagram for the stereo harness in the 1998 Outback.
Can anyone point me to a diagram for the later models?

Thanks.

 

[Greg]

Not to be obvious but did you check ALL the fuses involved? The two units
are interchangeable. Also make sure the unit you bought is not a Macintosh
as that uses an external amplifier.

 

[BobN]

Not to be obvious but did you check ALL the fuses involved? The two units
are interchangeable. Also make sure the unit you bought is not a Macintosh
as that uses an external amplifier.

There are more than one fuse for the stereo? Where would a second one be
located?

Thanks for the warning on the McIntosh model - I was just about to bid on
one.

 

[S]

Hi Bob!

Was this unit DOA, or is the pin configuration of the wiring harness
different between a 1998 and a 2002 (or later) stereo unit?

Here is a wiring list at the stereo plug for a '95-'00 Impreza:

PIN NUMBER COLOR FUNCTION
------------------------------------------------

1 Remote Turn On
2 Front Right Speaker -
3 Front Left Speaker -
4 Rear Right Speaker -
5 Rear Left Speaker -
6 Constant Power For Memory +
7 Illumination
8 Front Right Speaker +
9 Front Left Speaker +
10 Accessory Power + (Keyed Off Of Ignition)
11 Black Chassis Ground
12 Rear Right Speaker +
13 Rear Left Speaker +

And for a 2K2 Impreza:

1 Violet Radio Illumination Light +
2 Red/Yellow Right Front Door Tweeter/Speaker (+)
(Brown/White at speaker)
3 Brown/White Left Front Door Tweeter/Speaker (+)
(Red/Yellow at speaker)
4 Blue/Yellow Right Rear Door Speaker (+) (Blue/Yellow at
speaker)
5 White/Red Left Rear Door Speaker (+) (Blue/Yellow at
speaker)
6 Blue/Red Main Fuse Box, Fuse No. 2 (15A) (BATTERY -
Continuous Power)
7 Orange/White Radio Illumination Light (-)
8 White/Black Right Front Door Tweeter/Speaker (-) (Green at
speaker)
9 Green Left Front Door Tweeter/Speaker (-) (White/Black at
speaker)
10 Yellow/Green Fuse & Relay Box, Fuse No. 9 (15A) (ACC -
Switched Power)
11 Black Chassis Ground
12 Red/White Right Rear Door Speaker (-) (Red/White at
speaker)
13 Red/Black Left Rear Door Speaker (-) (Red/White at
speaker)
14 N/A Unused

PLUG PINS:
---------------
1 2 3 X X 4 5 6
7 8 9 1 1 1 1 1
0 1 2 3 4

X X = blank spots on plug

I can only verify the '02 list; as found in my '02 WRX. Still I don't
see any differences that would prevent a given head from working with
either configuration.
I'd guess the unit is DOA . . . check for 12V at pins 6 and 10? Check
connection at pins 1 and 7; be sure they're not grounded (?) Pull the
pins from the connector block and tape 'em up to be sure; everything
else looks to be the same (speaker +/- no matter, as long as they're
all the same; in this case, they are).

Hope this is helpful.

ByeBye! S.

Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[Greg]

The second one varies with vehicle and generally is used for the memory
circuits. You may just have to use a test light and check every fuse you can
find.

 

[BobN]

The second one varies with vehicle and generally is used for the memory
circuits. You may just have to use a test light and check every fuse you can
find.

Interesting. But if another fuse were bad, then my original stereo wouldn't
work at all either, right? It worked just fine when I re-installed it,
except for the broken CD drive. The newer DOA one has already been returned
to the junkyard for a refund.

 

[tomatofarmer]

A few weeks ago I reported on my 98 Outback Ltd. stereo's CD
player that had
broken. Last week I bought a stereo unit from my local auto
recycler - from
a 2004 Outback, with the 6-CD changer but no tape player. The
new unit fit
perfectly into the space and the original wiring harness
connector snapped
into place, but the stereo would not work. It didn't even
turn on, no
light, no clock, no static, nothing.

Was this unit DOA, or is the pin configuration of the wiring
harness
different between a 1998 and a 2002 (or later) stereo unit?

I'd be surprised if the wiring had changed since the speaker
layouts are the
same and both head units are made by Panasonic. But it could
be...

I have found a wiring diagram for the stereo harness in the
1998 Outback.
Can anyone point me to a diagram for the later models?

Thanks.

I just bought on ebay a 6cd changer with tape deck from a 2002 WRX to
put into my 1996 Legacy Outback. I too thought the wiring harness was
compatible, but when I plugged it in, the only thing that worked was
the tape deck, but no audio from it. The unit wont light up, no radio,
no CD, etc.
Where did you get the wiring schematic for your 1998 Outback ? And
did you eventually get the head unit to work ? I hope you can help me
figure this out by pointing me in the direction of where you got your
schematic.Thanks,

 

[jabario]

You got-- A part from a JUNKYARD was defective-- surprise surprise. Go
get a wiring harness adapter and then to your local circuit city best
buy etc and buy a good receiver unit for about $99 and install that.
Then go to www.crutchfield .com and get some good speakers. Subaru
stock stereo (and most others) just plain suck. For $200 you will have
a real nice sounding stereo-- That Works!!!!

 

[Abby Kula]

You got-- A part from a JUNKYARD was defective-- surprise surprise. Go
get a wiring harness adapter and then to your local circuit city best
buy etc and buy a good receiver unit for about $99 and install that.
Then go to www.crutchfield .com and get some good speakers. Subaru
stock stereo (and most others) just plain suck. For $200 you will have
a real nice sounding stereo-- That Works!!!!

I just put an Alpine HU and Infinity Speakers in our '04 OBW. What an
amazing improvement. It cost ~$400 and took maybe 4 hours to put in,
but well worth it. The Alpine goes in without any adapers, trim rings,
ets. Ditto with the speakers. Crutchfield recommended it all - nice
job. The only thing they didn't tell me was that the blue wire marked
for power antenna is actuall for an antenna booster in the models with
antenna in the window. Once we figured that out, all was well. Go for
it - it's worth it.

 

[jabario]

I had the same problem with te antenna booster. A call to crutchfield
pointed that the power ant. wire should be connected to te booster.
Unfortunately the suckers buying 2005 models will not get to enjoy good
sound from teir legacy/outbacks