Aftermarket radio issues- Alpine ilx-w650- weird issue!!

[tvmaster]

Yes, I did the conversion to a double din. Hardest part was cutting the air vents. It looks great! I'll be contacting Alpine. Thanks.

Did you take any photos of the process? Would be great if you did to post them here, and the finished product as well.

[Fiat88]

I'll post more photos later of the finished product.
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[smark]

Fiat88, How is the air flow now from the center AC vents. Since you cut the OEM ducts inside. To mate, with the aftermarket face plate. The factory vents are cheap and flimsy. Feel like they will break when you move them. Always wanted to get rid of them.

The other question, did your car, had the factory Bose system. The subwoofer under the passage seat, the amp in the rear. Are you still utilizing both them with the new Alpine system.

[mp4guy]

Fiat88, How is the air flow now from the center AC vents. Since you cut the OEM ducts inside. To mate, with the aftermarket face plate. The factory vents are cheap and flimsy. Feel like they will break when you move them. Always wanted to get rid of them.

The other question, did your car, had the factory Bose system. The subwoofer under the passage seat, the amp in the rear. Are you still utilizing both them with the new Alpine system.

The vents on the aftermarket kits aren't known for their build quality either. I've wanted to do this for awhile, but I can't seem to find a set up that satisfies. I was hoping these new single DIN units with floating screens would do the job, but they're all over 9" in size, and aside from the blockage of vents and controls, they look ridiculous.

I find this to be self defeating for the radio manufacturers. If I'm fitting a replacement in a single DIN dash, that means I own a small car.

If you look at the promo photos with these things installed, they're either photoshopped, or someone got real lucky finding a car with the ONE dashboard that wouldn't have it's controls or vents blocked by mounting a screen that large.

I just bought a CD slot mounted phone holder with a swivel base to avoid bending the vent blades. That looks like my solution, and for $12.00, I'm good with it.

If someone comes out with a floater with a 6-7" screen along with full integration, I'll look at it.

[Fiat88]

I agree with the mp4guy about the new vents being flimsy. I would kind of compare it to something like a plastic model quality. The factory vents are much more higher quality. The air flow is about the same to me but you can't direct the airflow left or right which is a bummer.

[Fiat88]

BTW, I contacted Alpine via email. The response I got was:
That would mean that whoever did the installation hooked up the reverse wire incorrectly. That will need to be tested with a digital multimeter and corrected.

I know I hooked it up right though. I talked to Nolan from Crutchfield tech support yesterday. He and I agreed that it must be something with the axxess module and how its communicating with the computer because I had trouble with the brake wire as well. So, instead of using the reverse wire from the harness adaptor. I'm just going to cut that connection and use the trigger wire that runs parallel with the RCA cable coming from the rear camera.

As for the high sound at low level volume, he said it common issue that had to do with the amp. He sending me a volume control device free of charge. Crutchfield has excellent customer service!

[smark]

I’m happy Crutchfield took good care of you.

[ephodges]

I have a question. Would you have to cut the vents if you are using the Alpine radio? The Alpine is a short radio and I would think that you could just cut and shorten the cage and then add the deflectors to the vents.