Pioneer AVIC-d3 navigation system

AL01412 · 06-03-2007, 02:15 PM

I posted this on another site but thought i might as well post it here too.

Hey guys,

Well yesterday i decided to get a Pioneer AVIC-d3 navigation system to install on my 87 TII. I didn't know what i was getting myself into... I started looking at the so called installation manual and was like I don't even know where to start... Has anyone ever installed a navigation system? I have some experience with electricity but not much, it was my worst subject in college. Anywho, If anyone could give me some pointers as to where to start, and basically the whole process i'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks
Anthony.

RX8Dude · 06-03-2007, 02:32 PM

That's an awesome unit man.. I haven't installed one of those, but I've installed more then a few stereos in my time.

Most people think they are in over thier heads because there are so many wires to deal with, but when you break it down, it's all pretty logical, 8 wires just run to speakers alone, hehe that drops it in half already.

For some reason I can't access the pioneer site to see the wiring diagram, so I can't see what's involved, but I feel pretty confident in saying that if you take your time going over the diagram, you should have no trouble putting it in.

Just trace out what each wire does and where it goes, and get it clear in your head. for ex. Blue is hot switched.. meaning that it has to be hooked up to a hot lead on your car that turns off when you turn the ignition off, non switched means that it gets power even if the key is out, etc.

Ideally, and I don't know if one is available for your car and that unit, but a wiring harness is the easist way to do it it, check and see online if they have one, then you plug factory connector to harness to the Pioneer unit, bolt it up, and you're done. they run about 50-75 bucks

if you have any specific questions post em up, I'll see if I can answer them

AL01412 · 06-03-2007, 03:45 PM

Hey Rx-8Dude,

Thanks for the reply. Yea, Ive been looking for a wiring harness, but im getting a little confused, some say into car wiring harness and others say radio plug wiring harness? Do you think this is what i need? http://www.cardomain.com/item/SCOMA01B or do they make separate ones for navigation systems. all the harnesses i see all say they are for an aftermaket stereo.

Anthony.

blahblah · 06-03-2007, 04:27 PM

A harness like that may not be all inclusive, but it will still save you a lot of cutting and you can keep the majority of your stock wiring intact.

the one you linked does power and speakers. Like Dude says, with out seeing the diagram, it's hard to say, but you'll need a couple more wires for the gps antenna, and any other av stuff you might add to the unit.

That's a great start though, and for 10 bucks, how can you go wrong? ( don't answer that

)

Oh, do they make seperate ones? not really, your unit should have a harness on the back of it as well, it's a matter now of matching the right wires to each other.

AL01412 · 06-04-2007, 12:05 AM

I ordered the harness today for like 20 bucks from advanced auto parts. It should be here June 5th but im going on vacation June 6 so i won't get started on the car untill like the 17th. But im glad im getting somewhere with it now, it makes more and more sense as i go. Thank you guys for the help. Im sure i'll be back with more questions soon.

Anthony.

RX8Dude · 06-04-2007, 11:22 AM

Ya man, that should do 90% of it. let me know when you're ready to slap it in, I'll try to walk you through it.

HotCarl · 06-04-2007, 02:35 PM

Awesome deck man, let us know how you like it when it's installed, I was thinking about one myself

AL01412 · 06-04-2007, 03:07 PM

For sure Carl, and i'll post pics. But as of right now, Im confused again, I know the gps needs to be hooked up to the speed sensor for it to work properly, But i hear my car does not have a speed sensor, it's all mechanical.
So i wonder how that's going to work out for me. lol. Maybe it's impossible?

Anthony.

RX8Dude · 06-04-2007, 03:22 PM

It shouldn't HAVE to be hooked up to a speed sensor, that's there for when you go into a tunnel, or something else that makes you lose the sat signal, that way it will keep navigating. Otherwise, you'll have to wait for it to reconnect before it will continue to tell you where you're going.

Most cars are mechnical, ie. not drive by wire, so there should be a way, off hand I can't remember what it might be though

AL01412 · 06-05-2007, 12:50 PM

Oh, cool. So what you're saying is that i don't have to have it hooked up at all? I suppose same goes for hooking it into the reverse light switch?

Anthony-

RX8Dude · 06-05-2007, 02:32 PM

Yep, Now I don't want to say 100% because for some stupid reason I still can't get onto pioneers manaual site, but there should be no reason why you need it ( other then you should, its a nice feature to have )

Same with the reverse light if you're not using a camera with it. That triggers the cam to come on when you hit reverse, if you don't have a cam, you won't see anything anyway.

I'm sure there are settings on the deck that let you disable that stuff once it's installed, so it should work just fine.

If I ever get that manual, I'll confirm everything for ya

AL01412 · 06-05-2007, 03:12 PM

Right on. Now i just have to wait for the wiring harness to ship. I was hoping it'd be here today so i could get started but it hasn't. So, it looks like i'll have to wait untill after vacation.

Mindcore · 06-05-2007, 03:13 PM

Vacation, must be nice

AZNPWR · 06-11-2007, 04:18 PM

Looking forward to seeing this installed, I'm contemplating the same unit.

AL01412 · 06-18-2007, 06:01 PM

Hey guys, Well i had the system all installed yesterday, Everything worked fine exept for the speakers, none of them worked. So today i took it all apart and re-wired the speaker portion of the harness and they still didn't work. So then i went on to try to figure out where to connect to the parking brake and i ended up just cutting the wire and grounding it. Right after i did that the system just turned on... i didn't have the keys in the ignition or anything. So now it just stays on all the time.

so i must have screwed something up.

Anthony

Johnny Drama · 06-18-2007, 06:06 PM

Ouch, that's not good. My eyesight sucks, yours may not, but I might as well mention, some wires may be the same color, but have dashes on them and such. Keep an eye out for that.

Mindcore · 06-18-2007, 06:22 PM

Wiring, nothing drives me more mental...

AL01412 · 06-19-2007, 11:19 AM

I wonder if it has something to do with me cutting the parking brake wire? Im at a loss. Im going to head out to the garage and take it apart again for like the 8th time lol.

Anthony.

Supersonic · 06-19-2007, 11:30 AM

I can't see how cuting the parking brake wire would cause it to stay on all the time..makes no sense..

In most highend systems, they have a lead for switched power, and one for constant power, for memory and such. Maybe you got those two mixed up?

brent_strong · 06-19-2007, 11:44 AM

Most navigation systems are supposed to be tied into the parking brake so that the DVD player portion cannot be activated while the vehicle is being driven. Most people bypass that and just ground the safety switch so that it can always be operated.

Sounds like you have the power leads wrong, maybe you're using constant power for both?

06-03-2007, 02:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
AL01412 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 14	Pioneer AVIC-d3 navigation system I posted this on another site but thought i might as well post it here too. Hey guys, Well yesterday i decided to get a Pioneer AVIC-d3 navigation system to install on my 87 TII. I didn't know what i was getting myself into... I started looking at the so called installation manual and was like I don't even know where to start... Has anyone ever installed a navigation system? I have some experience with electricity but not much, it was my worst subject in college. Anywho, If anyone could give me some pointers as to where to start, and basically the whole process i'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks Anthony.

06-03-2007, 04:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
blahblah Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto, On. Posts: 144	A harness like that may not be all inclusive, but it will still save you a lot of cutting and you can keep the majority of your stock wiring intact. the one you linked does power and speakers. Like Dude says, with out seeing the diagram, it's hard to say, but you'll need a couple more wires for the gps antenna, and any other av stuff you might add to the unit. That's a great start though, and for 10 bucks, how can you go wrong? ( don't answer that ) Oh, do they make seperate ones? not really, your unit should have a harness on the back of it as well, it's a matter now of matching the right wires to each other. __________________ Liquid Platinum MazdaSpeed 6 baby!

06-05-2007, 03:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
Mindcore Administrator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Look Out!!! Posts: 1,299	Vacation, must be nice __________________ core Mazda Forums .

06-18-2007, 06:06 PM	#16 (permalink)
Johnny Drama Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 555	Ouch, that's not good. My eyesight sucks, yours may not, but I might as well mention, some wires may be the same color, but have dashes on them and such. Keep an eye out for that. __________________ MazdaSpeed6

06-18-2007, 06:22 PM	#17 (permalink)
Mindcore Administrator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Look Out!!! Posts: 1,299	Wiring, nothing drives me more mental... __________________ core Mazda Forums .

06-03-2007, 02:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
RX8Dude Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 214	That's an awesome unit man.. I haven't installed one of those, but I've installed more then a few stereos in my time. Most people think they are in over thier heads because there are so many wires to deal with, but when you break it down, it's all pretty logical, 8 wires just run to speakers alone, hehe that drops it in half already. For some reason I can't access the pioneer site to see the wiring diagram, so I can't see what's involved, but I feel pretty confident in saying that if you take your time going over the diagram, you should have no trouble putting it in. Just trace out what each wire does and where it goes, and get it clear in your head. for ex. Blue is hot switched.. meaning that it has to be hooked up to a hot lead on your car that turns off when you turn the ignition off, non switched means that it gets power even if the key is out, etc. Ideally, and I don't know if one is available for your car and that unit, but a wiring harness is the easist way to do it it, check and see online if they have one, then you plug factory connector to harness to the Pioneer unit, bolt it up, and you're done. they run about 50-75 bucks if you have any specific questions post em up, I'll see if I can answer them

06-03-2007, 03:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
AL01412 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 14	Hey Rx-8Dude, Thanks for the reply. Yea, Ive been looking for a wiring harness, but im getting a little confused, some say into car wiring harness and others say radio plug wiring harness? Do you think this is what i need? http://www.cardomain.com/item/SCOMA01B or do they make separate ones for navigation systems. all the harnesses i see all say they are for an aftermaket stereo. Anthony.

06-04-2007, 12:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
AL01412 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 14	I ordered the harness today for like 20 bucks from advanced auto parts. It should be here June 5th but im going on vacation June 6 so i won't get started on the car untill like the 17th. But im glad im getting somewhere with it now, it makes more and more sense as i go. Thank you guys for the help. Im sure i'll be back with more questions soon. Anthony.

06-04-2007, 11:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
RX8Dude Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 214	Ya man, that should do 90% of it. let me know when you're ready to slap it in, I'll try to walk you through it.

06-04-2007, 02:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
HotCarl Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 195	Awesome deck man, let us know how you like it when it's installed, I was thinking about one myself

06-04-2007, 03:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
AL01412 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 14	For sure Carl, and i'll post pics. But as of right now, Im confused again, I know the gps needs to be hooked up to the speed sensor for it to work properly, But i hear my car does not have a speed sensor, it's all mechanical. So i wonder how that's going to work out for me. lol. Maybe it's impossible? Anthony.

06-04-2007, 03:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
RX8Dude Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 214	It shouldn't HAVE to be hooked up to a speed sensor, that's there for when you go into a tunnel, or something else that makes you lose the sat signal, that way it will keep navigating. Otherwise, you'll have to wait for it to reconnect before it will continue to tell you where you're going. Most cars are mechnical, ie. not drive by wire, so there should be a way, off hand I can't remember what it might be though

06-05-2007, 12:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
AL01412 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 14	Oh, cool. So what you're saying is that i don't have to have it hooked up at all? I suppose same goes for hooking it into the reverse light switch? Anthony-

06-05-2007, 02:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
RX8Dude Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 214	Yep, Now I don't want to say 100% because for some stupid reason I still can't get onto pioneers manaual site, but there should be no reason why you need it ( other then you should, its a nice feature to have ) Same with the reverse light if you're not using a camera with it. That triggers the cam to come on when you hit reverse, if you don't have a cam, you won't see anything anyway. I'm sure there are settings on the deck that let you disable that stuff once it's installed, so it should work just fine. If I ever get that manual, I'll confirm everything for ya

06-05-2007, 03:12 PM	#12 (permalink)
AL01412 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 14	Right on. Now i just have to wait for the wiring harness to ship. I was hoping it'd be here today so i could get started but it hasn't. So, it looks like i'll have to wait untill after vacation.

06-11-2007, 04:18 PM	#14 (permalink)
AZNPWR Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 52	Looking forward to seeing this installed, I'm contemplating the same unit.

06-18-2007, 06:01 PM	#15 (permalink)
AL01412 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 14	Hey guys, Well i had the system all installed yesterday, Everything worked fine exept for the speakers, none of them worked. So today i took it all apart and re-wired the speaker portion of the harness and they still didn't work. So then i went on to try to figure out where to connect to the parking brake and i ended up just cutting the wire and grounding it. Right after i did that the system just turned on... i didn't have the keys in the ignition or anything. So now it just stays on all the time. so i must have screwed something up. Anthony

06-19-2007, 11:19 AM	#18 (permalink)
AL01412 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 14	I wonder if it has something to do with me cutting the parking brake wire? Im at a loss. Im going to head out to the garage and take it apart again for like the 8th time lol. Anthony.

06-19-2007, 11:30 AM	#19 (permalink)
Supersonic Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 345	I can't see how cuting the parking brake wire would cause it to stay on all the time..makes no sense.. In most highend systems, they have a lead for switched power, and one for constant power, for memory and such. Maybe you got those two mixed up?

06-19-2007, 11:44 AM	#20 (permalink)
brent_strong Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 157	Most navigation systems are supposed to be tied into the parking brake so that the DVD player portion cannot be activated while the vehicle is being driven. Most people bypass that and just ground the safety switch so that it can always be operated. Sounds like you have the power leads wrong, maybe you're using constant power for both?