OK... so I took the plunge (which was kinda scary I might add) and I took the whole center unit apart to install a switch on the speed wires. The bad news is that it took me two tries (stupid me in too much of a hurry). The good news is that you can benefit from this and now we all know that it works!
Let me start by saying that what I wrote in the other thread was spot on. I created this so that people would know that it works, and would know where the instructions (with pics) were. The process isn't too hard to boot.
First I gathered all the tools and stuff I would need. The shopping list is as follows:
The tools you will need:
How to get to the wires:
(** THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE BASIC BOSE UNIT, THERE ARE MORE STEPS! **)
1. Remove the bottom cover:
Big picture
All this takes is a little prying near the back of the panel (the end closest to the front of the car).
It will come, but be careful.
2. Remove the fascia piece around the CD changer. All you do is pull carefully around the top and wiggle it out, it should just pop right out.
Big picture
*NOTE: I did this install from the passenger seat, and was able to just let this piece dangle while I did the install.
3. Next you should remove the A/C vents. The vents come out with a little bit of encouragement. You do this by placing a cloth in the seam and using the flathead screwdriver to carefully pry each side loose. The best I can tell you is to pry about an inch above the bottom, that is where it worked for me.
Big picture
Big picture
4. Now you access to the myriad of screws you have to remove. First start by removing the two gold screws on the bottom (yes, doing this first is better).
Big picture
5. Now you have to remove 6 screws. The first 4 that you remove are the one's that hold the CD Changer in place. The other two (of the first four) are next to those screws and hold a bracket in place that has to be taken out. The 4 pictured below are the first that you should remove, and the other two are located below the changer.
Big picture
6. Now that you have taken those screws out you have to loosen (don't remove, they are a pain to get back) the two screws that hold the bracket that I mentioned in. The screws are squeezed between the CD Changer bracket and the side of the hold. Loosen these about 3 full turns and you should be good.
7. The last of the screws come out now, the two gold screws holding in the top of the changer. You can see them in the second picture of the A/C vents being removed.
8. Now you can pull the whole thing forward. Unrealspeed was right, you just have to pull... it won't break, but you should be careful.
9. Now that you have pulled the entire unit forward you can disconnect the wire harness that you have to mess with. The harness is the one closest to the driver (it's about an inch and change wide, and white). It's a standard connector, so just make sure to push the tab when pulling it out.
Let me start by saying that what I wrote in the other thread was spot on. I created this so that people would know that it works, and would know where the instructions (with pics) were. The process isn't too hard to boot.
First I gathered all the tools and stuff I would need. The shopping list is as follows:
- A switch (Single Pole Single Throw, SPST)
Big picture - Wire (I used 20 gauge, but smaller wouldn't hurt, it looked like the wires were more along the lines of 24 gauge)
Big picture - Electrical tape or Wire Nuts (I went with wire nuts because it is faster and more reliable IMO)
The tools you will need:
- Wire snips (you have to strip a lot of wire, and trust me you don't want to do it by hand)
- Flat head screwdriver (...doesn't need to be anything specific)
- Phillips head screwdriver (I believe it was a PH1, but it could have been a PH2, either way it was a decent sized one)
- Cloth to keep from scratching everything while taking it apart.
How to get to the wires:
(** THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE BASIC BOSE UNIT, THERE ARE MORE STEPS! **)
1. Remove the bottom cover:
Big picture
All this takes is a little prying near the back of the panel (the end closest to the front of the car).
It will come, but be careful.
2. Remove the fascia piece around the CD changer. All you do is pull carefully around the top and wiggle it out, it should just pop right out.
Big picture
*NOTE: I did this install from the passenger seat, and was able to just let this piece dangle while I did the install.
3. Next you should remove the A/C vents. The vents come out with a little bit of encouragement. You do this by placing a cloth in the seam and using the flathead screwdriver to carefully pry each side loose. The best I can tell you is to pry about an inch above the bottom, that is where it worked for me.
Big picture
Big picture
4. Now you access to the myriad of screws you have to remove. First start by removing the two gold screws on the bottom (yes, doing this first is better).
Big picture
5. Now you have to remove 6 screws. The first 4 that you remove are the one's that hold the CD Changer in place. The other two (of the first four) are next to those screws and hold a bracket in place that has to be taken out. The 4 pictured below are the first that you should remove, and the other two are located below the changer.
Big picture
6. Now that you have taken those screws out you have to loosen (don't remove, they are a pain to get back) the two screws that hold the bracket that I mentioned in. The screws are squeezed between the CD Changer bracket and the side of the hold. Loosen these about 3 full turns and you should be good.
7. The last of the screws come out now, the two gold screws holding in the top of the changer. You can see them in the second picture of the A/C vents being removed.
8. Now you can pull the whole thing forward. Unrealspeed was right, you just have to pull... it won't break, but you should be careful.
9. Now that you have pulled the entire unit forward you can disconnect the wire harness that you have to mess with. The harness is the one closest to the driver (it's about an inch and change wide, and white). It's a standard connector, so just make sure to push the tab when pulling it out.