Epic fail Kenwood DDX812 install in Touring.

Z33knight · 04-05-2010, 11:42 AM

Tried to install my Kenwood DX812 and Axxess ASWC in my Touring Sport this weekend. I know i wired it all right but there are 2 wiring harness left discarded in the back. That can't be right.

I have all the needed hardware that Metra says is needed but there is no way this wiring harness also handles the lines for the steering wheels controls and the interface for the base amplifiers. All the wires are matched up but they are the basics for a standard system. 2 front speakers, 2 rear, and then the power, ground etc. The steering wheel controls and bose interface for the amp/sub must be part of the other connectors.

The ASWC powered up but would not configure. The Kenwood powered up just fine but no audio. The ASWC had me tapped into wires that were for the rear speakers. That can't be right.

Anybody have a write up for taking out the Bose unit and installing an aftermarket HU and Axxess steering wheels control box?

xiven · 04-05-2010, 12:04 PM

Ok I can give you a little bit of guidance. I too had trouble getting the Axxess controls to work so I took it into a shop and worked with them to figure it all out. The Axxess wires hook into 2 wires on the oem harness NOT the aftermarket adapter. I made this same mistake but the wires didn't match up. Also, the axxess control unit needs a firmware update. This is a big part of making it work as well. You need a usb to 4 pin connector cable from axxess. The shop I was at just so happen to have that exact cable to do the firmware update. The upgrade was from v1.01 to v1.06. I'm not sure of the colors that need to be tapped into on the factory harness but I know that the colors that the axxess book says on the nissan harness are wrong. Also, when everything is wired in properly you'll have to manually program it for it to work.

I know this is pretty vague but I thought I might be able to give you a little bit of insight on the steering wheels wiring. I did most of the install on my dnx6960 and it works very well with the steering controls. The only thing that lags a little is the head unit, NOT the controls. If I'm playing songs from my nano it takes a little time for the head unit to read the album artwork onto the screen. Once it does that, if you press the seek button on the steering wheel it goes to the next song very quick but not if its still trying to retreive the album artwork.

So don't give up, its worth it to get it working. You may have to take it to an audio shop and have them get it going like I did. It was worth it to have them to do it. I would not have been able to get it working on my own, especially since I didn't have that cable.

370Zsteve · 04-05-2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xiven

Ok I can give you a little bit of guidance. I too had trouble getting the Axxess controls to work so I took it into a shop and worked with them to figure it all out. The Axxess wires hook into 2 wires on the oem harness NOT the aftermarket adapter. I made this same mistake but the wires didn't match up. Also, the axxess control unit needs a firmware update. This is a big part of making it work as well. You need a usb to 4 pin connector cable from axxess. The shop I was at just so happen to have that exact cable to do the firmware update. The upgrade was from v1.01 to v1.06. I'm not sure of the colors that need to be tapped into on the factory harness but I know that the colors that the axxess book says on the nissan harness are wrong. Also, when everything is wired in properly you'll have to manually program it for it to work.

I know this is pretty vague but I thought I might be able to give you a little bit of insight on the steering wheels wiring. I did most of the install on my dnx6960 and it works very well with the steering controls. The only thing that lags a little is the head unit, NOT the controls. If I'm playing songs from my nano it takes a little time for the head unit to read the album artwork onto the screen. Once it does that, if you press the seek button on the steering wheel it goes to the next song very quick but not if its still trying to retreive the album artwork.

So don't give up, its worth it to get it working. You may have to take it to an audio shop and have them get it going like I did. It was worth it to have them to do it. I would not have been able to get it working on my own, especially since I didn't have that cable.

awesome Xiven +1 rep

xiven · 04-05-2010, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370Zsteve

awesome Xiven +1 rep

Thanks!

kenchan · 04-05-2010, 12:50 PM

where is big when you really need him???

Z33knight · 04-05-2010, 01:12 PM

That's what I thought. There was just no way the wires they had me tapping into would have anything to do with the steering wheel controls.

Well that solves that. I have a feeling this would be less of a headache to just let my local audio shop take care of the install. If I **** up it's on me. If they do, they have to fix it.

xiven · 04-05-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z33knight

That's what I thought. There was just no way the wires they had me tapping into would have anything to do with the steering wheel controls.

Well that solves that. I have a feeling this would be less of a headache to just let my local audio shop take care of the install. If I **** up it's on me. If they do, they have to fix it.

exactly.

bigaudiofanat · 04-05-2010, 01:25 PM

Right here,

Welcome to the pain of the bose system. Anyway it sounds like you are not hooking up into the bose system or your trying to.

If you are trying to use the stock bose system with your new head unti you need a special wiring harness that has 4 rca male plugs that will plug into your head unit and send the signal to the stock amp.

It sounds like you just wire the green, purple, white, and grey wires to the other harness. This will not work with the bose system.

As far as I have seen on metra and schoche they do not make a harness but I know someone does.

Before you take everything apart make sure that your blue and white wire is connected to the blue wire of the new harness. Without that as well the bose amp will not turn on.

Sorry I can not research this more but am currently in the middle of an install. But if you are still having trouble at the end of the day I will check on it more. Good Luck

Z33knight · 04-05-2010, 02:37 PM

See now that makes perfect sense. One harness for the speakers, one for the steering wheel controls, and the other for the amp. Now hoping my local audio guys know that is a foolish hope. Plus I want the ability to take it back to stock one day if needed so they can;t just hack up my wiring. I think I'm the only guy in Augusta with a modified 370. Bet they haven't even touched one yet.

Don't want to be the guinea pig......but may not have a choice. Rather not have this $1,200 HU collecting more dust than it already has. I'm putting some Infinity Kappas I have in the Z and I don't want to stock HU pushing them.

bigaudiofanat · 04-05-2010, 02:50 PM

In that case, I would just replace the spakers use a nice amp to power them and another or one 5 channel amp the alpine pdx5 to power the sub and the front speakers and that way no integration to the bose required.

04-05-2010, 11:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
Z33knight Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 145 Drives: 09 370Z MB 6SP Rep Power: 15	Epic fail Kenwood DDX812 install in Touring. Tried to install my Kenwood DX812 and Axxess ASWC in my Touring Sport this weekend. I know i wired it all right but there are 2 wiring harness left discarded in the back. That can't be right. I have all the needed hardware that Metra says is needed but there is no way this wiring harness also handles the lines for the steering wheels controls and the interface for the base amplifiers. All the wires are matched up but they are the basics for a standard system. 2 front speakers, 2 rear, and then the power, ground etc. The steering wheel controls and bose interface for the amp/sub must be part of the other connectors. The ASWC powered up but would not configure. The Kenwood powered up just fine but no audio. The ASWC had me tapped into wires that were for the rear speakers. That can't be right. Anybody have a write up for taking out the Bose unit and installing an aftermarket HU and Axxess steering wheels control box?

04-05-2010, 01:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 852	Right here, Welcome to the pain of the bose system. Anyway it sounds like you are not hooking up into the bose system or your trying to. If you are trying to use the stock bose system with your new head unti you need a special wiring harness that has 4 rca male plugs that will plug into your head unit and send the signal to the stock amp. It sounds like you just wire the green, purple, white, and grey wires to the other harness. This will not work with the bose system. As far as I have seen on metra and schoche they do not make a harness but I know someone does. Before you take everything apart make sure that your blue and white wire is connected to the blue wire of the new harness. Without that as well the bose amp will not turn on. Sorry I can not research this more but am currently in the middle of an install. But if you are still having trouble at the end of the day I will check on it more. Good Luck __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

04-05-2010, 02:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 852	In that case, I would just replace the spakers use a nice amp to power them and another or one 5 channel amp the alpine pdx5 to power the sub and the front speakers and that way no integration to the bose required. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

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04-05-2010, 12:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
xiven A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Age: 43 Posts: 4,128 Drives: Cookie Monster Rep Power: 293	Ok I can give you a little bit of guidance. I too had trouble getting the Axxess controls to work so I took it into a shop and worked with them to figure it all out. The Axxess wires hook into 2 wires on the oem harness NOT the aftermarket adapter. I made this same mistake but the wires didn't match up. Also, the axxess control unit needs a firmware update. This is a big part of making it work as well. You need a usb to 4 pin connector cable from axxess. The shop I was at just so happen to have that exact cable to do the firmware update. The upgrade was from v1.01 to v1.06. I'm not sure of the colors that need to be tapped into on the factory harness but I know that the colors that the axxess book says on the nissan harness are wrong. Also, when everything is wired in properly you'll have to manually program it for it to work. I know this is pretty vague but I thought I might be able to give you a little bit of insight on the steering wheels wiring. I did most of the install on my dnx6960 and it works very well with the steering controls. The only thing that lags a little is the head unit, NOT the controls. If I'm playing songs from my nano it takes a little time for the head unit to read the album artwork onto the screen. Once it does that, if you press the seek button on the steering wheel it goes to the next song very quick but not if its still trying to retreive the album artwork. So don't give up, its worth it to get it working. You may have to take it to an audio shop and have them get it going like I did. It was worth it to have them to do it. I would not have been able to get it working on my own, especially since I didn't have that cable.

04-05-2010, 12:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	where is big when you really need him???

04-05-2010, 01:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
Z33knight Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 145 Drives: 09 370Z MB 6SP Rep Power: 15	That's what I thought. There was just no way the wires they had me tapping into would have anything to do with the steering wheel controls. Well that solves that. I have a feeling this would be less of a headache to just let my local audio shop take care of the install. If I **** up it's on me. If they do, they have to fix it.

04-05-2010, 02:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
Z33knight Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 145 Drives: 09 370Z MB 6SP Rep Power: 15	See now that makes perfect sense. One harness for the speakers, one for the steering wheel controls, and the other for the amp. Now hoping my local audio guys know that is a foolish hope. Plus I want the ability to take it back to stock one day if needed so they can;t just hack up my wiring. I think I'm the only guy in Augusta with a modified 370. Bet they haven't even touched one yet. Don't want to be the guinea pig......but may not have a choice. Rather not have this $1,200 HU collecting more dust than it already has. I'm putting some Infinity Kappas I have in the Z and I don't want to stock HU pushing them.