Can I put an aftermarket stereo in a new Nissan Frontier?

February 23, 2009 8:14 AM

Can I put an aftermarket stereo in a new Nissan Frontier?

I'd like to purchase a 2009 Nissan Frontier. Like many cars nowadays, the stereo seems to take up the entire center of the dashboard, not a single replaceable unit. The edition I'd like to buy (SE-I4) does not have an Auxilliary input available as an option from the factory, so I'd need to put an aftermarket stereo in to get the Aux input.

Can I actually do this? Looking at the dash I don't understand how I'd replace the stereo, but I'm having trouble imagining that this is impossible. I replaced the stereo in my 2002 Saturn SL2 with no problem, but it was a more conventional stereo.

Thanks!

posted by jeffderek to technology (8 comments total)

Crutchfield says yes.
posted by mkb at 8:19 AM on February 23

crutchfield has a very comprehensive list of what stereos fit in what cars with what adapters.

Also, even with no aux on the front, many factor stereos can take adapters that plug into the cd-changer socket on the back, and provide either ipod or aux or both.

See also http://www.installer.com/cars/by_car.php?carid=6999
posted by devbrain at 8:20 AM on February 23

Sure you can. You just install the smaller after-market stereo in the larger slot vacated by the factory stereo and fill up the excess space with one of these cubby adapters during installation. (Unless the after-market stereo you have in mind is also ridiculously huge, in which case it would just fit the ridiculously huge hole left by the stock stereo.)
posted by resurrexit at 8:22 AM on February 23

Most likely, Best Buy says the 2008 model can accept aftermarket decks. From what I've seen the oddly shaped or overly large radios on newer cars are really just face plates that fit over a standard sized deck. So when you buy the new regular rectangular radio, you can have a simple face plate installed that covers the huge open space left by the factory radio. They can range from unobtrusive to very tacky and cheap looking so research your options from whoever your vendor is.
posted by Science! at 8:22 AM on February 23

Despite that it's not available as a factory option, there's a good chance it's still possible to add the aux-in. People at a car-stereo store (your town probably has an independent one that's been in business for twenty or thirty years), or a Crutchfield employee, could give you more information about this option.
posted by box at 8:29 AM on February 23

I did.

Crutchfield's size guide is more-or-less believable.
I was able to fit the Pioneer DEH-7000BT in mine, even though Crutchfield said it wouldn't fit. It was a TIGHT fit (depth is the problem - that big piece of metal behind the radio in the dash is the culprit)

The conversion kit worked fine - though I got the kit from Circuit City, I believe it's the same one that Crutchfield includes.

In short, with care I had no issues - but I wouldn't try to put in any radio whose depth measurements even remotely exceed the one I mentioned, as there's just no way it will fit.
posted by namewithoutwords at 9:05 AM on February 23

We have an older Volkswagen that had the same issue when it came to stereo replacement. What typically happens is that you find one that fits (depth is the key measurement) and once you do that, there's a kit that will take up the rest of the visible space - ours has a little storage bin, but there are some that are just a blank plate.

As a side note, when you ask if you can, I would warn you that it's not easy - I'm reasonably handy, I tried, and I failed miserably. I would strongly recommend having someone do the install for you if you're at all uncertain about doing it yourself.
posted by pdb at 9:51 AM on February 23

Nthing what everyone else has said... Yes and check with Crutchfield.

What are you using the aux input for? If you, like so many others, are using it for an ipod, you might want to check into systems that have integrated ipod controls like these by Alpine.
posted by thekiltedwonder at 9:52 AM on February 23