Re: radio / climate control

["Osman Parvez" <oparvez1@nycap.rr.com>]

> From: Willis Cornelius <corneliw@dgabby.mfldclin.edu>
> Hi to all: radio went south. mech says rebuilt for 110.00 . it is a Delta
. 110.00 doesn't buy much these days is the Delta as good as I can do? also
climate control won't turn off of auto. any ideas??                        
                                                                           
                          Bill C.   89 200TQ

Bill, 
      My delta gave up the ship last spring. I ordered a Kenwood indash CD
player from Crutchfield for (I believe) $299. I know I could have gotten it
cheaper from some of the NYC retailers. Howerver, in the past their tech
support and quality of personell has been excellent. This proved to be the
case once again. I needed to install a small adapter between the head unit
and factory amp, which Crutchfield carried. The adapter lowers the output
of the headunit so that you can use the factory amp. 

The most difficult part of the entire installation was fitting the Stereo
in the opening in the dash. The plastic housing, once you pull the delta,
has four ridges running the length of it. The OEM headunit slides into
these ridges. However, the tin mounting "box" wouldn't fit because of them.


The ridges must be removed prior to installation of a aftermarket unit. I
tried several methods, the best being heading a swiss army blade with a
"pen sized soldering gun/blow torch" and using it to scrape off the ridges.
BTW, Do not try heating the plastic with the blowtorch, if you have one,
and be careful using it inside the car. DO NOT heat the plastic directly...
BTDT...don't ask (smoke, fire..etc.). 

I noticed that the rear speakers didn't seem to put out much sound after
the installation. A quick play with the fader/balance and all was and is
good. 

Yes, I know this isn't the optimum set-up for sound quality, and there are
many ways to improve the stock sound. However, it was the most cost
effective. I wasn't very impressed with the Delta head-unit and I have many
more CD's than cassettes.

I'm sure Crutchfield has a site somewhere on the web. Try looking them up.
Good luck!
Osman Parvez
Albany, NY
89 200q, TAP Chip, 171K
92 Miata, auto, 6K, For Sale