Metra Kit Issue?

[phenixdragon]

I just got a Metra kit in the mail today and am just waiting on my double DIN nav system to come on Monday so I haven't started installing this yet. But it appears the kit may have a problem and I wanted to see if anyone else has seen this or not. The lock button on the Metra dash seems to stick when I press it. I can pull it back out with my finger nails. None of the other buttons seem to do this, not even the unlock. What I am wondering, has anyone else seen this? Maybe when I hook the kit up that it will use the electric to pop the button back?

[phenixdragon]

I did just call the shop I bought it from and it sounds like others have seen the same issue, but once install it is cleared up. So I guess I will see what happens when I can get this installed next week.

[sskinny]

Originally Posted by phenixdragon

I did just call the shop I bought it from and it sounds like others have seen the same issue, but once install it is cleared up. So I guess I will see what happens when I can get this installed next week.

Yeah hopefully they are right bc installing the uninstalling returning and waiting for a new part SUCKS ! GOOD LUCK what head unit did you go with ?

[phenixdragon]

I was going to go with a Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT but ended up ordering a Kenwood DNX9660. I like the Garmin UI and it also allows me to do the normal Garmin addons such as red light camera notification. Plus it doesn't use MSN direct for traffic info like Pioneer does and MSN Direct is shutting off next year. Kenwood uses XM and it's free for lifetime. Plus a few more things just appealed to me for the Kenwood over the Pioneer. I had a AVIC years ago with my RSX and it was great, I jut think I will like the Kenwood better. But the good news is that if it doesn't work right, the shop I ordered it from will send out a new one without having to send this one in first. And free return shipping. So at the very least I may have a week of the lock button not working properly and not have to uninstall it and have to wait a week or two for a new one.

[phenixdragon]

Got the Kenwood nav unit this week. Tried to install it last night but ran into a couple of issues. I only have once installed a Pioneer Nav into my RSX which was pretty simple, this one has a lot more wires and stuff to deal with so I think I wired a couple of wires wrong.

Anyway, this morning I took it to a shop and had them install it. Works great except for now I am running into a problem, which I think the installer didn't realize.

Maybe I will create a new post for this but basically the issue I am seeing is that the OEM volume controls don't seem to be doing anything, along with the source button, and forward and back next to the volume controls. My understanding is you can program what they do to any deck. But maybe I am incorrect? I think the installer may have missed a wire. Everything is put back together so I can't see the new Metra brain box that handles everything but I am planning on opening up the dash in a couples of days as my iPod cable just came in the mail this evening.

But has anyone else with a Metra kit got the OEM steering controls to work with the volume and what not? The rest of the controls work for like OnStar.

Oh and also it seems that the Kenwood deck I put in isn't push as much power to the amps as the OEM head unit did. However, I think the installer didn't adjust the volume level on the Metra brain box as he didn't adjust the chimes either, such as when the door is open with the key still in.

And also the buttons do work fine once install. Kind of weird.

[phenixdragon]

Just took the dash apart and manually set the Metra to the Kenwood deck and now the controls are working perfectly. Also I turned up the gain for the radio which is much louder then before. I think the guy never read the rest of the instructions or something. The only thing that sounds bad is the chime and the turn signal. It doesn't sound stock. It chimes but sounds more like there is a weak battery. Same with the turn signal click. But those I can live with and will figure it out later. Everything else looks to be good.

My only complaint with the Metra kit is the buttons I think suck. I miss the stock ones but I guess I will get use to it. And the top LCD is really hard to see if you have it set to blue and the dash very dim. I keep my dash just one click to turn on the light in the doors. If I turn up the dash lights then the Metra LCD is easier to see.

[jcchevy]

I have full Kenwood double din NAV in my truck and am interested to see what this looks like in the already nice looking interior of the camaro.

[phenixdragon]

I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow or Friday.




And it also turns out the lock button still has issues as I used it today. It's under warranty so I plan on using that to get a new one but still suck having to take the dash a part again when I shouldn't have to. I think I may buy an HD radio adapter anyway so I would need to take it a part then anyway.

[Ironheadspearo]

I am curious to see what it looks like too. I installed audio for 10 years but stopped in 1993 and am amazed at how it is even possible in some of the new vehicles. Thank god I found a new carreer lol. Seriously I am sure the car audio biz has taken a good hit from the auto industry making their cars with proprietary dash and radio combos. Gm seems to be the worst. How much was a metra kit for the camaro? Btw metra is right here in my town

[Texzen]

Steve's got them for $249 over at Sub-thump

http://********.com/Car-Audio-Produc...-Dash-Kit.html

[shevyman]

congrats on your new unit. good choice with the unit. i love the kenwoods. i have the old ddx812. the second to the best in 08. lol top of the line then was the ddx8120 which the only difference was it had nav. i was not much of a navi guy, but now i am. i am going to look your unit up, i think i saw that one and i heard the price from my buddy's shop and i might jump on board and get it.

if not there is one that has pic in pic which is awsome if you have reverse cam and are watching a movie or have the navi on and watching a movie and the nav set up looked sick.

well got off track but good luck with everything and keep us posted cause metra as of now is the only indash kit for a double din and i dont want problems.

[phenixdragon]

Here are some pics form today. I even created a new Camaro SS boot up screen for the deck.

[phenixdragon]

I bought the kit from Pacific Stereo. Super fast shipping and was $249 with free ground shipping. Being it's coming out of Cali and I live in Seattle it was only 3 days. The deck I bought from a seller on eBay but also using Microsoft's bing.com/cashback which gives you 8% back. So it ended up to be about $1050 for the desk. Not bad at all.

I just wish the deck was faster when moving through the menus. Sometimes it takes 5-10 secs to move through things, even skipping to the next track on the iPod. Most of the time it's about 5 seconds, kind of annoying. And having hundreds of albums makes it tougher too. I think Alpine has a much faster interface but it's just not as pretty as Kenwood and Kenwood seems to give you the most flexibility for changing things, such as the boot up screen. Plus I love the Garmin UI for nav and being able to put in custom POIs, such as red light cameras and having it alert.

The directions does mention on the Mera kit to cut part of the dash inside that supports the stock deck. You don't need to. It just frees up more room for wires but I was able to get them all in there without it.

Overall I am pretty happy, I just wish the UI was faster.

And Pacific Stereo will also be sending me a new kit because of the button issue. They are out of stock for a few days but I'm okay with waiting. I don't want to take it apart again until I do the HD tuner next month. Wife won't let me spend anymore on the car right now. :(

[lexlueger]

Originally Posted by phenixdragon

Here are some pics form today. I even created a new Camaro SS boot up screen for the deck.

I like the boot up Screen !! Great job... Can this be done on pioneers AVIC-X920BT ??