QuestionMy son recently bought his 1st car a 2000 Nissan maxima se the radio/cd player is not working and he would like to get a new one. Are there any stereos compatible with a car this old? I'm sorry if this is a stupid question but all the car stereo's I've looked at say they are not compatible with his car.. Thanks!!
AnswerHi Paula,
In the car audio world, it's often easier to install after-market components into an older car than a new one. I can't see a reason why any after-market head unit wouldn't work in your son's Maxima, if you use the right adapter parts. You can't always trust the "what will fit my car" tools on retailer web sites.
To replace the head unit in your car, you'll need a mounting kit, a wire harness adapter, and an antenna adapter. You may also need a premium sound interface adapter, depending on whether the vehicle is equipped with the factory Bose package. Some Maxima's are equipped with a factory Bose audio system. You'll usually see the "Bose" logo on the factory radio's cassette door and/or the speaker grills. If you're not sure about the factory options in your car, you can call a dealer's service department with the VIN.
The mounting kit is used to make the new head unit fit correctly into the factory location. In the 2000 Maxima, there is more than one mounting kit available, depending on the factory options.
If your Maxima is equipped with the factory "Comfort and Convenience" package, or has a Bose audio system, then you'll need a Metra 99-7416 mounting kit. You can use this kit with any after-market single-DIN head unit. A single-DIN unit is 7" wide and 2" tall, and most after-market CD players fit this category. You also have the option of putting a double-DIN (7" x 4") head unit into your car; in this case you'd need the 95-7416 mounting kit.
If you don't have Bose, or the Comfort and Convenience package, then you'll need a Metra 99-7417 kit for a single-DIN head unit, or a 95-7417 kit for double-DIN.
A wire harness adapter lets you connect the after-market head unit's wiring to the factory radio plugs. In your vehicle, you'll need a Metra 70-7550 wire harness.
Many Nissan vehicles use a "diversity" antenna system, which isn't directly compatible with an after-market head unit. If your Maxima is equipped with the diversity system, you'll need a Metra 40-NI10 antenna adapter. (Usually you'll see the word "diversity" on the front of the factory radio if you need the adapter, but not always).
If your Maxima is equipped with the Bose system, you'll need a premium sound interface adapter to reduce the new head unit's speaker outputs to a level that's compatible with the factory Bose amplifier. I'd recommend an OEM-1 adapter from PAC Audio. You can buy this adapter with the correct harness for Nissan, sold as the ROEM-NIS2 package. If you can find this, you won't have to buy the 70-7550 adapter harness, and it will make the wiring easier. Otherwise, if you just buy the OEM-1, you can connect it to the 70-7550 adapter harness for use with your vehicle.
Most of these parts, or comparable parts from other manufacturers, can be found at a local car audio shop; however, you'll probably pay less if you purchase from an online retailer.
If you purchase the correct adapter parts for your son's car, he can choose any single-DIN or double-DIN head unit--anything will work.
Hope this helps!
Brian
