How to use the OEM amp Wiring

[PandaSPUR]

I'm going nuts with this Metra harness I got off ebay. The freaking pins are IMPOSSIBLE to get out.

I think I need to bend the metal pin itself out of the way of the plastic retainer tab or else it wont come out at all. I even managed to just straight up rip a wire off a pin trying to pull it while holding the retainer tab up with a tiny flathead screwdriver =.=

[greencounty]

Just be gentle with it man!

I used a safety pin. Press it into the plastic tab and gently pry down. The pin should slide right out. If it doesn't, try pushing the pin further into the connector and redo.

It really shouldn't take any effort to pull it out.

[PandaSPUR]

Originally Posted by greencounty

Just be gentle with it man!

I used a safety pin. Press it into the plastic tab and gently pry down. The pin should slide right out. If it doesn't, try pushing the pin further into the connector and redo.

It really shouldn't take any effort to pull it out.

I managed to get 6 pins out and ripped that one wire.
Might try buying harness from a different seller and trying again.

My tools also suck, the small precision screwdrivers I was using are cheap ones which bend easily. I also couldnt find a safety pin that was thick enough so it wouldnt bend. sigh.

[Porcupint]

Originally Posted by PandaSPUR

I managed to get 6 pins out and ripped that one wire.
Might try buying harness from a different seller and trying again.

My tools also suck, the small precision screwdrivers I was using are cheap ones which bend easily. I also couldnt find a safety pin that was thick enough so it wouldnt bend. sigh.

Last time I did it, I used an eyeglasses flat head screw driver. Small enough to get in there and strong enough to not bend. I have done it with a safety pin like greencounty and that was a bitch in comparison.

If you don't have a the tiny screw driver you could try and make something like this guy did http://www.superstreetonline.com/how...-pinning-tool/

Also, if I recall correctly, I caught the plastic retainer tab and lifted up on it and then pulled the pin out. If you have any pressure on the retainer pin from the wire this method doesn't work very well and you'll have to push the pin/wire all the way in and try again.

[Chimera]

Originally Posted by Porcupint

Also, if I recall correctly, I caught the plastic retainer tab and lifted up on it and then pulled the pin out. If you have any pressure on the retainer pin from the wire this method doesn't work very well and you'll have to push the pin/wire all the way in and try again.

exactly the same here, small flat head, no pressure on pin, lift, then pull. if it doesn't pull easily. stop and restart. took me about 25 min to do the entire harness as I recall.

[PandaSPUR]

I might just say fuck it and ignore the wire colors =.=

Snip the wires that aren't needed and splice the existing ones.

[Chimera]

that's good too, maybe print a small cheat sheet and keep it back there incase 5 years from now you look at it and go, "now what did I do here?"... which I have done before.. haha

Originally Posted by PandaSPUR

I might just say fuck it and ignore the wire colors =.=

Snip the wires that aren't needed and splice the existing ones.

[Porcupint]

Originally Posted by PandaSPUR

I might just say fuck it and ignore the wire colors =.=

Snip the wires that aren't needed and splice the existing ones.

Ugh..reading that makes me cringe so hard I want to just re-pin it for you and mail it to you.

Originally Posted by Chimera

that's good too, maybe print a small cheat sheet and keep it back there incase 5 years from now you look at it and go, "now what did I do here?"... which I have done before.. haha

Yep! Been a few times where I've gone to do something I did or redo something my dad did and neither of us followed the color scheme or documented. If everything goes well, it's just annoyance. If it doesn't you get a nice tingle.

[B-R-Z]

The Metra harnesses are easy to re-pin while a Chinese harness that came with my Android HU was nearly impossible to get the pins out. Very frustrating.. I had to resolder one or two of the pins back onto the wires.

[PandaSPUR]

Originally Posted by Chimera

that's good too, maybe print a small cheat sheet and keep it back there incase 5 years from now you look at it and go, "now what did I do here?"... which I have done before.. haha

Yepp thats what I was thinking. Either that or I could use colored heatshrink, or I could just trim all the wires real short and solder on the proper colored wires. Yes, I hate these pins that much...

Originally Posted by Porcupint

Ugh..reading that makes me cringe so hard I want to just re-pin it for you and mail it to you.

I'd give you $10 to 10002? lol

Originally Posted by B-R-Z

The Metra harnesses are easy to re-pin while a Chinese harness that came with my Android HU was nearly impossible to get the pins out. Very frustrating.. I had to resolder one or two of the pins back onto the wires.

This is what makes me want to try again with a harness purchased elsewhere. The harness I got this time was not in any packaging at all and the ends of the wires weren't pre-crimped like I've seen in most pictures here. Makes me wonder if I just had bad luck and got a shitty harness. Cause its not like I dont know how to remove the pins, some just freaking refuse to come out even though I SEE the retainer clip pushed all the way up and against the top of the connector =.=

[Porcupint]

Originally Posted by PandaSPUR

I'd give you $10 to 10002? lol

Shoot me a PM with which harness you need and we'll get it done.

[B-R-Z]

Originally Posted by PandaSPUR

This is what makes me want to try again with a harness purchased elsewhere. The harness I got this time was not in any packaging at all and the ends of the wires weren't pre-crimped like I've seen in most pictures here. Makes me wonder if I just had bad luck and got a shitty harness. Cause its not like I dont know how to remove the pins, some just freaking refuse to come out even though I SEE the retainer clip pushed all the way up and against the top of the connector =.=

I know what you mean.. I re-pinned Metra harnesses on a few occasions and the pins always slide right out. On the Chinese harness, I lifted the little plastic lever but for the reason the pin doesn't want to come out. Out of frustration I ended up pulling so hard that the wire broke. I then took pliers to the pin and yanked it out then soldered the wire back together. But yea, Metra's are cheap to begin with so I'd just order that and call it a day.

[Chimera]

I wonder if the knockoff ones are glued to compensate for poorer quality plastics?

[Porcupint]

Originally Posted by B-R-Z

I know what you mean.. I re-pinned Metra harnesses on a few occasions and the pins always slide right out. On the Chinese harness, I lifted the little plastic lever but for the reason the pin doesn't want to come out. Out of frustration I ended up pulling so hard that the wire broke. I then took pliers to the pin and yanked it out then soldered the wire back together. But yea, Metra's are cheap to begin with so I'd just order that and call it a day.

The Metra I got for PandaSpur was $4 and some change shipped. Really doesn't make sense to not get the better quality harness in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Chimera

I wonder if the knockoff ones are glued to compensate for poorer quality plastics?

Possible