thanks! Z919 installed!
 

thanks to all those in the forum for all the info that was available... finally decided to install the Z919 into the P5 tonight... a little fun with finding different little plugs that fit into the stock wiring harness random hole sizes, a little solder, a little heat shrink, and voila...

http://home.rochester.rr.com/jbarenys/p5_z919.jpg

once a real plug comes out I will replace the cheesy wiring job, but for now it will have to do :)

PS. the pocket below the head unit is the one out of the MP3 and '01 proteges, Mazda P/N BJ1H-66-9M0 it is a bit pricey but I wanted something that was going to fit well.

That looks awsome...

It is just like my MP3!:bt:

That looks sweet! :bt: Now that thing below the head unit, is it a little compartment, or just a plug? How much was it? Mazda hasn't sent me the brochures yet.

I have not pull out the factory deck yet, but is the new kenwood hold by the factory bracket, same with the pocket?

The new pieces are held inside the factory bracket, I did not pull that out. Just the head unit.

The Kenwood is held in place by the metal cage that comes with the unit. I used the little spreader tabs on the cage and pinned it in real good at the top and sides. Once I get a little more motivated I will add the rear post that will help support the back end of the unit... at the moment it does not seem to vibrate or sag so I might just leave that project for when I can get a better wiring harness.

As for the little pocket below that is a Mazda part (see 1st post) which was way more expensive than it should have been (around 70 bucks from Mazda). But, the good thing about it, is that it fits without any messing around (just pops in once you have the stock unit out) and has a rear brace that plugs into the rear support. So if the head unit were to sag a little it will get supported by the plastic pocket. The thing is a pocket that will hold three CDs in jewel cases and has a spring loaded cover with a little latch. I liked the idea of the spring load as I can use soft CD cases and keep about 10 MP3 loaded discs in there ready for use!

I do not think that I would have payed that much had I been a little more motivated to make things fit, but it was a "drop in" and I opted for the cost over hassle factor. You could also put any aftermarket single DIN pocket in its place... I am just not sure how it attaches and this was a whole lot easier (15 second install time versus dicking around with stuff).

The really sucky part of the install was the friggin' wiring harness. I used three different sized metal pins soldered to the Kenwood wiring harness, and then heat shrunk, so that I could plug them into the openings of the Mazda harness. This way I did not have to open up the connector and splice things in. I fully expect that I will need to periodically go in there and resecure all the connections... so I am looking forward to a locking mechanism... with a little more thought and time I might mold an epoxy resin around the leads and make it into custom plug, but that is a lot of work ;)

I would have taken more pics but when I put the thing in it was really dark out!

use masking tape!!!!!!
 

OH... one thing of note... when you pull the stock unit out, take some time to mask the trim around the head unit before you do any work (specially before you slide the new unit in)... I was rushing and opted to try to skip this part and managed to put a small nick in the silver plastic. You can barely see it, but I know it is there and it pisses me off to no end :mad:

Iam guessing, but there has to be an adapter right from mazda from the factory harness to plug in into the kenwood mp3. I guess only mp3 owners may know.

I think you might have mentioned that such a thing might exist in a prior thread. The bitch of it is that the "MP3 parts books are not yet at many dealerships" is what I keep getting told and they can not look and see what part that would be. The reason I got a Mazda P/N for the cubby is that it was also in the regular '01 Poretege and one of the Techs at www.mazdasouth.com (which run www.mazdastuff.com) knew it.

Don't ask me what they are going to do if something breaks on these cars!

If someone comes up with a Mazda PN for such a thing it would be awesome!!!!