Got this Clarion 6 CD unit in my XT and never really got on with it, if the CDs aren't perfect it skips, if it's cold it skips, if it's too hot it skips, if .... you get the picture.


So, my trusty old JVC head unit is to come out of retirement, but it's a single-DIN fitment to go in a double-DIN slot, and there's all the funny wiring to think about - enter the nice people at Incartec:
Adapter plate - multi-car, doesn't mention the XT in the catalogue, but the pricelist has it down as XT USA version, so ..


Part number, if you're looking to do this yourself:


Wiring loom adapter and steering wheel control box (note mine is the one with a 10-pin and a 6-pin connector, part 29-644 is for the single 16-pin jobby):


JVC-specific adapter, there's one for just about every make of head unit:


Tools required - a flathead, a crosshead and a Torx screwdriver (I just grabbed a multi-fit one for convenience):


Remove facia by easing it out from the bottom with the flathead, once the bottom's clear you can gently unpop all the way round:


Once released you can get enough room to access the head unit without disturbing any other wiring (you WILL flash your headlights when you pull the panel clear!) - undo the screws either side and out comes the Clarion:


Connectors:


Magic box connected up:


Plug the replacement unit in to test at this stage, if it don't work you've got more room to figure out why:


OK, it works so it's time to setup the facia adapter - you'll need this part (and it's opposite twin) attached at the back:


Then 'modify' it with a hacksaw/Dremel like so:


Note the screws only fit in at the bottom piece, but that's good enough:


Metal 'cage' thingy in place and JVC clicked in:


Facia pops back on with the gentlest of pushes:


It's ALIVE!


Anyone want this? Works fine if you've got immaculate CDs and keep the car in a warm garage:


Just skinned one knuckle doing the job as well - now to fill up a memory stick with some 'choons'.


This has been an educational broadcast on behalf of the 'Sad Git on a wet Friday Afternoon' Party.

Hi !! Thanks for the great series of 'how to' pictures. My Nissan CD player is also rather hopeless - I've got a rather smart Sony one up in the loft that I might have dig out! Was it expensive for the leads/new facia etc??

Cheers!!

Thanks for the compliment, I just thought along the lines of a picture painting a thousand words an' all that. Having trawled the site looking for the definitive guide for my particular setup and not finding it (plenty on double-din with SatNav etc.), I figured I might as well take a crack at it - might come in handy for someone else (like yourself) or it might just disappear into the fog of t'interweb, either way it was fun juggling the camera and tools and wires and ......



Not too painful on the wallet, £25 for the facia, £30 for the magic box and £4 for the JVC adapter (the Sony one is part number 29-008). Make sure you check your connections before ordering the magic box, there are 2 flavours, one has a single 16-pin connector and the other (mine) has separate 10-pin and 6-pin connectors. The single 16-pin version is 29-644, same price as the other though! Oh yeah, about a fiver for postage, but it's generally next day delivery so that's reasonable. Click here for Incartec website - still need to phone your order in though!

Best of luck, let us know how you get on, maybe?

Just a quick "add" to this (very informative) thread - you may find that your head unit does not work initially - this may well be due to it (the head unit) needing to be earthed (to the frame)!

I spent some time replacing mine - worked fine once screwed in but wouldn't work all the time it was only partially in place - I finally worked out (with a piece of wire) that the head unit (A Sony double-din multi-media player) needed to be earthed - usually via the screws that held the whole thing in place in the dash apeture.

Well Done kirriepete,

Clear pictures, which make it look so easy.

Best wishes, John

very nice indeed and very easy to follow with all the pictures.
thanks for sharing

rgds
George

Hmm, interesting that an Xterra/Frontier part fit the X-Trail.
The Xterra usually came with a single DIN Clarion in a dual DIN slot with a cubby hole in the lower half.
This is what I did with mine:

Greetings from Canada:
Yup, some of us got XTrails in Canada as well.
We only got the 05 & 06 models.
Then they replaced them with the Rogue, YUK!
My 06 LE has 40000 km on it and I'm making a few upgrades here and there.
I see in your photos that the cubby under the radio has a door.
I also see that you have a smaller storage area under that with sliders and an ashtray underneath.
I just have a cubby (no fold down door) and a much larger storage area with larger sliders (no ashtray or lighter).
The dealers over here can't get these parts.
Any ideas?

Hello roachdf,

Welcome to the Forum.

I know there are differences with the X-Trail specification from country to country - If you are handy - you could try ebay UK for the parts - for example...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NISSAN-X-TRAI ... 19cf73d25e

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NISSAN-Xtrail ... 3f18033dab

Nissan GB parts are very expensive over here - so most parts are bought through ebay or some of the specialist suppliers or "breakers".

I hope this is of some assistance, Best wishes, John

thanks the pic very clean!
make it easy
that's great