1989 Carrera audio questions

Michael T · 07-28-2013, 11:53 AM

I have searched and read all the threads, but I am a little confused. I am looking at putting the original Blaupunkt Reno back in my car. I included photos of the back of the unit, a wiring diagram and a photo of the Din two prong wire.

In one of the posts it said there were two sets of output wires to the speakers. 1) one set of wires leading to the four speakers were behind the radio (if you had no amp) and 2) if with the amp (Booster) under the passenger seat, an alternate set ran from the amp to the speakers.

If I hook the Reno back up, do I only need to run the white snap connector at the bottom for power, and the middle round eight pin Din, and not the four two prong Dins at the top?

Michael T · 07-29-2013, 04:06 PM

Bump

froggert · 07-29-2013, 07:30 PM

iirc the 4 round connectors go directly to the speakers. does your car have the booster?

Michael T · 07-30-2013, 03:00 AM

Yes it has the booster under the passenger seat.

froggert · 07-30-2013, 06:11 AM

then i don't know why you'd need the 4 speaker connections up top, unless the old head unit bypassed the booster and used new wires directly to the speakers. the 4 speakers in the car should be connected to the booster. you'd have to wire the head unit for contant power, switched power, antenna, etc.

wrxnofx · wrxnofx's Garage

Michael, in the wiring diagram pic what does the NCA mean for the wires going into the Antenna Amplifier, for example?

Michael T · 08-02-2013, 05:16 AM

I completed the install. There were female 2 pin Din connectors that ran back from the amp and plugged into male plug shown above. Since I was bypassing the amp it was a matter of attaching to the speaker wires already there. I put in a Blaupunkt RPD 440. Less technology than the Kenwood, but while from year 2000, looks correct. I still have the Reno. Will post pics when I am back in Houston today.

Michael T · 08-03-2013, 11:11 AM

I am not sure what the NCA means (No Color?). I used the ignition on amp wire to run the antenna amp. I built a wiring loom with three four pronged snap connectors so if I even need to replace it I can do all the soldering inside the house and just snap it in. Here is a picture of the finished product.

87m491 · 08-06-2013, 09:03 AM

OK,
to be on the same page, you only have 1 "DIN" connector. That is the eight plug unit. The 2 pin unit is the Blaupunkt specific speaker wires. Second I am guessing that your "RENO" may not be original. (search RENO in the for sale sections 911/944 here and you'll see the period RENO) Blaupunkt has a wonderful habit of reissuing stereos years later with the same name. If you use the amp, use only the DIN plug for hooking all up to the amp. This RENO is a "high power" unit which the original was not and you don't want to run high power into an amp. If you cut out the amp than the 4 x 2 pin connectors go right to the speakers and your power block seems good to go.
HTH
Mike

[QUOTE=Michael T;7573273]I have searched and read all the threads, but I am a little confused. I am looking at putting the original Blaupunkt Reno back in my car. I included photos of the back of the unit, a wiring diagram and a photo of the Din two prong wire.

In one of the posts it said there were two sets of output wires to the speakers. 1) one set of wires leading to the four speakers were behind the radio (if you had no amp) and 2) if with the amp (Booster) under the passenger seat, an alternate set ran from the amp to the speakers.

If I hook the Reno back up, do I only need to run the white snap connector at the bottom for power, and the middle round eight pin Din, and not the four two prong Dins at the top?

Dave320 · Dave320's Garage

Thank you for taking these pictures showing the white snap connector and the connections used for the speakers. Previous to your post, I have no idea what they looked like.

I am putting a Charleston back into my 87 911 without any of those connections. If anyone has any idea on where to find these connections, please let me know.

87m491 · 04-20-2014, 04:05 PM

do you need the speaker connectors or the radio connectors?

wrxnofx · wrxnofx's Garage

[QUOTE=87m491;7587858]OK,
to be on the same page, you only have 1 "DIN" connector. That is the eight plug unit. The 2 pin unit is the Blaupunkt specific speaker wires. Second I am guessing that your "RENO" may not be original. (search RENO in the for sale sections 911/944 here and you'll see the period RENO) Blaupunkt has a wonderful habit of reissuing stereos years later with the same name. If you use the amp, use only the DIN plug for hooking all up to the amp. This RENO is a "high power" unit which the original was not and you don't want to run high power into an amp. If you cut out the amp than the 4 x 2 pin connectors go right to the speakers and your power block seems good to go.
HTH
Mike

To REALLY be on the same page, I want to make sure I have this correct:
1. 1 8-pin DIN cable goes from back of Reno to the amplifier under seat.
2. 4 2-pin DIN cables go into the back of the amp under the seat. The other ends of these cable originate at each of the four speakers

At this point the amp under the seat still needs power, correct? That is, the 8-pin DIN does NOT carry 12 volts to the amp, correct? I'm looking at the back of my amp and there are 2 additional spade connectors for red (12V) and brown (ground). I don't have the original connector that holds both of these wires, so I would presumably just use female spades to make these connections.

Is this correct?

87m491 · 08-13-2014, 03:38 PM

Apologies as the 2 pin connectors are also referred to as DIN! I can't speak to my 911 as it had the original stereo pulled before I got it, but my 89 944 had the Reno and amp as standard equipment. If factory, than the 8 pin Din plug would carry the pre amp speaker signals and ground and a 12V switched (signal only, not for full power). Usually when the factory remote mounted an amp, like 1990 C4, the factory speaker ends were routed the under the seat, not the dash. If your 2 pin DIN plugs run to the dash, I am not sure what is going on. If you only have two open slots, then one would be for power and the other for ground. Usually they are labeled and spade connecters and a good gauge cable should be good to go.

wrxnofx · wrxnofx's Garage

Oh no problem at all.

My '87 came sans Reno, also. It has been replaced by a Blaupunkt Tucson CM84. It's not the correct radio, but is nonetheless very period correct looking. I like that it also has a 3.5 mm input for my iPhone should I want to hook it up.

The car did not come with the amp under the seat, either (Option M494). However, I purchased an original amp that does go under the seat, a Blaupunkt Quadro BQA 80.

All the wiring under the dash has been bastardized, cut, and spliced together to make the Tucson work along with a different amp that is sandwiched under the wooden passenger floorboard.

Instead of an 8-pin DIN output, the Tucson has the 4 RCA output jacks for the amp. Stephan at SW Stereo can make me an adapter that goes from 4 RCA jacks (Tucson side) to 1 8-pin DIN (amp side). I also will have to extend out the 8 speaker cable wires and run them along the tunnel and under the passenger seat (planning on buying the 2-pin DIN connectors, as the originals seem to be long gone).

So the only unknown for me is how to power the amp at this point. I need a ground and a 12 volt supply, which I would suspect I can find under the dash and splice that in.

87m491 · 05:00 AM

Ah, the Quadro I think was a special amp to be used along with one of the Blau EQs of the day, like the gooseneck. I actually have both at home. IIRC, the middle pin of the 8 DIN is switched power, so your harness will have to incorporate that as well. There are plenty of ground points avail under the seat. Actually it might be easier to get a later model amp that accepts the RCA cables, at least that way your would not have to splice the 2 DIN plugs onto the harness to plug into the older amp. Either way, I'd strongly consider getting clean power right for the battery or fuse block.