| CAN I STILL USE MY STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS WITH MY NEW HU? |
| Yes, you can still use your steering wheel controls if your new HU uses an infrared remote control. There are a few different adapters available. I like the PAC SWI-X |
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| WHERE IS THE MONSOON AMP LOCATED? |
| The amp is located in front of the spare tire above the wheel well. It is mounted to a plastic plate and is on the fender side of the plate. |
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| CAN I REPLACE THE STOCK MONSOON SPEAKERS AND GET BETTER SOUND? |
You can but they may not sound their best. The woofers in the Monsoon setup are all 2ohms (Firebird subs have dual 4ohm voice coils that are run in parallel as a 2ohm load). Replacing the factory 2ohm woofers with 4ohm woofers, the industry standard, will cause you to lose about half of the available power and really isn't recommended.
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| I NEED AN INSTALL KIT. WHICH ONE SHOULD I USE? |
| The following are Metra install kits: |
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40-GM10 - Gm factory antenna to aftermarket head unit |
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99-4544 - '82 and UP GM multi-kit with 1/2 DIN EQ option |
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99-3300 - Chevy/Olds/Pontiac 1994 and UP dash kit (flush) |
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99-3009 - Camaro/Firebird 1993 and UP dash kit (flush, fits better than 99-3300) |
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| Best Kits is a Metra alternative (little better quality too): |
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BAA4 - GM Antenna adapter |
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BHA1858 - 1997-2001 Wiring Harness |
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BKGMK432, - 1997-2001 generic dash kits for F-body |
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BKGM4 |
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BKGM8 - 1997-2001 Camaro specific kit |
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BKGM9 - 1993-2001 Firebird specific kit |
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BKSAC656 - 1993-2001 Firebird speaker adapter |
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Best Kits also has link for adding CD changers, etc. |
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| Can I add a CD changer to my factory radio? |
| Yes, if you have a 98 or 99 than you must have the tape deck. You cannot add a Cd changer to a Cd Headunit in the 98-99 models. If you have a 2000-up then it doesnt matter. You can add a changer to either the tape deck or cd player headunit. |
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| What CD changers will work? |
| Of course the AC Delco 12 disc changer will work. Alpines 6 disc (M-bus series) changer will work along with the Alpine adaptor. Kenwoods 10 disc along with the PIE adaptor also works. And finally Rockford Fosgates 6 disc change with the Periphial adaptor works. The Alpine adaptor was KCE202b. However they no longer make it. You may get lucky and find a shop that has one left over or you could try to find one on ebay. |
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| How do I add the changer? |
| Both the Camaro and Firebird that are equipped with the Monsoon system are prewired for the CD changer. The plug is located behind the carpet that covers the drivers side cubby hole. Its wrapped in foam taped to the speaker harness usually. Plug in the appropiate adaptor and then plug the changer into the adaptor. No adaptors are needed for the AC Delco changer. |
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| Can I add a subwoofer to the factory system? |
Yes. To add an amp to the factory stuff you can do it a couple of ways.
The first is to by an OEM-1 made by PAC. Its plug and play with no splicing of the wires at all. It gives you a set of RCA (2 if you want) and a remote turn on.
The second way is basically an OEM-1 but involves you putting a few wires together yourself. Still dont have to cut any factory wires though. You will need a line level adaptor. I recommend an PAC SNI35. Then you'll need 2 radio wiring harnesses. A Metra 70-1858 and a Metra 71-1858. Take the 2 wiring harnesses and wire them together, color for color. You'll end up with a harness that plugs into the cars radio harness on one end and plugs into the factory radio on the other end. The blue wire in the harness will be your true remote turn on. Then take your line level adaptor and wire it into the speaker wires on the harness you just made. If you tap off the front speaker output the colors will once again match up. Now you have a harness that allows your radio to work exactly the same as before but with a set of rca outputs and a remote turn on.
Both ways are essentially the same thing, just that PAC has made it slighty easier.
The second way can be found using parts that you can buy at just about any car stereo store but requires maybe 10 extra minutes of work on the bench wiring it. Either way the price will range between 50-60 dollars.
Another option is just to splice the line level adaptor directly in to the cars radio harness. Perfectly fine but I dont like having to touch the factory wiring if I dont have to but its cheaper as you are only paying for the price of the adaptor and not all of the extra harnesses. You would hook the input leads of the line level convertor to the front or rear speaker out puts of the radio. These colors can be found below. |
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| Where can I find a remote turn on for the amplifier? |
| The Monsoon amp doesnt have a remote turn on. It senses current from the speaker inputs to turn the amp on. You can tap an iginition wire somewhere or off of the power antenna. Firebirds are easy enough because the radios already have a remote turn on. Just tap into the pink wire. Camaro radios also have a remote turn on but there is not a wire coming out of the radio for it. Get a connector to fit the radio harness (available from most auto parts stores) and plug your wire into pin #8. This is your remote turn on. |
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| Can I replace the Monsoon amplifier and keep the factory headunit? |
| Its a little more difficult to do than adding a sub amp. It will require the use of two line level converters and then finding all of the factory speaker wires. You would add the two line level converters the same as if you were adding a sub. Once the speaker wires have been located , its a matter of extending them to the new amplifier. The new amplifier must have a built in crossover or the speakers will be playing fullrange. The factory has the crossover built in. If your amp doesnt have a crossover than passive crossovers must be used. |
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| Can I replace the headunit with an aftermarket and keep the rest of the Monsoon system? |
Absolutely. Its a simple install. All you need is a mounting kit , wiring harness and antenna adaptor. All can be found at your local stereo shop. If you are using a din and a half radio then you wont need the mounting kit.
(See above for complete part numbers) |
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| How do I remove the factory radio? |
The trim panel around the radio will pull off. Once you get a grip on it, just pull and it will pop off. If you have trouble getting a grip then try using a dull thin object such as a butter knife to slide behind the panel so that you can get a better grip.
With the trim panel removed, you will see 2 7mm bolts holding the radio in. Simply remove these and the radio will come right out. |
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| How do I run a wire from the battery to inside the car? |
Under the hood on the passenger side you'll see the PCM. Its far back towards the windshield. You'll see a lot of wires going in to a couple of harnesses that plug into it. Theres 2 10mm bolts that hold it in. Remove the 2 7mm bolts holding the harnesses in and set the harnesses aside. Then remove the 2 10mm bolts holding the PCM secure. Now you can turn the PCM sideways so that the part where the wires went is now facing the passenger fender. The PCM will now lift right out with ease. You could leave the harnesses attached but it causes you to have to struggle to get the PCM out of its cubby hole. You'll now see a rubber grommet in the firewall. You can fish your wire thru here. Now inside the car, go to the passenger kickpanel, up behind the glovebox you'll find your wire. Its usually easier to remove the kick panel to find the wire. Anytime you add any wires to the battery, make sure you fuse them within 18 inches of the battery. Camaro
Front Speakers
6.5" "S" oversized, 2 ohm, located in the lower portion of the doors
.6" 4 ohm tweeters located on the same axis as the 6 1/2 inch. Kinda like a coaxial speaker.
Rear Speakers
4" 4 ohm midrange speakers located in the rear hatch panels
Sail Panel Woofers
6.5" 2 ohm subwoofers located next to the rear seats
8 Channel Amplifer-200w (2000 up is now 500w but you cant tell a difference)
The first 2 channels are actually off of the radio. They power the tweeters located in the doors. The other six channels are in the amplifier located on the passenger side rear wheel well. The amplifier powers the rest of the speakers in the system. Firebird
Front Speakers
6.5" inch "S" oversized, 2 ohm, located in the lower portion of the doors
.6" 4 ohm tweeters just above the 6.5"
Rear Speakers
4" 4 ohmmidrange speakers located in the rear hatch panels
.6" 4 ohm tweeter located next to the rear 4" midrange
Sail Panel Woofers
6.5" dual 4 ohm voice coil subwoofers located next to the rear seats
10 Channel Amplifer -500W
Four of the channels are located in the headunit. They power the tweeters located in the doors and in the rear hatch area. The other six channels are in the amplifier located on the passenger side rear wheel well. The amplifier powers the rest of the speakers in the system. |
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