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Aftermarket audio head unit installation - Saab 9-5
These instructions are for a 2005 SAAB 9-5 with the AS3 Prestige audio. Different years and different Saab models may not be the same so do your own research and make sure you have all information for your particular car. Instructions are a guide, they are not complete step-by-step instructions. Some steps and other information may be missing.
Check this thread for more information about the http://saabworld.net/showthread.php?t=25402
These installation instructions should apply to model years 1998 - 2005. Saab changed to new dash layout and audio system for the 2006 - 2009 model years.
Most of these instructions are the same for the AVIC-F900BT, AVIC-F90BT and other navigation or other stereos (single or double-din). Other units may use extra wires for additional equipment like the Vehicle Speed Sensor wire. The bypass/hack may also be different for these units so do your own research.
My thanks to the friendly forum members stipud, Mattlach, masteryong and others for their expertise and support.
For more info about the AVIC line, make sure to check out www.avic411.com
It is not difficult to do the installation yourself. It does require some expertise and confidence with tapping into wires, soldering, programming the steering wheel controls adapter, taking some of the dash apart and so on. It is difficult to say how long it will take for the average installer. It took me quite a few evenings in figuring out how to hook everything up and taking pictures. With all these instructions, you should be able to do this in one day, depending on your skill level and the available tools and parts.
Important notes:
- This tutorial describes on how to install the PAC SWI-PS steering wheel controls adapter. This worked fine on my car with manual transmission but there are some issues in using this adapter and the paddle shifters with an automatic transmission. In a Saab 9-5 with automatic transmission, it is recommended to use the PAC SWI-RC. Find more information in this thread here: link
- Replacing the Kenwood OEM Navigation from Saab with an aftermarket head unit requires different instructions. Please check out these posts: link
And last but not least... I am not a professional car audio installer. Use this information at your own risk and use common sense. Some information may be incorrect or incomplete. Good luck!
Attachment 76
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PAC SWI-PS - Steering wheel controls adapter
Cut the orange, yellow, green and blue wires. These are not needed for a Saab 9-5 because we are only using the white wire.
Attachment 93
Cut the purple loop wire.
Attachment 92
The white wire needs to be connected to the blue wire going to the SID. With the radio out, push on the back of the SID and it will easily pop out. Undo the connector from the SID so you will have a bit more room to work with.
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Use a wire splice connector and connect the white wire to the blue wire.
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This is all that is needed according to the instructions supplied with the unit. However... the instructions are incomplete. When trying to program the unit for the Saab 9-5, nothing happened and obviously something wasn’t right. I emailed PAC tech support and they sent me an email back with the following instructions.
Starting with a 1k resistor and working your way up to 1.5k,2k,2.5k etc. until the unit allows you to enter programming.
I have seen up to 6k needed in this Saab application
The resistor goes from the second purple (next to the black wire) to the white wire (interface wire)
Attachment 90
I started with the 1k resistor (brown-black-red) and this was all that was needed to be able to program the PAC SWI-PS.
Attachment 89