2009 Forester Navigation Swap?

[crazyman03]

So I got a new '09 forester. Nothing too special it came with the regular FM/CD deck in it. I was wondering if anyone here has or knows of how to swap the regular stock deck for a stock naviation/DVD/Bluetooth deck. 

 

I realize there isnt too much of a difference between the two decks. Obviously it has Front L/R, Rear L/R, Power, Illuminate, blah blah blah.

 

My main question is about the differences though between a regular deck and a DVD/Nav deck. I looked up the wire harness kit for the car and there are 2 harnesses. but behind the stereo there was just the regular harness. what all is supposed to be in the second harness? parking? GPS antenna? 

 

does anyone know where i can pick up a conversion kit?

 

At the moment, I have a Pyle DVD/Nav deck in there. It works *alright* but really wanted the functionality to be a bit nicer as well as a seamless stock look 

 

 

-Justin

Edited March 22, 2015 by crazyman03

[gbhrps]

crazyman03,

 

I believe you are biting off a big chunk to swap in a factory GPS unit, for the following reasons:

 

If the GPS antenna is not in the nav unit itself, where is it hidden in the car? The headliner above the mirror? The 2010's and up have a separate antenna on the roof, and how the wiring from the head unit to it is routed may require tearing half the interior out to install it.

 

The same can be said for the nav unit main wiring harness. Do you have to tear half of the dash apart to route it?

 

You may need to buy a new dash surround to fit it.

 

Then, if its from a 2009 Subie, updating the unit to 2015 navigation software will add even more money to the equation.

 

I'm sure its doable, but I'm not certain it'll be worth the time and money.

[crazyman03]

From what I'm seeing the dash "facade" is the same just a different radio in its place. 

 

As far as tearing into it and "tapping" wires I'm not that uncomfortable doing that. I've done my fair share of Remote Starters/Alarms/Keyless Entry setups on a number of cars that wires dont really scare me so long as I know what they are supposed to go to. 

 

Usually the biggest difference between a normal stock (or even after market stereo) and a DVD/NAV unit are few. Parking Brake Input, GPS Antenna ETC.

 

I installed a "stock" DVD/NAV unit from a Dodge something or another into a Jeep Liberty (that didnt originally come with the option) and all it needed was the antenna wire ran and that was it. Oddily enough, the Deck reconfigured itself from Dodge to Jeep. Obviously thats Dodge/Jeep, and they co-mingle but I basically wanted to see if there was kind've a "drop-in" option or, if applicable, I could "force" install the nav unit into the car.

 

 

-Justin