How To: Install 2006-2008 radio into 2003-2005 Mazda 6

UPDATE 8/1/17:
Due to Photobucket's brilliant recent change in policy for hosting pictures, here is a link to the pics:
Mazda 6 Radio Swap Pictures


  My main goal was to replace my LCD info screen ($380 from dealer) that was slowly dying, but they have been hard to find at junkyards and online, so I decided to swap it out with the newer model in the 2006-2008 Mazda 6 cars which are easier to find.  However, if you do this, you'll also need to swap out the stereo with the newer 2006-2008 as well.

PARTS:

1) 2006-2008 Radio (~$130 - eBay)
2) 2006-2008 LCD Info Display (#CA-DM4591AK) (~$60 - eBay)
3) (5) OEM Stock Radio Wire Harness (Junkyard or $7 ea. - eBay)
4) (3) Radio Wire Harness (Junkyard or $4 ea. - eBay)
5) (5) Computer Case front panel wire connectors
6)  Electrical Tape
7) Zip ties

NOTE: When you search for parts you'll need to get the equivalent of what you have installed from the factory. For example, if you have a Bose stereo, you'll need to get the newer Bose stereo system. The "Non-Bose" stereo will not plug and play into your Mazda that came with a Bose stereo from the factory and vice versa.  The CD unit does not matter however.  So, if your car has a Bose stereo with single CD player, you can use a Bose stereo with the newer MP3 6-disc CD player just fine.

3 criteria need to match with your new parts:
1) Bose or Non-Bose stereo
2) Factory Navigation or No Navigation (map storage pocket in dash)
3) Manual Climate Control or Automatic Climate Control



I also had a few parts painted to make them flow better with my 2004 interior.

TOOLS:

1) 10mm socket with extension
2) Phillips screwdriver
3) Wire Strippers
4) Wire Cutters
5) Soldering Iron (optional)


  As you can see below the lcd display is starting to lose segments and can no longer read the clock.  I've followed a couple of guides to take it apart and fix it by bending the pins, but it did not fix it 100% and is only a temporary fix as it will eventually fail again over time.

Factory LCD Screen losing segments

After bending pins.  Clock is supposed to read "11:26".

A) WIRE HARNESS (optional):

If you don't want to splice into the factory wires, you can create your own wire harness, which I recommend for a few reasons:

* Gives you more room to work.   The factory harness is short and harder to work in the tight cramped car, then on a work bench.

* No damage to factory wire harness. Can easily be plugged or unplugged.

* Only costs about $45 or less.


Pin Outs:

OEM Stock Radio Wire Harness:

1) First thing is to set up the OEM Harness that plugs into the back of the radio.  I couldn't find one at a junkyard, and the one from eBay is missing 10 of the thin wires, so you need (5) of these eBay connectors so that you can remove the 2 thin wires from the other (4) and insert them into the one main connector that you'll use for your harness.

If you have trouble opening the connector to remove the wires, take it to an automotive electrical store and they should be able to do it for you in 5 min.

Here's what the finished connector should look like with all the new wires inserted:
























Radio Wire Harness:

2) Next step is to set up the Radio Harness that plugs into the existing radio harness in the car. I couldn't find one at a junkyard, and the one from eBay is missing 4 of the thin wires, so you need (3) of these eBay connectors so that you can remove the thin wires from the other (2) and insert them into the one main connector that you'll use for your harness.

  Use a paper clip as shown below to release the wires and insert them into the new connector:

LCD Info Display Wire Harness:

3) Next is to set up the connector that plugs into the LCD info display. I couldn't find one at a junkyard nor on eBay, so I used (5) computer connectors usually found on case fans or the front panel of a computer case.

4) Using the chart and pin outs above, connect each appropriate wire and solder if you're able.  Then tape up each connection to avoid any short circuits and use zip ties to clean up the wires.

B) INSTALLING INFO SCREEN & STEREO:

Now we're ready to put everything in the car.

Optional: Install 3.5mm Auxilary Input for $5

1) Remove the cupholders, shift plate, stereo & info display.  There are plenty of guides out there on how to do this, so I'll skip these steps.

2) Plug the wire harness into the new LCD info display, back of new stereo and into the factory harness in the car.  Turn the key and test to make sure everything works.

3) If everything works, install the LCD info display/map compartment and secure with 2 screws.

4) Push the stereo into place routing the wires in back so that they don't get in the way or get bent sharply.  Install the 10mm bolt from the glove box to secure the stereo.

5) Re-install the shift plate & cup holders.

6) Enjoy !

Have a problem, question or comment ? Let me know below.