Should I expect trouble...

[omalak]

If i cross the Windsor Canada-US border without a radio in my car? :pop

They wont flag me or anything would they?

[Dave_The_BMXER]

I doubt the will notice.

Just dont drive across with a car registered as stolen.

[cwp_sedan]

They may notice but if you are coming back with a DD like I think you are, make your you get rid of the box, etc. Otherwise they will be suspicious and you will get burned.

[omalak]

They may notice but if you are coming back with a DD like I think you are, make your you get rid of the box, etc. Otherwise they will be suspicious and you will get burned.

:chuckle

Well that's the thing, i dont plan to bring any boxes back..

What are the chances though that the americans are gonna relay back to the canadians that we just saw a mazda plate # XXX go by without a deck..

when you cross you speak to the yanks. and when you come back you speak to the canucks lol so hopefully they have some lack of communication going on

[Soyabean]

Well if you are going there chances are you are getting an aftermarket deck. If you pull out your stock HU there will be a big hole. So why not buy a double din or single din dash thing (or whatever u guys use as a frame for the aftermarket deck) and put that in there first. He might not even notice theres a hole missing there. Its better than driving with a bigger hole where the stock hu used to be

[distr0]

i think you're just paranoid. Just like others have said, they probably won't even notice.

[cwp_sedan]

:chuckle

Well that's the thing, i dont plan to bring any boxes back..

What are the chances though that the americans are gonna relay back to the canadians that we just saw a mazda plate # XXX go by without a deck..

when you cross you speak to the yanks. and when you come back you speak to the canucks lol so hopefully they have some lack of communication going on

I wouldn't worry too much. Maybe go to a mall and buy a hat or something and tell them that's what you bought. :)

[omalak]

Well if you are going there chances are you are getting an aftermarket deck. If you pull out your stock HU there will be a big hole. So why not buy a double din or single din dash thing (or whatever u guys use as a frame for the aftermarket deck) and put that in there first. He might not even notice theres a hole missing there. Its better than driving with a bigger hole where the stock hu used to be

Already got the dash kit, going to put it in tonight :)

Alright let's see what happens then..

Has anyone had issues if anyone has done this before lol..

[Karen Lee-McNair]

I just wanna know how you is that drive going to be without any music?
Killer!

[omalak]

I just wanna know how you is that drive going to be without any music?
Killer!

I thougth about that Karen... lol 2 ipods and dinky ipod speakers that run on 2AA batts will do the job haha

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

You should be okay. The Americans won't care that you don't have a radio and a hole in your dash, as long as you're not storing it to hide anything illegal. They won't care at all if you are buying anything on their side of the border.

The Canadian's care if you purchased something for duty purposes, but they won't know you crossed the border without a stereo and how exactly are they going to prove you purchased and installed one in the U.S. if you don't tell them and declare it... The border patrols really do not communicate much with each other except for high security/priority issues. I doubt this qualifies. :)

Good luck.

[kevcol74]

If you are really worried abot it, but want the receipt, just stop and mail it to yourself before you come back. Otherwise it will be installed on the car, they won't know, or can't prove any different.
I drove over with crappy rims with my mustang, and came back with my 17s installed. Left the crappy ones with my bro-in-law since they were his anyways, and was never questioned.
Don't worry, they won't care. I cross the border alot... well, used to....

[Dave_The_BMXER]

I crossed the border both ways with a car registered as stolen. Going in all they said was have fun getting back. (It was a theft recovery but it was not taken off the list for some reason)

So getting into the states shouldn't be an issue.

[PCLoadLetter]

i crossed the border both ways with a car registered as stolen. Going in all they said was have fun getting back. (it was a theft recovery but it was not taken off the list for some reason)

so getting into the states shouldn't be an issue.
lol.

[omalak]

I crossed the border both ways with a car registered as stolen. Going in all they said was have fun getting back. (It was a theft recovery but it was not taken off the list for some reason)

So getting into the states shouldn't be an issue.

lol wtf...

I'm not worried about receipts.. i leave all that with my friend, it was ordered online and shipped to my buddy on his name.. so its all clean on that side in case i need warranty ;)

i'm going to take my deck out tonight, and insert the dash kit. we'll see what happens. the stock radio will stay home.

I dont plan on installing the new deck there, just gonna stick it in the dash, come back home and then do the wiring.

keep you all posted. I leave for chicago tomorrow at 2 :)

[kevcol74]

Just leave the stereo in there. Pull it in Chicago and install it there, leave your old one in the trunk. Used car parts are dty free, just tell them you picked up the radio to replace your good stereo when you sell your car. Thats all they need to know. If you are going to Chicago, i assume you'd stay more than a day! $400 limit over 48 hours....

[cwp_sedan]

lol wtf...

I'm not worried about receipts.. i leave all that with my friend, it was ordered online and shipped to my buddy on his name.. so its all clean on that side in case i need warranty ;)

i'm going to take my deck out tonight, and insert the dash kit. we'll see what happens. the stock radio will stay home.

I dont plan on installing the new deck there, just gonna stick it in the dash, come back home and then do the wiring.

keep you all posted. I leave for chicago tomorrow at 2 :)

Geez! You're driving all the way to Chicago for a deck? Why didn't you have it shipped to Niagara Falls, NY? lol.

[omalak]

Just leave the stereo in there. Pull it in Chicago and install it there, leave your old one in the trunk. Used car parts are dty free, just tell them you picked up the radio to replace your good stereo when you sell your car. Thats all they need to know. If you are going to Chicago, i assume you'd stay more than a day! $400 limit over 48 hours....

yeah im going to come back sunday night make a nice mini trip out of it..

I was thinking about doing that too, but im not sure if it woulkd casue any trouble, i wont be wiring the new deck up in the states. it will just be sitting in the dash

[omalak]

yeah im going to come back sunday night make a nice mini trip out of it..

I was thinking about doing that too, but im not sure if it woulkd casue any trouble, i wont be wiring the new deck up in the states. it will just be sitting in the dash



Ryan i got a friend there, so i thought i;d make a mini trip out of it :)

[kevcol74]

Are you stock wiring? If so, buy a wiring harness and do it there! Its already out, it would only take half an hour to solder the new wires on a bench, then plug and play....

[omalak]

I have the metra wiring harness and the metra dash kit :)

Only reason i wanna do it here is becasue i am not too sure about how to install it yet, i've never put in a deck.

I'll chk it out and see what happens, last thing i know i wired it wrong and something goes electrically wrong in the car and i cant get back haha

[kevcol74]

The wiring harness hould be colour coded, and have instructions, so should the deck.... a monkey could do it as long as its not colour blind! :chuckle
Soldering pen/iron, solder and shrink tubing and you are gold...

[liquidzyklon]

Wait, can't you take out your old HU but just put the face plate back on? That way, it looks like you have a deck. When you install your new deck, you can dump that face plate somewhere in your car that they probably won't (i.e. under seats, spare tire, car jack area).

[omalak]

thought about the faceplate idea.. but i think the buttons remain attached to the deck and not the faceplate?

I still didnt take the deck out lol i'll find out soon. if i can remove the faceplate with buttons i will do that instead

EDIT: Just checked i think i can remove only the faceplate and retain all the buttons! I think i will go that route :)
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=31367.0

[liquidzyklon]

thought about the faceplate idea.. but i think the buttons remain attached to the deck and not the faceplate?

I still didnt take the deck out lol i'll find out soon. if i can remove the faceplate with buttons i will do that instead

EDIT: Just checked i think i can remove only the faceplate and retain all the buttons! I think i will go that route :)
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=31367.0Now if you get caught, it's not my fault. You did this at your own risk :)

[5_Alive]

Your fine I had to do it before. Just don't come BACK with no deck installed and the radio somewhere else in the car.

The U.S. doesn't tell the Canadian side anything unless your running/etc., which is not your case.
Hope this helps..

[omalak]

still in chicago.. man what a nice city! downtown is just loaded with all kinds of architecture.. love it

so i got the deck, didnt wire it, but i have it on the dash kit. will pop it into the dash tomorrow before i leave.

I only have the faceplate from my old radio which i am going to bing back. hopefully it causes no trouble lol

[kevcol74]

Are you going to be there over 48 hours? If so, bring back alcohol and/or smokes.... If you declare these on your way back, they won't bother you about anything else....trust me, thats all they care about. (between 2004 and this year I crossed atleast 50 times)
Enjoy your trip!