2002-04 Nissan Altima

2002 Nissan Altima (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Overview

 Mid-sized family sedans are expected to be roomy, practical, safe…and that’s about all, really. It’s a hotly contested segment filled with relatively bland cars. When Nissan designed the third-generation Altima, they already knew that anything with four doors and a place to tie down a child seat would sell like hotcakes. But they designed something interesting anyway. The result was a car that was roomy, practical, safe, and – surprise, surprise – fun to drive.

We’re not just talking about the 3.5 liter V6 model, either. Automotive magazines of the day also raved about the performance and handling of the 2.5 liter 4-cylinder Altima—and magazine writers almost never rave about the base model of anything. Spirited performance, a comfortable interior, and sleek styling (that’s aging quite well, we think), make this Altima a terrific choice for anyone looking for a mid-size sedan with a little something extra.

Factory stereo system

The 2002-04 Altima was available with a choice of two factory stereo packages; a standard 6-speaker AM/FM/CD system or a premium 8-speaker Bose® AM/FM/CD system. One of the few complaints we came across while reading old road tests involved the car’s somewhat noisy interior. One writer suggested turning up the stereo, which isn’t such a bad idea. We’d simply suggest that you install a better stereo first!

The Altima's factory radio (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Replacing your factory stereo

Removing the factory system is relatively uncomplicated, though you’d be wise to be very careful with the plastic bits. Despite the Altima’s general wonderfulness, some reviewers noted the "brittle" plastics used in the interior. Your opinions may vary, but any time you see that word used in relation to a dashboard you’re about to pry apart, it’s probably wise to work slowly.

First, you’ll pull the climate control trim panel straight out to release two metal retaining clips, disconnect the wiring harness, and remove. You’ll need to remove one Phillips screw located at lower right corner of receiver trim panel, then pry the panel out from bottom and pull it away from windshield to remove. From there, you’ll remove the four Phillips screws securing the radio, pull it out, disconnect everything, and remove it. Hang onto those four screws, by the way. You’ll need them to secure your new mounting bracket to the dash.

This mounting kit lets you install a 2" receiver in your Altima's dash. We also carry brackets for 4" receivers. (Crutchfield Research Photo)

The factory stereo cavity measures 8-1/4" deep x 6-11/32" high x 7-13/16" wide, so you have plenty of room for a new receiver. The Altima’s football-shaped dash cavity might seem like a fit challenge, but dash kits are available for both 2" DIN or 4" double-DIN receivers. The kits fit your receiver and the dash opening perfectly, so the installation will look great. The kit is included free with most Crutchfield stereo orders, along with a wiring harness and our famous Crutchfield MasterSheet.

From here, simply follow the instructions to install your new receiver, test it out, then work backwards to put everything back together.

Replacing the radio on Bose® equipped models (You’ll see the Bose logo on the stereo's cassette door and the rear deck speaker grilles.) is no different, but you will need an adapter to match your new receiver to the Bose system’s factory amp. This non-electronic adapter is not free with your purchase, but it is available at 50% off the retail price.

Of course, if you have the Bose radio, you might not want to replace it. We understand completely. You can still upgrade the speakers without replacing the radio. You can also purchase several adapters that allow you to use Bluetooth, obtain Sirius/XM satellite radio access (with subscription) and play music from your iPod® or MP3 player.

Tools needed: Phillips head screwdriver, panel tool

Steering wheel control:  If you want to continue using the steering wheel audio controls with your new stereo, you'll need to install a special adapter. Models from iDatalink or Axxess will work nicely in the Altima.

Shop for car stereos that fit your Nissan Altima

Replacing your factory speakers

The Nissan Altima's front door. (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Front speakers

Depending on your speaker needs, replacing the front speakers on an Altima with the base stereo can be moderately challenging or somewhat involved. Replacing the factory 5-1/4" speakers with aftermarket units is no problem at all, but going bigger means a lot more work.

The difference can be traced to the 4.673" cutout diameter in the steel door frame. If you want to install anything larger than a 5-1/4" speaker, you’ll need to cut away at the door steel. Cutting through steel is not the easiest thing for the average amateur installer, so if you insist on 6-1/2" speakers, we suggest retaining the services of a car audio installation professional.

The door panels have to be removed to access the speakers, of course, and your Crutchfield MasterSheet contains step-by-step instructions. No matter what size speaker you choose, you’ll need to drill new screw holes in order to secure the adapter brackets that are included free with your speaker purchase. The easiest way to do this is to hold up the speaker bracket around the opening, mark where the new holes will go, then drill out the new holes. A wiring harness is not available for the Altima's standard system, so you’ll need to cut off the factory connectors and splice the vehicle's speaker wires to your new speaker wires.

To install your new speaker, you'll need to cut off back of the factory plastic speaker bracket. (Crutchfield Research Photo)

On Bose® equipped models, the door panel removal process is the same, but everything else is a bit easier. There’s more space available, so a wider variety of speakers will fit. A 6-3/4" speaker will drop right in (once you remove the tabs mentioned below), but 5-1/4" or 6-1/2" speaker will need an adapter bracket (which is free with your Crutchfield speaker order).

In all cases, you’ll need to remove two "speaker line-up" tabs in order for the speaker to mount flat. With 6-1/2" and 6-3/4" speakers, you’ll need to cut off the back of the (plastic, thankfully) factory bracket in order to create enough depth or magnet diameter for the new speaker. We do carry speaker connection harnesses for the Bose system, and they – like the adapter bracket for the smaller speaker sizes – are included free when you purchase your speakers from Crutchfield.

The Bose speakers are all 2 ohm, by the way, so when you’re shopping, be sure to look for lower-impedance replacements, like Infinity or JBL.

Tools needed: Phillips head screwdriver, small flat blade screwdriver, panel tool

Tweeters

All Altimas have tweeters mounted in the "A" pillars. Getting to them is simply a matter of prying away the pillar at the top and sides, then gently pulling it out of the dashboard. Replacing the tweeters is a little tougher. The available mounting height is 0.654", and you’ll need to fabricate a mounting bracket. Our universal backstraps will help, because they can be cut or bent to the size or shape you need for your Altima.

A wiring harness is not available, so you’ll also need to splice the vehicle's speaker wires to your new speaker wires. A set of Posi-Products connectors can make this easier. These wonderful little things help you make connections without crimping, soldering, or tape. Just strip your stranded wires, insert them in the caps, then hand-tighten the two caps together. The wire ends get locked between opposing cone shapes to create a water-, dirt-, vibration-, and heat-proof housing.

Tools needed: Phillips head screwdriver, panel tool

Rear door speakers (Bose® only)

Bose equipped Altimas have a speaker in the rear door. (Crutchfield Research Photo)

If your Altima is equipped with the premium 8-speaker Bose system, it has 5-1/4" factory speakers in the rear doors. Replacing them isn’t hard, but you might have to do some minor tweaking to make the new speakers fit. As with the front models, you’ll need to remove two "line-up" tabs on the factory bracket to make the new speaker mount flat. A number of aftermarket 5-1/4" speakers will fit in this space, but depending on the magnet diameter or mounting depth of the new speaker, you may need to remove the back of the factory mounting bracket to create the needed space. Other than that, installation is pretty straightforward. All the details are explained in your Crutchfield MasterSheet.

Tools needed: Phillips head screwdriver, small flat blade screwdriver, 8mm socket

Rear deck speakers

The Altima’s stock 6"x9" rear deck speakers can be replaced by same-size aftermarket speakers, or you can install 5-1/4" or 6-1/2" speakers using the free brackets that come with all Crutchfield speaker orders. The swap is pretty easy once you get to the speakers, but getting there involves removing the back seat and several trim pieces. There’s nothing seriously tricky in the 10-step (by our count) process, but there are 10 steps.

The Altima's rear deck speakers are top-mounted. You'll need to remove the rear seat to replace them. (Crutchfield Research Photo)

You’ll want to allow plenty of time and remind yourself to have plenty of patience. You’ll also want to have an old (but clean) blanket or sheet to protect the seat and trim pieces while they’re out of the car. Don’t forget to test speaker operation before you put everything together again!

Tools needed: Panel tool, 8mm and 12mm sockets

Shop for speakers that fit your Nissan Altima

Adding bass to your Altima

While there aren’t any custom-fit enclosures available for the third-generation Altima, the spacious trunk gives you plenty of space for a good-sized sub and an amp. The available sub box space in the trunk measures 40" W x 15" H x 42" (at bottom) to 34" (at top) D. If you value cargo space, a powered sub will also work nicely.

Shop for vehicle-specific subwoofers for your Nissan Altima

Other options

Digital media receiver:  Just because you’ve tossed out your CD collection and gone digital doesn’t mean you have to settle for marginal sound quality. If you’re CD-free, but still want great stereo sound, a digital media receiver is a great choice for your Altima.

Dynamat door kit

Dynamat: Some reviewers noted that the Altima produced a surprising amount of road noise. If you’re installing aftermarket door speakers, you might want to install a Dynamat Xtreme Door Kit. This sound-deadening material will quiet road noise and ensure that you hear your speakers at their best. One kit will take care of the front doors.

Security: Installing a security system in your Altima is pretty straightforward, since all connections can be made under the driver’s side dash. If you’re planning on adding a remote start, you’ll need an FLCAN interface from FlashLogic. If you have experience working with your vehicle's electrical system, you should be able to install car security equipment. If not, we highly recommend that you retain the services of a professional installer.