Replacing radio - wiring to ISO adapter

Post by **dirtyroger** » 08 Jul 2008, 22:34

Hello ya'll,

Just purchased a new stereo for my T25, i've read alot of the previous posts about this topic but am still struggling to find anyone who has been able to explain how to change the original wiring to an ISO adapter.

Could anyone please explain how to do this?

What i would need?

and so you know what i'm fitting, its a cheap halfords Ripspeed CMR-2000(anyone got one?), it was only £40, not bad price for a CD player with an aux out, USB and SD slot. I still have the option for half price store fitting, but would prefer to be able to install it myself but the back of my old radio is just a bunch of tangled wires.

any help would be appreciated,

Thanks

Post by **Mocki** » 08 Jul 2008, 22:49

you will be needing a means of testing reliably for 12v power.
either a multimeter, or a bulb and wire.

original t25 wiring will be basic, so firstly locate the speaker wires, there will be twin cable, possible grey and grey with a red or black trace, in pairs...... speakers must not be connected to chassis earth, at all, ever.

next remember on VW's brown is always -12vdc(neg)
red or sometimes black is +12vdc (live) you need to find and verify this wire, by connecting one test lead to neg terminal on battery, and connecting the other to the red or black ( or whatever colour it might be )

you will only be connecting the black test lead to the battery, never to another wire.

also remember that the t25 has no aux position on the key, so these wires will be live all the time.The grey wire with the blue trace is lighting, if you have it there, be careful not to confuse it with speaker wires. If in dooubt check it for voltage with the lights switched onto side lights.

Once you have worked out which is live, neg and the speakers, follow the wiring diagram with your stereo, and when you come to the "mem wire", which should be orange, or possible yellow, connect it to the same live as the red, via its own fuse.

really, if you dont feel confident get someone else to do it for you.

Post by **dirtyroger** » 08 Jul 2008, 23:04

Thanks for the quick reply, when i get it i'll have a look with all the info you wrote and see if i feel i can do it, if not i guess i'll be going to halfords.

Thanks again

Colin

Post by **Willoughby** » 09 Jul 2008, 11:11

What Mokie said.

Apart from

next remember on VW's brown is always -12vdc(neg)

Brown is Earth should be treated as 0V not -12vdc.
just nit picking I know

K

Post by **Titus A Duxass** » 09 Jul 2008, 11:26

I installed an iso connector in my van, it is relatively straight forward.
If you want I can try and take some pictures of my installation and make a short task description.

Post by **Willoughby** » 09 Jul 2008, 13:09

I think it would be a good one for wiki.

The iso bit was the easy bit for me, getting the stereo to fit next to the heater cables was a nightmare ended up getting a 15mm spacer from

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php?p ... t&Itemid=6

K

Post by **Mocki** » 09 Jul 2008, 13:25

depends on the stereo, you nit picker!

i curled the wires under mine by putting my hand through the ash tray holeand gained the 15mm i needed!

Post by **jamesc76** » 09 Jul 2008, 14:05

I have often thought why do people need a 15mm spacer i have a dvd head unit with rca plugs etc coming out the back and like mocki has said if you move the wires about through the ash tray hole you can esay get the space needed!!

Post by **Willoughby** » 09 Jul 2008, 16:10

depends on the stereo, you nit picker!

That will teach me to purchase cheep tat from fleabay.

K

Post by **dirtyroger** » 10 Jul 2008, 09:03

I don't seem to have a 'mem wire' yellow or orange? why would this be?

Post by **Titus A Duxass** » 10 Jul 2008, 09:30

No mem wire - maybe your radio has no memory!
That means that if you wire it up to a switched + supply you will lose your set stations every time you switch of the ignition.

All depends on your radio configuration.

Post by **dirtyroger** » 10 Jul 2008, 10:32

Sorry no what i ment was that i have no memory wire coming from the van can't find a yellow or orange wire!

Any ideas where it would be?

Thanks

Post by **Titus A Duxass** » 10 Jul 2008, 10:44

The memory wire is just a permanent +12v supply so that the radio's memory is maintained when the ignition is off.

I am trying to remember which wire I used.

Post by **Simon Baxter** » 10 Jul 2008, 23:17

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/VehicleSpec ... /Audio.htm

VW wiring

Black - ignition live, find at back of fuse box.
Red, or red with black trace generally battery live, but could also be wire from ign sw to starter so be careful.
grey with blue trace is dash illumination.
earth is brown, it is bolted to the body in the centre of the van behind the heater panel.
I was gunna be a smart a*** and give a link to the ISO connecters, but again it's one of those things I havn't got around to adding to the site yet... wondered why none had sold!!

Post by **ding-dang-dhu** » 11 Jul 2008, 13:35

Simon Baxter wrote:http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/VehicleSpec ... /Audio.htm

VW wiring

Black - ignition live, find at back of fuse box.
Red, or red with black trace generally battery live, but could also be wire from ign sw to starter so be careful.
grey with blue trace is dash illumination.
earth is brown, it is bolted to the body in the centre of the van behind the heater panel.
I was gunna be a smart a*** and give a link to the ISO connecters, but again it's one of those things I havn't got around to adding to the site yet... wondered why none had sold!!

Great link there Simon. Should tell me all I need to know.

Just away to fit a new unit into the van. Need all the help I can get.