Replacing the stereo

[bitler1@gmail.com]

Hi Everyone,

I tried fitting a new stereo - It only powers up to eject a CD, then powers back down. I refitted the old one and it works fine. Had the new one checked and it's working correctly so it must be a power supply problem with the van. Does anyone know why or what the fix is?

Ta,

Phil

[sezicoolcat]

I had lost the Panasonic front-off to my vans stereo.

Simples, I thought. I'll just install a Sony head unit with a Sony CD boot changer, so swapped out the ISO harness for the right one to fit the Sony head unit. Would not even power up!

Found the Panasonic front-off that was bought with the van - re-installed that and it worked.

I don't know why the Sony ISO harness behaves that way becasue it worked in my Fjord!! Weren't happy, but atleast I have a working stereo now I've found the original.

When looking at the Panasonics ISO harness, it had been chopped - 2 wires had been reversed? I think it is so that the stereo can be played when engine switched off (I wouldn't recomend this as my vans battery was always flat if I left the stereo in (not powered on) - so imagine what would happen if it actaully got used on site!)

Sorry for the long reply - all I mean to say is check the wiring...

Sarah

[Oldiebut goodie]

That's why it is better to wire them so that they use the power from the leisure battery. (assuming you have a camper with one)
The iso connectors are notorious for being wired up differently - the FixItAgainTomorrow punto is the same.

[Cruz]

I installed a switch so I could choose which battery to run the stereo from. Don't know why I bothered as I never use the starter battery

[Oldiebut goodie]

How do you start your van then - push it?

[yodster]

Hi guys!
Just bought a new stereo for my autohome komet and i'll be a monkey's uncle if I can get the thing to work. I wired it in just as the old one was, black to black (on the iso unit) and wired the yellow and red to the wire from the battery = nothing happened. worried a) that I've blown my new stereo and b) that I'll just drain the vans battery. Any ideas? Also what the heck are the two (grey and blue) wires I have found. Wish I knew more about what I was doinG!

[slowcoach]

Hi guys!
Just bought a new stereo for my autohome komet and i'll be a monkey's uncle if I can get the thing to work. I wired it in just as the old one was, black to black (on the iso unit) and wired the yellow and red to the wire from the battery = nothing happened. worried a) that I've blown my new stereo and b) that I'll just drain the vans battery. Any ideas? Also what the heck are the two (grey and blue) wires I have found. Wish I knew more about what I was doinG!

you should be able to power up and fully operate the head unit with just the power lines attached- read and yellow(?) i believe if its an iso connection, and ground. the other leads can be for automatic aerial, facia dimming, remote control from the steering wheel (not on our busses though!) and if course all the speakers.

but with just the power lines and ground hooked up, the unit should light up and respond (wont make any sounds until you connect the speakers obviously!). check the units own blade fuse if it has one in the back?

i have spliced the red and yellow (constant 12v and switched 12v) together and ran them to the lesiure batt (meaning itll operated irrespective of ignition). one is the main power, and one is the memory for the radio presets. my particular unit wont switch on unless BOTH power lines + ground are hooked up, but i know some units will work with only the switched 12v line and ground connected.

check the labelling on the iso connector/leads carefully and good luck!

[littlepixel]

I'm having some problems with a stereo install too. I have an 82 Aircooled and thought it might be nice to have a nice modern VW Headunit in there. I opted for a Beta V unit and am now at sea with the install.

The basic problem is hard to diagnose as the unit appears to be taking power but not taking me to the mode where I input the code (which I have). I just get a red security led flash every two seconds or so.

One thing I've noticed in the extensive Googling I've done before posting here is that everyone says about splicing the yellow and red 12V constant/ignition leads, but I can't see a yellow one in my own dash spaghetti. The Blaupunkt that was in before didn't need one (and ran with ignition on or off) so maybe it's been spliced together but out of view.

basically I'm stuck because I can't tell if I have a duff unit or not. Technically it's wired right (taking into account the strange non-standard din cabling for modern VW units) but can't make it let me enter a code. It's annoying cos I've bought other cd-changer-emulator bits specific to this unit so I can feed audio-in from iPods etc into the stereo, and if it's just plain incompatible - well it's back to square one.

I REALLY REALLY don't want to have to go to Halfords and buy a garish Pioneer discobox. I went for the Beta cos it kinda fits the whole cab look and feel and shares in the same VW dna...
Any help appreciated - I know it's a pretty niche question.

[VWCamperfan]

There are two power cables behind the dash that originally supply power to the stereo. These cables are coloured Red and Brown. The Red cable supplies +12v and the Brown cable is the earth.
On your more modern strereo, you require two live supplies into the stereo. The first is for the stereos memory and should be permanently live. The second is usually connected to the vehicles ignition and will switch the stereo on when ignition is turned on and off when ignition is turned off.
If you only have one +12v supply behind the dash, then the memory and ignition wire on the stereo must be liked together for the stereo to power up otherwise you will only get standby functions ie. flashing security light.
If you want the stereo to turn on and off from the ignition key then you must run a seperate wire from the ignition switch, as the van didn't originally come with this feature.
The same applies if you are running the power from the leisure battery, you must still connect the +12v and ignition wires from the stereo together to power it up.

[littlepixel]

Thanks for that - the problem seems though that linking the +12v wires also does nothing - to the point where the red light stops flashing even.
To clarify here - there seems to be three 12v inputs of sorts: 1 called just '12v', one called '12v battery' and one called '12v ignition wire'
http://www.tehnomagazin.com/Auto-radio- ... nector.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I get the red light if the ground and the '12v ignition wire' are connected; But if I add either or both of the the other two to this +12v it goes out and nothing happens.



Can't help but think the 'modern' VW stereo is looking for some info in the mothership ECU and not liking the T25s analogue nature...

[roj62]

can I ask a really thick question?

When wiring the stereo to the leisure battery do you have to run a cable all the way from the battery or is there somewhere behind the dash where you can run a feed from and if so where?

[A KIRK]

Yes if you want to run your stereo from the leisure battery then yes your need to run a cable from the battery to the stereo. SO if doing this it may be worth running a thicker cable along so that you have spare capacity to run other items fromt he leisure battery in the dash area, such as 12v socket etc.

ITs not as difficult as it looks, just make sure you have a fuse as close to the battery as possible

[lloyd]

Many have changed wiring so interior lights and stereo run on leisure battery. This is Westy, but think it is pretty much same on all
http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/westy ... 11446.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hope it helps.