Radio / Stereo fitting

[ems303]

Hi all!

I have read all the posts I could find about fitting a new stereo in a T25 camper. But Im still a little confused about it all... Basically, we are new to this! We bought our T25 Holdsworth poptop on monday, it didnt have a radio at all, the previous owner said it had broken. We were kindly given an old radio/cassett player from another T25 owner... but firstly there was soooooo many wires in the dash none of which were labelled! With the aid of your forum and a multimeter we worked out some of them. And got the radio working, when we tried to put the radio in the slot it wouldnt fit. This is a different problem to it sticking out, it was too wide to even get in the slot we have!

Our questions are:

- Did the T25 originally have a radio? Is there a way of telling if the wiring and dash slot is original?
- How can we make the radio fit the slot? Would we have to cut it?
- Any advice about fitting a stereo, we have some pretty good speakers in the van already but just need the stereo...

I probably havent made myself very clear about what the issues are, as it is my otherhalf who does all the technical stuff!

Cheers!

Emma

[shanco73]

Hi Emma,

Depending on the age of the stereo you have been given will depend upon the size.

All steros after about 1990 were a standard size called (DIN) referred to as a DIN fitting.

Im not sure if all t25s came with a radio.

I worked in a blue chiop car hi fi dealers for a couple of wayes fitting stereos etc,


we used to cut holes in all sorts of vehicles to make speakers amps and all sorts of stuff fit.

If the rasio yopu have is failry modern if you can confirm it is a DIN fitting, compare it to another for example,

then i would suggest cutting the hole slighter larger so it is the same as a DIN fitting. then in future all stereos will fit.

[turbodavies]

Hi all!

I have read all the posts I could find about fitting a new stereo in a T25 camper. But Im still a little confused about it all... Basically, we are new to this! We bought our T25 Holdsworth poptop on monday, it didnt have a radio at all, the previous owner said it had broken. We were kindly given an old radio/cassett player from another T25 owner... but firstly there was soooooo many wires in the dash none of which were labelled! With the aid of your forum and a multimeter we worked out some of them. And got the radio working, when we tried to put the radio in the slot it wouldnt fit. This is a different problem to it sticking out, it was too wide to even get in the slot we have!

Our questions are:

- Did the T25 originally have a radio? Is there a way of telling if the wiring and dash slot is original?
- How can we make the radio fit the slot? Would we have to cut it?
- Any advice about fitting a stereo, we have some pretty good speakers in the van already but just need the stereo...

I probably havent made myself very clear about what the issues are, as it is my otherhalf who does all the technical stuff!

Cheers!

Emma

Where are you located, perhapes you could go look at the van of someone local to you so you can see how it should look?

Andrew

[ems303]

Hi

Thanks Ill have a look at the radio when Im home to see if it is DIN standard and let you know... We live near Southampton. Anyone near here that is willing to let us come and have a look or could come and have a look at ours for us??

Thank you!

Emma

[irishkeet]

For future posts it will help if you add your location in your profile.

all the best
irishkeet

[Red Westie]

T25 is indeed a the standard size (DIN or whatever) radio/CD's etc can be easily found to fit, you must have been unlucky to have been given an odd sized unit.
Martin

[dugwiththevwbug]

perhaps your suggesting that the new stereo will not fully slide into the hole if so you need to fit a spacer collar available from all good car audio stores and if stuck halfrauds lol.

my old factory opton radio didnt have a securing bolt on the back so slid fully in
good luck doug

[CovKid]

If you don't smoke, remove ashtray permanently as this gives more room for wires and your player should push home. You can cut a neat piece of hardboard (sprayed matt black) with slightly rounded corners that will drop into the hole afterwards - thats what I did.

[turbodavies]

I have a old radio cassette that came out of my camper, you can have if you want it. It fitted fine in mine so it should fit in yours.

I know the radio was working ok, never tried the cassette but the van had lots of tapes in it when I got it so I assume it works.

Happy to send to to you and you if you are happy to pay the postage?

Regards,

Andrew

[hixsy]

hi there, welcome to the t25 wiring fiasco. I too got my van with bodged up wiring on the stereo. i had to practically get a tester and refind mine, some were stuffed down in the dash . .. Shame your not closer id've gladly helped.

the wiring colour codes normally go like this(from stereo)

Yellow - Permanent live
Red - Ignition live
Black - negative/ground
Blue - remote switch i.e. aerial/amp

Get yaself a tester and find the ignition live and permanent, the negative ive found is coloured brown.

Speaker colour coding can vary but just try them out till ya get a decent oenuff sound, whilst playin with ya fader/balance.

As other people have said the slot on ya dash is standard stereo fitting size, so i shouldnt see you having a problem fitting it, unless ya have one with a big heatsink on the back of the stereo, which is unlikely on a free/cheap stereo i had to remove some of my heat sink with an angle grinder to get it to sit in there properly.

Ive occasionally seen original t25 radios on ebay, check that if ya want the original look.

As covkid said the ashtray slot is great for fiddling around the back of ya stereo, ya dont get that luxury in normal vehicles !!!

good luck with it.

[billy739]

common fault with t25's
the stereo does hit the heater box!
also as stated remove the ash tray(you may need to remove a dash tidy if fitted) to give better access. also sometimes you need to reposition a heater cable as you slide the stereo in.
i think 'brickwerks' did a spacer to fit the stereo alternativly and radio suppliyer should stock them
remember when these were buit we were only on tape players and am raidos , note the single speaker gril in middle of the dash!
there is from new a 'standard' radio connector plug but this may have been cut at somepoint.

it is possible to'force' the stereo in , but you are likely to cause damage to something or eventually trapped wires could short causing a fire so its not reccomended.

[pokey]

Hiya, i'm on my 3rd van now, they have all been Holdsworth poptops, i love em. I have never had a problem with the width of the slot, just that as someone else said earlier it hits the heater box.
One of the previous owners of my current van got over the problem in a novel kind of way...he cut a hole in the blower box. Must have done wonders for his tapes or cd's all that hot air!!
Good luck with it
Clive