Head Unit Swap

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ghosty999
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Aug 23, 2015 7:32 pm
Location: Scotland

Head Unit Swap

Post by ghosty999 »

Got an old head unit off a mate (2nd photo) and wanting to either make it the primary head unit or if its easier I'll just run it into the old head unit replacing the old CD player. Is there an easy way to do this using adapters or will I have to use crimps and a crimping tool and just match up the colours of the wires?

Photo 1: original head-unit and CD player connections:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/okewwnxuciin7 ... 8.jpg?dl=0

Photo 2: new head unit connections:
https://www.dropbox.com/home/car?previe ... 162809.jpg

Thanks all
Odin_S
Posts: 1210
Joined: Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:35 am
Location: London

Re: Head Unit Swap

Post by Odin_S »

You'll need something like this, my car is a JDM, and my Kenwoods and other ICE i've used work with this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUTOLEADS-PC3 ... 0529128167
ghosty999
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Aug 23, 2015 7:32 pm
Location: Scotland

Re: Head Unit Swap

Post by ghosty999 »

Looks close but I don't think those connectors are the same :/
raptor95GTS
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Re: Head Unit Swap

Post by raptor95GTS »

you should be able to get a wiring adapter from Halfords that matches the new unit to the OEM wiring, I have the non active setup in my car ie no amps under the seats and have a plug and play wiring adapter in there. Old OEM unit was a double din Mini Disc / CD Sat nav unit. Quite smart but no use in the UK!
thomp1983
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Location: newark, notts

Re: Head Unit Swap

Post by thomp1983 »

Does your car have the amplifier aystem? If it doesn't then just cut the wiring plugs off and solder in a standard iso connecter it takes half hour at most
raptor95GTS
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Re: Head Unit Swap

Post by raptor95GTS »

dont hack the wiring, buy a wiring adapter and it keeps things neat plus it'll take a minute to connect everything up. Granted, longer to get the damned adapter but far neater :thumleft:
thomp1983
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Location: newark, notts

Re: Head Unit Swap

Post by thomp1983 »

Cutting and soldering the loom properly isn't just hacking at it and is a better way of doing the job than just bending and stuffing all the extra wires from the adapter anywhere you can
raptor95GTS
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Re: Head Unit Swap

Post by raptor95GTS »

thomp1983 wrote:Cutting and soldering the loom properly isn't just hacking at it and is a better way of doing the job than just bending and stuffing all the extra wires from the adapter anywhere you can

the extra wiring is a royal pain that's for sure. No idea why they provide that much wiring, normally there's like no wiring length to play with!
ghosty999
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Aug 23, 2015 7:32 pm
Location: Scotland

Re: Head Unit Swap

Post by ghosty999 »

Cheers for all the advice, I bought an adapter and soldered he wire together just matching the colours and it works a charm. The cheap Ebay unit I tried first had an awful whine and also left the aerial up at all times even when the radio was turned off so I've popped in an old Alpine unit I had and it works great! Just need to go into the settings and turn off the traffic radio thing so the aerial goes down when on the CD player
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