Leon MK1 - What is need to fit a new head unit?

[feenster]

Hi all,
I'm picking up a Leon Cupra TDI on wednesday. I'll be wanting to fit my Kenwood MP3 CD player as soon as possible to it, so am trying to get prepared.

What bits will I need to fit the new stereo in place of the standard Leon one? Some threads I have seen say it is just an Autoleads Fascia adaptor (such as this) whilst other threads point to things like this. Other threads seem to suggest I need an aerial connector/booster too.

What do I actually need to get it working?

Edit: And where's the best place to buy it all from?

Cheers,
Matt

 

[Saul]

either of those links will do the job, you will need an iso harness too

halfords usually have most of it, or online places such as caraudiodirect.com

 

[feenster]

either of those links will do the job, you will need an iso harness too

halfords usually have most of it, or online places such as caraudiodirect.com

Thanks Saul - which is the better Fascia adaptor of the two? Also, why is an ISO harness needed? I thought the standard units were ISO block compatible?

Matt

 

[xJib]

I put the bigger one in our old Leon. and it worked fine.

Halfords do stock it if you can't wait but it's £12.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...logId=10151&productId=218751&categoryId=31494

 

[TllEWL]

... I thought the standard units were ISO block compatible?

They are



... and yeah, you'll benefit from an aerial booster

 

[feenster]

They are
... and yeah, you'll benefit from an aerial booster

Does that mean I don't need an ISO harness then? Will get an aerial booster too.

With my MINI, there was a company that just specialised in MINI parts and supplied fitting kits, comprising all the necessary bits. Is there anyone similar I could look at?

Sorry for the newbie questions

Matt

 

[matt_s]

Don't worry about the iso harness, just make sure you don't have anything connected to pin 3 on the power block as some manufacturers use it for a remote output. If there is you can damage diagnotic equipment as it's the diagnostic port (k-line) on the standard radio and putting 12v down it is bad.

Also you have to swap the permanent and switched lives as they are the wrong way round on leons, and all other VAG cars. Hopefully the harness that came with the radio will have the facility to swap the red and yellow wires over.

Those 2 functions are all the harness achieves.

 

[feenster]

Matt,
Many thanks for clearing that up. I have ordered a fascia adaptor from eBay, so will see where I go from there.

Also, most of the aerial boosters I saw on eBay mentioned that they only improved reception on the AM band - is this the case, or does it improve FM stations too?

Matt

 

[matt_s]

I expect they do both. If in doubt get one that says it does fm.

 

[Saul]

Don't worry about the iso harness, just make sure you don't have anything connected to pin 3 on the power block as some manufacturers use it for a remote output. If there is you can damage diagnotic equipment as it's the diagnostic port (k-line) on the standard radio and putting 12v down it is bad.

Also you have to swap the permanent and switched lives as they are the wrong way round on leons, and all other VAG cars. Hopefully the harness that came with the radio will have the facility to swap the red and yellow wires over.

Those 2 functions are all the harness achieves.

thats why i say get the harness as most people wont swap them round (or think to, then complain when no settings are saved)

 

[feenster]

thats why i say get the harness as most people wont swap them round (or think to, then complain when no settings are saved)

Saul, now I understand. I did quite a lot of searching before posting this, buit couldn't find an exact answer as to what was and wasn't needed. Hopefully this post will help others in the future.

I have ordered the ISO harness, as I'd prefer not to be rewiring my head unit. Ill play the Radio booster by ear once i've got it all fitted

Matt

 

[GavinT]

YOu dont have to rewire anything. You swap the red wore and yellow wire and that is it!