I've pick up a bargain iPod head unit, along with the facia plate, wiring and aerial adaptors to swap my Symphony head unit out, but when I picked up the radio removal keys from Halfrauds earlier they didn't fit. I got my money back but I can only seem to find one particular type listed on Ebay. Can anyone tell me exactly what I shopuld be looking for please?

Also - with the aerial adaptor - should the blue lead go to a permanent or switched 12V live?

Car is a 54 plate VRS by the way - Symphony head unit with 6 CD autochanger under the seat which is now obsolete thanks to my iPod.

Thanks in advance for any help.

If it's any help to you, I removed my Symphony with 2x cable ties and apparently snapping a junior hack saw blade in half works as well

If it's any help to you - I've twice had my HU removed FOC by firms. Once was Skoda when I got the facia plate, the other was a local car audio dealer/fitter. I offered him some money but all I had was a £20 note and he CBA with change, so he let me off. Only took him about 30 seconds including walking to the car. Might be worth trying?

Something else to check - before pushing the HU into place, check it retains all settings like stations, EQ's etc when the key is removed from the car. If not, there should be a red and yellow with bullet connectors on which you can swap over (so instead of yellow -> yellow & red -> red you'd have yellow -> red & red -> yellow). Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs - just trying to help save you the same issues I first had!

Kenwood keys also do the job perfectly

Edited 8 January, 201115 yr by Gareth_1.8T

The keys from Halfrauds were the right width, but too tall. The slots in my unit are about 5mm high by 1mm wide. I had heard about using tie wraps so I'll give that a go.

Triggerfish - not at all mate. I have fitted stereos before but I usually make the mistake of not checking which is which first. There's no bullet connectors so I can see me doing some soldering if needed.

Anyone got an answer re the aerial adaptor? Whether it shoud be switched or perm live? The ebay auction I won it on doesn't state.

Thanks so far.

As already stated, Kenwood keys from Halfords are perfect and dirt cheap.

Mine are Kenwood ones - just to reinforce the solution!

Thanks chaps - I'll get some Kenwood keys today.

Another quick question - the chap I bought the head unit from hasn't sent the cradle. I bought a universal one from Halfords but I'm a little stuck how to secure the headunit in place.

Can I take the pocket out underneath the Symphony unit so I can fix a securing bracket to the back of the new head unit, and then put the pocket back in afterwards?

Starting to think it might just be easier to pay someone to install it for me!!

Hi mate. The blue wire should be connected to the switched live connection as far as I can tell.

That way when you switch off the ignition the aerial booster will also deactivate.

If it's connected to a permanent live then it will be constantly draining the battery even when the car is parked.

In turn this may trigger the voltage drop sensor in the alarm system causing false alarms.

(Usually at 3 in the morning if my experience is anything to go by... )

A lot of head units have a metal stud on the rear (Or a place to screw one in) around which a rubber sleeve/grommet

is placed. When the head unit is pushed back the rubber grommet wrapped stud should locate in a hole behind the

headunit. This isn't the case with all H/units or cars however but may be the case with yours so have a look.

I changed mine and the cage was sufficient to securely hold the head unit without the need for the stud.

My Cd player doesn't jump even when I'm driving "enthusiastically"

The storage bin beneath should go some way in supporting the head unit I reckon.

Leave it in place and fit the stereo with it in position, otherwise you'll have nothing underneath

to secure the cage to. Hope to help.

Many thanks Grr666 - that's answered all I need to know. I wasn't going to take the bin out permanently - just wondered if taking it out would ease getting the HU unit in while I sorted the rear fixing and then put the bin back.

The rubber grommet idea sounds like a good one though.

Strips cut from an old credit card work well too for removing the head from the dash.

Edited 10 January, 201115 yr by DEAN0

Well I got the keys from Halfrauds - and already bent one trying to remove the HU!!!

Another quick question - the chap I bought the head unit from hasn't sent the cradle. I bought a universal one from Halfords but I'm a little stuck how to secure the headunit in place.

Can I take the pocket out underneath the Symphony unit so I can fix a securing bracket to the back of the new head unit, and then put the pocket back in afterwards?

Might be easier with the proper housing - which isn't a "cradle" as such...

I tried using (as suggested above) two halfs of a junior hacksaw blade, they fitted through the slots perfectly, and could feel them push something apart.

However the CD Symphony unit would not budge, also removed two plastic strips either side of unit for better leverage, to no avail, and was afraid of damaging anything.

I abandoned that idea, and will get (as also suggested) the proper thingy's from Halfords over the Easter holidays (hopefully) and try again.

Reason for removal of the unit is that there is a CD disc inside the unit that refuses to be ejected no-matter how many times CD button is continuously depressed.

So wish to open up CD unit to retrieve CD disc (not belonging to me) and return to it's owner.

I will ask does everyone who may have any idea what may be broken/failed to stop ejection of CD disc.

CD will play/ change tracks etc, just will not eject disc.

After CD button is depressed, the unit goes back to playing the radio, almost as if the disc had been ejected.

Which ones to buy ?? Kenwood Removal Key PC5-106 or PC5-107, they are shaped differently.

PC5-106 before 2001 or PC5-107 after 2001 ??

Open to all members for idea's, I know it will probably end-up having to buy another replacement unit. (sigh)

kenwood keys worked for me

Skoda did mine FOC for me. . .

suprisingly halfords removed mine for me as well using the kenwood keys

That is surprising - was quoted £4 to fit a brake bulb. I declined and did it in about 30 seconds.

Still, good result all the same.

When I swapped mine I managed to pull on the bottom lip of the cubby hole thats under the radio to pull that out and the radio unit slide out with it.

I had hacksaw blades at the ready though.

just swapped my lives over thanks Triggerfish didnt even realise they were wrong way round lol was wondering why i had to keep on changing my equaliser settings

I had no idea what you were on about then - forgotten I'd posted up the top too! Anyway, you're welcome!

See 'giandougl' previous entry please.

Kenwood CD Removal Key Numbers.??

PC5-107 before 2001 or PC5-106 after 2001 ??

Thanks One & All.

I would like to change my symphony car stereo in my 2014 Fabia. Is the what I need? How do I know what stereo will work in the car is their a list of stereo models that fit the 2 plugs and antenna that come out of the old symphony Unit?

Key PC5-107

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/290585077000?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=290585077000&targetid=878706529565&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9046083&poi=&campaignid=9441050760&mkgroupid=95284779785&rlsatarget=pla-878706529565&abcId=1139126&merchantid=137673002&gclid=CjwKCAiA7t3yBRADEiwA4GFlI6PvBAB6JmHwebhm_CLeKTPvlA-RcBXXanHLmZMi_uIiyoSZnqqGTxoC1aoQAvD_BwE

 

Single Facia
https://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/skoda-fabia-1999-2004-car-cd-stereo-fitting-kit-single-din-fascia-wiring-harness-aerial.html

 

Mount

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Replacement-Single-1-DIN-Radio-Stereo-Head-Unit-Mounting-Fitting-Cage/333467991793?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3D6deeeb6448564e6a87071add5c74f8be%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D30%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D173455816764%26itm%3D333467991793%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2386202%26algv%3DSimplAMLv5PairwiseWeb&_trksid=p2386202.c100677.m4598

 

Stereo

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-MEX-N5300BT-Bluetooth-Connection-Hands-Free/dp/B07HPB28G2/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=sony+car+cd+bluetooth&qid=1582836376&s=electronics&sr=1-2

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-DSXA210UI-Mechless-Player-Receiver/dp/B074DXPS77/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Sony+Car+Audio+DSX-A210UI&qid=1582836548&sr=8-1