Evenin'

I've just bought an Aldi radio/CD/Bluetooth unit. I've got an 06 Fabia Classic. Does anyone know how easy it will be to get the old radio out and the new one in and wired?

Thanks

Can be a bit of a pain getting the original HU out.

But easy enough when you've done a few.

Where do you live mate? Bath area?

Can be a bit of a pain getting the original HU out.

But easy enough when you've done a few.

Where do you live mate? Bath area?

Portishead. How are you supposed to get the old unit out?

You'll need the stereo removal keys, I bought some off eBay for a couple of quid. It's easy to remove once you know what your doing

If you fancy swinging by Keynsham I can do it for you.  

Thanks for the offer GR666. I managed to get the old radio out this evening, it was pretty easy. The problem now is with the aerial plug. There's not enough room behind the radio for the plug to fit the new unit. On the old one there was a right-angle piece fitted, but this won't fit on the new radio. See pics...

 

Old radio in...

 

 

 

Old radio rear...

 

New unit rear....

Aerial plug....

Old unit with right-angle piece....

Any ideas? The only one I have so far involves removing a plastic strut at the rear of the unit hole. It's an easy cut, but I'm not sure what this will do to the integrity of the centre console. It doesn't seem to do anything but keep the unit/cubby hole box square. At the rear, on the right....

 

 

Any comments? Thanks.

I hacked that out without issues.

I hacked that out without issues.

Really? That's really helpful to know. I'm just a bit hesitant as surely it's there for a reason?

Another question - the radio that was in started the CD from the beginning whenever I turned the ignition on. Does this mean I need to swap the yellow and red wires? Is there any risk in this? Are they both in the same plug? What's the best way of swapping them over?

 

Thanks

Yes it does unless that was a peculiarity of the head unit that 

was in there. There's no danger in switching the two over. But do any alterations on

the loom of the radio rather than the cars own wiring.

Isn't there a couple of bullet/spade connectors on the loom of the new radio on the  

red and yellow wires? If so switch them round. One is for 12v switched and one is

for 12v constant. It's really that simple. Again, I'm more than happy to help you fit this

if you fancy a trip over my way. I'll have it all in and working right in 20 mins for you.

It may well be that the wires need cutting and connectors fitting, again not a problem.

I've done this job once or twice before on the two Fabias I owned.

Yes it does unless that was a peculiarity of the head unit that 

was in there. There's no danger in switching the two over. But do any alterations on

the loom of the radio rather than the cars own wiring.

Isn't there a couple of bullet/spade connectors on the loom of the new radio on the  

red and yellow wires? If so switch them round. One is for 12v switched and one is

for 12v constant. It's really that simple. Again, I'm more than happy to help you fit this

if you fancy a trip over my way. I'll have it all in and working right in 20 mins for you.

It may well be that the wires need cutting and connectors fitting, again not a problem.

I've done this job once or twice before on the two Fabias I owned.

Thanks again. I've had another look this morning. There is no loom on the radio side as the car loom plugs straight in. There's a solid red wire on the car loom but no yellow-the others are all striped with two colours.

Another thought - the old radio did save the set stations. Does this mean that yellow and red are the right way round?

Maybe, why not just loosely plug the new one in and see how it functions

without clicking it home. It may be fine. Aldi is a german firm after all.

Another thought - the old radio did save the set stations. Does this mean that yellow and red are the right way round?

 

The stations are stored even if the radio is out of the car for a year or more.Older radios needed power to remember stations,newer ones are stored in a chip in the radio,which does'nt need power to keep its contents.

Right, I hooked up the radio and when you turn off the ignition it turns the radio off completely (so you have to press on when you turn on the ignition). It also starts the cd from the beginning and loses radio stations. 

 

The car wiring harness plugs straight into the back of the radio so I'll struggle to switch leads around. 

 

Will this work?...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.Xfabia+iso+harness&_nkw=fabia+iso+harness&_sacat=0&_from=R40

 

Any danger in trying it or am I likely to blow a fuse somewhere?

Yes the harness will work, the wires will be red and yellow on that 

and it's better  to chop that around (assuming you have to) than to attack

the wiring in the car. If you get the harness I'm more than happy to fit the

radio for you. I'm not after anything,  it's just a genuine offer of help.

I can even meet you halfway if you like, I can fit this in a supermarket car 

park in 20 mins flat, less if you have the harness too.

Thanks again grrr for your offer. All sorted now, and swapping the radio was the easy part. The angle adaptor I bought from eBay for the aerial connection was terrible quality and crackled so I chopped out the plastic bit at the back of the radio slot.

The adaptor for the plugs isn't a converter but a straight extension so it didn't swap the yellow and red wires. I did this by pushing out the blades for each wire in the connector and swapping them.

Radio now fits and works as it should. Thanks for all of the advice.