Hi All.

 

I haven't got a lot of car experience, but reading up on the process from other threads here, I said it sounded doable...so gave it a try!

 

After a lot of work, I got everything installed and (kind of) working.

 

I have two issues at the moment:

 

1. The Parrot seems to always be on, even when I have the key removed. I have used a piggy back fuse, and have am sharing the fuse socket for the Climate Control. I checked this one, and it's only live when the key is in. That's what I want right? Unfortunately it's not working that way for me. There was previously a Nokia Bluetooth kit in the car that I removed. I didn't remove the power cables, as they were wired into the other cables going into the back of the radio, and wasn't confident to unjoining cables that had been cut and attached together! There is a cable running to the fuse box from the back of the cable that I think is from the old kit. It's a black and yellow one. I think it's going into a 20A fuse (that's marked as unused in the manual, but has a fuse in it), but when I remove that the radio and Parrot still work...any thoughts?

 

2. Turning down the volume on the radio doesn't turn down the volume on the bluetooth, and the steering wheel controls don't work for the Parrot either. When I was buying the SOT cable, I bought one that I was told would work with the steering wheel controls. Any thoughts?

 

Appreciate any feedback. 

The parrot has a permanent 12v and switch 12v supply, you might want to check they are the correct way round as that would give the above behaviour.

 

For the buttons to work you'll need either a unika or converso display too, I have a unika somewhere at home if you haven't.

The parrot has a permanent 12v and switch 12v supply, you might want to check they are the correct way round as that would give the above behaviour.

 

For the buttons to work you'll need either a unika or converso display too, I have a unika somewhere at home if you haven't.

Thanks for the suggestion. I got the kit in Halfords, and the guy there who fits these said that I need to cross those two (he actually did it for me), so that permanent is connected to switch, and switch is connected to permanent. He said it's because these were made for the US market, and it was different in Europe. You reckon he's wrong?

 

For the Unika/converso display, do you mean something like this: http://www.parrotshopping.com/us/p_parrot_product.aspx?i=189376 ?

 

I thought the volume button on the radio would control the bluetooth anyways? And with the proper SOT cable I could use the built in controls on the steering wheel to control the Parrot?

Have you actually taken a wire from a switched live somewhere?

 

As standard there isn't a switched live in the radio loom only a permanent one as the stereo is switched on and off via canbus.

 

You need to run a wire to a spare switched live fuse in the fuse box.

 

Phil

Have you actually taken a wire from a switched live somewhere?

 

As standard there isn't a switched live in the radio loom only a permanent one as the stereo is switched on and off via canbus.

 

You need to run a wire to a spare switched live fuse in the fuse box.

 

Phil

Hi Phil.

 

I believe I've done this. From the SOT cable there is a red wire. I've run this to the fuse box, and used a piggy back fuse to connect it in. I've connected it to the Climate control fuse, which is only on when the key is turned (a switched live fuse I think?)

 

langers2k, 

 

I tried to switch permanent and switch connectors around...the Parrot wouldn't turn on at all then.

That suggests at least one of the power sources isn't doing what you expect. When the ignition is on, both should be powered so regardless of which way round they are connected the parrot should be on...

 

Have you got a multimeter to check they are a permanent and switched live?

 

On to the SOT cable.

 

Yes, there should be an additional wire and yes it needs to be connected into a switched live in the fuse box.

 

There are two ways to wire the parrot in for sound, with the SOT (sound on top) cable it effectively disconnects the speakers from the headunit and powers them using a small internal amplifier instead. This means the parrot is solely responsible for the volume rather than the headunit which is why the volume control doesn't work. When the parrot isn't producing sound it will then reconnect the speakers to the headunit for normal operation.

 

Alternatively, if the headunit has an AUX in, it can be wired to that which means it'll be using the headunit's amplifier and therefore the headunit can control volume.

 

The unika allows the parrot to see the steering wheel presses and also canbus signals to turn it on and off with the stereo. These means you can ditch the remote control that comes with the parrot and also won't need that extra red wire for a switched live.

 

I've not looked at a converso so I can't comment on it's operation without reading an install guide.

Thanks everyone for the help. I have sorted this now.

 

I managed to get a multimeter, and found out that the fuse I was connecting into was constant live. I found one that was switched live...all good now!

Interested to understand as I am about to install the same kit - why do you have a fuse tap for this? The MKi9200 kit that I have connects directly to the stereo and takes its power from there...

 

I am just waiting for the connector from Halfords before I am able to fit it.

 

Also interested to see where you have mounted the screen and mic.

 

Thanks,

Rob

40 minutes ago, vrsRob said:

Interested to understand as I am about to install the same kit - why do you have a fuse tap for this? The MKi9200 kit that I have connects directly to the stereo and takes its power from there...

 

Because the standard stereo only has permeant lives, there is no ignition/switched live to turn the MKi9200 on/off.

 

You have two choices, either take a tap from an ignition/switched live or buy a CAN bus adaptor such as the Parrot Unika.

2 hours ago, vrsRob said:

Interested to understand as I am about to install the same kit - why do you have a fuse tap for this? The MKi9200 kit that I have connects directly to the stereo and takes its power from there...

 

I am just waiting for the connector from Halfords before I am able to fit it.

 

Also interested to see where you have mounted the screen and mic.

 

Thanks,

Rob

I have the screen mounted on the gap between the glovebox and the centre consol, and the microphone mounted on the drivers side a-pillar.  This was the way the Halford installer placed it.