Hi all, I am trying to connect a connects2 box to the back of my standard symphony CD player. I'm hoping someone can help me with it.

 

This is the connects2 unit i've bought:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/m7N9hUK-d9H5P5Q4ThqZcVjBfSTobD_I0MCQk7NAp6o?feat=directlink

 

And this is the back of my CD player unit:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/b9wqAbdIt7jr2LyMc1h7L1jBfSTobD_I0MCQk7NAp6o?feat=directlink

 

I've not done a CD player change before so please bear with my lack of knowledge. I need to know where the black connector housing from the connects 2 goes, do I swap it over for the black or brown connector housing currently in my cd player?

 

I also don't know where I should connect the red crimps and earth cable?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

 

 

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/121923-fitting-an-ipod-connect-2-to-symphony/

Hmm, that's not the kit I used for that radio, I used this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Connects2-CTVSKX001-Octavia-Adaptor-Interface/dp/B005FMYBDK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449680681&sr=8-1&keywords=connects2+fabia

 

The guide posted by Keith above shows only pics for the one I mentioned, yours is slightly different as it's a iPhone-specific one rather than a generic headphone socket/3.5mm one, so is slightly more complex.

 

Looking at your kit pic:

- the unended wire is probably earth (was on mine), which you can attach by putting a small banjo connector (pic attached) on it and securing it with the tiny screw that's already on the CD unit beside the brown connector. If you're feeling lazy, just wind it around but it may work loose over time.

- The black connector block will go into the Connects2 box.

- The white connector block I assume is the same as the blue one on the standard 3.5mm Connects2, so put it into the spare (CD Changer) slot beside the brown one - the Connects2 pretends to be a CD changer.

- Not sure what the three red capped ones are, sorry.

 

The Connects2 kits are supplied with an instruction diagram, did you not get one?

 

If I were to guess, I'd say one or more of the red connectors are designed to take a live feed so that the phone can charge at the same time - if so the brown wire with red stripe is definitely the ignition switched live, and I think (75% sure) the red wire is the permanent live.

 

When putting it all back into the dash, the best place I found for the Connects2 was to the left and down from the radio slot, under the dash cubby hole  - there is an empty space behind there which it fits into nicely, and then you can put the output wire out the bottom, where the black trim meets the bottom of the dash so your phone can sit into the tray in front of the ashtray. If you want to take it a little further and fancy more work, you can run an extension cable through the centre console to the cigarette lighter hole and mount controls there.

 

 

If you're feeling brave: Connect the two connector blocks and the earth, then plug in your phone and see what happens (making 100% sure that none of the three red connectors touch any metal or each other). If that doesn't work, connect the two red connectors that have black wires coming from them and try again (they may be an optional switch circuit for something). DISCLAIMER: it would be much better if you had some combination of instructions/competence with a multimeter/a trained professional, as randomly connecting wires without any idea what they are for often makes things catch fire/break. Note that you will need to have the head unit on, have pressed CD and then the "1" button and it should display something other than "no disk"/"no CD changer".

Edited 9 December, 201510 yr by wiredsoftware

the link you posted for the connect2 box doesnt fit your radio, sorry!

Just checked out their "installation guide" on their website - http://www.connects2downloads.co.uk/c2/files/InstallationGuides/IPOD_OEM.PDF - don't think that will help much as it doesn't mention the wires!

the link you posted for the connect2 box doesnt fit your radio, sorry!

 

Not sure, think it might do. Connects2 do list it here for the Fabia 2005 onwards: http://www.connects2.co.uk/ProductInformation.aspx?id=11902&p=CTASKIPOD003.2

Edited 9 December, 201510 yr by wiredsoftware

Not sure, think it might do. Connects2 do list it here for the Fabia 2005 onwards: http://www.connects2.co.uk/ProductInformation.aspx?id=11902&p=CTASKIPOD003.2

 

Sorry, should have quoted. i was referring to the OP, the one hes bought doesnt fit the fabia.

 

 

Looking at the link you originally posted, thats fine

Sorry, should have quoted. i was referring to the OP, the one hes bought doesnt fit the fabia.

 

 

Looking at the link you originally posted, thats fine

 

The link in my 17:33 post looks like it might be the OPs one (and it's not mine), pic matches anyway..

Edited 9 December, 201510 yr by wiredsoftware

Thanks a lot for the replies guys. Especially wiredsoftware, your posts are much appreciated.

 

Unfortunately all I got with it was that same pdf document you linked to from the connects2 website. Its tempting to try! I'll need to source that banjo connector (I may have one at work) and in the meantime I might contact connects2 to see if they can provide  instructions on where the cables need to go.

It wont plug into the headunit because its the wrong one unless im missing somthing. you need the one with the blue plug as posted in post 3.

It wont plug into the headunit because its the wrong one unless im missing somthing. you need the one with the blue plug as posted in post 3.

Hutchy - Connects2 list this one too: http://www.connects2.co.uk/ProductInformation.aspx?id=11902&p=CTASKIPOD003.2 which has a white plug and is the modified version that supports (old) iPhone connector rather than 3.5mm into the Symphony unit, think this might be the one the OP has and why the connector is white. 

 

oxheart - try their helpdesk - http://support.connects2.com/tickets/technical/ 

I still think its the wrong one.

Edited 9 December, 201510 yr by hutchysrs50

It is indeed that one I've got. What is it about it that makes you think it won't be compatible hutchy? I've contacted their help desk so it'll be interesting to see if will fit! I'll let you guys know.

Edited 9 December, 201510 yr by oxheart

Because the connector is wrong, it won't actually fit the radio.

You were correct hutchy it doesn't fit. I'm frustrated because this is the second ipod specific kit I've bought that has been listed to fit! Im contacting connects2 again to see what they have to say.

They replied to my query about the other wires, here's what they said:

"On the interface you have 4 flying wires, 3 with crimps and one without any crimps. The one without any crimps will need to be connected to earth, a good place for earth is the chassis of the radio.

The other 3 flying wires you have are for noise suppression. The crimps you should have crimps one male crimp and 2 female crimps. The male crimp will connect to one of the female crimps. The female connector will dependent upon whichever female connector gives best noise suppression."

May be worth looking at these, work great on Bluetooth, and the Play2 version has iPhone input:-

http://www.my-io.com/products/io-play2-overview/

Many thanks for the recommendation Keith, I will look into those.

What I did on mine was wire in a USB adapter and the Connects2 mentioned above with the blue connector - it means that to connect a phone (and charge it) I need two wires, but I can now use any phone. You can get short USB-iPhone leads on eBay e.g. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141281437097 

 

I mention my USB setup a bit more here: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/381228-fitting-extra-12vcigarette-lighter-socketusb-socket/?p=4464992

Edited 10 December, 201510 yr by wiredsoftware

Many thanks for the recommendation Keith, I will look into those.

 

For the price of that IO Play2 you could pick up a very nice car head unit to replace the symphony that support streaming/phone/bluetooth etc....

 

If you do away with a CD player, a JVC "mechless" head unit is £45! See www.caraudiodirect.com

 

Be careful what you buy, even if it's another Connects2. Even things "iPod compatible" tend to only support certain segments of the iPod range.... IPods have been around long enough they've got compatibility issues of their own.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I've looked into the IO play2 and it's not for me. I like your solution wiredsoftware, but I'm leaning towards that headunit you suggested now vindaloo. Have you got it? If so did you need facia adapter to make it fit?

Thanks for the comments everyone. I've looked into the IO play2 and it's not for me. I like your solution wiredsoftware, but I'm leaning towards that headunit you suggested now vindaloo. Have you got it? If so did you need facia adapter to make it fit?

 

No, I've kept the Symphony CD player. I also have the CD changer, so not bereft of choice of tunes.

 

I did look at replacing the symphony a year or so back as Kenwood perked my interest by releasing some mechless players capable of FLAC - lossless playback.

 

To fit that JVC or similar, you need a £2-£4 piece of Skoda trim and an aerial booster if you're going to use the radio.... Unless DAB.

So, some wiring required to fit one. ome wrestling to get the new metal cage installed in the Skoda fascia too.

 

There are plenty of topics knocking around the Fabia 1 and ICE sections. Though sadly, no real guides.

 

J.

Many thanks for your post Vindaloo. Without a guide I imagine I will run into more bother trying to fit that.

 

I'm now thinking of getting I'm going to go for the Aux in: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Connects2-CTVSKX001-Octavia-Adaptor-Interface/dp/B005FMYBDK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449680681&sr=8-1&keywords=connects2+fabia?tag=b0f1c-21

 

And charging the phone via the Cig port with this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Micro-Mini-Car-Cigarette-Lighter-to-USB-Charger-Adapter-for-MP3-/251478257627?hash=item3a8d45afdb:g:0HMAAOSw7I5TuBhX

 

Before I pull the plug please can someone confirm that this will work?   Thanks!

Aslong as what turns up is shown in the picture, I can confirm it will work

Cheers Hutchy!

And thanks everyone for your help!

I fitted one of these connects2 kits to a fabia mk1 symphony cd head unit last week. Probably already answered but you have the wrong one. Mine just plugged straight in & worked straight off, it has a 3.5mm Jack which goes into the headphone socket.