Hmmm, just trading in my 2nd Octy (elegance) for an L&K. When I got this one I had a nice Kenwood 10 disc changer and mini disc in the last one. 2 dealers separately told me it was impossible to fit a non skoda unit as the skoda one was "hard wired" in as part of the wiring loom. Presume from reading the various threads this is all *******s?

Anyone got any advice on how best to get this done (kept the Kenwood just in case and would love to have it back in use). No use with electronicery myself so no DIY tips

thankx

I know alpine do interface boxes for their kit so you can plug in alpine kit to steering wheel controls and the like. Maybe kenwood do similar stuff ?

They are only saying half the truth. Yes, the Skoda HU and CD-changer use a loom which is fitted well within the car, and no, there is absolutely nothing stopping you to run your own loom from HU to boot. The best location is down the side, underneath the skirting plastics (the ones that hold your carpets in place).

An other option would be to re-use the wires from the existing loom, but that can be rather trickery.

when you change the hu dont forget to buy the cable adapter, this will sort out your power, and more importantly disconnect the K Wire, if you dont your dealer can wave byebye to his diag equipment.

Originally posted by domhnall in this post

impossible to fit a non skoda unit as the skoda one was "hard wired" in as part of the wiring loom. Presume from reading the various threads this is all *******s?

Pretty much, yes. Basically, if you buy a changer more than likely you'll get a cable for connecting it to the HU. So you just need this cable down the side of the car, which can be done easily enough and described step-by-step if you need it...

Really not much in the way of electronics. Pop out the existing HU, fit the wiring adapter to the exsiting loom, plug in the new HU, fit the changer in the boot (or wherever), run the cable from the changer to the HU and plug it in. Should all work fine.

Oh, and remember to remove the CD cartridge from the Skoda multichanger *before* you unplug it...

Rob.

Yep , just replace the existing stereo and leave the wiring in place so that when you sell the car you can drop the old kit back in.

Tip.......take out the glovebox when fitting new HU and watch out for the glovebox light connection.

cheers guys, I'm going to print all of these off and take them to my dealer. When I got the last car they initially said yes, leave the old and new cars with us for the day and come back tonight all will be changed over. Then they rang to say it was impossible and when I collected the car the reason had expanded a bit to "it would stop the central locking working". I found this a bit dubious but even a VW dealer said something similar. I'll see what they say this time!

thanx again

Domhnall

I think the confusion arises from hooking up a new CD changer to the existing wiring loom. This is indeed not possible (difference in connector, pin layout, etc). Forget about re-using existing wires, run your own and you'll be fine.

nah, they were quite clear on what was needed, they had the cable. They said any non skoda radio screwed with the central locking!

Invite them to take a look at this forum and then reconsider what they are saying!

just what I had in mind Denis :-)

Or ask them to come into this forum and explain how everyone else's central locking still works after they've swapped the HU!

Rob.

Originally posted by domhnall in this post

Then they rang to say it was impossible and when I collected the car the reason had expanded a bit to "it would stop the central locking working".

Ah well , I must have imagined mine working fine then.

Originally posted by domhnall in this post

nah, they were quite clear on what was needed, they had the cable. They said any non skoda radio screwed with the central locking!

A non-standard Radio ***CAN*** play havoc with various electrically operated systems on the car, but only if they are dumb enough to plug the skoda changer into the new H/U, assuming it has a compatible cd changer connection (eg, Blaupunkt)

This is exactly what happened to Rich1068 when he asked his dealer to fit his new HU (I did my own and had no probs). I believe Rich got a local ICE installer to fit his in the end, as the numpty's at his dealer didn't have a clue

If they continue to insist it's impossible, PM me and i'll give you my phone number to pass on to them, i'll tell their "technician" exactly how to carry out that major engineering task AKA fitting a new radio

Domhnall, you will need this though if you're replacing the HU.

Hi domhnall,

First, welcome to the select band of L&K owners!!

Did you order the car with steering wheel controls (this is now an option in the UK), because if you did, you may soon find that there will be an adaptor lead to enable you to use these with a non-Skoda head unit.

I know that Blaupunkt are developing one, because my contact there offered me one to try with the Woodstock DAB52, but unfortunately I ordered my car before this was an available option!

John.

cheers guys - I hadn't ever thought about the exclusivity angle, I just wanted the leather interior (and not in that yellow colour!)

I didn't order the sterring whell controls, nice feature but not sure how much I'd use them, I've driven other cars with them and I find it easier to do it the old fashioned way. Sat nav was tempting but then at

With regard to the wiring adapter - if you don't listen to the radio, or only FM, then you can get away with a cheaper adapter (model number PC2-69-4) which is available from Halfords and the like for about a tenner...

Rob.