I've got a Kenwood KDC 237 stereo unit I want to wire into my Skoda Felicia 1.3Ltr N reg.

According to the Kenwood PDF manual, the default wiring is Red Ign Cable to Red A7 pin & Yellow Battery Cable to Yellow A4 pin, unless you have a Volkswagen, when it's the opposite way round.

There's a warning note saying that it's crucial to get this right or it can damage the Kenwood.

What I'm wondering is, would my wiring count as Volkswagen?

Btw, the reason I'm having to consider this is because the multi-point connector plugs on my car won't fit into the 'standard' multi-point connector sockets on the Kenwood.

I have spare plugs that will fit, but I will need to connect them 'wires to wires' if you follow me.

Hoping someone here knows his onions on the wiring loom.

Thanks. 

You forgot to mention if your car had a radio installed from factory. If yes, specify the type/model. Then I will be able to draw the wiring for your Kenwood. Even better take a photo of Felicia's radio connector(s).

Both feeds on felicia are live if the standard iso leads there no switched feed

the iso pins on the felicia plug have the red and yellow wires linked. you can see it on the plug there is a yellow wire that joins the red so it doesnt matter what way you put the red and yellow.

felicia has a standard iso plug and so should the head unit, you must have the wrong adaptar or something if you are have to join wires

Thanks all. I bought it second hand, with a non factory stereo fitted, which eventually died. The connector plug to that unit isn't like the two thinish type 'standard' stereo plugs I'm used to, hence I will need to connect the 'standard' type plugs I have, wire to wire. It's too late now to get a decent photo of the fitted plug & it's wiring, but I will take a photo tomorrow & attach it to a description of the various wires & their colours.

I've taken several photos on my smartphone, but I'm unable to attach/upload them to here, so I will describe as best I can, the wiring situation.

There's another old stereo connector which has these wires. A Brown one, a Green & Yellow (that yellow could be lime green), a Yellow one & a Black& Red (that red could be brown).

My old stereo was connected via 3 other wires of possible power concerns.

A Black one, a Red one & a Yellow one.

My reading of this is that the Black is earth, the Red is main power feed & the Yellow is possibly the ignition power feed or a separate power feed for either stereo lights(Haynes Manual) or maybe to power an aerial.

However, even if my summation is correct, it comes down to whether or not my wiring counts as VW or not where the Kenwood is concerned & sadly, I've had zero responses from the Kenwood forums.

I suspect I may have to gamble one way or the other in the end. Maybe if I incorporate an ultra light, in line fuse I can avoid damaging the Kenwood?

I have read the manual of your stereo and the installation is quite simple  Yeah, Kenwood made things look more complicated by inserting the VW caution phrase.

 

Like any other radio, yours needs a constant on power supply on A-4 (yellow), a switched on by ignition key power supply on A-7 (red) and a ground wire on A-8 (black). Your only concern is if you want the radio to be switched on/off from the ignition key OR you will operate the power button by hand. In the latter situation the risk is to drain the battery by leaving the radio on by mistake after leaving the car.

 

Now let's review the original radio connector on the car:

red wire - constant power supply from the battery

brown wire - ground

yellow wire - power supply switched on by the sidelights switch (for the backlight of the radio at night) - your radio doesn't need backlight

 

As you can see there is no switched by ignition switch wire. You will have to get it yourself by using an extra black wire, usually from the ignition switch (pin 15, black wires)

 

Conclusion: connect the wires as follows:

• red wire on Felicia to yellow wire on Kenwood
• brown wire on Felicia to black wire on Kenwood
• extra black wire from ignition switch to red wire on Kenwood.

PS

You can send the photos to me by e-mail if you will.

Edited 10 August, 20169 yr by RicardoM

Thanks for that excellent info Ricardo, how would we manage without you eh? You truly are the font of all knowledge, at least where Skoda's are concerned.

Sorry for late response, but I get no alerts as to replies here & I've been a bit busy lately.

Thanks again friend, I feel confident now to install the darned thing.  

You're welcome. There are other good mechanics too in here with lots of experience. Maybe I am slightly better at electronics because it's my profession.