Hi folks- right in faffing with the motor again, this time the radio!

I'd like to replace the 'swing' headunit for something better. Not interested in sat nav screen type units.

More along time lines of pioneer reference single din/double din unit.

I know what I need with fascia adapters/iso wiring but what I'm not sure about is the canbus connections.

The swing unit links in with the reverse sensors to give image and sound, I know I'll not get these with a pioneer 'normal' radio and that's fine. However, will not having a link to the canbus give me fault codes on the car?

Is there a way to overcome this and what have other people fitted?

I want good sound and not a 'media' type headunit.

I'll be replacing the speakers at some point too.

Cheers!

No, you won't get a visible error having a non-canbus aftermarket radio fitted, but it will probably log a low-level config error in VCDS (as the radio the car is expecting isn't there). This is nothing that will affect the car, or create a warning light/Maxidot error etc. - so no coding change actually needed.

But as you say, you'll lose the visual radar display from the sensors (though I think you'll still keep the beeps as, IIRC, the Fabia II factory sensors still uses an independent speaker for the beeps rather than channelling the audio through the radio), depending on how your car is configured).

If you do lose the beeps, there are adapter looms from Connects2 that can reinstate it (these days these are usually combined with the adapter loom needed to reinstate steering wheel controls, meaning you don't need two adapter leads sitting between the radio and the car's quad lock loom.

Lastly - have you considered a Kenwood instead of a Pioneer - good sound and a lot of features for the money (bluetooth, iPod/iPhone control, DAB etc), even in single DIN.

Cheers mate.

I'll have to get a connects2 adapter kit as the reverse beeps run through the radio. As you'd mentioned I think they're all part of the steering control kit.

Reason I'm going pioneer is that I've always had them and they're great. No reason why it can't be a kenwood though, guess I'll just have a look at what's out there. The kenwood direct replacement is great, but not £700 great considering the monster install I could build for that!

Cheers again!

Completely agree on the Kenwood VAG headhunt. Nice bit of kit, but not worth £700+.

On the Fabia II, the parking sensor speaker is actually behind the B pillar (same as the Skoda Rapid), the audio beep is not coming through the Swing, so you shouldn't need to reinstate anything. If you have steering wheel or stalk radio controls, you'll just need an adapter loom for that. I recommend the Connects2 CTSSK003.2

Pioneer units do produce great audio (I used to have one in both my 106 and my Rover 75), I just find them to be a bit light on features, when you compare them with similarly priced units from other makers. For a singe DIN, I would go with something like a Kenwood KDC-BT700DAB. for Double DIN without nav, the Kenwood DPX-7000DAB. Both are a substantial audio improvement over the Swing, as well as a way of adding a shedload of missing functionality back into the car if it doesn't already have Bluetooth, MDI etc.

The Pioneer Apple Carplay headhunt is also very nice (and quite cheap).

Ah, I'd just presumed it was through the radio as the volume would drop/switch to the reverse beep.

That'll do me if it's a separate speaker!

Just need to work out if I need speaker mount adapters or can just fit new speakers in the existing door mounts.

Thanks!

Completely agree on the Kenwood VAG headhunt. Nice bit of kit, but not worth £700+.On the Fabia II, the parking sensor speaker is actually behind the B pillar (same as the Skoda Rapid), the audio beep is not coming through the Swing, so you shouldn't need to reinstate anything. If you have steering wheel or stalk radio controls, you'll just need an adapter loom for that. I recommend the Connects2 CTSSK003.2Pioneer units do produce great audio (I used to have one in both my 106 and my Rover 75), I just find them to be a bit light on features, when you compare them with similarly priced units from other makers. For a singe DIN, I would go with something like a Kenwood KDC-BT700DAB. for Double DIN without nav, the Kenwood DPX-7000DAB. Both are a substantial audio improvement over the Swing, as well as a way of adding a shedload of missing functionality back into the car if it doesn't already have Bluetooth, MDI etc.The Pioneer Apple Carplay headhunt is also very nice (and quite cheap).

Hi, I've finally got myself round to getting a new headunit. Went for pioneer Deh-x8700dab, got it for a good price!

I'm using the connects2 ctssk003.2 harness in fitting it.

All seems straight forward however, on the adapter loom it had 3 lose wires-

One for speed pulse connection, one for reverse sensor and one for parking brake.

I don't suppose you know which wires in the car's existing loom I need to link these up with? The colours don't seem to correspond from what I've had a look at so far...

I know what jobs they're for, just not which ones from the quadlock connector to use!

Thanks again!!

Hi, I've finally got myself round to getting a new headunit. Went for pioneer Deh-x8700dab, got it for a good price!

I'm using the connects2 ctssk003.2 harness in fitting it.

All seems straight forward however, on the adapter loom it had 3 lose wires-

One for speed pulse connection, one for reverse sensor and one for parking brake.

I don't suppose you know which wires in the car's existing loom I need to link these up with? The colours don't seem to correspond from what I've had a look at so far...

I know what jobs they're for, just not which ones from the quadlock connector to use!

Thanks again!!

They don't need connecting... speed pulse connector is used for sat nav.. reverse sensor is used to switch on reversing cam and parking brake is used to stop you watching DVD's on the move.

As you don't have any of these features on that headunit they don't need connecting. They prob use the same wiring loom for multiple headunits.

Edited 14 October, 20169 yr by DamoR

That's brilliant, thanks!

Thought that would be the case, just wanted to make sure

Well, I've got the thing fitted.

However, it only works when the ignition is on- position II.

When the ignition is at position I, it powers up briefly then shuts down.

I've used the connects2 adapter that takes the canbus control feed but it just doesn't seem right.

I've also checked and double checked the wiring loom info on the technical articles and it all seems correct..

Any light shedding on the matter would be very helpful...!

That is odd that you would get power on pre-ignition, but not after ignition.

I'm lost for ideas at the moment but will have a look later at the ctssk003.2 in case there are any cables that need reversing or something.

Yeah, it's really odd. I'm at a dead loss at the moment moment.

Thanks again man!

However, the parrot that was on the old swing unit did the same, it wouldn't have any power with ignition position I but worked fine on position II. Guess it'll just be the canbus system and lack of switched live and ignition live, it's just nice to be able to have the radio/cd playing without the ignition fully turned on.

Hey ho, the sound quality is miles better and that's what I was after!