I am going to whip out the crappy symphony headunit at the weekend got a quick question or seven

question 1 do you need an iso adapter or does it have a standard one?????? Just so I know what I need. It's a pain for me as I am posted out in the sticks a simple run to halfords turns into an afternoon out so all advice is appreciated it's an Alpine headunit I am fitting

question 2 how is the symphony headunit held in???? is there screws involved???? As I am not sure how my headunit is going to stay in place (it just went on a bracket in my last car)

question 3 I am still umming and ahhing whether to fit my speakers, sub and amp myself is it a real mare to rip the 'tavia vRS to bits as I have no idea where clips and screws are etc and don't want to break anything (saying that I know of so called professional ice shops that knacker your cars) er think thats it for now so all help mucho appreciated

You need the following :-

PC5-52 Amplified Antenna ISO adaptor

PC2-69-4 CAr Audio Connector

From Halfords.

The best way to get the OEM unit out is to pull away the facia surround by opening the ashtray and pulling it out from the bottom. Then get an old hacksaw blade and snap in in two. Carefully insert the two blades into the slots. Once they engage pull out the unit by the sides.

Hope this helps.

Steve

Hmm. IIRC, the amplifier bit is for AM radio, which I haven't tested since I changed my HU a couple of days ago in my fabia, so maybe you do need it.

What you definately do need is the adaptor in the photo (halfords item code 130997). Steve, are those Halfords part numbers? Can't find it on any of the bits I bought.

The 2x ISO 8-pin connectors are standard, so you don't need any adaptors for the power / speaker leads to plug in the new HU.

I also bought the fascia adaptor from a Skoda garage - it's only a plastic strip that covers the uncovered bit above the unit you get when you remove the radio - where the symphony has the display at the top. Cost

Xavier's right about the amplified antenna thing - you don't need this if you listen to CDs/tapes/FM radio, so you might possibly be able to get away without it.

Running wires down the Octavia's pretty easy, if you just pull firmly on the trim when you want to loosen it then you should be able to figure out where it's clipped/attached. And if you break it, take it back to the dealership complaining of rattling trim and get it repaired under warranty...

Rob.

Just get the VW adapter from Blue Spot and save your dealer a few bob when they plug into the OBD port.

Hey, don't forget to eject all your CD's first BEFORE removing the Symphony, or you might find you'll need to re-attach it like me [NIGHTMARE!] :(.

Also, I needed to buy the amplified ariel adapter to get FM radio stations (was only getting 3 or 4 local/Pirate channels, no BBC Radio 1).

Just get the VW adapter from Blue Spot[/url'] and save your dealer a few bob when they plug into the OBD port.

The "basic" adapter will do this too, all it doesn't do is the amplified antenna thing. And it's cheaper!

Oh, and I second the advice about removing the CD cartridge before unplugging the HU...

Rob.

Ok, everyone has pretty much summed everything up.

The connectors are standard ISO but have several key differences that if not addressed will do 2 things.

1) Blow up the dealers VAG diag tool when they connect it to the diag port because of the infamous 'K' Wire. The ISO standard uses this pin for another purpose.

2) after a period of time canbus errors will occur resulting in strange behaviour of the car electrics.

The perm 12v and switched 12v are also the opposite way around so your stereo will forget its memory when you take the key out of the ignition.

without the aerial booster thingy, your fm will still work but only the strongest of stations will be recieved, ok if you are near a transmitter. AM (MW/LW) will not work at all.

I fitted an Alpine 9847 with the Ipod controller today, everything seems to be fine. The Alpine Loom uses ISO's but has bullet connectors for the Switched and Perm Live, you just swap these over and there are no prob's with losing memory on stations etc and it also has slecetable colours for the buttons so can keep the skoda green theme going.

Is this likely to blow up the VAG diag thing and start can errors? as it just seems to be a perfect fit (save for fiddling wires out of the way) and works like it's supposed to "work".

Cheers

Tony

Just get the VW adapter from Blue Spot[/url'] and save your dealer a few bob when they plug into the OBD port.

We also now stock these, should be on the website within the week, but if you want to order one sooner PM me and we'll sort you one out.

Their

I fitted an Alpine 9847 with the Ipod controller today' date=' everything seems to be fine. The Alpine Loom uses ISO's but has bullet connectors for the Switched and Perm Live, you just swap these over and there are no prob's with losing memory on stations etc and it also has slecetable colours for the buttons so can keep the skoda green theme going.

Is this likely to blow up the VAG diag thing and start can errors? as it just seems to be a perfect fit (save for fiddling wires out of the way) and works like it's supposed to "work".

Cheers

Tony[/quote']

s'true i've had a CDA9811R and other Alpines fitted from new with NO ISO adapters or aerial boosters and had no problems, in fact I tried a Bluespot and it reversed the switched and permanent feeds the worng way round . It's been in to three different dealers for four services, been to Forge, Jabba and Awesome for engine work and none of them has had a problem with their diagnostic software that they've told me about

thought you onlty needed the power aerial thing for VW's? Thats what they told me in the shop.

Most Head Unit Manufacturers looms come with bullit connections on red and yellow so you just need to swap these over to keep the momory functions.

If you are worried about VAG-COM then pull the blue wire from the ISO block.

If you feel comfortable about the above there is no need to buy a wiring adaptor.

As for the aerial booster, I found that I was loosing FM stations far too quickly when driving between counties. For the few pounds they cost you may as well fit one and have perfect FM reception.

Skoda HU's are same as VW, they have boosters built in the headunit. Replace the head unit and you need an external booster for perfect reception

Cheers

Lee

another thing to be aware of apart from swapping the power supplies round as previously mentioned is that if you plug directly onto the factory iso connectors you will see that the pin for electric aerial output on the radio side of the plug(usually blue)connects to a permanant 12v supply in the skoda side of the plug(usually a thick red/white wire) which can sometimes cause problems with certain head units or even drain the battery by sending a back feed into the stereo via the electric aerial output wire so its worth disconnecting this wire which is usually blue on most stereos plus if your fitting the aerial booster then you can connect the wire off the booster directly to the blue from the head unit where you have chopped it and as for the k-line wire then its usually safe as most stereos don`t have a wire in that position of the plug but be careful if your plugging the iso`s directly into the stereo like on jvc`s cos they can cause a short on the k-line

Just tried to use the radio tuner, think I need to get the aerial adaptor!

Without the key in the ignition I used to be able to turn the stereo on, don't seem to be able to do this now, any ideas?

when you say 'chop' it, are you just cutting the wire?

Just tried to use the radio tuner' date=' think I need to get the aerial adaptor!

Without the key in the ignition I used to be able to turn the stereo on, don't seem to be able to do this now, any ideas?

when you say 'chop' it, are you just cutting the wire?[/quote']

Turning the HU on without the key in the ignition is a function of the VAG HU's and is why the battery and ignition feeds are the wrong way round in the ISO block.

Wire it that way on a standard HU and it wont turn off when you pull the key out and you will loose all the memory settings.

So in answer to your question, no you can't do it unless the head unit supports it.

As for the blue wire, yes just cut it. Tape up the end from the car side and connect the head unit side to feed your aerial booster and/or amplifier control.

Cheers

Lee