All you need to know when installing your car radio...
Click these links to learn more...
How to remove your existing radio...
Installing your new radio...
Dashboard Mounting issues...
What are ISO Connections?
My car doesn’t have an ISO connector as standard, is this going to be a problem?
Why will my Aerial Lead not connect to my new radio?
My car has a steering wheel remote, can I still use this?
Installing a Steering Remote Adaptor...
How to find out if you need a Harness, Fascia, Aerial or Steering Remote Adaptor?
Where do I find Installation Accessories?
How to remove your existing radio...
Removing your In-Dash car radio is generally quick and easy. Removal and installation is best carried out from the front passenger seat if you are right handed. Some, but only a small number of cars will require the dash surrounding the radio to be removed as the radio may be held in with screws.
If you run into any difficulties with any part of the installation of your new radio your best option is to phone your local dealer, ask for the service department and ask to speak to a technician. They will be willing to advise you more often than not or pick up a copy of a Haynes Manual.
Your first step is to remove your original radio. Pay close attention to the steps involved, as refitting is simply a reverse of the removal.
There are various radio-mounting methods used amongst the different car manufacturers but the majority of factory fitted radios are secured either in a metal sleeve (also known as cage) by 2 or 4 securing clips that you push inwards towards the radio to release it, or using the same method without the sleeve.
Radios that have either 1 or 2 small round holes on either side of the radio you can use standard (DIN) radio removal Keys found in all car accessory shops or on our website.
DIN radio tools release the majority of radios found in pre-2004 Fiat, Ford, Land Rover, MG, Peugeot, Rover models and many makes of radio. Simply insert the keys into the holes until they lock into place (radios with only 2 holes, you can simply bend the keys). Some radios will require you to remove 4 small Allen screws (with a 2mm or 5/64" Allen Key) before you can insert the removal keys. I believe these are simply a security measure.
Now, push the keys outwards slightly, away from the radio, this will push the securing spring clips inwards, and then pull on the removal keys removing the radio. Some radios are a little bit stubborn, but a little persistence should pay off.
Some factory fitted radios are held in place by securing screws located at the sides of the radio. This type of mounting concept is found primarily on Japanese cars and these radios are mounted behind the dash that surrounds the radio. Most radios have some type of rear support but this is more often than not, just a push fit.
Once you have removed the radio from its sleeve, disconnect the aerial and factory wiring harness connectors.
If you encounter problems when removing radios that are mounted behind the dash try ringing your local dealer, ask for the Service department and ask to speak to a technician as they are generally happy to advise or you could always consult a Haynes manual.
Installing your new Radio...
Slide the metal mounting sleeve (or cage) off your new radio and push this into the radio aperture in your dash until the small outer lip on the sleeve meets with the edge of the radio aperture. To make the cage fit into the radio aperture easier bend the top and bottom until they meet in the middle.
Some radios' sleeves have been assigned a top and bottom and require installing the correct way up. If you have a radio aperture that is not the standard (DIN) size rectangular shape you will need a Fascia Adaptor to reduce the aperture size, so your new radio will fit, more on this later...
Now bend the tabs on the installed cage sleeve using a small screwdriver or right-angled pick-tool, outwards from the cage to hold it securely in position.
Pull the cars radio wiring harness out of the radio aperture and connect the lead that came with your new radio to this and also push the aerial lead into the radio's aerial socket on the rear of your radio. If your cars wiring harness connection is a different shape to that as supplied with your new radio (ISO) you will need a Harness Adaptor, more on these later...
To finish the installation, slide the radio into the sleeve but don't push it all the way in. Turn your radio on to ensure it is working OK and then save a radio station into button number 1 by depressing the button for 5 seconds and then turn your radio off and remove your keys from the ignition. Insert your keys back into your ignition and switch your radio back on ensuring it has retained the memorised radio station. Why you do this will become clear soon.
To finish off, clip on the radio trim to give it a neat finish, and then finally push it in fully until you here it lock into position with the cage.
Dashboard Mounting issues...
The majority of cars have a standard size radio and radio aperture (the opening in the dash where you mount the radio) known, as (DIN) which is a standard size of radio aperture and this will enable the installation of new radios without any problems.
However, many newer cars have radios that are integrated into the dash meaning that when the radio is removed you will actually remove part of what looks like the dash, or at least the shape of the dash will leave a non standard radio aperture.
So in order for you to install a standard size radio (DIN) you will need to fit a Fascia Adaptor that will reduce the hole to (DIN) size, reproducing the original look and being able to accommodate your new radio.
Find out if you need a Fascia Adaptor for your car.
What are ISO Connections?
ISO is the international standard connection used by all radio manufacturers and fitted to all new radio harnesses (female ISO) and when installing a radio these need to be connected (by push-fit) into an ISO male to transfer power and speaker power to your radio.
Some cars have ISO male connectors fitted to their radio harnesses as standard and this will enable you to install your radio in minutes without any problems. If you don't have an ISO connection as standard this isn't a problem as you will simply need a Harness Adaptor, (unique to your car model) to convert your cars standard radio harness to fit together with the ISO on your new radio.
So if the male connector on the car fits the female connector on the radio, they will simply click together. There is an exception to this rule, as some cars', mainly Vauxhall and VW models require a small alteration to their power input configuration.
Sounds technical but it's not...
If you were to connect the ISO plugs together the radio would work OK, but once you turn off the ignition and remove your keys the radio would lose it's memory settings (radio stations would lose and any inserted CD's would eject). This is due to the power wires (yellow: permanent live and red: ignition live) being connected the wrong way around, for these particular car models.
Many radio models now come with Harness Adaptors that use bullet connector's in-line with the harnesses power wires. You can simply disconnect the bullets, switch the yellow and red wires and reconnect.
Or, on some older cars if the radio as standard is connected as permanent live (can be turned on without the key in the ignition) then you may have to connect the yellow and red wires on the radio lead together, where the manufacturers radio wiring allows it (by using bullet connectors that are inline on the radio harness) to line up with the permanent wire on the cars harness. This means that when the 2 ISO connections are pushed together the power is transferred to the correct wire positions.
But if you don't want to do this there is an easier way…
To solve this problem you will need a Harness Adaptor. Read on to Discover if your cars make and model needs a Harness Adaptor.
My car doesn’t have an ISO connector as standard, is this going to be a problem?
Your new radio however, will not always connect directly to your cars standard wiring harness connector. You will need to use a Harness Adaptor in between your cars wiring and your new radio's female ISO connector. The harness adaptor will simply convert your cars wiring into an ISO male that will then enable you to seamlessly connect this by push-fit into the ISO female found on your new radio's harness.
Find out if you need a Harness Adaptor for your car make and model.
The wiring harnesses will provide the power and the speaker connections to connect to your new radio.
Why will my Aerial Lead not connect to my new radio?
You may require an aerial adaptor, as some cars such as Vauxhall models use a female socket instead of the conventional male plug. The adaptor simply pushes into your cars female socket and the result is a male plug that fits your new radio. Conveniently one is included with all new radios.
Some others models need an Aerial Adaptor because they use an amplified aerial. Basically, the radio feeds the aerial amplifier that is built into the base of the aerial via this adaptor. If you fail to use this adaptor, a poor radio reception could result.
Find out if you need an Aerial Adaptor for your car.
My car has a Steering Wheel Remote Control, can I still use this?
If your car has a factory fitted Steering Wheel mounted remote control and you want to use this to control your new radio you will need to fit a Steering Remote Adaptor to keep that capability.
Steering Remote Adaptors are available to work with many car makes and models in conjunction with Alpine, JVC, Kenwood, Panasonic & Sony radios that have the ability to connect to a Stalk Control Lead. You will have to check with each specific model to check this compatibility.
Installing a Steering Remote Adaptor...
Each Steering Remote Adaptor comes with full installation instructions covering the make and model of car it was designed to work with.
Installation is really simple one you have gained access to the rear of your radio. You simply connect, by push-fit one end of the Steering Remote Adaptor into your wiring harness connector. This should be the spare connector you are left with having used the power and speaker connectors for the radio.
Then push the small Jack Plug type connector, or similar (depending which radio you are using) into the blue socket, or other (again depending on radio make and model you are using) at the rear of your radio.
Before pushing your radio back into its cage turn on your radio and check your remote works OK.
Find out if you need a Steering Remote Adaptor for your car make and model.
How to find out if you need an Aerial, Fascia, Harness or Steering Remote Adaptor?
On the Car Audio Plus website you will find an extensive range of installation Accessories from the 2 largest manufacturers in the UK, Autoleads and Connects 2. For each make and model of car you will find that some of the accessories displayed will be from Autoleads and some from Connects 2. We have done this as a recommendation of which part is easiest to install or is the most reliable, etc.
*I would recommend you contact these 2 companies before buying to ensure you know which part numbers you require.
To find out if your car make and model needs any of the above installation adaptors choose from the following 2 options:
1) Each manufacturer has a sales advisory phone line to advise you and help you select the correct accessories for your car make and model. As they do not sell direct to private customers you will have to make a note of the accessories they recommend and then following options 2-4.
Autoleads - 0800 783 9125 (9am - 5pm)
Connects 2 - 01384 291130 (10am - 5pm)
2) Select from the Accessories option found on the grey navigation menu to the left of the website. This will take you to the installation accessories. Or you could just Click HERE.
Where do I find Installation Accessories?
You will find a comprehensive range of installation accessories on the Car Audio plus website or at your local car accessory store.
Take me to the Installation Accessories on this website.
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