Click the links below to be taken to the installation information you require or scroll down the page.

Removing my original radio and installing my new one

Do I need any extra accessories to install my radio?

ISO Connections

My car doesn’t have an ISO connector as standard

Do I need an Aerial Adaptor?

My car has a steering wheel remote control can I still use this?

How to fit a Stalk control SMART lead

Dashboard Mounting

Installing my new Radio?

Do I need a harness, fascia or aerial adaptor or SMART lead?

Where to buy installation accessories

Quick Product Guide

Glossary


Removing my original radio and installing my new one

Replacing your car stereo is usually quick and easy. Removal and installation is best carried out from the front passenger seat. Only a small number of vehicles will require the dash surrounding the radio to be removed.

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 and ask for the service department. They will be willing to advise you more often than not.

Your first step in the installation is to remove your original radio. Pay close attention to the steps involved, as refitting is a reverse of the removal.

There are various radio-mounting methods used amongst the different car manufacturers. The factory radio is often secured in a sleeve by 2 or 4 spring clips that you push towards the radio to release it.

For radios that have either 2 or 4 small round holes on either side of the radio you can use standard radio release keys found in all car accessory shops or on our website.

These fit Ford, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Rover and other makes of radios. Simply insert the keys into the holes (For radios with only 2 holes, simply bend the keys) until they lock into place. With some radios you will have to remove 4 small Allen screws (with an Allen key - 5/64") before you can insert the removal keys.

Move the keys outwards away from the radio, this will push the 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.

Other factory radios are held in place by screws located into mounting cages or frames that support the radio. These are mounted behind the dash, surrounding 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 it's sleeve, disconnect the aerial plug and factory wiring harnesses.

For radios that are mounted behind the dash if you are encountering problems you could consult a Haynes manual or as mentioned above phone your dealer.

Do I need any extra accessories to install my radio?

Radio Wiring Connections

The wiring harnesses will provide the power and the speaker connections to connect to your new radio.

ISO Connections

Using ISO connectors (The standard International radio connection)

Many vehicles have 'ISO' male connectors that are fast becoming the standard radio connection used by vehicle manufacturers as part of their radio wiring harness. The female 'ISO' connector is included with all new car radios, from the leading brands and is part of the lead that fits into the back of the 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, because VWs from 1998 on and some Vauxhall car's require a little 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 the radio would lose it's memory settings. This is due to the power wires (yellow=live and red=ignition live) basically being the wrong way around, for these particular applications. Or, on some cars if the radio as standard is permanent live (can be turned on without the key in the ignition barrel) then you should connect the yellow and red wires on the radio lead together, where the manufacturers radio wiring allows it to line up with the permanent wire on the cars harness when the 2 ISO connections are plugged together.

But if you can't do this…

To solve this problem you will need a PC2-69-4 VW harness adaptor lead, or a PC2-04-4 Vauxhall harness adaptor lead. The leads simply connect using ISO connections between your cars male radio wiring connector and your new radios’ female harness. The 2 power leads on the PC2-69-4 and PC2-04-4 are reverse, compared to the conventional ISO lead.

My car doesn’t have an ISO connector as standard

Your new radio however, will not always connect directly to your cars wiring. You will need to fit a harness adaptor lead in between your cars wiring and your new radio. The harness adaptor lead will convert your cars wiring to ISO connections. The ISO connections will then accommodate your new radio.

Simply plug one end of the adaptor into your cars harness, and the other end into your new radios' wiring lead.

To find out if you need a harness adaptor lead for your car, please Click Here

Do I need an Aerial Adaptor?

You may require an aerial adaptor, as some cars such as Vauxhalls 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.

VW 1998 on and some Audi's need a PC5-52 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 reception could result.

To find out if you need an aerial adaptor for your car, please Click Here

My car has a steering wheel remote control can I still use this?

If your car has a (factory fit) steering wheel mounted remote control as discussed under ‘Buying a car radio’ you can fit a ‘Stalk control SMART Lead’ to keep that facility.

Stalk control SMART Leads are only compatible with SONY car radios. This is because SONY, are the only company at present who have worked with Autoleads (the company who make SMART Leads) to research and analyse their radios to produce a compatible lead.

To find out if you need a Stalk control SMART lead for your car, please Click Here

How to fit a Stalk control SMART lead

The SMART Lead comes with instructions that cover the appropriate model of car.

To give you a general idea of how to install it: You connect one end of the SMART Lead onto your wiring harness connector (this should be the 1 connector left after you have located the power and speaker ones for the radio) and push the small 90 degree Jack Plug (type of connector, like you find on headphones) into the blue socket on your SONY radio.

Now… Check your remote works OK.

Dashboard Mounting

Most cars have a standard size radio and aperture (opening where you mount the radio) known, as 'DIN' which is a standard size of radio aperture and so, will enable the installation of new radios without any problems.

However…

When you remove the radios from some newer vehicles you will actually remove part of the dash/radio with it. So in order to fit a standard size radio (‘DIN’) you will need to fit a Fascia Adaptor.

This will fill the hole, left by the removal of your radio/dash and provide a DIN sized radio aperture that will accommodate your new radio.

To find out if you need a Fascia adaptor for your car, please Click Here

Slide the metal mounting sleeve (or cage) off your new radio and push this into the radio aperture in your dash until a small outer lip on the sleeve touches the edge of the radio aperture. (Please Note: some radio sleeves have a top and bottom and require installing correctly).

Bend the tabs on the sleeve using a small screwdriver or right-angled pick-tool, outwards from the cage to hold it securely in position.

Connect the radios' wiring to the cars wiring harness and push the aerial into the radios' aerial socket. Slide the radio into the sleeve but don't push it all the way in. Turn the radio on to ensure it is working OK, fit the appropriate radio trim to give it a neat finish, and then push it in fully until you here it lock into position.

How To Find Out
To find out if your vehicle needs one of the adaptors mentioned, or to ensure you order the correct item, simply phone Autoleads (the number below) or send an email and give them full details on your particular vehicle.

Autoleads will be able to advise you swiftly as they are the leading company in the UK that manufacture and specialise in the development of car audio and In-car entertainment installation accessories. They make harness, Fascia and aerial adaptors and SMART leads.

When you phone them have a pen handy to make a note of the part numbers you may require.

Please Note: This is just a sales advisory service, provided by Autoleads to help you find out the correct information and make the right purchase. They do not sell direct to the public.

Autoleads Sales FREEPHONE: 0800 783 9125 (9am – 6pm, Mon to Fri)

Autoleads Email: info@autoleads.co.uk

Click Here to go to the Accessories.

For full explanations Click Here for Glossary