Fitting a New Stereo to a D2 with Steering Wheel Controls.

[Rok_Dr]

Well after 3 years of procrastination, Charlie finally got his long awaited stereo upgrade. I replaced his OEM CD stereo with a shiny new Kenwood KDC-X700DAB head unit, which in addition to bluetooth and steering wheel control compatibility has 2 USB ports, changeable display colours, the ability to pair 2 bluetooth devices at once and digital radio.

Everything works :D:D and with a bit of research I didn't have to do any soldering or crimping either, just plug and play. All in all it took a leisurely morning to install, taking my time and fixing the ashtray spring along the way.

So the following are a some tips and learnings which may be useful for others going the same route.


A good bit of background reading was Mundy's thread from a few years ago which pointed me in the right direction. http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-2/164086-what-pin-connections-oem-radio.html. (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-2/164086-what-pin-connections-oem-radio.html)
I discovered that Aerpro make 2 ISO adaptors for my Kenwood unit, but only 1 had the Steering wheel control (SWC) wire and its not usually stocked by the auto spares shops. The part number for this one is AAP8KE2. I ended up buying it from Elite Electronics on ebay. Some other stereo brands use a audio jack interface for the SWC control so this may not be an issue, but keep it in mind. Also not all models have the SWC control feature so check before you buy.
Following Mundy's lead I ordered the steering wheel interface adaptor from the UK (Dynamic sounds on Ebay), purchasing a Autoleads PC99-X30 adaptor which had ISO plugs on either end and a matching Kenwood SWC patch lead.
Once you've extracted the old stereo, removing the Aircon control box will give you a bit more elbow room to arrange the additional wiring once everything is reconnected.
When wiring everything up, the SWC wire was NOT connected until after the radio was powered up, a radio station saved and then powered down. According to the Autoleads instructions, the adaptor needs to load the appropriate software by referencing the patch lead jumper settings, before the SWC wire connection is made to the stereo
When installing the DAB antenna, scrape some paint away from the A pillar metal so you can get a good earth.
For the display colours I found that a manual setting of R 2, G 7 and B 0, gave a close match to the colours of the Aircon and clock displays.
I ran the rear USB cable to the passenger footwell and exited it out the bottom side of the centre console just to the rear of the air vent. Its handy for charging the phone/other devices.

If anyone wants more detail/pics sing out.

Cheers

Steve

[4runnernomore]

Yes please. :ttiwwp:

[gavinwibrow]

No, it's worth even more with pics!!!!

[Rok_Dr]

No, it's worth even more with pics!!!!

Indeed ;)

So herewith is the long illustrated version.

Firstly the old head unit.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/985.jpg

Now the new one with matching green display:D (manual setting of R 2, G 7 and B 0).

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/986.jpg

And the in between.....

The nice collection of goodies ready to install. Autoleads patch lead and adaptor, Aerpro ISO patch lead and Kenwood head unit.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/987.jpg

Remove the old unit. I had the proper removal tools (pictured) but bent coat hanger wire with the ends tapered will also work.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/988.jpg

Push the tools into the holes either side till they click and then pull on them to remove the head unit.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/989.jpg

Remove the metal mounting cradle. It is held in by bent metal tabs on bottom, top and sides, which need to be folded back. Next pic shows the cradle in the dash and then, after removal, with the metal tabs folded back, flat.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/990.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/991.jpg

Once the stereo is removed, it also helps to remove the aircon control unit. Reach down either side through the stereo hole and there are 2 metal clips which are pushed in to release.

Remove the glove box (4 bolts at the base, 2 on each hinge), cardboard kick panel (3 fir tree clips at the front and a screw clip/cup at the rear) and passenger side A pillar trim. It's held on by 3 metal clips (blue in lower right of pic) that slot into the 3 rectangular holes in the pillar. Gently prise off using a trim tool, plastic spatula or similar. Finally open the facia panel under the steering wheel.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/10/75.jpg

Feed the digital antenna wire down the A pillar into the dash board and across to the stereo aperture.

I mounted the phone mic on the top of steering wheel column cover and fed the wire across.

For both I taped the cable end to some wipper snipper cord to help feed/pull it through.

Insert the new mounting cradle in the dash and bend the appropriate lugs to secure it and feed cables through.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/992.jpg

There is a little rubber mounting/locating knob on the back of the old head unit that slots into a hole in the rear of the dash. You can just see the hole in the centre top of the pic above. Remove the rubber and fit it to the hew head unit. I used a 35mm M4 bolt to screw it to the Kenwood unit, as shown below.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/993.jpg

Assemble the Autoleads adaptor and patch lead, then plug into the Aerpro ISO adaptor but DON'T connect the SWC wires yet! See pic with unpluged wires highlighted. Plug into the vehicle wiring loom. This is a real wiring spaghetti monster!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/994.jpg

Plug, mic, radio antenna, DAB antenna and ISO spaghetti monster into the head unit. Power up the head unit select a radio station and save, then turn radio and ignition off. NOW connect the SWC wires together. According to the Autoleads instructions, the adaptor needs to load the appropriate software by referencing the patch lead jumper settings, before it is connected to the stereo. No other settings need to be made, it's all automatic.

Now mount the DAB antenna and signal box on the windscreen. Scrape some paint off the pillar and stick the earth strap down. Cable tie the wire to the loom in the pillar. Replace pillar trim.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/995.jpg

Feed the rear USB cable, out to your desired location. I routed mine to the passenger footwell along the centre console as shown below.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/996.jpg

Gently insert the radio and clip it into the mounting cradle. You'll need to reach under through the Aircon control aperture and juggle the wires around to get it to seat properly. Take your time. When locked in fit the trim surround.

Test and if all OK tidy up and cable tie excess wiring under the dash, refit glove box, kick panel and aircond control box, close panel under the steering wheel and crack a celebratory beer, while you pair your phone and work out how it all works.

Cheers

Steve

[gavinwibrow]

Brilliant Steve - another for the A1 tutorials group.
Can you tell me if AM reception is any good with this unit eg try a trip along Kwinana Freeway between South St & Leach H'way going Nth - especially as a train passes is a good test.
Cheers Gavin

[Rok_Dr]

Will do Gavin. Haven't used AM for years tho :D:D:D

However in setting this one up I found that 720 is simulcast as a digital channel.

Cheers

Steve

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Linked in Tutorials.
Nice work Dr:cool:

[Rok_Dr]

Can you tell me if AM reception is any good with this unit eg try a trip along Kwinana Freeway between South St & Leach H'way going Nth - especially as a train passes is a good test.
Cheers Gavin

Gidday Gavin

Good old dinosaur 720 AM worked perfectly on your test strip going garden city this morning. No trains though, so if they are causing interference I would be looking deeper into other causes.

Cheers

Steve

[gavinwibrow]

Thanks Steve.
I still like to listen to 1080 6IX on occasions, plus local "ABC" radio on long bush trips, but my you beaut Pioneer AVH-X6550DVD system has always had poor AM reception generally and woeful in most of Perth, despite several checks by our local gurus, so I suspect its a defect in the actual unit build/specs, unless there is still some internal interference.
We have disconnected from the rear window aerial and tried a few quality AM aerials on the front bullbar, but with limited success.
I wonder if removing that gismo from near the rear window aerial might help, even though guru says no?

I also wonder if digital AM radio broadcasts might give better reception?

[Rok_Dr]

Hi Gavin,

Sounds like a bit of a mystery. I do know that some head units have poor radio reception but generally they are all ok in the cities with a strong signal.

DAB aka digital radio is only available in the capital cities,at the moment, so no good in country areas. Audio quality is very good and there a lot of additional stations to choose from. I'm particularly liking Double J, which is Triple J for the more mature audience.

Cheers

Steve

[tommo1166]

Got my steering wheel audio controls working again with a PAC SWI-RC unit from eBay for $66 AUD. Has quite comprehensive instructions supplied. Can also get vehicle specific instructions from their website Pac-Audio.com Product Details | iPod Integration for your car and More by Pac-Audio - Connecting you to the future (http://www.pac-audio.com/productDetails.aspx?ProductId=1016)

Not hard to fit, keeping unused wires tidy about hardest part, could have chopped them all off I suppose. Removed glove box, mounted unit up inside glove box area (see pic).
Head unit is Kenwood KDC-U559 BT fitted some months ago. Saw mention of SWI-RC on a thread I cant find now.

One thing I notice with USB stick is that need to double press track up/down button to advance or retreat track, one press goes forward or back within track, not sure if that is how it is meant to work or not, but anyway am quite happy with result

[Rok_Dr]

Good stuff Tommo. It's great to see there's another option, that works, for others to consider.

The Pac SWI product seems to be more readily available in Oz and they certainly have better online support compared to Autoleads. From memory the autoleads adaptor and stereo patch lead was low $70's landed so not a lot of difference in price.

At the end of the day I wanted to avoid manual programming so went autoleads and the adaptor box is a lot smaller.

As to USB behaviour using the bottom steering wheel track button my unit does this:
Short tap up. Move to next track.
Short tap down. Move to start of track.
Double short tap down. Move to previous track.
Long tap up. Move to next Folder/Album.
Long tap down. Move to previous Folder/Album.

Cheers

Steve

[Rok_Dr]

Just adding the following link to the thread which gives a lot of detail on stereo wiring schemas for the D2 (so I'll be able to find it again in the future I hope........ :D:D)

LAND ROVER Car Radio Stereo Audio Wiring Diagram Autoradio connector wire installation schematic schema esquema de conexiones stecker konektor connecteur cable shema (http://www.tehnomagazin.com/Auto-radio-car-connector/LAND%20ROVER-Car-Radio-Wiring-Connector.htm)

Cheers

Steve

[PSI250]

Installed the same unit as this just minus digital radio tonight.
Would have been lost without the part numbers etc provided as I wanted to keep steering wheel controls. Thanks for posting this up! All plug and play and installed in under half an hour. Takes longer deciding where you want the Bluetooth mic and USB lead than installing. haha

Cut up coat hangers were used to get the old unit out, the felt around the edges makes its quite stiff.

Bought everything off eBay. Forgot the autoleads SWI To Kenwood patch lead the first time round. Whoops

Ran the rear USB to the glove box.

Releasing the heater controls definately helps with routing wires and tucking the excess wiring away.

[ozscott]

Great write ups fellas. I have a DAB Kenwood unit and Bluetooth. I fitted a wood and leather HSE Wheel with stock wheel controls. Hopefully mine Should have the relevant wiring loom as these trucks seem to carry all looms even if not used. I will have a look and try to wire up. Cheers

[Pedro_The_Swift]

what colour is the leather wheel?
mines a dark green:cool:

[ozscott]

Hi Pedro its dark walnut top and bottom and black leather in between. Goes nicely with the black HSE seats. I would like chrome and walnut or leather and walnut gear knob also. Cheers

[schuy1]

Yes all the wiring is in there to connect. I did a pac controller hook up to the JVC. Fantastic! No more hunting for the little remote which, no matter how careful you are, seems to scuttle off down 'tween seat and console as soon as its put down! :D If you can, make sure you fit the rear rubber mount for the head unit. Saves a lot of vibration over rough roads. Some lateral thinking may be required, But its worth it :)

[rovers4]

Years ago, when most listeners tuned into AM stations, that's also pre CD's, the radio receiver manufacturers built very sensitive AM tuners. These days however, a lot only put in a token effort as most tune into FM, digital, or play CD's , MP3 etc.

So if you are bothered by poor signals on AM you may need to retrofit an older receiver, OR install a better (taller, higher) antenna, OR improve the antenna mount grounding to the vehicle body, OR install an antenna booster if there is not one already fitted.

If you like your old analogue FM stereo/cassette rig, or even those with CD capability, but want to add an extra input, it should be possible to hard wire a stereo fly-lead coming out into the cabin via the glove-box etc. It may not be switched, you may need to run a power feed, you may need to devise a resting place, but you could then play an MP3 via the "system". Or off a memory stick via a lappy etc.

Digital radio will take many years to get outside the bigger cities due to the finance/low population base/area to be covered/hilly terrain equation.

[rick130]

Great write ups fellas. I have a DAB Kenwood unit and Bluetooth. I fitted a wood and leather HSE Wheel with stock wheel controls. Hopefully mine Should have the relevant wiring loom as these trucks seem to carry all looms even if not used. I will have a look and try to wire up. Cheers

So Andrew, sorry for the thread dredge, but did it have the loom behind the steering wheel spiral cassette? https://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-2-a/117315-steering-wheel-audio-controls-aftermarket-head-units.html#post1372162

I've been thinking of getting a local upholsterer to cover the wheel in Alcantra, and then I though "what about stereo controls in the wheel, too?" but Sneigy's post doesn't give me much hope....

[ozscott]

Hi Rick. Mate I never did bother looking. I don't mind adjusting using the rotary vol dial.

Post up if you take a peak.

Cheers

[rick130]

Hi Rick. Mate I never did bother looking. I don't mind adjusting using the rotary vol dial.

Post up if you take a peak.

Cheers

I'm just over the big reach to the LHS, or the fumbling around with the remote [biggrin]
If the knob was on the RHS where it should be.....[bighmmm]

[twr7cx]

If you use the wiring diagrams on Rave and the installation guide on PAC for their SWI it will tell you which wires they are so you can check if they exist in your car.