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

  1. #1
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    Fitting a New Stereo to a D2 with Steering Wheel Controls.

    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 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.
    • 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

  2. #2
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    Yes please.

  3. #3
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    No, it's worth even more with pics!!!!
    MY16 D4 TDV6 - with a little Cambo magic for towing "The Brick"
    MY95 RRC LSE Vogue Softdash "Bessie" (turning circle comparable to QE II) with MY99 TD5 and 4HP24 transplants. Back home Nov 22 after a magic overhaul by Chivalry
    SADLY SOLD MY04 D2a TD5 auto Classic and MY10 D4 2.7 both with lots of goodies

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by gavinwibrow View Post
    No, it's worth even more with pics!!!!
    Indeed

    So herewith is the long illustrated version.

    Firstly the old head unit.



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



    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.



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



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



    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.





    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.



    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.



    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.



    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!



    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.



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



    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

  5. #5
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    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
    MY16 D4 TDV6 - with a little Cambo magic for towing "The Brick"
    MY95 RRC LSE Vogue Softdash "Bessie" (turning circle comparable to QE II) with MY99 TD5 and 4HP24 transplants. Back home Nov 22 after a magic overhaul by Chivalry
    SADLY SOLD MY04 D2a TD5 auto Classic and MY10 D4 2.7 both with lots of goodies

  6. #6
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    Will do Gavin. Haven't used AM for years tho

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

    Cheers

    Steve

  7. #7
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    Linked in Tutorials.
    Nice work Dr
    "How long since you've visited The Good Oil?"

    '93 V8 Rossi
    '97 to '07. sold.
    '01 V8 D2
    '06 to 10. written off.
    '03 4.6 V8 HSE D2a with Tornado ECM
    '10 to '21
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    '21 to Infinity and Beyond!


    1988 Isuzu Bus. V10 15L NA Diesel
    Home is where you park it..

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  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by gavinwibrow View Post
    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

  9. #9
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    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?
    MY16 D4 TDV6 - with a little Cambo magic for towing "The Brick"
    MY95 RRC LSE Vogue Softdash "Bessie" (turning circle comparable to QE II) with MY99 TD5 and 4HP24 transplants. Back home Nov 22 after a magic overhaul by Chivalry
    SADLY SOLD MY04 D2a TD5 auto Classic and MY10 D4 2.7 both with lots of goodies

  10. #10
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    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

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