Thread: CD head unit change!!! help!!!

If you can get the iso adapter great. If not, not all is lost. Either way you are going to lose the steering wheel functions, unless kenwood are doing something new.

If your using the kenwood loom then its simply a process of emlimination.

First a volt meter, establish your permanent 12v+. Ie the wire will show 12v+ at all times.


I should mention here that it is important to search for these with the original head unit unplugged.

The earth wire should show continuity obviously.

The speaker wires are best identified with a standard 1.5v battery with a wire off each terminal. Simply put these wires across any remaining options, and when you get correct pair for a speaker you will here that speaker 'pop'. The voltage is just enough to get the cone to move.

Work your way thru these 8, and by now you have 11 wires sorted, not too many to go.

For a typical aftermarket head unit there is not much else to worry about, maybe a switching 12v output for cd changer if utilized, switching 12v for electric antenna in older cars.

Only other significant option is to test for switching 12v+ for illumination, ie when the headlights are on, you will see 12v on the wire, and this will dim the new headunits display.

Any questions, fire away

Nick

If you can Phil, try getting a head unit with bluetooth. One of the best things I've done in my car for day to day stuff.

Hi Phil,
I changed my standard HU (single CD) to a JVC CD/DVD unit and just identified the wires using a multimeter and chopped off original plug coupler and connected new wires to factory wires. I couldn't find an adaptor when I was doing this but I felt that joining the wires with solder and heatshrink would be better. I did notice though that the landrover plugs were identical to the back of a Blaupunkt HU, just my luck because I had sold my car with a Blaupunkt HU. So for the easiest install I reckon you could try a Blaupunkt HU, but at the end of the day any HU upgrade should be straight forward, for me it was the easiest install to date.
Cheers Matt

yep, kenwood hu in mine now. was very straight forward. rave has the wiring diagram, save mucking round with voltmeter. cut and shut using good solder joints, dont crimp, crimp joints are hopeless.

If you have the Harmon Karden unit then you will also have the complication of the amplifier under the pax seat to deal with. i.e. the speaker wires don't just go direct from the head unit.

Yep.
I went to pioneer with integrated blu tooth.Brilliant.
Best to get experts to wire up and perhaps upgrade some speakers to focals while you are at it.
Just a thought but $100 bucks well spend I figure.

This is the best thing you can do to the D2 sound,,
apart from a decent sub,

Hey phil!

did you post interior pics?

Originally Posted by jwb

If you have the Harmon Karden unit then you will also have the complication of the amplifier under the pax seat to deal with. i.e. the speaker wires don't just go direct from the head unit.

exactly why i was wanting a ISO plug, this isnt an ordinary land rover head unit! there are 3 plugs.. i can work out the basics but im unsure of the wiring to the amp and subs and it even joins into the ACE system for some unknown reason

the kenwood wiring is simple the harmon karden is not... i have 8 speakers and 1 one sub in the rear door...factory fit....

so are there crossovers in the factory wiring or are they in the OE head unit

This is the best thing you can do to the D2 sound,,
apart from a decent sub,

Hey phil!

did you post interior pics?

yes i did, they are in the d2 interiour colours thread.

cheers phil