New radio for Opel Astra

Bob_Harris

I have a 99 Opel Astra and am looking for a radio with Aux in (preferably a handy 3.5mm jack on the front) to replace the current radio. (Blaupunkt Car 300).

I picked up the cheapest radio in Argos on a whim the other day but might leave it back because the silver doesn't fit in well with the interior. I might get an irandom cs-101 instead.

The two units I mentioned won't (I assume) work with the embedded display already in the car, like the Blaupunkt Car300 does.



The blaupunkt has 3 sockets at the back, whereas the Alba from Argos has two. The third socket must be to control the embedded display.

Would you find an aftermarket radio which will work with the embedded display? Or if I'm going to buy a new radio do I have to just accept that the embedded display will no longer work?

If I do decided to go with one of the units I mentioned above, what way should I go about wiring it?

• Can I just lob off the top connector then plug the bottom two into the new radio? (the bottom two are of the correct shape and have the clips positioned correctly so they fit, just need to know if the wiring is of the same standard)
  
• do I need to get a wiring loom adaptor
  
• or is there a wiring reference available somewhere so I can manually connect each individual wire?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

W.Shakes-Beer

I've changed the radio on my Astra to a JVC one. You should still have the embedded display.

On my astra, when the radio is on, the time and external temp are on the embedded display and the date/track info (from the CDR radio) are gone, and now show up on the JVC.

Also, the radio should just match up with the current ISO connectors. The only extra thing you'd need is the stalk control adaptor cable (about €50) if you really want, but you dont need it if you dont mind not having use of them.

I hope this helps.

Bob_Harris

W.Shakes-Beer wrote: »

I've changed the radio on my Astra to a JVC one. You should still have the embedded display.

On my astra, when the radio is on, the time and external temp are on the embedded display and the date/track info (from the CDR radio) are gone, and now show up on the JVC.

Also, the radio should just match up with the current ISO connectors. The only extra thing you'd need is the stalk control adaptor cable (about €50) if you really want, but you dont need it if you dont mind not having use of them.

I hope this helps.

Thanks,

Can you post the model number of the JVC so I can check out the specs? Does your JVC have 3 or 2 sockets on the back?

I found this on ebay. It just looks like an extension to the bottom two connectors.

Currently the 3 connectors in my car are moulded together, which prevents them from plugging into the back of the radio. If I broke / cut off the top connector the bottom two would be free to plug in.

Can anyone tell me if these are wired to the ISO standard? The colours of wire do not match up when compared to the looms that came with the radio.

hi_im_fil

Bob_Harris wrote: »

Thanks,

Can you post the model number of the JVC so I can check out the specs? Does your JVC have 3 or 2 sockets on the back?

I found this on ebay. It just looks like an extension to the bottom two connectors.

Currently the 3 connectors in my car are moulded together, which prevents them from plugging into the back of the radio. If I broke / cut off the top connector the bottom two would be free to plug in.

Can anyone tell me if these are wired to the ISO standard? The colours of wire do not match up when compared to the looms that came with the radio.

What you need to do is buy one of those wiring harnesses that you linked to. You can get them in places like halfords but they will be more expensive there. The harness connects the cars wiring into the radio. I think some of the harnesses are brand specific, so if you have a sony radio you'll need a sony harness.

Go into a halfords place and bring your radio with you and you'll see which harness you need.

focusowner

<MOD EDIT> Pm the OP instead if you have something they may be interested in. Do not post anything you have for sale on a thread, its against the charter, use adverts.ie instead </MOD EDIT>

Bob_Harris

I went and bought the adaptor in a car shop. €12 whereas I could have gotten it for under €4 delivered from ebay. Needed a phono to 3.5mm jack so got that in Tesco, from the value range. €8 compared to €3 euro delivered from ebay.

I plugged in the radio and it worked fine. The embedded display showed the time and external temperature when the radio is On. When the radio is off it also shows the date.

I plugged out the radio and drove home so I could install it properly. I plugged the radio back in and now the embedded display doesn't display anything, not even if I plug in the old radio again.

Arse biscuits is all I can say.

focusowner

sorry draffo didnt mean to cause an issue

hi_im_fil

Just try disconnecting the radio and reconnecting it back up again. I have an astra with a radio installed and it shows the date etc as you said in your last post. It should work.

W.Shakes-Beer

Bob_Harris wrote: »

Thanks,

Can you post the model number of the JVC so I can check out the specs? Does your JVC have 3 or 2 sockets on the back?

I found this on ebay. It just looks like an extension to the bottom two connectors.

Currently the 3 connectors in my car are moulded together, which prevents them from plugging into the back of the radio. If I broke / cut off the top connector the bottom two would be free to plug in.

Can anyone tell me if these are wired to the ISO standard? The colours of wire do not match up when compared to the looms that came with the radio.

heres a link to mine: http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/car-cd-players/jvc-kdr601.asp

quad_red

W.Shakes-Beer wrote: »

heres a link to mine: http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/car-cd-players/jvc-kdr601.asp

Shakes, to confirm - that fits cleanly and snugly without any extra facia plate?

Also, you fitted it fully with one of these, yes?
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=8022

or was it one of these?
http://www.nexxia.co.uk/product.asp?product_code=PC2-04-4&category=Car%20Stereo%20Fitting%20Kits&section=

W.Shakes-Beer

quad_red wrote: »

Shakes, to confirm - that fits cleanly and snugly without any extra facia plate?

Also, you fitted it fully with one of these, yes?
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=8022

or was it one of these?
http://www.nexxia.co.uk/product.asp?product_code=PC2-04-4&category=Car%20Stereo%20Fitting%20Kits&section=

yeah it fits cleanly and came with a plastic trim to completely finish it:



Mine is fitted fully bar the steering controls which i still have to sort out at some stage. I basically fitted it straight from the box and it works no bother and looks good.

quad_red

Thanks Shakes.

Of the two cables I linked to, which one did you use? Or did the cables in the astra just click into the new headunit? (with the exception of the cable for the steering wheel controls which requires the extra pricey thingy).

W.Shakes-Beer

the one that came with it was similar to the seconds one you linked I think, dont quote me

wires

on opels the indash display is controled by the power antenna wire. on the opel side of the plug there are two wires to that pin. cutting one of them results in the indash display working as normal even with the radio on. cutting the wrong one results in poor radio reception. i cant remember which one to cut but if you peel back the insulation a bit from the opel loom you can cut one and then solder it back up if its incorrect.

pin number 5 on plug A

http://www.isham-research.co.uk/quattro/wiring/Typ85/isopin.jpg