99 1.6 CL Golf Stereo - Help Needed

CurranBun

Hi Guys,
Looking for some help.. i just got a 99 1.6 CL Golf, and LOVE it...
There is a Sony Drive - S stereo installed, and it wont tune in etc, and is driving me mad...
What stereo's fit this car that i can buy? that will just slot in?
I was looking on E-Bay and they are saying Golf, Mark 3, Mark 4 etc - which Mark is my car? im thinking it is mark 3?
Any help would be great...

sean1141

99 would be mk4.. any single din aftermarket stereo will fit in..
did you check the back of the stereo to see if the antenna/aerial is connected??
im guessing its the radio that wont tune in and everything else works??

CurranBun

Hi Sean, thanks so much for coming back to me..
It will tune in, but it just wont save the stations, so i have to tune every time i drive, and its a pain...
I got an IPod connection that worked in my previous car, that tunes into the radio, but as soon as i put it into the cig lighter the radio wont tune anything... which is very weird, i think the solution is to get a new one!
Thanks again...

bazz26

This is a common issue on VAG cars, something to do with the way the memory cable is connected which is different to standard stereo wiring, I'd say google it or try a VW owner's forum.

bongi69

Pull out the stereo, and on one of the leads you should see a lead which has a connector on it, with a lead connected to it going to the stereo. There will be another lead floating around that also has a connector on it but not connected to anything.

Switch the connected lead with the lead that is just hanging, and bobs your uncle.

I had a Sony stereo in a SEAT, and this is what I had to do when installing it. Same went for the kenwood that is in my Golf now.

If someone can explain it better, please do :rolleyes:

sean1141

for the memory to hold you need to swap the yellow and red wires.. if you pop out the stereo you will see the wires going from the headunit to an iso connection block in the car. normaly on the sony there is a connector on the red and yellow wires. the yellow wire on the sony is the memory wire which keeps power to the stereo when you switch it off. this keeps the radio stations etc stored. on most vag cars this needs to be connected to the red wire. when you take out the stereo you will see what i mean..

also most vag factory head units have an amp built into them and almost no aftermarket stereo has this. you can get a booster in any halfords or on e bay for a few quid. this might be the cause of your ipod tuner not working....
most decent sony cd players have a aux channel which you can connect your ipod to via the headphone jack.. on the back of your stereo you should have a few red and white connections.. if you do check which one is the input and use a cable to connect your ipod... these give a lot better sound than them radio type connections

CurranBun

You are all fantastic, going to try that tomorrow when its bright out (well il get the man to do it ).. fingers crossed it works... il let you know....
thanks a mill everyone... much appreciated...

CurranBun

Guys it worked!!! Delighted, you saved me a fortune, thanks so much for your replies!!

sean1141

glad to hear it worked!!