VK cd player installation

[Denno]

Hey all,

I have a VK and its only got the stock radio in it at the moment. I have bought a JVC cd player for it, but it hasn't been put in yet. I don't want to pay for someone to install because I have heard it will cost alot relative to installing into other cars. I was wondering if anyone is planning on putting a cd player into their VK any time soon, and if they are, would they be able to document it, with photos and stuff, and then post it on here. I don't expect anyone to go out of their way to just put together a how-to, but I was hoping if someone is about to put one into their VK, it wouldn't be too much more trouble taking pics and then giving short explanations. I know there is a how-to already on here on how to install a cd player into a vk, but there aren't any pics, and I would find it far easier if I had some pics to reference against.

Cheers

[Jimboss]

You shouldn't really need vehicle specific photo's. So long as you have the wiring diagrams (both for the existing wiring and the new H/U). I believe the VK has a dedicated Acc wire, so you shouldn't have to run any wires from the battery (which is what i had to do).

As for putting the unit in, just pull the old one out (try to give yourself enough extra on the wiring to make it easier putting the new one in), then slot the new one in, solder up the wires, and then test it all out, hopefully it'll work first go.

And a piece of advice, you can't go too overboard with getting the unit to stick in place, as the older commy's are theif magnets, but if you do a decent job, most people won't try to flog it.

Everyone on here is extremely helpful, so any questions when you're doing it, just ask, someone will be able to help.

[Jimboss]

here is a colour coded wiring diagram, between this and the manual from your new H/U, it should be fairly straight forward.

Eurovox Wiring Diagram.zip

[Mr Robbo - The General]

yep, listen i installed 2 different units since i got my vk mate, its fairly simple stuff. As per wiring, test the wires usuing a multimeter. 1 wire will have 12 volts ALL THE TIME, and another wire will only have 12 Volts when the ignition is on. (the one all the time is for memory of radio stations etc) one of the wires will be an earth. The rest of teh wires are then speaker wires apart from ONE - which from memory is for your electric antena depending on whether or not u have 1, its RED if you do have it. You'll prolly find on your new CD player that it has 4 groups of speaker wires for front left/right, and rear left/right. The vk system only ever has 2 groups of speaker wires. This ISNT a problem. All it means is that 1 group or speaker wires are for your ENTIRE left side, and the other group are for your ENTIRE right side. I just wired mine as follows>

ON THE NEW CD PLAYER WIRES: wire the front left wires to the group of wires that makes the left speakers work in the vk (u can find this by having a cd player in the unit and testing which group is which side)
THEN - wire the front right wires onto the right side group in the vk.
LEAVE the REAR left and right group disconected from any wires OR connect them to the front left/right wires on the vk (along with the front wires).

The only thing then left to do is install the unit into the holder. There is a bracket that came with the cd player, this just sits it the slot where the cd player go's and as many little tabs that are all over it that u can; fold them out towards the outside, and this is desigened to hold in the slot fairly firm. The unit then slides into this and locks itself into place. Remembering to first push in the coaxial connection which is for the radio antena.
You may have a hole above or below the unit as it may be smaller than the stock radio unit. how you fill this is up to you, I found using a black plastic video tape case, cutting it out and gluing it in posision was my best option.

THIS ALL SOUNDS VERY COMPLICATED: but it really isnt, its a matter of trial and error with the speaker wires, and you shouldnt blow any fuses so long as you dont cross any of the power wires. I suggest you give it a go before paying som1 to do it.
ITS NOT AS HARD AS IT SOUNDS
there is possably a wiring diagram for it on this site http://members.westnet.com.au/scottl/
ALSO - the wires that are on your new cd player unit are in the instruction booklet that came with it. this will tell you what each colour is for. common sense is all thats required, a 5 year old could do it with a little practice, give it a go! good luck mate.

[Jimboss]

Yeah, it was very daunting for me when i did it myself, it was only about 3 weeks after i got my car so i was obsessing about not stuffing it up, in 6 months time you will be glad you did it, it's great to learn more about the everyday stuff of your own car, makes it easier down the track aswell, i have since replaced all the speakers, put in central locking ... it all started at the CD player.

[Mr Robbo - The General]

yes exactly right, same with me, i find wiring isnt really hard in car until u get 1 thats got a knick in it and is earthing out under your kick or in your roof lining LOL - THATS when u get the shits lol. My courtesy light desided to do this as i remember lol.

[Jimboss]

lol, i can't say that's ever happened to me, yet, oh crap, i just jinxed myself ... ****

[Pub247]

i think you'll find the main problem is getting the new head unit to fit into the slot as original and older style are a lttle smaller in width. What you can do is cut the plastic bit out next to the heater/air con controls(quick but not recommended) What i did file/sand it wide enough so i got a tight fit. Other than it pretty simple wiring is as above and easy if you have some brains. I recommend you upgrade your speakers as well as the old ones won't last with the power the new unit puts out. If you want help with speakers just post in here again and we'll all help you out.

[Goon]

Having a manual with the player is easy, just follow the colour code.. May take you an hour or so depending on what connections for testing or what not... but its not that hard..

[darkmoon]

The VK loom is a little screwy for wire colour I discovered. When I installed my head unit (kenwood) I pulled the VK box out and wired straight into the dash loom. It was much easier to figure out the battery (memory) etc.

Dont do a twist and tape job. You can get proper crimp connectors from auto shops and they aren't expensive. With a little spagetti conduit to cover up wires, it will look good too. (get a crimping tool - $10 from hardware shop)

As for speakers, I have found "genisis" brand to put out good sound and they have polymer cones so they should last.

I already had the 6" sony's for the front doors, but the 6x9's; 150w in my parcel shelf are genisis and they only cost $70 for the pair.

if you need anymore advice there are plenty here that have done it and are happy to help out.

Good luck
Kain

[Denno]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I never knew there were so many cuz I never got an email notification, oh well. Yeh doing the wiring and stuff I don't think I will have a problem with, it can't be that hard, the only thing is I have heard and read that it is hard to get the ole one out due to te fact the whole dash needs to come out, and you need to be carefull so as to not knock something to do with the heater causing it to not work. I reckon my dad and I are gonna have a crack at putting it in tonight, so hopefully all goes well.

Cheers for the advice.

[Goon]

The whole dash needs to come out? Your old one still the original ?

If you have trouble taking the old player out try and wiggle it but iwith a tight grip, if she doesnt want to come out
Hoping theres still not screws attached ...

[Denno]

Goon, are you saying that I don't need to takeout my whole dash to be able to remove the stock radio, I can just grip it tightly and pull? Remembering I have a VK Berlina.

[Denno]

URGENT HELP NEEDED

I have started to take out my dash, everything is out fine, however the heater/air con. controls are giving me sum grief. I have a diargram that says to turn the temperature control all the way down, and then it saws to 'snap in' some wire type thing which is connected to the temperature control. I have no idea how to do that. Please someone reply really soon with an answer.

Thanks

[kel_VK_Calais]

I didnt even attempt to do it myself... have heard too many horror stories about dashes disintergrating in the old commies. I payed SHITELOADS for the install, and the guy who did it told me not to ever take my car back to him again, he would refuse to work on it, lol. It took them about 6 hours all up to do the whole job... good luck with it all

[Jimboss]

Well, if your dash disintegrates when you try to take it out, i'd say there are probably alot of other, worse things wrong with your car, unless the VK's are hugely different to the VH's (which i doubt), the dash removal is really easy, i can take mine out in about 20 mins, as i said, a couple of hours is all it should take.

[Pub247]

I got a diagram that might help Thanks to vkberlina

[Denno]

Update on my situation.

I finally got my radio out, didn't need to take out the air con. controls. It took a fair bit of pulling and sum prying with a screwdriver but it came out, only to find that I don't have a yellow wire. So I have just rang autobarn, and I am going to get them to finish the job off. It's gonna cost $88, which isn't too bad I don't think. I would have just got them to wire it up (which would have cost $40) but they said something about having to cut some of the panel to fit the player in, which I had no idea on where to cut, so I just figured I would get them to finish the job.

Thanks for the help you guys have given me.

P.S. Pub 24/7 - thats the diagram I was working from :P thanks anyway.

[Goon]

Was it a red wire mate? mine was yellow but the wire going to the battery was red. Anyway goodluck with them, atleast you know its getting done.. maybe you could still get it done yourself and save heaps..

The more you ask questons mate the more you'll save.

[Pub247]

the bit they cut is a bit of black plastic next to the air con controls most people cut that out but you can file it wider. i hope they do a better job then when they put one into my mazda 929.

[Denno]

I got it installed today. It isn't perfect, but hey, I'm happy with it. I finally get some good sound out of my speakers . The deck isn't mounted in perfect, its still a lil poked out, but I can live with it.

Thanks all again for the help

[phat_com]

i am going to do an install into my vk soon and my mate it changing his head unit in a couple of days so i'll check the how-to section and if there in none then i will post one or 2 for any other ppl who need it

Pat.

[traindriver]

I am going to be installing a HU in my VK soon. I got a nice Pioneer for my birthday which is great cos my VK has NOTHING due to the tight wad I bought the car off not wanting to sell the stereo in it

I have mounted some Sony tweeters on the dash from a previous life, with the crossovers under the dash.
I intend to put some nice 4 inch speakers in the kick panels (probably pioneer) and get a decent set of 6 inch speakers for the rear parcel tray.

I am one of the few who dont like 6 x 9's and so I will eventually get a sub and amp for the boot to bring up the bass response.

I'll get some pics soon.

AndrewOfNZ

[darkmoon]

I am going to be installing a HU in my VK soon. I got a nice Pioneer for my birthday which is great cos my VK has NOTHING due to the tight wad I bought the car off not wanting to sell the stereo in it

I have mounted some Sony tweeters on the dash from a previous life, with the crossovers under the dash.
I intend to put some nice 4 inch speakers in the kick panels (probably pioneer) and get a decent set of 6 inch speakers for the rear parcel tray.

I am one of the few who dont like 6 x 9's and so I will eventually get a sub and amp for the boot to bring up the bass response.

I'll get some pics soon.

AndrewOfNZ

Just wondering where you are going to put the passenger speaker. The EFI computer is in that kick panel and doesn't leave a lot of room.
Kain

[Goon]

Get some spacers or speak pods darkmoon from your local wreckers, cheap as !

Though you will have to touch your trim.....