What is needed to install an aftermarket head unit?

[cam_bourke]

Hey, i want to install my new head unit in my 2001 mk4 golf but im not sure on the things i'll need besides the harness that came with the head unit. Do volkswagens need anything to boost the reception with an after-market head unit, also i heard issues can arise from the k-line?

Cheers.

[leighaus]

mine was simple as. all i needed was a UHF adapter so the female plug on my clarion would accept the female plug from the VW. otherwise, its dead easy. no issues at all. If you get a clarion, it has an ISO harness (internation standards), so it will plug straight up. you will just have to switch the acc and 12+ and it will work fine.

Quite a few headunits brands use iso plugs now. nice and simple. no cutting, no extra harness adaptors.

clarion CZ301E
http://images7.fotosik.pl/899/66764e0e4aed2079med.jpg

[cam_bourke]

file:///C:/Users/cam.bourke/Desktop/IMG_0616.JPG

Awesome. How do you remove this kind of stereo but?

[cam_bourke]

what was meant to happen was the picture is of the stock volkswagen stereo in 2001 golf.

[leighaus]

just get a coat hanger.. cut it into two long lengths and make them into "u" shaped rods. take out the cigarette lighter part of the dash, and then the digital climate. this will allow you to apply pressure from the rear of the CD unit once the U shaped rods are inserted correctly (may take a bit of fiddling).

[cam_bourke]

alright thanks for the reply, i'll let you know how i go!

[cam_bourke]

would that technique me for the non monsoon radios because through my searches it seems my radio varies a little bit from the standard monsoon radios in golfs?

[notnothing]

No need to take the cigarette lighter or climate control out.

There are a couple of different types of stereo in the Mk4. One (the cassette/radio one?) has two vertical slots, the other (Eurovox 4680 CD/radio) has 4 holes, with 2 on each side. With this one, as leighaus said, insert a cut coathanger wire into each of the 4 holes. There is a tab inside each hole which is pushed aside and unhooks. Then you can pull it out. Mine popped out a little, then I used the tools that came with the new head unit to grip it and pull it the rest of the way out.

Unplug the harness and antenna from the back of the old stereo. If you then pull the harness further out of the dash, you'll find another plug. Unplug this one as well. Toss this stock adapter, and go to your favourite McAutoparts shop and buy an ISO-to-yourbrandname harness adaptor ($15 at the most). You will need an antenna adaptor as well, the type depends on whether or not you already have a factory amplifier-power-supply adaptor in there. Mine did, so all I needed was a $9.99 plug-end adapter. Autobarn had the right piece for mine. I did have to switch the ACC and Constant 12V wires on the harness, as the new stereo was not remembering any settings after it turned off.

[cam_bourke]

thanks for the great reply. My reception with my stock radio around newcastle isnt great so I was thinking would it be worth the while buying a booster for the antenna?
What brand was yours that you installed?

[leighaus]

reason i said to take out the digi climate is because the tabs you need to release with the coathangers can be quite a bitch and mine didnt pop out at all really. with the digital climate out (takes 2 minutes tops) you can easily get a good grasp of things. With the digi climate out, it also allows you to easily make sure all the wiring falls down the back as you slide the unit in.