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Al Gilliland
Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2004
Posts: 62
Location: calgary, canada
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 Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 5:23 am Post subject: Stereo plugin |
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Looking to install a new stereo. When I purchase the stereo does it come with an adaptor to allow me to plug into the stereo wiring for the westy or do I have to buy an adaptor between the stereo and westy wiring. If I need an adaptor, any online suggestions on places to purchase?
Cheers
Al |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9797
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 7:16 am Post subject: |
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I don't think you'll find anything that is plug & play so you may be doing some splicing & soldering -- but it is all pretty straight-forward.
The one glitch you will probably encounter is that the Westy uses a single ground wire for both the rear speakers (i.e. just 3 wires to the rear). Most modern units will want a separate ground for each rear speaker so you will need to run an extra wire to the rear.
Several threads on how to do this. I ran mine out, down and under the van for simplicity though craftier souls use the same route as the original, going up the A-pillar and along the roof line. |
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offthewallace
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2008
Posts: 21
Location: On the Road...
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Jake de Villiers
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 8:15 am Post subject: |
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| Ahwahnee wrote: |
I don't think you'll find anything that is plug & play so you may be doing some splicing & soldering -- but it is all pretty straight-forward.
The one glitch you will probably encounter is that the Westy uses a single ground wire for both the rear speakers (i.e. just 3 wires to the rear). Most modern units will want a separate ground for each rear speaker so you will need to run an extra wire to the rear.
Several threads on how to do this. I ran mine out, down and under the van for simplicity though craftier souls use the same route as the original, going up the A-pillar and along the roof line. |
IIRC, only the early vans have a common ground - '86 and up has 4 wires to the rear. I completely replaced the wiring with much better sounding wire when I installed Dixie's stereo anyway.
_________________
'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9797
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 8:51 am Post subject: |
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| Jake de Villiers wrote: |
| ...IIRC, only the early vans have a common ground - '86 and up has 4 wires to the rear... |
Ah, good to know... another charming 'feature' of the early vans. |
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Jake de Villiers
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 9:36 am Post subject: |
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| Ahwahnee wrote: |
| Jake de Villiers wrote: |
| ...IIRC, only the early vans have a common ground - '86 and up has 4 wires to the rear... |
Ah, good to know... another charming 'feature' of the early vans. |
Yeah! I have an '84 as well and there are several compelling reasons to pick an '86 or later if you have a choice.
_________________
'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6243
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 9:41 am Post subject: Re: Stereo plugin |
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| Al Gilliland wrote: |
Looking to install a new stereo. When I purchase the stereo does it come with an adaptor to allow me to plug into the stereo wiring for the westy or do I have to buy an adaptor between the stereo and westy wiring. If I need an adaptor, any online suggestions on places to purchase?
Cheers
Al |
I wouldn't trust that your wiring is still stock and that you can just buy an adapter and it will still work. It's probably been changed by someone in the last 25 years. Have you looked to see if you still even have the stock plug on your wiring harness? My guess it was cut off by someone many years ago and modified at some point. You'll be better off if you wire in the correct plug for whatever new stereo you're going to buy.
_________________
89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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Al Gilliland
Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2004
Posts: 62
Location: calgary, canada
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 10:10 am Post subject: |
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Thanks everyone for the heads-up..PDX sounds like a plan, just cut and wire for the new plug..Have a 85 so its sounds like rewiring to the rear for the ground
Cheers
Al |
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whafalia
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2009
Posts: 685
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 10:27 am Post subject: |
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| I haven't taken a stereo apart in a long time, but anytime I did I recall that the speakers went to a common ground inside the stereo anyway, so if you believe that you can just use the three wires. After I put my pioneer in it sounded funky and I went through the travails of running new wires back, then found that I had crushed wires up against the vent or whatever is behind the stereo. I bet it would have sounded fine with 3 uncrushed wires. |
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wemfam
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2012
Posts: 137
Location: Central Illinois
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 11:15 am Post subject: |
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| I just put a stereo in my 84.....my stock radio had various stickers on it telling me what wires were what...I had separate rear grounds to use up front on mine......I see in the back that they share a common ground.....sounds OK to me....I had trouble with finding a 12 volt wire that is on/off with the ignition...I had to double up the switched and always on 12 volt wires to make my Kenwood work. I also found a remote control on eBay that works with my unit....very handy when camping. |
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squeegee_boy
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2008
Posts: 762
Location: Langley, BC, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 11:20 am Post subject: |
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| whafalia wrote: |
| I haven't taken a stereo apart in a long time, but anytime I did I recall that the speakers went to a common ground inside the stereo anyway, so if you believe that you can just use the three wires. |
Some stereo amplifiers (internal to the head unit or separate) can deal with common ground, some can't. Some sort of can but sound like crap. 
Each units ability will be in the documentation that came with the unit.
Robyn
_________________
1984 FrankenSyncro Westy. EJ25 RMW kit
1971 Super Beetle with an EJ22. Oh yes. Daily driver |
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