General Installing a radio in my Panda

[net_hippy]

Hi there,

After driving for a few months with my headphones in, I've decided I would finally like to install a cd player/radio where there wasn't one before.

I have a few questions though that I was wondering if someone could help me with.

Firstly, I've taken off the plastic covering for the radio housing which revealed just two wires.

Is it possible to install a stereo with these wires?

Also, how would I go about putting an aerial in?

Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks!

 

[Nuova500]

In my Panda, I had a standard block connector that just plugged into the unit, what year is yours?

 

[JimMagill]

It's a live and an earth... you just get one of them mulitblock things and wire all the red ones to the live and earth the rest or cut off the spare ones (Just means that the radio won't go off with the ignition but I like that) and then plug the multiblock connector thing into the back of a modern radio

Think anything before 1991 is like that as Juppy and Sylvia look like that... Actually I'm not sure about Sylvia as I've never had her radio out come to think of it, lol!

There is a thread about the official antenna on the forum at the min too if you want the part number to get it from a Fiat dealer it's 5899401 and costs about 12 quid

Jim

 

[net_hippy]

Cool, thanks. I'll get right on it.

And cheers for the aerial number!

nuovapanda, it's a 1989 1000CL.

 

[pandaforest]

Don't forget to get a fuse in their though to protect your lovely new music maker. You can get inline fuse holder for next to nothing which would go on th end of your + and onto the + of your new multiblock. Unless the existing + is already fused in the fuse box (Mine wasn't)

 

[gaz.d]

You will need to run speaker wires but that bit easy

My radio is fused. It the same fuse that works the clock(if fitted), indicators and fag lighter (if fitted)

New headunits will have a fuse a built into it

An assorted box of electircal connections from the likes of halfords will make your job much easier.

Oh you will need to join the yellow and red wires together on the multiblock. One is switched and other is permenant (always forget which is which )

 

[Plug]

You might want to have a look at this thread as well, if you're after some dash mounted speakers (saves cutting holes in the door cards ).

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/110177-dash-speakers-wanted.html

Cheers,

Plug

 

[net_hippy]

Excellent, thanks again!

Yeah, I saw in the Haynes manual that it just seems to suggest taking off the panels in the back, but I don't really see the need if you can just mount the speakers at the front anyway.

I think I'll go into Halfords, show them what I'm going to do and get them to point at all the connectors and things that I need!


Can anyone recommend a decent stereo in the £50 - £70 area??

Also, couldn't see the speakers that people seemed to be recommending on the other thread. Were they Kenwood 10cm ones?

 

[Alan.D]

From the shops you probably won't get much other than a goodmans for that kind of money so have a look at ebay and you should easilly get a reasonable Sony/kenwood.

 

[net_hippy]

Had a look in Halfords and there are loads for that price range.

Just too many! I'm not good with too much choice...

 

[Plug]

This is the head unit I've just fitted in the Golf:

http://www.audio66.com/product.asp?id=5616&man=6&main=&firstsel=cat&userid=1042193384394719580787037

A blinding bit of kit for the money.. (in more ways than one, the backlighting is a bit fierce.. )

I'm going to fit the old head unit in the Panda, it's similar but without the Bluetooth and MP3 front panel input.

Cheers,

Plug

 

[JimMagill]

I always fancied something like that but the fact that is cost more than I paid for the car sorta puts me off a bit... Like Sylvia's just not that 'Bling' yet, lol

Jim

 

[Alan.D]

This is the head unit I've just fitted in the Golf:

http://www.audio66.com/product.asp?id=5616&man=6&main=&firstsel=cat&userid=1042193384394719580787037

A blinding bit of kit for the money.. (in more ways than one, the backlighting is a bit fierce.. )

I'm going to fit the old head unit in the Panda, it's similar but without the Bluetooth and MP3 front panel input.

Cheers,

Plug

I stand corrected

Willie has a Sony CDX M800 with remote that now works after replacing the ribbon to the flip face.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-CDX-M800...ryZ39763QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Davoir2000]

I've just had to re-wire my wife's new panda as the previous owners had done a cowboy job on the stereo wiring. I have also added front door speakers in the stash pockets, two sets of components in the rear quarter panels, and a 12" subwoofer in the boot. I had a hell of a problem sorting out the mess they had made so i indeed stripped it right back to those two bare wires and started from scratch, now it runs like a dream, sounds very crisp too.

If you want any info on how i wired it up drop me a private message and I can get some photos of the wiring for you, and help you out with any problems you may have.

I just found these on ebay, they look a decent set of speakers especially for the money, they have a range of sizes available for little to no money.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....m=350016540141&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=022

Im running a £70 goodmans headunit, with CD/MP3 functionality I think i got this from halfords a while back, but i am sure they make a similar one still now.

 

[Chas Uno]

If you want any info on how i wired it up drop me a private message and I can get some photos of the wiring for you, and help you out with any problems you may have.

Make a guide with pictures and post it on the forum! That will help others

 

[Davoir2000]

thanks for the idea, when I get a chance I will take the head unit out and then snap a few photos and do a wiring guide.

 

[BenW]

Ideally go for an Alpine or pioneer headunit, these are considered the best for sound quality and still give perfectly adequate features. I've got one of the lowish end alpines (About £120 when i got it) and its fantastic you should be able to get a near new low end alpine within budget. Second hand car hifi is well worth looking into

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I've got a Sony headunit in my Panda. Its got an AUX socket for the iPod and BlueTooth Hands free for the phone, its all round a really good unit and can be picked up for about £100 if you shop about. Its the Sony BT2500 I think. I'm almost sure you can get it from Argos (mine came from Halfords).

 

[Plug]

This is the head unit I've just fitted in the Golf:

http://www.audio66.com/product.asp?id=5616&man=6&main=&firstsel=cat&userid=1042193384394719580787037

A blinding bit of kit for the money.. (in more ways than one, the backlighting is a bit fierce.. )

I'm going to fit the old head unit in the Panda, it's similar but without the Bluetooth and MP3 front panel input.

Cheers,

Plug

:yeahthat:

Cheers,

Plug