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Installing my stereo

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andytlr Seriously Crusin Dubber

109 posts · joined May 2005 ·

#368000
I have had a head unit to put in my beetle since before I even got the beetle but I was waiting till I had a whole week day free to get it installed. Then I had my little electrical breakthrough fixing my tail lights (big thing for me) and decided I should probably try and install it myself otherwise I'm never going to learn.

I haven't fully documented it but I'll write as much as I can remember so far.

I disconected the ground wire from the battery.

I got the old head unit out of the dash and into the boot. Then read the top of that and worked out which wire did what and then labeled them and cut them.

The first problem I had was that going into the back of the old head unit was only one wire per speaker, not two like normal. But I then followed the trail and eventually found where it joined to two. I have no idea why it was one, but I didn't really care once I found two.

Then I read the top of the new head unit and worked out what all the wires did. I also worked out that I really didn't need to use all the stuff that was on there. Stuff like tel muting, which is when you have a car kit for your phone and it mutes the stereo when a phone call comes in.

I then joined all the wires to the old wires by stripping them and twisting them together and wrapping in electrical tape. I didn't have any, but I might get some connector things and re-do this later.

It didn't work.

The two power cords I connected, accessory and battery had inline fuses on them. So I opened them up and the previous owner had put bloody tin foil in one to join it and the other was blown. Neither of the holder things that the fuse go in were in great condition so I bought two new ones which were only about $2 each anyway so I figured it was wothwhile.

I then came home again and put the new fuses in and it still didn't work. Then I checked the fuse on the back of the head unit, worked out that was blown to. This was one of those plastic chip style ones, not ceramic or glass like I have in the rest of the car. Soooo, I had no spares. Back down to Repco I went and got a pack of spares and it worked.

I didn't think it was really that hard to get to this stage, just a little common sense from a beginner like myself.

My problem now is where to put the head unit. The whole in the dash is too small. I could either cut it, which I don't really want to risk, or put it in the glove box.

Putting it in the glove box requires cutting a hole in the back but I guess that is better than the dash. It is just that then I won't have a glove box and I will have a hole in my dash. I will have added security though I guess. And the head unit has a remote so I don't have to worry about saftey.

Does anyone know how easily avaliable those metal plates that go in the stereo hole are? And do they sit over the dash or fit into the hole perfectly? Because the dash is a little bit marked where the old head unit sat on it.

I guess I could put the old tape player back in the dash, so no one would even bother trying to break in, but that thing isn't exactly great looking.

Anyway, will post again when I get it in properly.

Dasdubber DAS Resto Haus

5,746 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#368045
What year beetle? If it is an early 60s model I have a
radio block off plate (metal plate) that covers the hole (from behind the dash) you can have for free as long as you pay postage. U2U me if you want it. If it is another later model maybe someone else can help out.

Glovebox has pros and cons - security as you say is a plus, accessibility is a downside at times. You can get fibreglass glove box liners that incorporate a stereo mount from places like Machine 7 in the UK ....not sure if anyone here has them - make sure it is a right drive box if you do get one!
www.dasrestoparts.com.au

andytlr Seriously Crusin Dubber

109 posts · joined May 2005 ·

#368050
Thanks for the offer, but it is a 72. Are they a different size?

I have a remote for the stereo, so I'm not to concerned about access. And having the glove box open doesn't really get in the way of a passenger.

I think I may just cut a hole in the back of the glove box and let the back stick out there and make something for it to sit in.

My only concern with this is the back of the head unit will stick out into the boot, right under the rubber seal, so if this leaks at any stage it will fry the stereo.

I might bend a bit of sheet metal to sit over the back of it, so if any water does get in it runs over it. Just incase. It isn't leaking now, but it would only have to once to have a pretty expensive head unit go bye bye's.

I read somewhere on here about the stereo heating up in the glove box. If the back is sticking out into the boot and it has air ciculating around it in the glove box do you think this will be enough?

jnr356 Wolfsburg Wizard

603 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#368342
your'e welcome to check mine out,i'm in kilsyth south

andytlr Seriously Crusin Dubber

109 posts · joined May 2005 ·

#368345
Just spent the last two hours making a bigger hole in the dash and finishing the stereo install.

Putting a hole in the dash was a pain but I decided the stereo was supposed to go in the dash so thats where it shal go. Also, I use the glove box all the time, so not having one would give me the shits.

I wanted to do it slowly so I didn't stuff it up. And our jigsaw or whatever power tool your supposed to use was on loan. So I did it all by hand.

I cut from the bottom because the wiper motor was in the way. So I marked out with a texter the line I needed to cut to. Then drilled a row of little holes with a drill about 15mm wide. Then snaped that section out and got a hacksaw blade in a hand holder thing (not the big ones). Then I cut along the line, but this took ages because I had a crap blade. So I ended up drilling more holes and doing it that way.

Then I filed down the excess metal to the line. Then because I wanted to use the bracket that came with the head unit I had to also make the hole wider. I decided because it was only slightly wider to take it off one side and leave two sides with the re-inforced bend in the metal.

I used a file to file back the side, which took ages, but was pretty precise.

Then sliped the bracket in the hole, then put the stereo in.

I then had to make a bracket for the back of the stereo to hold it in. I just used a bit of sheet metal and bent it and drilled holes. One end screwed into the wiper motor where there was already a screw and the other into a bolt hole in the back of the head unit.

All in all I'm very happy with the result and quite proud of myself because I've never really done any kind of fixing/installing before and now I've installed the stereo and fixed the tail lights and fuses.

Learning a lot very quickly with this car. Very glad I bought it.

andytlr Seriously Crusin Dubber

109 posts · joined May 2005 ·

#368505
Photos:





The flash always turns red into orange. The head unit is silver, which doesn't really fit with the colour scheme, except for matching the chrome. Although you can't really see it in the photos, you can set all the lights on the buttons and screen to light up red.

Dub-Buggier Seriously Crusin Dubber

157 posts · joined May 2004 ·

#371233
looks good mate!!

So whats next?? Home respray??:P

cheers dub