Taking delvery of a new Ducato based Motorhome which doesnt have a radio. Before I start exploring does anybody know if the wiring and aerial are likely to be hiding behind the facia

Cheers

Much will depend on how the vehicle was ordered by the converter.

I'm assuming it is a continental model, which one?

Most motorhomes (but not all) if not delivered with a radio installed have at least been built with "radio-prep", which will mean it has at least front door speakers (and possibly tweeters each side of the windscreen), an aerial (which may be in one of the door mirrors, especially if it is a coachbuilt) and all the wiring necessary to drop a (single-din) radio in the dash.

If it isn't equipped with radio-prep, you have a bigger job.

There will probably be two near-single-din storage cubbies in the radio position. They lever out (against lugs) fairly easily, and you should be able to see any wiring behind. For a single-din radio, the bottom one is normally removed and replaced by the radio. For a double-din unit, both are removed, and the central dividing bar in the resulting void needs to be very carefully removed (I used a mini-hacksaw blade). A double din unit will then require the appropriate mounting trim/surround as a finisher (and for the X290 which comes without a radio, this is the trim for the preceding X250 - the specific X290 trims are to use when replacing the factory-fit radio with a different double-din unit - the dash shape is slightly different between radioless X290s and those factory fitted with a radio!).

If it's a non Fiat head unit you will need a special harness adaptor to stop the Canbus flashing the milage on the dashboard.

Why does it not flash when there is no radio?

Mohojo said:

If it's a non Fiat head unit you will need a special harness adaptor to stop the Canbus flashing the milage on the dashboard.

Click to expand...

...not if originally not fitted with a radio.

Can be an issue if you "swap out" an existing factory-fitted one.

rayc said:

Why does it not flash when there is no radio?

Click to expand...

Good question. The above poster might be right........Canbuses can be a bit weird though. If it's happy with no radio will it start flashing when a radio is fitted?? I know that mine is going to cost me £70 for a Connects2 special harness.

...I speak from experience of fitting a Double-Din Naviceiver in an X/290 with factory-fitted radio prep, but no factory radio.

It looks then that if a Fiat head is fitted then some configuration of something takes place. Why can't it be reconfigured to 'No Radio Fitted' and start form there. It appears to me that £70 for a harness is a joke and my suggestion would appear to make it not necessary, but perhaps I am being too simplistic as things such as steering wheel controls may be involved.

AIUI, the issue is often the bluetooth unit included as part of the Blu&Me on the factory fit radio. (though the radio itself may contribute).

This is CANbus enabled, and if removed will cause the mileage to flash (as an indicator that the CAN has lost communication with something it once knew about).

I suspect the (appropriate) aftermarket harnesses emulate the CAN connection, eliminating the problem, but if this is so, then presumably a dealer could do a "proxy-align" to remove the issue anyway.

(It does occur to me, however, that many of the issues seem to arise through wanting to retain steering-wheel controls for an aftermarket replacement, and it may be that retaining some of the factory-fit capability is more difficult than retaining none of it)

I've fitted a new android head unit and now can't adjust the dash date time etc and the milage is flashing. I have asked our local Fiat dealer about a proxy alignment but recieved a ill defined reply so I'm back to looking at the Connects2 adaptor which comes with a box of tricks attached to it hence the cost. Sorry for this on this thread but I guess it could be relevant to this poster. Any advice appreciated.

Mohojo said:

I've fitted a new android head unit and now can't adjust the dash date time etc and the milage is flashing.....

Click to expand...

To be clear, though, I believe you have replaced the factory-fitted FIAT unit (which is CANbus connected and aligned when it is factory installed, and also incorporates the date/time adjustment which is alternatively done through the "trip computer" menus on a vehicle that doesn't have a factory-fit radio).

There is nothing for the Canbus to "lose" when the vehicle leaves the factory with only radio-prep, and no installed unit. Likewise, in this case, the date/time adjustment doesn't need the radio.

Mohojo said:

I've fitted a new android head unit and now can't adjust the dash date time etc and the milage is flashing.

Click to expand...

That is because when Fiat fit their radio the time in the dash is derived from it. I have seen previous posts on the forum on this subject and it is possible to revert back to the time being set via the MODE button and normal parameter set up. If you check now I think you will find the 'set time' does not appear in the menu. See the link below specifically "The MODE button now has the Date and Time function after a PROXI reset. They set it to have an After Market radio and it worked."
https://www.fiatforum.com/ducato/440756-ducato-x290-changing-radio-sat-nav.html

Thanks rayc. I saw the thread but didn't understand it.
How much will the dealers charge to reset the proxi? If it's more that £65 it'd be cheaper to get the Connects2 adaptor?