Northern Auto Tech - ECU and Blue & Me Repairs

Technical No room inside the Panda dash :-(

Currently reading:
Technical No room inside the Panda dash :-(

SB1500

SB1500

Panda Veteran
Parked in the garage Written a review
Joined
Jul 1, 2014
Messages
3,579
Points
976
Location
United Kingdom
I've tried and tried to get an aftermarket radio into the metal holding cage used by the original head unit (Blaupunt double din). The radio fits in and slides in fine, but it won't slide in far enough due to some cables between the Pioneer head unit and the cars connectors.

It's as if there's no room for this adapter to fit between the radio and the inside of the dash. But clearly, with the amount of people with aftermarket units there is a solution. Having sat for an hour, I can't find one :-(

I'm waiting for my fascia (cheap eBay one - couldn't find genuine). And getting a generic single din mounting bracket to hold the radio into the stock 'cage' that held the stock radio unit.

Worst of all, the little allen screw bolt with the rubber ring fell through the dash into some enclosed area and I don't know where to find it, it will be rolling loosely around in there. I'm worried it will jam something or get into the heater system :-( Think it'll need the dash taken apart somewhere but where?

Also, the Green/Yellow/Blue connector has no place to go, what did these cables function as for the Blaupunt unit?

Kind of annoyed, I'm in a worse position than I started with a lost screw and the original head unit.
 
The space behind is poor, even if trying to refit the original unit.

The new radio should have its own metal fitting cage. Unless the new unit is also a Blaupunkt, it is unlikely to fit, so wait for the adaptor fascia to arrive.

When the new fascia adaptor arrives, you should have the choice of fitting the new unit at the top, or the bottom. Fitting it at the top allows you to get your hands below to get the wiring out of the way. Only once fitted do you then fit the cubby box below it. (part of the fascia adaptor)

The multi-coloured plugs connect to the remote controls on the steering wheel, if fitted, and to the bluetooth unit if fitted. They will not attach to your new unit without an adaptor, available for some units to allow the wheel controls to still work. The bluetooth unit, if fitted, is 'lost' once the original unit is removed. Just leave these plugs hiding behind the radio somewhere.

The peg you lost cannot get into the heater, but could sit on top of it, or get in the way of one of the flap controls. Remove the side panels at foot level, remove the glovebox, then get your head under there with a torch.

Hopefully you've also shoehorned in behind a CanBus adaptor so the new unit understands when the ignition and lights are on or off. Don't connect the new unit direct to the CanBus wires.
 
Yeah it has a small 'mounting bracket' that will hold it into the Fascia, but I can't imagine this will do much for the space :-( Also, does that mean I don't need the stock mounting cage?

Is that still true about the cheap eBay fascia adapter, it's not the genuine Fiat one. Still can't see how it will fit room for the wires :-(, or did I only have that problem due to the Blaupunt mounting cage?

I don't have steering wheel controls, wish I did but! So these should be fine to hang :)

Will I need this peg for the new fascia setup? And I will remove those panels, hopefully they're not too difficult and easy to fit again!

No idea about the whole CanBus situation, but I'd really like to sort it as it's annoying when the head unit stays on etc. How do I go about sorting that?
 
Your fascia adaptor will hopefully look like this one:http://www.connects2.co.uk/Product/ProductItem/CT24FT06

The cubby box in the lower part pops out easily. You fit your radio cage into the top part. Then with the cubby out, you fit the radio, the gap underneath allowing you to locate the wiring to allow the radio to go in fully. Once in, and tested, pop the cubby box in.

Your new radio should come with its own cage. It should also have some fitting instructions and wiring diagram. The cage goes into the fascia adaptor from the front and is held in by bending some tangs out to hold it there. Around the cage you will see many triangular-shaped cut-outs. You select some of these to bend out, away from the radio, so that the angled edge then pulls the cage tight. Simple but effective. You cannot expect your new radio to fit the original car cage.

To get the best from your new unit, you need to interpret the Canbus signals to tell the radio when the ignition is on or off, the lights are on (display dimming), and if it can increase the volume as the speed increases, you need a sped signal. A canbus adaptor will sort this.
Choices: A universal one, which requires connecting. http://www.connects2.co.uk/Product/ProductItem/CAN-02
Or a specific one, which is plug and go. But check the wiring for permanent and switched feed are the right way around. http://www.connects2.co.uk/Product/ProductItem/CTHUP-FT03

It is even more stuff to cram behind the radio, but it will fit. Been there, done that.
 
portland_bill said:
Your fascia adaptor will hopefully look like this one:http://www.connects2.co.uk/Product/ProductItem/CT24FT06

The cubby box in the lower part pops out easily. You fit your radio cage into the top part. Then with the cubby out, you fit the radio, the gap underneath allowing you to locate the wiring to allow the radio to go in fully. Once in, and tested, pop the cubby box in.

Your new radio should come with its own cage. It should also have some fitting instructions and wiring diagram. The cage goes into the fascia adaptor from the front and is held in by bending some tangs out to hold it there. Around the cage you will see many triangular-shaped cut-outs. You select some of these to bend out, away from the radio, so that the angled edge then pulls the cage tight. Simple but effective. You cannot expect your new radio to fit the original car cage.

To get the best from your new unit, you need to interpret the Canbus signals to tell the radio when the ignition is on or off, the lights are on (display dimming), and if it can increase the volume as the speed increases, you need a sped signal. A canbus adaptor will sort this.
Choices: A universal one, which requires connecting. http://www.connects2.co.uk/Product/ProductItem/CAN-02
Or a specific one, which is plug and go. But check the wiring for permanent and switched feed are the right way around. http://www.connects2.co.uk/Product/ProductItem/CTHUP-FT03

It is even more stuff to cram behind the radio, but it will fit. Been there, done that.
Click to expand...


That's the EXACT one! Should arrive tomorrow.

I'm getting the mounting bracket from a friends Pioneer radio - universal across the brand I understand.

I will remove the original car cage - does this mean that bolt I dropped in the dash from the original car cage will be fine to be removed at a later date? (Seeing as I won't need it anymore to secure the originals mounting cage).

That Plug-n-Play cable, couldn't find a price on that page (browsing from the FF app). That'll fit straight into the radio and car then? Seems handy enough. It says Panda 2007+, should it work with 2005 models like mine too but as I'm sure the radio CANbus interface hasn't changed.

Easy enough to remove and fit the CANbus adapter even if I order it in a week or so? (Having fitted the radio and fascia adapter) or just wait and do it all at once?

Thanks. Appreciate you going into detail too for my level!
 
portland_bill said:
If you fit the radio without the canbus adaptor, you MUST ensure that the two small canbus wires are NOT connected to the radio.
Click to expand...


Which are these?

The Green/Yellow/Blues aren't connected.

The thing is working alright so far, it switches off when the ignition is off and on when it's on.

I know I can't use it without the ignition on at all however but due to the cost of the CANBUS adapter and my lack of ability to fit it i think I can live with that!

Had some difficulty today popping the Fascia into the car and figuring out how to make it stay in.

Also couldn't work out where or how the clips that came with it worked.

Ended up needing to superglue the little handy space box in the other DIN opening to stop it from popping out with low force.

The radio is on and now just needs a plastic frame around it to hide the mounting frame!

And no.. I'm not proud that superglue was used :-( ImageUploadedByFIAT Forum1455931883.608392.jpg
 
Is the 'new' radio new? If so, it should have come with fitting instructions, showing the wires to the power plug.
Older cars had up to eight wires at this plug, including:
Permanent live
Switched live
Lighting
Earth
Speed
Electric aerial
Reverse (for nav systems)
Mute (telephone)

A Canbus car has four wires only in the plug. A permanent feed, and earth, and a pair of signal wires for the Canbus system. I though all Pandas were Canbus, but the earliest may not be, but we need to be sure. The fact that your radio switches on and off with ignition, but not without is strange. A permanent feed would allow it to be on whenever you like.

You need to hook it out and check.
If you have more than four wires in the car supply plug, check which one is permanent and which is switched. Sometime these are swapped and will need the radio wiring altered to suit. Fitting instructions usually show this as an option, as lots of radios come with bullet connectors in their supply wiring.
 
portland_bill said:
Is the 'new' radio new? If so, it should have come with fitting instructions, showing the wires to the power plug.
Older cars had up to eight wires at this plug, including:
Permanent live
Switched live
Lighting
Earth
Speed
Electric aerial
Reverse (for nav systems)
Mute (telephone)

A Canbus car has four wires only in the plug. A permanent feed, and earth, and a pair of signal wires for the Canbus system. I though all Pandas were Canbus, but the earliest may not be, but we need to be sure. The fact that your radio switches on and off with ignition, but not without is strange. A permanent feed would allow it to be on whenever you like.

You need to hook it out and check.
If you have more than four wires in the car supply plug, check which one is permanent and which is switched. Sometime these are swapped and will need the radio wiring altered to suit. Fitting instructions usually show this as an option, as lots of radios come with bullet connectors in their supply wiring.
Click to expand...

As I've got it in now, and am weary of re-fitting it (even as 'well' as I have it in at the minute), what would possibly negatives be of just 'leaving it' like that? I know it won't dim, but theres a dimmer button on it, and as I said, it'll shut off with the ignition off along with the lights and other systems on the Panda.

It'll only come on with ignition on, but as the car has its original battery I'd be too weary to listen with the engine off for long anyway.

I'm actually considering going to Halfords and getting them to fit it, out of the sheer fact I'm clueless with wiring :-/
 
If the radio does not have a permanent supply, any internal clock will not keep time.

If you have connected any radio wires to the Canbus wires, you could potentially be sending messages down the wires. This is the system that the computers use to tell all the functions what to do and when. Might be a bit of a risk there.
 
I'll test the clock thing tomorrow.

I thought the Canbus was the green/yellow/blue arrangement - that's disconnected.

There's two connectors, one black and one white. Then the aerial (round one) which are all connected.

What do you recommend I do in the mean time if I was to remove the radio?
 
SB1500 said:
I'll test the clock thing tomorrow.

I thought the Canbus was the green/yellow/blue arrangement - that's disconnected.
Click to expand...
No. They are for the remote control and mute functions if used on that car. As answered in post #2 .

SB1500 said:
There's two connectors, one black and one white. Then the aerial (round one) which are all connected.
Click to expand...
One of those has eight wires, to the speakers.
The other is the power cable. See post #8

SB1500 said:
What do you recommend I do in the mean time if I was to remove the radio?
Click to expand...
Sing!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

vidtek
Technical Fitting aftermarket head unit to 2011 Panda Mylife
Replies
3
Views
141
vidtek
vidtek
nikcoleman
  • Solved
Technical Panda Door replacement
Replies
14
Views
425
koalar
koalar
B
General Panda problem
2
Replies
26
Views
981
benspanda
B
B
Technical Is the 'body control unit' also the passenger fusebox?
Replies
17
Views
442
boguing
B
S
Technical Fiat panda Gearbox problem
Replies
2
Views
422
Yolanda
Yolanda
Back
Top