Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > 4 wheels > Equipping the Overland Vehicle
Fitting Car Radio to a Defender (which has never had one) Fitting Car Radio to a Defender (which has never had one)
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Overlanders Handbook - everything you need to know, available NOW!

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 18 Nov 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Durban, South Africa
Posts: 40
Fitting Car Radio to a Defender (which has never had one)
Hi All,

I have bought a second hand pioneer radio/cd player to fit to my 110 hard top. The stereo comes with a connector plug that take the cables out of the back of the unit. The vehicle has never had a stereo fitted so I am not sure how to wire in connector that is comes off the back of the stereo.

Does anyone out there know where I can get hold of a wiring diagram for this or any advice on where I should start?!

Thanks,

Bruce
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 18 Nov 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Cheshire, England
Posts: 59
Radio/CD fitting
Hi Bruce

Go to Pioneer Electronics - Home and follow the links for your model of CD player (see the label on the case) to the support pages, where you should be able to download both an owners' manual and the installation instructions.

Most manufacturers have such info freely available on their websites nowadays.

Nigel
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 19 Nov 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Wiltshire,UK
Posts: 288
If you're not too good at electrical work, or just want to keep things looking "factory", then you can buy the "stereo installation kit" from LR, which consists of things like:

STC7766 the main wiring harness to connect your stereo to the 12v supply
AMR3294 the speaker harness
AMR3417 x2 really naff speakers
BTR9552 a little plastic cover that covers the cig lighter and rear wash wipe switch, but has a hole in it for the wiring loom to come though.

so you only really need the two wiring looms to make things easy. and get a pair of decent speakers, again from halfords or similar, for about £20 they much better than the things that LR supply.



Also, you can get the dash pods pretty cheap, eith on ebay or just from Halfords or similar.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 19 Nov 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 221
There are usually loads of wires, some of which you won't need, like electric ariel control, remote control, etc.
Forget the colour codes off the top of me head but you should be able to google it ok.
You need to connect the permanent live, which retains the station and settings memory, and the ignition live so that it comes on and off with the ignition. If you lift up the plastic tray at the bottom of the dash, and have a poke in the wiring loom that runs across the back, you should see a couple of multi-connectors that you can use - I think the one with the white cable will give you the ignition live, brown cable will give you permanent live. There is also a black earth cable in there, again with a spare multi-connector.
If you haven't got one, get a £5 crimping set from maplin so you can put the bullet connectors on your wiring correctly - you may need to extend the wiring slightly depending on where the stereo is located (mines by my knee in front of the handbrake and I take the wiring in through the fuse panel and up into the dash)
Then you just need to add some speaker wiring and route it through the car as best you can.
__________________
www.simba4x4.com
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 19 Nov 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 158
Idea
Sell the defender and keep the radio and fit it to a cruiser
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 19 Nov 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 221
Thats a good point -

You can manage without a radio in a defender, but a cruiser definately needs something installed to provide the entertainment
__________________
www.simba4x4.com
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 19 Nov 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: London
Posts: 144
!noise!
You can manage without a radio in a defender, but a cruiser definately needs something installed to provide the entertainment [/QUOTE]

No point having a radio in a Defender - so much noise you'll never hear it. Come to think of it you will be able to enjoy it for all those spanner-in-the-hand moments by the side of the road...
__________________
pigapitcha

http://www.jljphotography.co.uk
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 19 Nov 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Durban, South Africa
Posts: 40
Thanks Guys!

Thats great. Will check it out and let you know if I need any additional info. Good bit of banter too, but I have towed too many cruisers to drive anything but a Landy!

All the best,

Bruce
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 20 Nov 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Ghana
Posts: 289
Just a thought
I have never found CD units to perform well on corrrugated roads! Tapes (old tech I know!) hate the dust... Only solutions that have worked for me is mini disk / MP3. I have a dedicated ipod connection that sits in the glove box so the ipod is tucked away and protected from heat and vibration (direct sun can kill them straight). Having said this you are driving a Defender, so why go through all the bother - ipod and noise cancelling earphones are the way to go. Added bonus is you can take your music with you when you walk off to get a mechanic......

Gil
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 20 Nov 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sax, Spain
Posts: 901
your all wrong! lol
what you really need is a wind up radio ( Baygen did one, argos about 50 quid) for when your battery/defender/ CD player etc dies......... then at least you can still pick up the world service on the short wave while you skin your knuckles fixing it!..........

sorry, couldnt resist it!

Martyn
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 21 Nov 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 158
wind up
yup it will fit the fit vehicle

Towed a cruiser...where? lol
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 21 Nov 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 221
My sony CD player usually worked fine on all but the worst corrugations - its one of them new fangled ones that reads ahead on the disk and caches the data, forget the word or it... it certainly helps though.
What normally happens though is we take a big pile of CD/R's and put them in a carry case, and the dust and sand gets in in no time and renders them all unplayable. Only way round it is to take them all in jewel cases which is a bit bulky - we'll definately be taking an MP3 player on the next trip.
__________________
www.simba4x4.com
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 21 Nov 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Scotland
Posts: 775
My Sony radio/CD player packed up on the first trip because of dust jamming the mechanism. I never bothered to fix it as it's likely to happen again and again. These things are designed for cruising in Crawley, not for the desert. Better get an MP3 player with a radio.
__________________
----------------
Roman (UK)
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Sell a car in Jordan? manfredschweda Middle East 1 13 Jan 2008 12:58
Help!! Need A Car From Laos To China Akira1 Travellers Seeking Travellers 0 20 Aug 2007 19:25
sell a car in India (or Nepal or Pakistan) Hans Bo West and South Asia 8 26 Jun 2007 02:25
I give my car in India. Who want it ? etidar West and South Asia 2 11 Jun 2007 17:39

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27 2025
Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
CanWest: July 10-13 2025
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21 2025
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 13:32.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top