Car Stereo Help

[Bubba_s]

Hi BARF,

My son bought an aftermarket radio for his 1999 VW GTI and we're having trouble finding info online for his particular radio and needed adapter. I'm trying to find a part number for the needed adapter which is for the single DIN, non-monsoon radio. I'm hoping there are BARFers here who might be able to help with info/insights. Things have changed a bit since the last time (25 years ago) I put in a stereo, at least it seems that way. I'm fairly handy doing the actual wiring work/soldering if needed, but I want to make the install as clean as possible (Not cutting and slicing wires unless I have a solid wiring diagram to work with).

All the googling I have done finds info for the double DIN radio which has different connections. I have been to several forums and I even found a link to the single DIN instructions but it was a dead link.

Thanks for reading this and any help you may have to offer.

 

[motomania2007]

It's been awhile since I've done this sort of a mod but, when I replace the radio in my '06 matrix a couple of years ago I was able to go to the local auto parts stores and they had a bunch of different adapters and amazingly they had one that fit. But they also had a whole bunch of different universal ones and a whole bunch of other ones that had really broad categories. Like all VWs within a certain number of years. So my suggestion is that you do that. I found the best selection was it pep boys. But AutoZone and O'Reilly's had some as well but they tended to have the same things and not nearly the breadth of selection that pep boys had.

 

[motomania2007]

Worst case scenario is go to a junkyard and cut a connector out of a wrecked car and then make your own adapter. It's really not that hard.

 

[Bubba_s]

Thanks, I don't know why it didn't occur to me that an auto arts store might have these parts, but I will give that a try.

 

[mrzuzzo]

Call Crutchfield. They are the experts on this stuff and most likely will know the answer. It's my go to source for things like this.

 

[GAJ]

Call Crutchfield. They are the experts on this stuff and most likely will know the answer. It's my go to source for things like this.

:thumbup

 

[Bubba_s]

Call Crutchfield. They are the experts on this stuff and most likely will know the answer. It's my go to source for things like this.

thanks for the recommendation, they came up in my searches so glad to hear some positive words about them.

Sidenote: Jr. just want to cut the connectors off of the car side and start wiring same color to same color which I strongly advised (told) him not to do. :laughing

 

[kingmoochr]

thanks for the recommendation, they came up in my searches so glad to hear some positive words about them.

Sidenote: Jr. just want to cut the connectors off of the car side and start wiring same color to same color which I strongly advised (told) him not to do. :laughing

They shouldn't be the same color already. If they are, there's probably an adapter already plugged in, in which case have jr. forge ahead. Are you concerned with the mounting or the wiring at this point? Do you have the original stereo still? It's not too hard to back trace the hardness even if you have already cut the plug off. Is it a 4 speaker system?

 

[Bubba_s]

They shouldn't be the same color already. If they are, there's probably an adapter already plugged in, in which case have jr. forge ahead. Are you concerned with the mounting or the wiring at this point? Do you have the original stereo still? It's not too hard to back trace the hardness even if you have already cut the plug off. Is it a 4 speaker system?

We do have the original stereo and what appears to be an original wiring harness. I'm not worried as it all looks original.

It looks like there are six speakers included two tweeters in the side mirror area but those may not contain the speakers, I'll have to check.

 

[kingmoochr]

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-mmNLE3MuitA/learn/1999-2006-volkswagen-golf-and-gti.html

Sounds like you want to do it the right way. The cheap way requires a volt meter or test light and a 9v battery. I can expound on that if you don't want to go the pay route.

 

[Bubba_s]

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-mmNLE3MuitA/learn/1999-2006-volkswagen-golf-and-gti.html

Sounds like you want to do it the right way. The cheap way requires a volt meter or test light and a 9v battery. I can expound on that if you don't want to go the pay route.

I'm not against cutting if we have to but I am trying to avoid that. I have everything needed to go the cheap way if needs be and I will surely reach out if we do that. Thanks a lot!

Edit: I came across the same link the other day but I will look at it a bit closer today, thanks again.

 

[kingmoochr]

It looks like they're prepared to get you all the bits you need for a successful install. They weren't able to on my B8 S4... but that was a significantly more complex system.

This looks like everything
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fits-Vol...-Car-Harness-Radio-Install-Dash-Kit/502758085

 

[Bubba_s]

It looks like they're prepared to get you all the bits you need for a successful install. They weren't able to on my B8 S4... but that was a significantly more complex system.

This looks like everything
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fits-Vol...-Car-Harness-Radio-Install-Dash-Kit/502758085

What's messing with me a bit is that there were three separate harnesses going into the old radio yet every adapter I see has just one connecter. There IS a 6 disc changer in the back which we will not be using but I assume accounts for one of the three connectors. It seems that what I'll need to do is put two of the connectors side by side in the one larger receptacle. I'm not near the car now but I'll dig into this a little later today. Thanks again for the responses!

 

[kingmoochr]

There IS a 6 disc changer in the back which we will not be using but I assume accounts for one of the three connectors. It seems that what I'll need to do is put two of the connectors side by side in the one larger receptacle.

Sounds about right. Probably the 8 speaker wires on one plug and the power on the other.

 

[Bubba_s]

Sounds about right. Probably the 8 speaker wires on one plug and the power on the other.

Cool. I am a bit annoyed at myself for not considering this, of course they'd rather use one connector to save costs. Stay tuned! (or not :laughing)

 

[Bubba_s]

I'm happy to update this thread with a successful install of the radio. We went to Kragen (O'Reily) on Friday night to see if they sold adapters and they had the part delivered by 8am Saturday, cost $20. We soldered the wires, which were all the correct colors, and put shrink tubing on them and used a hairdryer to shrink. Plugged in, tested it, then finished the installation. My boy was all smiles. Thank you for all of the advice BARFers!

Sidenote: We did the soldering and install in between my other kid's baseball games. I missed the beginning of the second game where my kid hit his first homerun (a day after his birthday!). At least my wife got to see it...