cdogg3232

I just bought a 91 passat from an auction for $1,500. (pretty good deal givin it had 100k on it. Basically this car runs great! only one problem. Ive been trying for the past 2 days to figure out how to change this factory radio. I hear of a few people in this forum that have Pioneer decks and whatnot...But hell, how did you install it so it worked properly!? I went to a few places and theyve said that i have premium sound and that my car has some type of built in amp that id have to bypass just to install my Pioneer deck. This is crazy. So I took out the factory radio and became frustrated with the harness and the wiring. The colors of the wires are impossible to match with the wires of my Pioneer deck. I went to some stores to find out if there were some type of links I could buy so id be able to install my deck properly without mixing some wires up and blowing out my speakers..but no luck. Please help because I really dont want to go to the dealership just to buy a factory cd player when I already have one of my own. so, due to the complicated harness that slpits into 2 connections, I stand before you a broken and musicless man....please help!!

Mr Vegas

Your best bet is to do it the way you install any radio-use a test light to identify power,acc,earth(brown wire)etc at the existing plugs.
It's not a good idea to match up by colours as this is usually inaccurate.
Usually the speaker wires are the same colour,i take it the old radio worked so it shouldn't be that hard-good luck!

cdogg3232

Thats the thing..I tried to look at the speaker wires and the colors are crazy and the wiring is completely different...there are 2 wire harnesses and half of the wires from the first harness connects to the second one...should i start fresh and cut both harnesses so i only have wires so I can to hook up my deck? Also where can i get a wires tester thingy?.....

Mr Vegas

I would utilise the old plugs for now so it's easy to test with the test light(special tool thingy!)
I don't know where you're from but basically you should go to a parts supplier/tool supplier and ask for a TEST LIGHT-that's what we call it from were i'm from-it's a needle hooked upto a lightbulb with a wire that runs of the end of the bulb with a clip on the end.
When you connect the wire to earth( something conductive to a part of the chassis/door etc)you then probe the needle into the old wires at the plug and if power is present BINGO! the light illuminates-it's a cheap tool but effective......

boschmann

You probably have the AKTIV amplified speaker system. Do a google search on "VW AKTIV" and you can find alot of ways people have found to rewire the system for aftermarket units.

cdogg3232

Thanks a bunch Bosch! tomorrow is dedicated to my music...that site (http://www.corrado-club.com/aktiv/Disabling.cfm) works perfectly in 10 steps. Thanks!