Fitting new CD player to Astra with steering wheel controls?

Fitting new CD player to Astra with steering wheel controls?

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Discussion

Louisa911

Original Poster:

649 posts

197 months

Thursday 25th November 2010
quotequote all
Hello

Just reserved from Halfrauds a Kenwood CD player with bluetooth / ipod control for the Astra Coupe which currently has a cd autochanger in the glove box (2001 model with volume/source/skip controls on the steering wheel, and seperate computer display above the current radio which shows time/date, temperature and track number/radio station. It displays the date on the bottom line, until the radio is turned on, and then the date is replaced by radio station or cd track number info)

According to the halfords online car check thing, I won't need any additional leads or wiring for the stereo to be fitted.

Is it worth paying the £20 fitting fee at Halfords for them to do it for me, or will it be a simple job? I know fitting a CD player is simple in most cases - plug and play pretty much. But just concerned about the screen display above the standard unit which displays track listings from the original unit, and the steering controls too. Should the steering wheel conrols still operate normally with the new CD player? And what will the screen display in place of the date when the new unit is turned on? Still just the date?

Complicated question sorry! Thanks


maniac0796

1,292 posts

173 months

Thursday 25th November 2010
quotequote all
As long as you use the correct loom adapters (if nessacery) then the screen should just show the date constantly. The steering wheel buttons probably won't work, but IIRC, some CD players come with OEM remote connectors. Never had a chance to connect anything up, but I assume they work with OEM remotes.

Louisa911

Original Poster:

649 posts

197 months

Thursday 25th November 2010
quotequote all
Ok cheers. Thinking about it, the steering wheel buttons wont be that important anyway if the iPod is playing through it. Only volume but thats no big deal.

What will happen regarding the autochanger in the glove box? Will that just be disconnected completely?

If you hadn't guessed I'm fine with operating them, but useless with how electrics work!

H_Kan

4,942 posts

206 months

Thursday 25th November 2010
quotequote all
You can buy an adaptor which makes the steering wheel controls work with aftermarket stereos, but think they are a little pricey.

Toyless

24,154 posts

228 months

Thursday 25th November 2010
quotequote all
I run an Alpine head unit which drives my ipod through the streering wheel buttons and its one of the best things Ive ever had fitted to a car.

Volume and track skip are on the right side buttons and it just become subconscious to use.

05 Astra FYI.

Louisa911

Original Poster:

649 posts

197 months

Thursday 25th November 2010
quotequote all
I've had a scan on eBay, the adapters can be had for £25 ish, not as bad as I expected but could live without it for now!

Anyone any ideas regarding the autochanger? The current setup is a 4-disk changer in the glovebox, then a dash unit with radio / track skip controls and power button, cassette player etc. (just like a normal unit but without a screen) and then of course the screen is situated above this with all other info like time, temp and date which also displays autochanger track information or the radio station.

I'm presuming the autochanger will have to be disconnected completely and won't connect to the aftermarket head unit without a lot of hassle?

Edited by Louisa911 on Thursday 25th November 23:21

captainmatt

475 posts

173 months

Thursday 25th November 2010
quotequote all
Not entirely sure on all of this, but one thing I will add is that in my Corsa, when I have my ipod plugged into my replacement stereo, it still comes up with whatever radio station was last on on the old radio display.
The wheel controls work on mine, but they worked when I got it, so like I say, I'm not sure on all that.

Negative Creep

25,235 posts

234 months

Thursday 25th November 2010
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Louisa911 said:
I've had a scan on eBay, the adapters can be had for £25 ish, not as bad as I expected but could live without it for now!

Anyone any ideas regarding the autochanger? The current setup is a 4-disk changer in the glovebox, then a dash unit with radio / track skip controls and power button, cassette player etc. (just like a normal unit but without a screen) and then of course the screen is situated above this with all other info like time, temp and date which also displays autochanger track information or the radio station.

I'm presuming the autochanger will have to be disconnected completely and won't connect to the aftermarket head unit without a lot of hassle?

Edited by Louisa911 on Thursday 25th November 23:21
Your CD changer won't work with it. A lot of the adaptors only do the wheel controls so you'll lose the radio station on the dash display but not the time, temperature etc. However since your new stereo will show the station it's not really a problem

Mwatto23

1 posts

73 months

Tuesday 30th October 2018
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Negative Creep said:
Your CD changer won't work with it. A lot of the adaptors only do the wheel controls so you'll lose the radio station on the dash display but not the time, temperature etc. However since your new stereo will show the station it's not really a problem
I was just wondering how this turned out cause i was looking at changing my head unit in my 03 astra g and have seen that i lose the whole screen with the clock on it if i change my head unit.