Replacing A2 Radio

JadedMoss

New Member
Hi all.

So I've bought an aftermarket radio, and a harness adaptor as my A2 came with a casette player. However, none of the wires in "Power", "Speakers", or the "Line Out", box lined up.

No matter what I try, or how I match the wires up (as I've unpicked the harness adaptor to match wire for wire), the aftermarket radio won't turn on.

I have a 2001 Audi A2, and any help would be greatly appreciated ?

I also have photos of the wiring on request. There are only 10 wires to match up in total on my A2, but my radio and harness want me to match up 19 and I don't appear to have an ignition wire coming from my car.

TIA

Adam Moss
 
Hi Adam,

Welcome to A2OC.

In your car's 17-digit VIN, found at the front-left corner of the dashboard, what is the number immediately before the 'N', please?

Cheers,

Tom
 
There probably is no ignition coming there.
I had aftermarket stereo installed in car with some kind of CAN switch thingy. But since it behaves weird (turns on stereo when door is opened for a moment etc), i too looked for switched power. My solution was to share switched power going to climate unit, don't remember of course where that wire is.
Another way is to bring new wire from fuse box. Maybe timmus knows a better way or leads to wire to tap for power...
 
Hi Tom. Immediately before the N is 8Z02
OK, thank you. Your car is actually a 2002 model, despite perhaps being on a 2001 UK registration plate.

From 2002 onwards, all Audi stereos are controlled via a digital command interface called CAN. All functions (ignition on/off, illumination on/off, etc) are controlled via CAN. A vast majority of aftermarket stereos cannot understand CAN, hence why you cannot get your aftermarket stereo to switch on. The wires required for the aftermarket stereo simply aren't there.

There are various solutions to this problem, though all will require a bit of understanding of electrics. May I ask, what features does the aftermarket stereo have that attracts you to it? You'll be able to fit these same features to an Audi stereo, which is easier and (in my opinion) much nicer.

Cheers,

Tom
 
These are the wires coming out of my car.
 

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Hi Tom.

Simply put, all I was planning to do was use it to attach my phone to so that I can run what music I want lol. Everything else was secondary ?
 
In which case, keep your existing Audi stereo and simply add a Bluetooth dongle to the back of it. That'll allow you to stream music from your phone.
There's nothing that the Audi stereos can't do with the correct add-ons, and it's a much easier, neater solution than trying to get aftermarket stuff to work.

There are many such options. Unfortunately, I need to dash, as I'm about to go on holiday, but hopefully another forum member will guide you to the kind of dongle that you need. :)

Cheers,

Tom
 
You really have to have a need to change from the Audi head units especially if you have Bose. The number of cars I have seen where the wires have been butchered to death to fit a rubbish stereo that only had silly flashing lights that do not even fit properly is becoming a more frequent problem.
This is usually followed by complaints about other electrics now not working or flat batteries. Unless you really know what you are doing do not change from the Audi unit. Rather than molest the car buy a different car that has the stereo you want!
As Tom has said, most if not all standard fit Audi units can be "modernised" by fitting an adapter into the cd input line on the back of the unit. There are a few units about but in general the functions added are bluetooth, aux in,mic for hands free phone, usb, and sd card support. Not all models offer everything but there will be a model suitable for what you want.
 
Welcome to the club.

It won't be long before Tom is back from holiday, and he is without doubt the man to whom your concerns should be addressed. Not only that, he's also an incredibly nice bloke.

Kind regards,

Simon
 
Just add a decent Bluetooth adapter.
Decide what features you want, BT, SD Card, USB, Hands Free, etc, then find an adapter that provides them. Anycarlink 1080B (Amazon circa £75) does it for me, but there is a wide choice and price range. The AnyCarLink is "plug'n play" you even get a pair of decent radio extraction keys, and hands free mic.
Mac.
 
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