Can any one simplify the radio stuff?

[Furydav]

Im thick when it comes to tech stuff. my Bongo came with what looks like the original radio cassette which does not work ( powers up but volume is goosed) ive spend a bit of time trawling the threads on replacement radio and it left me confused as to what i need to replace it. its a 1995 Bongo.

To add to the confusion there is a whole shed load of wiring coming from under the dash some into a Kenwood FM sterio controller what ever that is and there is a windscreen ariel to boot. its likely there has been a Tv mounted on the dash at some time which may account for some of the wiring ?

Any simply guidance would be appreciated all i want is a buget radio / cd player or mpe player ? PS what is a ISO adaptor and why or when do i need one?

thanks in advance for any advice

couple of pics (hopefully)

[Simon Jones]

The Kenwood box looks like an FM modulator to allow a CD multichanger to transmit to a spare frequency. Generally most people rip it all out and fit a decent UK radio. You can get ISO adapter to make it plug and play. If you get stuck, I think I've got one you can have for a fiver.

[g8dhe]

All the existing kit and any wiring between the kit and the original Mazda socket connect to the original wiring loom, is totally redundant - it was designed to work in a different part of the world where the frequency allocations are significantly different to what is available in Europe.

The normal process is strip out all the radio/audio equipment and disconnect aerials and wiring back to the the last socket before the internal wiring loom, you will have one aerial plug with the cable leading off towards the drivers side and a pair of sockets (8 wires for speakers & 6 wires for control etc.) connected into the wiring loom.

The ISO adaptor is the abbreviated name for "International Standards Organisation" see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connectors_for_car_audio which specifies a standard for all new / 3rd party radio connections only the first two parts A & B are needed for simple radios, it is required because all the manufactures have there own plus/socket arrangements to try and lock you into their products. The adaptor is just a few wires between the standard ISO plugs and the custom ones for each manufacturer see here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-BONGO-1 ... 416e1fa8f4 is typical.

With the above you can buy any car radio, from where ever you like and it will enable you to plug it in to the existing wiring.

[Northern Bongolow]

how did you manage to condense that lot into 4 sentences. .

[Furydav]

thanks for the info. Geoff how do I identify the original mazda connection at the wiring loom? ta

[g8dhe]

thanks for the info. Geoff how do I identify the original mazda connection at the wiring loom? ta

The wiring loom installed in the vehicle, is a bundle of wires with tape wrapped around them to keep them in place the plugs/sockets stick out from the main loom by normally just a few inches. So you just keep following the wires back from the radio until you come to the last plug/socket before the wrapped wires, it should be obvious once you actually look. Its normal to remove the glove box on the passenger side to aid access to the back of the units, it is opened and then just carefully levered pass the two rubber stops the box then drops out from downwards. To remove the radio/audio units you remove the two thin side strips and the release holes or bolts should be visible.

Ady - I write long sentences!

[Furydav]

Thanks geoff, ill have a look this afternoon

[Furydav]

Thanks geoff, ill have a look this afternoon

OK, so its been a we while , ive only attempted to get into the guts of this today for various reasons principly because the too difficult light came on (please see the photos)

When i took the radio out i found that there is no factory connection from the wiring harness for an ISO. There are a lot of wires connected with wire connectors etc.

I have got an ISO P2 104 connector but dont know were it should go with regardfs the harness. Any ideas?

[g8dhe]

Looks like someone has chopped the connectors off and then used crimp connectors to a socket for the radio
The colour codes for each wire are here along with the relevant ISO connector pin, click for details;

The ISO connector is described here, click for details;

[Furydav]

Looks like someone has chopped the connectors off and then used crimp connectors to a socket for the radio
The colour codes for each wire are here along with the relevant ISO connector pin, click for details;

The ISO connector is described here, click for details;

thanks again , looks like a job for a rainy day.