My Sapphire has the original stereo and speakers. I want to upgrade to a new head-unit and speakers but I am hoping to leave in place and re-use the original wiring to the speakers. I am looking at Blaupunkt or Kenwood head-units with black face plates that hopefully won't look out of place.

First question: will the original wiring connections / plugs fit with a new head-unit. If not are there adaptors available or do I have to cut off the original plugs and use new ones?

Second question: what happens to the fader and bias controls for the original unit? Do you leave them in place or simply remove them from the circuit?

 

You can get adapter looms to convert the wiring to fit the radio of your choice.
I used Autoleads ones in my old sierra and my cossie.

There are 2 different kinds of adaptor looms. One for the amp under the head unit and a longer one for the types where the amp is in the n/s/f footwell.
I assume yours is the first one.

When you have fitted the new head unit, the amp below will already be disconnected so just leave as it is!

Job done!

 

Thanks. My car is a 1988 2WD Sapphire that has the amp with the fader / balance knobs immediately below the head unit.

I went to the Autoleads site; so basically I need is one of these for the headunit?

http://productfinder.autoleads.co.uk...d=522&pID=7804

 

ive been after the standard units for ages managed to find the cd player but thats it if your interested in selling ?

 

i threw mine in the skip

 

Maybe. Let me see how it all looks and I'll let you know.

I see you are from North Shields; my name is Shields.

 

one mans junk is anorher mans treasure lol

 

That's the beast mate!

Get one of those, plug it in, connect your new radio and off you go.

You'll probably need an aerial adapter as well though.

 

Just be aware that if the ford amp is used with the normal 6 speaker set up that it will/can damage the new head units.
tabetha

 

If I use the Autoleads adaptor doesn't that effectively isolate the OEM amp; it just become redundant?

 

According to the Autoleads website an aerial adaptor isn't required.

 

I contacted Autoleads; here is their rather unhelpful response:

"You will need to find a local car audio specialist who stocks Autoleads products. However I’m afraid that we currently don’t have a PC9 lead that fits your vehicle."

As you can imagine, there aren't any Autoleads stockists in Australia; and, even if there were, they wouldn't have a Sierra loom because the car wasn't sold here.

Back to the drawing board, unless there is kind a PassionForder who is willing try and track one down for me in the UK.

 

Does anyone know whether the system is full or half amped?