Aftermarket Headunit Install

This install was done on a 2004 Golf GL with a Double-Din Non-Monsoon sound system.  A Blaupunkt Tamp Bay headunit was used.

This How-To can also be used to install an aftermarket headunit if you have:
Single-Din Non-Monsoon
Single-Din Monsoon
Double-Din Monsoon

Items needed:
Aftermarket Headunit of Choice
A Blaupunkt Tampa Bay headunit
was used for this install
Wiring Harness Adapter
Metra Part # 70-9003 (Double-Din)
Metra Part # 70-1784 (Single-Din)
Antenna Adapter
Metra Part # 40-VW53 (Double-Din)
Metra Part # 40-VW20 (Single-Din)
(1) Set of Radio Removal Keys
(1) Soldering Gun w/ Solder
(1) Add-A-Circuit 
Skrink Tubing

The first thing that needs to be done is the prep of the wiring harness adapter along with any wiring that comes with the aftermarket headunit.  The wires need to be stripped at the ends and solder needs to be added.   

Next, the wiring harness adapter needs to be soldered to the wiring of the aftermarket headunit.  Make sure you cut pieces of shrink tubing and put them over the wires before you solder the wires together. 

After everything is soldered together, heat the shrink tubing over the soldered wires. This will protect the connections from being touched by anything. 

After the shrink tubing is heated, apply electrical tape over the shrink tubing.  This will prevent the shrink tubing from accidentally coming off the connection. 

Here is a picture of the wiring harness adapter and wiring for the aftermarket headunit prepped: 

With all the prep work done, you can now move to the car and install your headunit.

The first thing that needs to be done is the stock headunit needs to be removed.  Take the radio removal keys and insert them in the proper slots. 
Once the keys are locked in, pull on the keys and the radio will pull out. 
Note: The single-din headunits only have two slots for removal keys.

Remove the wiring harness and the antenna from the back of the stock headunit.   
Note: The single-din headunits wiring harness is removed different than the wiring harness on a double-din headunit.

With everything removed from the din area, you can now install the mounting bracket that your aftermarket headunit came with. 
Note: Not all mounting brackets are the same.  The way they are installed may differ from one company to another.

Next, the wiring harness adapter can be connected to the stock wiring harness. 

Now you can connect the wiring that came with your headunit to the headunit itself. 
Note: At this point, you are going to want to connect any other additional wiring harnesses to your headunit.  In this install, RCA inputs and RCA outputs were added to the headunit.  They are the blue and yellow connectors that are connected to the rear of the headunit.  For this install, the antenna adapter was not used because the radio is never going to be used.

Your headunit is going to need to be remotely turned on.  In the pictures above you see a long red wire.  That is the remote turn on wire.  For this install, a Add-A-Circuit was used at the fuse box on fuse 31. 
Note: An aftermarket amp and subs were also installed during this aftermarket headunit installation.  You will notice an extra black wire connected to the Add-A-Circuit.  This is the remote turn on wire for the aftermarket amp that is powering the subs.

Once you have everything connected that needs to be connected, you can now test your headunit to make sure everything works properly.  At this point, if the headunit turns on and you can hear music coming from all of the speakers, you are as good as gold.  You can now push the headunit into the mounting bracket and lock it in. 
Note: Make sure when pushing the headunit in that no wires are being smashed behind it.

For this install, a blank din panel was used to cover up the section where the din pocket would normally go.  It is a good thing that the din pocket was wanted for this install because there would be nowhere to put all of the wiring.

Here are picture of the final product. 
Note: You will notice to the right of the radio is the Custom iPod Mount and also another mount for a cell phone.  You can get instructions on how to make the Custom iPod Mount by clicking here.  You can also buy the lower cell phone mount at www.panavise.com.