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General Information => Upgrades (non engine related ) => Topic started by: lacolocho on October 18, 2006, 08:31:25 pm

Title: Aftermarket stereo in '81 Rabbit
Post by: lacolocho on October 18, 2006, 08:31:25 pm: What do I need to do to install a new aftermarket stereo with a standard 12-pin socket into my '81 Rabbit?
I know I need a connector or wiring harness or something, but what is it called? What is the old kind of connector called?
Title: Aftermarket stereo in '81 Rabbit
Post by: burn_your_money on October 18, 2006, 08:34:04 pm: Adaptor???
Mine was cut out and removed so I had to re-wire everything. Pretty simple
Title: Aftermarket stereo in '81 Rabbit
Post by: kx250crasher on October 19, 2006, 02:16:06 am: Its really easy to install a stereo in a rabbit. I guess there might be an adapter you can buy. All you have to do is find a wire with constant 12v or run a wire from you battery. Then find a wire that supplys 12v when you turn your ignition switch on. Hook up your ground and all thats left to do then is connect your speaker wires and your wires to you amp, if your using an amp. Oh yea as far as I know there is no mounting kit, you have to cut the hole out for the stereo. Its simple it shoudnt take you more than an hour providing you allready have speaker wire ran.
Title: Aftermarket stereo in '81 Rabbit
Post by: macsdub on October 19, 2006, 10:51:57 am: you got a couple of choices
as far as a power feed is concerned
you could hook to the stock wire,so you have key on/off power to the radio
or just run it to the fusebox+find a constant 12+ source
i like mine like that cause then i can run the stereo without the key being on

yea maybe you could find an adapter to plug right into the existing wiring
but id probably favor abandoning the stock wiring(dont cut it),and running all new wiring
i got a stereo rigged in my car in like 1.5 hours screwin around+taking my time
its an ugly install though
heck my car is ugly
Title: Stereo install.
Post by: clbanman on October 20, 2006, 12:32:02 pm: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-H3qnZh54qUg/cgi-bin/SuperProdGroup.asp?g=266150 to show what will fit your car. According to them, everything will need to be modified. I checked a few other sites, and all indications are that there is no adapter and you will have to cut your factory wiring and splice into it.
http://www.installer-data.com/aacars/car_data.php?carid=5576 shows a "universal" mounting plate.
Title: Aftermarket stereo in '81 Rabbit
Post by: macsdub on October 22, 2006, 10:34:33 am: thats why id abandon the factory wiring,and start fresh+so you dont have to hack on the orig. wiring
Title: Aftermarket stereo in '81 Rabbit
Post by: sprstu on December 06, 2006, 12:09:57 am: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-HenfrWdx79k/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=103000&I=120701618

this is the wire adaptor that crutchfield offers
Title: Aftermarket stereo in '81 Rabbit
Post by: clbanman on December 06, 2006, 10:22:42 am: For some reason, if you log in your vehicle as a 1981 Rabbit and open your link, it says it does not fit that car. Will it actually fit or is it just a generic VW harness?
Title: Aftermarket stereo in '81 Rabbit
Post by: VWCaddy on December 16, 2006, 02:14:01 pm: I put an AM/FM/CB/Cassette radio in my '82:

(http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTricks/Images/CBantenna2.jpg)

http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTricks/index.shtml#CBAntennaMounting