Is this everything I'll need?

[Audiomechanic]

Got a nice Alpine radio lying around that I want to install in the wife's Beetle for Christmas (gonna put it in late Christmas eve-night after the wife goes night-night). Is this everything I'm going to need for the install:

Amazon.com: Metra 99-9008 Dash Kit For VW Beetle Kit 98-Up: Electronics
Amazon.com: Metra 70-1784 Radio Wiring Harness for Audi 88-99/Volkswagen 80-Up: Electronics
Amazon.com: Scosche Vwa-2B Volkswagen Amplified Antenna Adapter: Electronics
Amazon.com: Scosche Dt2B Radio Removal Tool (Euro Din): Electronics

Is the last link the correct removal tool? I've installed radios before but just wanted to make sure I have everything there.

Thanks in advance!

[Toad]

yup. just make sure you dont wire into that k-line (i forgot the pin number) and hook up that antenna adapters lead to the power antenna output

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by Audiomechanic

Got a nice Alpine radio lying around that I want to install in the wife's Beetle for Christmas (gonna put it in late Christmas eve-night after the wife goes night-night)

How sweeet!

You're the man! (lol)

[Audiomechanic]

Originally Posted by Toad

yup. just make sure you dont wire into that k-line (i forgot the pin number) and hook up that antenna adapters lead to the power antenna output

Splain peez. I'm not sure I'm fully understanding what you're saying here.

The antenna adapters lead should just plug into a hot 12V lead that's switchable (unless I'm wrong ).

[Audiomechanic]

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

How sweeet!

You're the man! (lol)

Thanks.

[Toad]

Originally Posted by Audiomechanic

Splain peez. I'm not sure I'm fully understanding what you're saying here.

The antenna adapters lead should just plug into a hot 12V lead that's switchable (unless I'm wrong ).

The new radio will have a blue or blue/white wire on its harness as a power antenna/amp turn on lead. Its a low wattage 12v lead that its only purpose is to switch the power antenna and/or amps on and off iwth the radio. Which is the switched 12v leaad you need.

The black wiring harness has 2 8-pin plugs that will plug into it. The speaker leads are one plug, you will use all 8. The other plus is the power plug. You will only use 3 or 4. Ground (black), pos battery (yellow), pos switched (red), and if the radio has it, the dimmer lead (orange). If you have monsoon, one of those leads will have to be connected to the blue wire also, I don't know which one.

[macdave]

Get an american international dash kit, it looks a lot better than the metra kit. The part # is VW-K1008

[Audiomechanic]

Originally Posted by Toad

The new radio will have a blue or blue/white wire on its harness as a power antenna/amp turn on lead. Its a low wattage 12v lead that its only purpose is to switch the power antenna and/or amps on and off iwth the radio. Which is the switched 12v leaad you need.

The black wiring harness has 2 8-pin plugs that will plug into it. The speaker leads are one plug, you will use all 8. The other plus is the power plug. You will only use 3 or 4. Ground (black), pos battery (yellow), pos switched (red), and if the radio has it, the dimmer lead (orange). If you have monsoon, one of those leads will have to be connected to the blue wire also, I don't know which one.

"I see!" Said the blind man.

[sean_fabanich]

might i add something to the list...

perhaps a glass of eggnog...or a chilled frosty beverage of your choice....and maybe a lil prayer.

everytime i try to do one of these radios in a hurry something bites me...

heres problems ive had....

someone else tried to remove the radio...or did..and when they put it back in bent the locking mechanism...so i couldnt get the keys to work....took alot of sweat to get that out.

ive also had the wiring harness pull out nicely...but not retract properly....i simply added an loc for a set of subs....but when i went to slide the radio back in...sure enough it wouldnt go as the harness was stuck on one of the stupid pieces of plastic on the inside of the housing. after fidgeting with it for a few hours...i let it sit in the garage for the night...as it was a cold night...and tried a simple tactic in the morn...let the subs bump and the vibrations help slide the harness back in enough for the radio to get it.

since i have learned its better to remove the whole dash panel where the radio inserts...and cut away the annoying small peice of plastic that make these installs nightmares (sometimes) it adds about 20 minutes to a seemless install...but probably makes it much easier in the end.

i hope you dont have my kinda luck. knock on some wood when you read this just to cover your butt.

good luck

oh yeah...if you end up reaching into the radio compartment...becareful not to pop one of the rods that controls the vents lose...if you do...it can hang down in the way of the radio..and even if it doesnt..you wont be able to shut off or turn on that vent. i have beefy hands...so if your like me..you gotta watch that to

[Toad]

Originally Posted by sean_fabanich

ive also had the wiring harness pull out nicely...but not retract properly....i simply added an loc for a set of subs....but when i went to slide the radio back in...sure enough it wouldnt go as the harness was stuck on one of the stupid pieces of plastic on the inside of the housing. after fidgeting with it for a few hours...i let it sit in the garage for the night...as it was a cold night...and tried a simple tactic in the morn...let the subs bump and the vibrations help slide the harness back in enough for the radio to get it.

since i have learned its better to remove the whole dash panel where the radio inserts...and cut away the annoying small peice of plastic that make these installs nightmares (sometimes) it adds about 20 minutes to a seemless install...but probably makes it much easier in the end.

Yeah. that's a good tip. If you want to take the extra time, take the whole center piece of the dash off and pout the radio in it first, so its alot easier to tuck the wiring.

You have to remove the stock radio first, since theres 2 t20's behind it that hold that center piece in. but leaving those out, means if you ever have to remove the center dash piece, you won't have to take the radio out first.

It's a huge help if you find yourself disassembling the car alot (like i did)

[Audiomechanic]

Good tips! I tried just now to take the radio out since the keys came in and it comes out fine. *phew!* In looking at the back, I noticed an extra wire plug in the radio. I'm gonna take a wild guess that this goes to the CD changer in the back, but I want to be sure. Here's the harness in question:


I'm going to be yanking the CD changer anyway to provide more room for the sub. Who ever thought putting a CD changer in the trunk was a good idea needs their head examined. I had a CD changer in the trunk of my '98 Ford Taurus and after a year of frustration, I relocated it to the front and mounted it (ghetto-style) to the driver's side of the center console. Worked great up there!

Eventually, I'll build the sub for this car. I'm going to be the unique one and shove a horn-loaded sub in this car. Here's what I had in mind:
AutoTuba

[Toad]

Originally Posted by Audiomechanic

I'm gonna take a wild guess that this goes to the CD changer in the back

ding ding

[Audiomechanic]

Nevermind. I reread a post above and found my answer.

[Audiomechanic]

Got the radio installed and my wife is thrilled! The dash kit worked fine, and everything seems to be working fine. I found it easier to remove the entire dash bezel, install the radio into the bezel, and then install the whole thing on to the car. I could guide the copious amounts of wires in easier that way.

My wife is now discovering the joys of highs, clear mids, and detail. You never really know how much the stock radio blows than to get a good one installed in it's place. The stock speakers actually sound pretty good except for lacking everything below about 150Hz. I got the EQ dialed in pretty good but I'll be fudging with it over the next couple of weeks as my ears reset.

Now to add a sub and REALLY blow my wife's mind (figuratively, not literally).