Fitting aftermarket CD Stereo/Radio

Thanks for this information.
I am trying to purchase Autoleads PC2-32-4 for my 2002 C3.
Both wiring harness and CD/MP3 stereo have not purchased yet because I am worrying about the mounting part.

Do I have to tear apart the panel cover(not only stereo machine) to mount aftermarket CD/MP3 stereo?
Is it easy to mount it back for 1 DIN stereo, or sometimes we need a holding/fitting bracket to mount it?

Thanks a lot for any answer.

Hi mirabear

PC2-32-4 Adaptor Lead is available here


You will be surprised how easy it is to fit a after-market stereo.

There is quite a lot of space to play with and the original head unit comes out easy enough with the right tools

Your aftermarket head unit will most likely come with a cage or carrier which fits into the empty space left by the original citroen unit. The cage is easily adaptable to fit many different cars without modifying the car in any way.

The aftermarket head unit then fits into the cage that's now attached where the old radio was.

Some C3s have a dash mounted CD autochanger in the lower DIN, other have a drawer or cubby hole, all are easily removed if you want to fit a double DIN head unit. The drawer and cubby just need a bit of a tug. The CD autochanger needs the right tools for removal.

Fitting aftermarket CD Stereo/Radio to the C3

Hi C3driver52,

Thank you very much for your reply.
I ordered the wiring harness and waiting for it now.
It is really good to hear that it's so easy to mount aftermarket stereo.

I will post my experience after I got my harness and stereo.
Thanks again.

I just got my PC2-32-4 harness today; however, my Sony MEX-BT3900U does not fit with PC2-32-4, I guess it does not come with ISO harness, my bad, didn't read information enough about it.
I will have my audio install by professional technician.

mirabear wrote:I just got my PC2-32-4 harness today; however, my Sony MEX-BT3900U does not fit with PC2-32-4, I guess it does not come with ISO harness, my bad, didn't read information enough about it.
I will have my audio install by professional technician.

Hey mirabear,

Its not all bad news! Looks like you are only one step away from sorting it out.

I think you need one of these:
Autoleads PC3-433 Car Audio Sony 16 pin to ISOTo convert the 16pin Sony interface to the industry standard ISO connector.



Shame the Sony didn't come with it (are you sure its not in the bottom of the box?)

another picture of the lead, this time showing the Sony connector, clicking the link will take you to the Amazon store that sells the SONY16P-ISO-LEAD

Thanks a lot, Arfur Dent
I have another question about PC2-32-4, the red line in the attached picture should go to ignition.
Is it easy to adhere it to ignition?
Thanks.

mirabear wrote:Thanks a lot, Arfur Dent
I have another question about PC2-32-4, the red line in the attached picture should go to ignition.
Is it easy to adhere it to ignition?
Thanks.

Hello mirabear,

As far as I know, the ISO Connector is wired as this:

Yellow - Permanent +12v
Red - Switched (ignition) +12v
Orange - Illumination +12v (from lights on 12v)
Blue - Remote +12v (for aerial or amp)
Black - Earth (GND or 0v)

I am surprised there is no Red wire on the ISO connector as there is a +12v Switched Ignition wire in the loom that connects to the original citroen radio. It should be a yellow wire which is connected to pin 4 of the original radio connector (8 way black connector).

You should be able to connect to the wire that's on pin 4 of the black radio connector (should be yellow wire).

But don't get too confused because sometimes the +12v Switched Ignition and Battery positions are reversed (red for yellow and yellow for red)

Thanks to https://pinoutsguide.com/ there is a picture and description on the Pin outs of the ISO connector.
'A4 Memory Power (12V direct from Battery). Connects the radio directly to the battery. '
'A7 +12V Main Power (Switched via Ignition key). +12 V with the ignition key is in the ACC or ON position.'
The full description is here https://pinoutsguide.com/CarAudio/car_au ... nout.shtml

The picture is shown from the point of view of the radio, so to see the numbering of your plug, you need to look from 'behind' the plug (look from the wires side, not the pins side)

'Connector A' deals with the power, the L shaped plug at the bottom of the picture. Here you can see which pin is which to help identify a +12v Switched Ignition feed and a +12v Permanent feed for memory backup.

Hello Arfur Dent,
I really appreciate for your help and information.
Today I took out the radio and check if there is an ignition wire for me to adhere it, unfortunately, that is no. (Please see attached picture.)
I have to cut original radio ignition wire anyway for connecting my PC2-32-4 harness, I decide not to cut it by myself just in case if I will short any circuit.

Cheers!

There is a very handy +12v switched with the ignition at the cigarette lighter socket. The cigarette lighter socket (and the front accessory socket) Both have a nice powerful +12v that's switched with the ignition key.


"Green/Yellow should be EARTH (-ve or BLACK)

White should be +12V (live or RED)

the Pink is used to light up the cigarette lighter socket and should not be used for powering your adaptor."

So its the White that should be connected to the Ignition Live (RED) wire.


Just a note, I poked my meter into the socket on the back of my C3 Radio connector and saw that Pin 4 seemed to be controlled by the computer. This differs from the ISO spec which should be permanent live with 12v. Pin 7 seems to be permanent live 12v which should be 12v switched by the ignition.

So pin 7 and pin 4 seem to be reversed (its quite common to see this). The symptoms will be that the radio/cd/mp3 won't switch off with the ignition, accesories switch or by the computer. Its easily rectified by swapping over 4 and 7 in the ISO plug.