Pluriel (05) aftermarket stereo fitting help

Hi,

Hopefully there's an easy answer to this, but I've had a look around and doesn't seem as straight forward as I thought..

I've just picked up a Sony stereo to replace the standard CD player in my 05 pluriel, connected it up to the standard ISO blocks in the car and technically everything works.

Seems to be a problem with the power in as generally it won't shut off with the ignition, seems to shut off with the other electrics after a few minutes. I've tried swapping over pins 4 and 7 but doesn't seem to make any difference, I'm assuming that there is no permanent live in the car iso's?

Halfords have a patch cable with flying ignition lead but that feels more like for supply of switched power, although I guess I can use for both.

I know they said that the radio connections changed as I could have needed standard iso or a quadlock, not sure if iso was earlier or later and how that affects the wiring.

Ideally I'd like to get an adaptor to plug in to get as much of the 'normal' functionality back in the car as possible, feels like a bit of a failure to pass it off to Halfords to faff around with!

Thanks for any help!
Tim

Hi timcweav

Citroen have a slightly different way of doing radio wiring. There is no switched ignition live in the radio connector. Instead they have what I call 'VAN live'. VAN (Vehicle Area Network - Citroen's in house pre-CAN system) is the system that Citroen use to control various fly by wire functions in the car via the BSI (the cars computer). Radio switching in the original radio is done by 'commands' sent down the 'VAN'. As you have found, the 'VAN live' comes on when you unlock the car and goes off shortly after you switch off the ignition.

There are two ways to make the system behave normally:-

1) Use an adaptor with a 'fly lead' connected to the switched live input to the radio, or cut the wire in the adaptor you have. You would then connect this to a circuit which does switch with the ignition, eg the cigarette lighter.

2) Fit an adaptor such as the one made by Connects2. This can read signals from the VAN network and from them generate a new switched live signal which works like you'd expect from the ignition.

There is already a permanent live supply in Citroen system.

2) is more expensive but easier to do as it's just plug and play, no extra wires to install. If you have a trip computer on your car, the adaptor will allow you to continue to use it, the function is otherwise lost when you remove the factory radio. And there's more; if you have audio controls on the steering/stalk you can fit a patch lead to the adaptor which allows you to continue using them with your new radio.

One caveat. I recently fitted a Sony radio to our 2004 C3. With the patch lead fitted we experienced battery drain. As you mentioned Sony, if you fit the patch lead this is something I would highly recommend you check for. If could just be our specific combination of radio and interface, still doesn't hurt to check.

Hi,

thanks for the help, it's been a few years since I had to mess around with wiring radios, would have thought it would be easier now than the old way of putting in a big bunch of crimps, but shouldn't be surprised!

I'll have a look for the connects2 cable, sounds like a better bet than running more wires around tbh.

When you mentioned the battery drain using the patch cable, was that from a connects2 set up or a fly lead? I'll keep an eye on it anyway just in case.

Will post how I get on, cheers again!
Tim

No problem.

The battery drain was with a Connects2 adaptor, patch lead and Sony radio in a standard pre-facelift C3.

At least with the C3 you can still fit a standard aftermarket radio, so many cars now are going down the custom fit market, radios are in several boxes with buttons being part of one unit, display another, the actual radio another and the amp in yet another!

Now that is progress ...

Hi again,

Found an adaptor on eBay that seemed like it would do the job, came with stalk control etc for £20..

Of course doesn't work, still have same memory loss issue, typical!

Do you remember which connects2 adaptor you used? No problem if not, will have another look around anyway.

Tim

Just an update on trying to fit this radio, still!

Tried a multi meter on the ISO from the car harness, pin 4 and 7 have 12v when internal systems are live, but neither stay live after the car has shut down and timed out, so obviously swap over 4 and 7 isnt going to work, but at least i have a switched ignition available!

Had a look at cigarette lighter, that's switched ignition as well, so looks like I'll have to run a cable from the battery, unless there is some other permanent 12v inside the cabin, doesn't look like it annoyingly.

I guess it's wired differently on the quad lock connector version, everywhere I've looked seem to be either loses settings or doesn't switch off, annoying to have the harder version!

Going by what you said in your first post I assumed that you had a pre-facelift car. I'm not up on Pluriel models at all so I don't know when/if they switched from VAN to CAN. You said the connectors in the car looked like standard ISO connectors but had a different wiring configuration, is that correct?

The signals on the standard C3 ISO connectors (pre-facelift), looking at the open side of the connector with the locking clip at the top are from top left:-

N/C
Data
Aerial Power
Permanent Live

From top right:-

Data
VAN live (switches of 2 mins after ignition)
N/C
Ground

I can't remember which was round the Data signals are, however the Data+ signal will appear as close to battery voltage measured with ignition on using a meter. It will also switch off at the same time as the VAN live.