Radio Harness Question-Continental Radio

[josephvman]

Hey guys! With the CV downtime I thought it would be good to finally install the Continental radio that has been sitting on my kitchen table for 2 months!

My '84 Targa has an early 2000's Alpine unit that worked fine, and was wired in 2 channels and running through the stock console fader. More on that later.

Unfortunately whoever installed it cut the factory harness, but fortunately I have the owners manual for the Alpine and was able to figure out what the wires were and match them up to the Porsche wiring. This is what I came up with:

White-----Antenna Remote
Solid Yellow----Switch 12v
Yellow/Red-----Constant 12v (battery)
Brown-----Ground

I'll tap the ashtray light for the illumination wire on the harness.

I got the ISO harness with the Continental, and now I'm wondering what the best way to join the factory wiring would be. I can either cut off the connector and solder/shrink wrap the wires, or put spade connectors on the car wires and slide them into the connector.

Using spade connectors is marginally easier for me to do, but I'm wondering if there's any downside to one way over the other.

Later this year I'm probably going to do a little leather work on the seats, and at that point I'll install a small JL Audio 4 channel amp with speaker-level inputs and bypass the stock fader.

Here's a pic of the connector:

[jran76]

I was in the same boat. Same Continental radio, had a late 90’s Alpine deck installed when I purchased the car, and someone cut the factory harness. I used butt connectors like the link below. I have a soldering iron/heat shrink and spade connectors, but have never had an issue with butt connectors on an install like this. Easy and clean. I also tapped the ashtray for the lighting. I know people will say solder and heat shrink, but I think it’s overkill here.

https://www.amazon.com/TICONN-Connectors-Waterproof-Electrical-Automotive/dp/B07HCPFPD2/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=5VJWSN288FQ9&keywords=butt+connectors&qid=1585189599&sprefix=Butt+%2Caps%2C217&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExVFJZUVBIOVhDOFY2J mVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjg3MzYwRU5NODBSRDNZOENXJmVuY3J 5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAzOTQ1MDkxVUZMQ1hMWlRXWDBKJndpZGdld E5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm9 0TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

[Hotshot]

I just installed my Blaupunkt SQR with solder and shrink tubing. It had the origin connector coupled to an 90s Alpine. Couple things. On mine the white connector was just a jumped connector that I tossed once I cut the stock connector out, and the blue wire goes to the small black wire for the powered antenna in the windshield.

My unit had lighting via the main power but an orange wire for dimmable light. That one I am using one of the vent control lights as it’s dimmable. The ashtray isn’t.

For what it’s worth.

[Hotshot]

[josephvman]

I got the radio installed this evening. It took me around an hour and I decided to twist, solder, and shrink wrap the wiring. I ended up not having to use the illumination wire on the radio, as it lights up without it and I assume that's just for dimming, which I don't care about. Installing the sleeve and the radio were a snap, maybe since there was already an aftermarket DIN radio in the car. The Continental is really shallow so it's easy to connect even if you have to mount it first and plug everything in from underneath the dash, which was easier for me since I didn't have much slack in my harness.

I wasn't really expecting better sound with the stock speakers, but it actually does. It worked great through the factory fader as well. Next week I'll work on the speakers!

[Hotshot]

Looks nice! The dim wire would only be if you set your night illumination to a lower value and wanted the lights to drop down when you pull the lights on.

Random question as you have black carpets like me. I was thinking about coco mats but not sure, any chance you can post a pic or pm me one of your mats in place with the carpet? Basically the lower half of the car interior? I never see a wide shot of them other than the company product shot.

[josephvman]

I'll post a pic tomorrow when I can get a good one in the sun. I really love the mats and it gives the car a cool 80's correct vibe.

Originally Posted by Hotshot

Looks nice! The dim wire would only be if you set your night illumination to a lower value and wanted the lights to drop down when you pull the lights on.

Random question as you have black carpets like me. I was thinking about coco mats but not sure, any chance you can post a pic or pm me one of your mats in place with the carpet? Basically the lower half of the car interior? I never see a wide shot of them other than the company product shot.

[Hotshot]

Thanks! Here’s how mine turned out.

[FrankM_]

The new Bremen ! Wow !

[josephvman]

Here are a couple of pics of the Coco mats.

[Hotshot]

Thank you! Looking sharp. That’s exactly what I was looking for. In the sun pics to see how the black really looks!

Thx,

[Jack Stands]

That Continental radio really does look very period correct. Line outputs would be nice to have for hooking up to a separate amp, bu5 there are workarounds if needed.

[josephvman]

This is what I'm going to use. It has high-level inputs, and you can adjust the input sensitivity and roll off the low frequencies. It will fit under the passenger floor board, which is where I believe the factory fader wiring junction is and the outputs to all four speakers are. I think the installation is pretty easy, just speaker output wires I need to run to the amp, power to the battery, switched from the radio, and bypass the factory fader and connect all four speakers to the amp. At least I'm hoping!

https://www.jlaudio.com/products/jd400-4-car-audio-amplifiers-98361

[josephvman]

Just a quick addendum. I drove the car the other night and the display was lit but the buttons weren't. I thought the illumination wire was only for dimming the radio, but apparently you need to connect it if you want the buttons to light when you turn the headlights on. I tapped the ashtray light (blue/black wire) and it works perfectly now.