2005 Berlingo - Aussie Owner - Stereo replacement advice?

[Daniel Rutter]

Hi guys

You wouldn't believe it... but apparently Citroen cars aren't too popular in Australia and I can't find Aussie groups to help me out.

So I'm about to take ownership of a 2005 Berlingo (I don't know exact model, just year) and I would like to put my Pioneer stereo from my old car into this new one. With my old car, a 94 Toyota Camry, it was fairly straight forward and required an ISO adapter cable. I'm wondering if I will need an ISO cable for the Berlingo, and where I can source one in Australia?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Looking forward to getting my Berlingo

[ghost123uk]

Hi Daniel.

Not sure if this will help, but personally I tend be a bit "old skool" with this subject. I carefully identify what wires are doing what on the vehicle, WRITE IT DOWN. I then do the same on the new stereo, it's usually written either on the casing or in the manual. I then I simply chop off any of the fancy connectors and make "like for like" connections (neatly and carefully) using those white "chocky block" connectors (don't use those horrid blue "ScotchLocks!!). Connect up the main power feed last and away you go.

Note, each pair of the speaker cables will be marked / coloured in some way to identify +ve and -ve on both car and stereo. It doesn't matter which way around you connect them as long as you follow the same convention on all (4) speakers.

Note also, take care not to let any of the (normally 2) live wires (the main feed, and the memory back up "permanent" feed) touch anything whilst they are "hanging around" during this.

I prefer doing it this way because I know for sure what is going on, whereas with adapters you don't. Plus they can cause a bulky mess of connectors and wires.

Just me tuppence worth.

[Growler73]

Just get an ISO connector, they're cheap as chips. I put a Pioneer head unit in my 05 Berlingo using one.

You'll need to swap the two lives (red and yellow on mine) to ensure the memory works.

I'd strongly advise against the idea of cutting all the connectors - It's all canbus and not as simple as that! Also, if you do cut it then want to remove the head unit and reinstall the original when you sell the vehicle, you'll have a big job, or leave a mess for the next owner.

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[ghost123uk]

I'd strongly advise against the idea of cutting all the connectors - It's all canbus and not as simple as that!

Flip, I'm still learning here (not actually having got a Belingo yet !!) = I did not even know they were canbus <Ooops>

[Growler73]

I've done head units on loads of old cars and I agree 100% with your ideas for them, the Berlingo and modern stuff is slightly more complex. The adaptors you can buy now are generally pretty good, not like the shite of the "olden days".

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[ghost123uk]

I've done head units on loads of old cars and I agree 100% with your ideas for them, the Berlingo and modern stuff is slightly more complex.

Aye, I am coming to learn that !!

I am new to canbus, I roughly know what it is, but I am now wondering what one can and can't do with a canbus car.
Obviously, I'm not (now!!) recommending anyone fiddles around much (electrically) with a vehicle using canbus, but I am wondering (as I do, I like to understand stuff) what harm might occur by wiring in another head unit "my way". I mean, is it not just 8 speaker wires (as normal) plus a switched main live, a memory (permanent) live and an earth (and possibly a display dimming live via the lighting switch = optional). As I say, I'm certainly not disagreeing with the "don't mess with canbus wiring" and the "use an adapter" advice, I certainly don't want to be responsible for screwing up someone’s electrics, I'm just curious.

[Growler73]

The Berlingo is a weird one. I've installed head units in some with no problems at all, but in my own the scrolling display used to freeze, and I had problems with the interior lights being weird and staying on by themselves. All resolved by using Lexia and telling the BSI that there was no head unit installed, so the network ignored any spurious signals from it and it all worked fine.

I've put them in 207s and Citroën C4 and 5s with similar problem and lack of problems. It seems to be luck of the draw on the earlier canbus variants whether it plays silly buggers or not!

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[ghost123uk]

The Berlingo is a weird one. I've installed head units in some with no problems at all, but in my own the scrolling display used to freeze, and I had problems with the interior lights being weird and staying on by themselves. All resolved by using Lexia and telling the BSI that there was no head unit installed, so the network ignored any spurious signals from it and it all worked fine.

Gawd, it looks like (when I get my Desire = hey a pun) I will have a new learning curve to get my head around. Canbus, BSI, Lexia etc

I have a fancy "deckless" head unit, with card reader, USB and BlueTooth etc I will be (trying !!) to install. And I thought it would be a simple job, like it normally is on vehicles I have previously owned (non canbus of course).

I wonder what my sideband CB radio will do to it all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Seriously, I wonder if I should I start a separate thread on canbus and accessories?)

[Daniel Rutter]

Hey guys

Thanks for all the responses. Being in Australia those Citroen ISO connectors are either non-existent or just not many people seem to stock/sell them. I'm at a bit of a loss on where to find one sadly

[Daniel Rutter]

Just get an ISO connector, they're cheap as chips. I put a Pioneer head unit in my 05 Berlingo using one.

You'll need to swap the two lives (red and yellow on mine) to ensure the memory works.

I'd strongly advise against the idea of cutting all the connectors - It's all canbus and not as simple as that! Also, if you do cut it then want to remove the head unit and reinstall the original when you sell the vehicle, you'll have a big job, or leave a mess for the next owner.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

Can you specify the type of ISO connector you bought?