Freelander 1 Harmon Karmon Radio swap, Help

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steve1956

New Member
Posts
9
Location
Thame, Oxfordshire
Hi I'm new to the forum.
I have just change from a TD5 Disco to a Freelander.
I have a Harmon Karman radio system with a built in 6 cd changer, and the sound is so tiny I want to swap it with a single din H/U, I can't find a iso wiring kit to allow the swap.
Doe's anyone know where I might get one from or has anyone carried out the swap?
Any help or advise will be gratefully received.
 
What year is the Freelander? The earlier ones had round pins on the harness, and there are adapters available to convert these to a standard ISO connection. The later models had the ISO connector already. Not sure exactly when the changeover happened, but my 2003, pre-facelift model has ISO connectors.

Depending on the model of stereo you put in there, even with the ISO connectors, you'll still probably need to have a separate adapter to give you the steering wheel controls back again.

Jim
 
4Bee4Bee said:
What year is the Freelander? The earlier ones had round pins on the harness, and there are adapters available to convert these to a standard ISO connection. The later models had the ISO connector already. Not sure exactly when the changeover happened, but my 2003, pre-facelift model has ISO connectors.

Depending on the model of stereo you put in there, even with the ISO connectors, you'll still probably need to have a separate adapter to give you the steering wheel controls back again.

Jim
Click to expand...
4Bee4Bee said:
What year is the Freelander? The earlier ones had round pins on the harness, and there are adapters available to convert these to a standard ISO connection. The later models had the ISO connector already. Not sure exactly when the changeover happened, but my 2003, pre-facelift model has ISO connectors.

Depending on the model of stereo you put in there, even with the ISO connectors, you'll still probably need to have a separate adapter to give you the steering wheel controls back again.

Jim
Click to expand...
Hi Jim
The freelander is a 2004, it has a grey plug with a orange insert, the plug is oblong in shap, I did by an iso lead that fitted the plug, but I couldn't get any sound through the speakers.
I have been told I may to rewire the speakers to by pass the amp?

Steve
 
I upgraded the HK audio in my Freelander - check my other posts for a few tips.
Even with the standard Becker sat nav head unit, the audio volume shouldn't be quiet. I suspect you might have a problem with the HK amplifier, located under the passenger seat.
I am still using the HK amp with a new head unit, although I am considering bypassing it because the new head unit has it own amp which I suspect might be better.
I haven't found a concise article about bypassing the amp, but essentially it involves bridging the input and output signals at the amp plug. At the bottom of this page, there is a photo of the plug bypassed:
http://www.greenlandrover.uk/installing-becker-traffic-pro-4765-satnav-into-freelander/
The ISO signals do not include a subwoofer feed so your Freelander's sub won't be used unless your head unit has a sub output and you run a separate lead from the head unit to under the seat and then connect it to the appropriate pins on the amp plug.
 
I have the 6disc head unit and it's far from tinny. Make sure that all the speakers are working correctly. Water has been known to damage them. The standard Freelander speakers reproduce frequencies between 40Hz and 15KHz quite happily.
 
Eric161803 said:
I upgraded the HK audio in my Freelander - check my other posts for a few tips.
Even with the standard Becker sat nav head unit, the audio volume shouldn't be quiet. I suspect you might have a problem with the HK amplifier, located under the passenger seat.
I am still using the HK amp with a new head unit, although I am considering bypassing it because the new head unit has it own amp which I suspect might be better.
I haven't found a concise article about bypassing the amp, but essentially it involves bridging the input and output signals at the amp plug. At the bottom of this page, there is a photo of the plug bypassed:
http://www.greenlandrover.uk/installing-becker-traffic-pro-4765-satnav-into-freelander/
The ISO signals do not include a subwoofer feed so your Freelander's sub won't be used unless your head unit has a sub output and you run a separate lead from the head unit to under the seat and then connect it to the appropriate pins on the amp plug.
Click to expand...
Nodge68 said:
I have the 6disc head unit and it's far from tinny. Make sure that all the speakers are working correctly. Water has been known to damage them. The standard Freelander speakers reproduce frequencies between 40Hz and 15KHz quite happily.
Click to expand...
 
Eric161803 said:
I upgraded the HK audio in my Freelander - check my other posts for a few tips.
Even with the standard Becker sat nav head unit, the audio volume shouldn't be quiet. I suspect you might have a problem with the HK amplifier, located under the passenger seat.
I am still using the HK amp with a new head unit, although I am considering bypassing it because the new head unit has it own amp which I suspect might be better.
I haven't found a concise article about bypassing the amp, but essentially it involves bridging the input and output signals at the amp plug. At the bottom of this page, there is a photo of the plug bypassed:
http://www.greenlandrover.uk/installing-becker-traffic-pro-4765-satnav-into-freelander/
The ISO signals do not include a subwoofer feed so your Freelander's sub won't be used unless your head unit has a sub output and you run a separate lead from the head unit to under the seat and then connect it to the appropriate pins on the amp plug.
Click to expand...
Hi Eric
Thanks for the reply, the 6disc head has a different plug on the back? that's the one I can't seem to get hold of.
I notice you got a wiring harness from Land rover? has that got 2 iso plugs?
Steve
 
The Becker unit has three plugs (five if you count the aerial & gps). You can download the manual here for the pin outs:
http://www.mybecker.com/fileadmin/D.../4720_Traffic_Pro_EuEn_Installation_Guide.pdf
By "6disc plug", I assume you are referring to the C3 plugs? The C3 plug is used for the CD changer and is basically obsolete. Unless you are adding a very old head unit, you won't be able to use the cd changer.

The Becker unit and the Freelander wiring already uses the standard ISO connectors. For my installation, the only extra harness I used was from InCarTec.co.uk, not LR, for the steering wheel audio controls. This harness isn't needed if you don't mind tapping into the car's harness and you could use a ScotchLok connector instead.

Upgrading the head unit is straighforward for simply audio. If you want to use the steering wheel controls, it is more complex.
 
Eric161803 said:
The Becker unit has three plugs (five if you count the aerial & gps). You can download the manual here for the pin outs:
http://www.mybecker.com/fileadmin/D.../4720_Traffic_Pro_EuEn_Installation_Guide.pdf
By "6disc plug", I assume you are referring to the C3 plugs? The C3 plug is used for the CD changer and is basically obsolete. Unless you are adding a very old head unit, you won't be able to use the cd changer.

The Becker unit and the Freelander wiring already uses the standard ISO connectors. For my installation, the only extra harness I used was from InCarTec.co.uk, not LR, for the steering wheel audio controls. This harness isn't needed if you don't mind tapping into the car's harness and you could use a ScotchLok connector instead.

Upgrading the head unit is straighforward for simply audio. If you want to use the steering wheel controls, it is more complex.
Click to expand...
 
Well my HK in my freelander is great and if and if I wound it up I think it would wreck the car especially from the base try just one speaker at a time as when I first had the car it was terrible and I had a guarantee so took it back and they said that it would be the wires in the doors as it is a common problem with the cheap wiring the said they would replace them although it could be done by just cleaning the connectors so try this I am sure you would be impressed when it is running right
 
teddywood1 said:
Well my HK in my freelander is great and if and if I wound it up I think it would wreck the car especially from the base try just one speaker at a time as when I first had the car it was terrible and I had a guarantee so took it back and they said that it would be the wires in the doors as it is a common problem with the cheap wiring the said they would replace them although it could be done by just cleaning the connectors so try this I am sure you would be impressed when it is running right
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info I will look at the speakers and wiring.
One of the reason for changing the unit was so I could connect my Ipod with all my music on.
The head unit in my Freelander is a double din (looks like a triple head unit), no ones does an after market wiring adapter.
 
Sorry I thought you have the Becker sat nav, not the Visteon cd player. I don't have any experience with that unit and it does seem to use a strange connector.
One solution would be to cut off the existing connector and solder on an standard ISO connector. There is a PDF version of the Freelander electrical library called "freelander_2004_electrical_library.pdf" (I don't want to post a direct link as it is probably copyrighted). It lists the circuits and connectors in detail and should give you enough info to switch the connectors over.
I don't know if you already have a new head unit but I recommend the Alpine CDE-W296BT as it has two features which are very helpful for the Freelander: it can turn off the internal amp which is good if you have a working HK amp and it has built-in steering wheel control interface which makes it easy to get the steering wheel buttons working.
 
Eric161803 said:
Sorry I thought you have the Becker sat nav, not the Visteon cd player. I don't have any experience with that unit and it does seem to use a strange connector.
One solution would be to cut off the existing connector and solder on an standard ISO connector. There is a PDF version of the Freelander electrical library called "freelander_2004_electrical_library.pdf" (I don't want to post a direct link as it is probably copyrighted). It lists the circuits and connectors in detail and should give you enough info to switch the connectors over.
I don't know if you already have a new head unit but I recommend the Alpine CDE-W296BT as it has two features which are very helpful for the Freelander: it can turn off the internal amp which is good if you have a working HK amp and it has built-in steering wheel control interface which makes it easy to get the steering wheel buttons working.
Click to expand...
Eric
Thanks for the info, I haven't bought a new H/U as yet as I wanted to find out if it could be done, It seems the Becker is an esier swap the mine.
I will look into the Alpine H/U.
I will try to get onto the Web for the wiring PDF
Steve
 
Use the standard facelift adaptor to ISO (also same as 2002 Fiesta)

You may need to put a separate feed in for amp power but no major bother If you're semi competent at wiring
 
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