Vauxhall Original Radios - Discussion Thread.

[Robsey]

This topic is to discuss this thread here: -

viewtopic.php?f=70&t=16621&p=168128#p168128

A Thread intended to provide user information for the factory fit radios in the Cavalier.

Most information is generic to all radios, however some functions are model specific.

I hope it helps, those who still use the originally supplied equipment.

[iangsi]

Very useful information I didn't know you could do any of that

[Robsey]

Thanks...
As many members are now reverting to factory original, I thought it would be useful.

I found it useful for setting up my newly acquired SC804.

[Robsey]

I have come to the conclusion that my SC804 is a very old version.

Most of the written instructions found in the 1993 radio user hand book appear not to work on my radio.

Oddly it has date marks for the mid to late 80's. - before the Mk3 Cavalier was in production.
"DM 25.6.1985" and "DM 27.8.1987"

Things that do not work on my radio are:-
1 - Speed dependent volume control adjustment.
2 - Re-coding the radio.
3 - Enabling / Disabling REGional setting.
4 - Changing Traffic messsge volume level.
So far, almost nothing can be adjusted as written in the later SC804 manual.
tests are continuing............

[Mk3alan]

How would it pick up the speed with a cable driven Speedo?
The abs rings/sensors are only used by the brakes aren't they?

Alan

[Robsey]

It depends upon the vehicle.

All really early Cavaliers had no speed pulse signal at all. (F reg).

The next generation of Cavaliers had a little black box on the back of the cable driven speedo. This black box generated a speed pulse. (G to M reg with some L reg anomolies)

On really late models, the instruments relied upon an electronic signal from the abs ring and pick-up sensor. (N reg onwards).

Being different, mine is a hybrid using a transducer mounted directly on the gearbox, where the speedo cable would normally be attached.
My speed pulse is then converted / multiplied in the digi dash circuitry.

Electronically, I know that the SC804 sees the variation in speed pulse frequency, as I can hear the volume change as my speed changes.
But I appear to be "blocked" out of making changes to the the speed pulse settings within the radio.

[dorsetdave]

My 2.0 8V CD is a 1994 with the factory upgrade to a CD (sorry about that) player. It's a Blaupunkt RD 104 Sevilla. This only works with the ignition on. I have spent some time trying to work out why it will not work on the one hour ignition off system and failing to find the answer in the UK asked for some help from a friend in Germany.
Apparently there are two RD104 models. The Sevilla is designed to be installed on a vehicle with a four position ignition switch as fitted to Mercedes, Fords etc. The RD104 Kiel is for vehicles with a three position ignition as per GM UK. My car is an early (March) 1994) and hopefully later ones have been fitted with the Kiel version.
I have copies of the user instruction manual for both Sevilla and Kiel which appear identical other than the one hour ignition off option on the Kiel.
In with the paperwork for the car I found the fritting instructions. It seems that Vauxhall used the complete package in that the Blaupunkt quick release cradle system is there.
Hope that this is of interest.

[Robsey]

Looking online, there are several different Blaupunkt RD104 radios.

Kiel, Sevilla, Paris.... the list goes on.

Me personally - I was not aware of the Blaupunkt range of radios fitted to Cavalier mk3's.

Philips and Grundig, yes,
but no other.

Further to that, I am certain that EPC, TIS and Ecat never listed Blaupunkt either.

I presume therefore that this was a special request order outside of the normal 4 options offered in the brochure.

In my Late 1994 / Early 1995 brochure the options are.
Grundig SC303.
Philips SC804 without CD changer.
Philips SC804 with CD Changer
Philips CD300.

I suppose you learn something new every day.

[James McGrath]

I think the Blaupunkt range were a dealer fit option not factory fit.
You'll be able to tell if you ever get your VIN number decoded. You can see everything that it left the factory with that way.

[iangsi]

Does anyone know all of the radio's Vauxhall used across their range of car's, as I'm using the radio out of my 1989 mk2 Astra SRI currently in my cav & it only says Vauxhall on the front. Edit it says DC670 on the back of it when I removed it.

[Robsey]

There are quite a few...
Most "standard" radios were Philips units, normally with a three digit name.

I know my 1987 Mk2 base model Cavalier was upgraded in the dealership to a Philips 952, with digital PLL tuner, cassette player and 4 speaker output.

It left the factory with a basic manual tuner, no cassette and two front dash speakers wired in mono.
(The wife's sister worked in the offices of one of four local dealerships in the late 80's. hence the in-house staff upgrade).

Sounds like a job for James or anyone else with access to sales brochures from all the sales campaigns.

I think the Grundig units (SC201 a SC303) were introduced with the facelift models - 1992 onwards.

[Robsey]

I have seen an exerpt from the 1988 "launch" brochure that quotes the following Philips models as standard fitment.

DN272 - Digital Mono radio with 2 Speakers.
"Standard" trim level only.

DC670 - Stereo Radio and Cassette, Security coding with 6 speakers.
All trim levels above Standard except CD and GSi. ( L, 4x4, GL and SRi ).

DC681 - Stereo Radio and Cassette, Security coding with 6 Speakers
CD and GSi trim levels only.

Feel free to add other models years and their specifications.

[Tobias_CDX]

Radio types depend on the country. In Germany you got the choice of Grundig M101/SC303, Blaupunkt SC202/CD300 or Philips SC804 (with or without CD changer control). Except of the M101 they were used throughout the whole time of sale.
My Vectra A from the Netherlands was equipped with DC6xx (don't remember the correct number) which was the factory fitted option. I think they only used Philips radios in NL in Cavaliers.

[dorsetdave]

Running a bit more of a mystery with my early 94 CD. The Vauxhall audio manual TS 1284-C-93 dated July 1993 that came with the car shows instructions for a Blaupunkt CD player type CD300 RDS amongst others. The picture does not show the Vauxhall Brand on the illustration. It is exactly the same as my Blaupunkt Sevilla RD 104 other than the model designation (Sevilla RD 104) sticker on the front under the display on my one. The Blaupunkt manual shows exactly the same print date and has a manufacturer's sticker on the front of it explaining that the quick release system is detailed on page 19 and that the radio is supplied with the code switched off. The only disparity is that the Vauxhall audio manual shows that the radio can be used with the ignition switched off but the manufacturer's does not.
The original build specification of my car shows it fitted with an SC303 radio ( also shown in the Vauxhall audio manual) and a CD!

[Robsey]

Beware of the wording...

If you have a cd capability, then CD will be mentioned twice.
The first time will refer to say wired for a CD.
"Mounting Provision For CD"

The second time refers to the "CD" trim badge.
But simply says "CD", not emblem or decal.

[dorsetdave]

Thanks Rob. Being next to the radio I assumed that it would have been associated with it. If I had bought a GL it may have dawned on me.

[Robsey]

Don't worry,

I am only aware of it, because the VIN of the donor car that I got my SC804 from had this in it's factory specification (POC) listing.



That Cavalier is a CD model too.

[Robsey]

A bit of a bizarre / random thought.

If you are keen to have a moderately simple single din Vauxhall radio, you could get one from a Movano or Vivaro van from around 2007-ish.

They have a fixed built in display, CD, radio and aux-in.
And they don't look too modern for a 90's car.



They also use the same style of ISO connector.

[dorsetdave]

Thanks for that thought Rob. Certainly worth me putting one in stock. Looks neater than the modern Sony that came in my LS.

[Robsey]

Do not be put off if it says Renault on the casing.

Vauxhall Vivaro, Movano,
Renault Trafic, Master and
Nissan NX,
share the same model of radio.

I recall on the Renault Master, that the illumination was a deeper orange colour than standard vauxhall warm white, or yellowy illumination.

Just so that you know.

[Robsey]

I have updated the speed dependent volume control adjustment section.

I have now added the instructions given to dealership service technicians according to TIS2000 (Vauxhall / Opel / GM's old Technical Info System).

[Robsey]

Oh for chuff's sake!!

Why did I not listen to Ian, and why did I not read the manual properly.?

Ian told me ages ago to pull out the top left audio control knob to change speed dependent volume control.

For some reason this comment never made it's way through my thick skull.

Today I finally engaged brain.
There it is for all to see in the user manual.

See the button identified No2
And the description noted below it.



Press the fader button so that it pops out.
Pull out the now exposed knob until it clicks into place
Now rotate the knob to the desired position.
Push it back into the facia.
Job done.

(This is not mentioned in the user manual).

[Mk3alan]

They say - if all else fails read the instructions!

Alan

[Robsey]

if all else fails read the instructions!

Alan

Well that is the whole point...
The instructions do not tell you about pulling out the fader knob.

They give the location of the knob, but do not tell you to do as I described above.

The instructions in the manual and in TIS tell you what I wrote previously in the How 2 guide.

The correct instructions for my radio are those below the picture.
They are an elongated version of the instructions given to me in my WIP by Iangsi several months ago.

Until today, I had not been aware that you could pull out the knob to a third position. So in my defence, I thought that Ian's instructions were confused.

In my mind the button was either "IN" in the park position, or popped out into the fader adjustment position.

The good news is that the SDVC is now set to minimum, and I no longer get deafened on the motorway.

[James McGrath]

Yeah, i have the same radio (SC804) in my Diplomat and my dads CD manual (although SDVC doesn't work in the Diplomat due to lack of relevant wiring).
It does get a bit annoying and seems way over sensitive so I keep it on minimum too.