If you're like most audio enthusiasts, no matter how hard a manufacturer tries, the quality and features of an OEM radio just doesn't compare to that of an aftermarket upgrade. Contrary to popular belief, you can install an aftermarket radio in your 2006-to-2013 Volkswagen Passat without losing bluetooth functionality, steering wheel controls, or any other features that may be equipped with your car's OEM radio. To complete the installation, however, you'll need to install a special module that retains this functionality.
If your Passat is equipped with the five-cylinder engine or diesel engine, the battery is located under the hood. If your Passat is equipped with the V-6, it is hidden behind an access panel in the trunk on the driver's side. Loosen the negative terminal with a battery wrench, then disconnect the negative battery cable. Isolate the cable so that it cannot come into contact with the negative post on the battery.
This trim wraps around the radio and A/C controller and extends along the front of the dash. Pry between the dash board, and the trim working from left to right, using a trim tool. There are a total of six clips along the top of the trim, two under the A/C controls and one to each side of the A/C controls. Once the trim is loose, disconnect the wiring harness for the passenger airbag light. Remove any clips from the trim and press fit them onto their mounts on the dash. Set the trim panel aside.
If you don't have a trim removal tool, wrap a flat-head screwdriver with a couple layers of masking tape and use it to pry the trim away from the dash.
Remove the two screws on each side of the radio with a Torx driver. Slide the radio out of the dash. Grip the locking handle for the main wiring harness and rotate it in a counterclockwise direction. Disconnect the main harness from the radio. Compress the locking tabs on the smaller harnesses and remove them as well.
If you're mounting a single-din radio, install the pocket and side brackets to the radio mount. If you're mounting a double-din radio, you only need the side brackets. Use the included screws to assemble the kit.
Over-tightening the screws will damage the installation kit.
Slide your aftermarket radio's cage into the radio mount. Bend the metal tabs on the top and bottom of the cage outward to lock it in place. Set the assembly aside for now.
Match the colors on the adapter wires to the color coded wires on your aftermarket radio's wiring harness. Trim back one inch of insulation on each wire, and connect the wires together with the heat-shrink butt connectors. Shrink the insulation around the butt connectors to seal each wire connection. Plug the smaller harness on the adapter into the included black module. If you're installing a JVC or Kenwood radio, connect the blue wire control output box to the steering-wheel control output wire on the radio.
The secondary harness on the control box has three looped wires - a blue, a green and a violet. If you're installing an Alpine radio, cut the green wire loop. If you're installing a Clarion radio, cut the violet loop. On JVC models built before 2011, cut the green and violet loops. If you're installing a Panasonic radio, cut the blue loop. If you have a Kenwood, Sony or a JVC radio built after 2011, leave the loops in their current state.
Guide the aftermarket radio harness, OEM antenna, and steering wheel control jack -- if used-- through the cage and radio mount. Align the holes on the radio mount, then install the screws and snug them.
Don't forget to run the remote and preout wires to the trunk, if you're installing an amplifier or sub woofer system.
Connect the aftermarket radio harness to the radio. Plug the harness end of a European antenna adapter to the OEM antenna harness, then plug the American end of the harness into the antenna port on the radio. Plug the preout wires into their respective jacks on the radio, if equipped. Connect the 3.5 mm jack to the steering wheel input jack, if you're installing anything but a Kenwood or a JVC built before 2011. Slide the radio into the cage and listen for it to lock in place.
All new aftermarket radios come with removal tools to unlock the radio from the cage, if removal required later. Stash these tools in your glove box for safe keeping.
Connect the wiring harness to the passenger airbag light. Align the tabs on the trim with the clips on the dash, then press-fit the trim. Tap around the trim lightly, if needed, to engage the clips.
Attach the negative battery cable to the batteries negative terminal. Tighten the nut to 18 inch-pounds.
If you don't have an inch-pound torque wrench available, just snug the securing nut.
Your Passat's engine may idle and transmission may shift different than you are used to. This is normal behavior and everything should should return to normal within a few minutes of normal driving.
