Can Bus?

[Vulcan]

I have a 2004 Jetta TDI. I do not have the steering wheel mounted stereo controls or the little LCD between the tach and the speedo that shows the radio stations. I am looking at a replacement stereo unit and they talk about the Can-Bus...I am not sure what they are talking about. Here is the blurb from the website -

No CAN-BUS box (if your car has CAN-BUS, the steering wheel control function of the DVD will be unavailable, but you can choose QL-VWG716, which comes with CAN-BUS function)

[Stonewall]

Re: Can Bus?

YOu maybe a bit confused, can-bus is the diagnostic protocal, some headunits are attached to the can-bus for the speedo display and steering wheel controls (some backlight also) but you should have no problems adding an after market deck into a mk4 just because of can-bus.

[Vulcan]

Re: Can Bus?

You are right I am confused! The stereo website lists two models of stereo for my Jetta....one model is for cars with the Can-Bus and the other model is for cars that do not have the Can-Bus. I am not sure what Can-Bus is and if my car has it or not. Once I find out about the Can-Bus I will know which model of stereo to buy.

[shconer]

Re: Can Bus?

I have the exact same car and you do have can bus and the head unit is connected to it. But the only thing it is used for is turning the head unit off and on, and for diagnostics. I replaced mine with a Pioneer AVIC-700BT and used an adapter ( http://www.pac-audio.com/productDeta...&CategoryID=26 ) that turns the head unit on with the key and off when you pull the key out of the ignition. I am not sure if you got the can bus version of the head unit if it would do this without an adapter or not.

[Stonewall]

Re: Can Bus?

Yes like Shconer said your vehicle is can-bus based so likely your head unit doesn't have an ignition turn on wire at the head unit. You might be able to run a switched 12V in from somewhere else. I am sure a quick search on the whoretex will get you all the answers you need.

[skottieboy90]

Re: Can Bus?

the can bus module is only to create the acc. wire and in some cases keep the door chime, you don't actually need it. even if you had steering wheel control you would still need to buy another module to keep that on top of the can bus module...

[aliencurv]

Re: Can Bus?

sounds like you have two options..

1)
the canbus is partially used for diagnostics, and mostly for communications. the canbus protocol is used to communicate between devices. the steering wheel controls, power, lights, display, etc communicate to the radio using the canbus. some newer (not sure about yours) won't even have an Accessory +12 to tell the stereo when to power up. but that's okay, because either way, you will benefit from installing a PAC Canbus Radio Adapter. it will enable your steering wheel controls and lighting to work (if supported)
to save some cashola, i would recommend checking ebay for the vw pac unit.

2)
also, it sounds like your stereo purchase has a can-bus option, i would go with that rather than purchasing the pac canbus adapter. having native canbus support in the stereo is wicked and will result in a clean install.