Car Stereo...help...

[RGDave]

Are there any folks on this forum who have any experience of fitting car stereos, doing the wiring, that kind of thing?

I bought a new stereo, pulled out the old one, chucked the old adapter cable in the box and plugged in the 2 ISO plugs directly into the new unit.

It works, but I reckon it needs permanent power as it seems to go to sleep every time I turn off the ignition.

Any ideas? I've googled a few thoughts but it seems that various manufacturers alter the red and yellow cables - I'm not sure I want to make it up as I go along.....

 

[G1BB0]

I thought all stereos switched off when the ignition is cut

if you then hit the on/power button on the stereo most go into a 1hr mode (avoids leaving on and draining the battery)

 

[sawtooth]

Its been 20 years since I fitted a stereo but remember that there are 2 wires for live. Red is normally connected to permanent live and yellow is connected to switched live at the ignition barrel harness.This is so you cannot leave the stereo on by mistake with no keys in the ignition. If you are not fussed about this then join the red and yellow together and connect to a permanent live in the car somewhere. Remember to use a fuse.

 

[Gillespie16]

I thought all stereos switched off when the ignition is cut

if you then hit the on/power button on the stereo most go into a 1hr mode (avoids leaving on and draining the battery)

What he said (I Think)

 

[bobmac]

I fitted a radio to a can 20 years ago and wired it up to the cigarette lighter. Easy peasy.
Trouble is when I turned it on the electric aerial went up but didnt come down when I turned it off. After an hour of checking the wiring and still nothing, I decided to have a cigarette and think about it.
Sure enough, pushed the car lighter in and down came the aerial

 

[G1BB0]

lol, quality Bob, as always

 

[Scouser]

Fitted one to about 3 years ago easiest way is to phone a dealership and ask to be put theought to someone. If you get a nice person they will tell u what colour is which or u risk blowing the unit. They may not yell u though!

 

[bladeplayer]

Should say on the box or on the instructions which wire/pin on the radio is the permenant live (eg terminal 30) give this wire a permenant live feed from any wire you can find 12volts in ( done with the ign off & the key out of ignition)should work ,,, i didnt know this but i asked someone that does

 

[viscount17]

I just bought the adaptor cable. sometimes you think it's a straight ISO connection but the b*s cross-connect one or two.

what did my head in was specifically looking for one with a USB auxiliary connection then finding it won't recognise the mp4!

 

[RGDave]

I fixed it! I read the posts and put my thinking cap on.
The yellow provides "permanent" power (for the unit's memory), the red is "switched" and only works with the ignition on (that's the full power on). So I tested them and discovered that neither had any current with the ignition off, but the yellow should. So, I traced it back to a blown fuse under the bonnet which I think must have gone taking out the old one or putting in the new one.

Happy days.

Thanks

 

[RGDave]

I just bought the adaptor cable. sometimes you think it's a straight ISO connection but the b*s cross-connect one or two.

Yes, I think some manufacturers mess around with the wiring.
Clearly my old head unit needed a very specific adapter/loom thing.

 

[RGDave]

Oh, the little bu**er. It has power constantly but the darn thing can't seem to keep the clock alive and I've lost some presets?

w.t.h?

b.t.w. it is new and not knocked off or anything.

 

[stevelev]

For future reference, make sure you have your stereo code, and always disconnect the positive battery terminal, then when you reconnect you wont blow any fuses (as long as its done correctly.)

 

[RGDave]

For future reference, make sure you have your stereo code, and always disconnect the positive battery terminal, then when you reconnect you wont blow any fuses (as long as its done correctly.)

Yes, I realise I should have disconnected the battery, rather schoolboy error!

I don't know if it has a code or I can set one. t.b.h the manual is hopeless, I think half my trouble is not really understanding it.....

It's re-starting the CD from the current track (which is good) and the iPod connector (front AUX) works, it's just the damn clock, which is part of the reason I chose this unit, as my car clock broke years ago.