audio install gurus... help ID head unit wires

[}{arlequin]

As dilligent as the PO was in the mechanical area, he apparently wasn't too concerned about the electricals. I've decided to re-install my radio b/c of an intermittent power delivery and at the same time organize some of the wires.

First: The plug with the orange/yellow and black wire combo is where the head unit got its power from the car. It appears to be working correctly, in tune with the ignition. Can anyone else confirm this?


Second: The black w/ red wire coming out of the radio, connected to a red, was grounded to the chassis. I'm assuming it's ok since there were no other problems.


Third: Here is where it gets interesting/confusing to me. The 3 wires, red, blue, and yellow, are spliced and the blue wire coming out of that is the one that's connected to the car's power source wire(s) under my "First" issue. In addition, the red wire has a fuse mounted inline. Does the radio really need power from 3 different wires? (It's an older unit and I can't find diagrams/labels for it.

[}{arlequin]

Fourth: Does anyone know what the green and purple wires could be for? The ones with the cut off connectors. They are coming out of the radio.


Fifth: Judging from the way they are bundled, I'm guessing the 2 white w/ black stripe and 2 grey wires go to the speakers? I can't trace these to the speakers b/c I never had music in the car. The PO used boxed type speakers that he would just take out when not in use and he kept them when I got the car.


Thanks for all the input.

[scottb]

Send the pictures to "bell" here on the board. He owns a car audio business, I believe, and is the resident expert on all things related to car audio.

Scott

[vlocci]

radio wiring (on the head unit side at least) is prett standard:

This should get you started

Grey - rt front (+)
Grey w/ black - rt frt (-)

White - lt frt (+)
white w/ black - lt frt (-)

Green - lt rear (+)
Green w/ blac - lt rear (-)

Purple - rt rear (+)
purple w/ black - rt rear (-)


black- ground
red- 12 volts switched with ignition
yellow- 12 volts constant (to maintain radio presents/ clock)

blue is traditionally a 12 volt trigger that is live when the radio is on (for a power antenna)


This should sort out the headunit side, a voltmeter or test light should help getting the car harness side figured out quickly.

I'm outside Boston, if you need a hand over the weekend.


Vin

[RANDY P]

If you can, post the model of radio that is, or a pic if you have it. List what else is in the car. Something looks like it was wired into the radio as well. Probably a radar detector or something thereof..

rjp

[bell]

vlocci is correct with the info
being the purples(and greens) are rear speaker outputs then it looks as if you only have 2 speakers or it's running through the factory fader switch.

[Kraftwerk]

Thanks Vin!
I was wondering about the 'nest' of wires too....

[}{arlequin]

Thanks for the help. You guys are right. I only had two speakers running on the radio.

If I am going to continue using only two speakers, I should just completely tape off and ignore the green/purple set, right?

I have no idea what else could have possibly been wired to the "nest" of those wires since there was no other device in the car. If something was there, does that mean that in the future this would be a good source to use for power?

Here's the radio. I know that by now this is considered a classic
Ideally, I'd love a simple one big knob and some large buttons that I could push easily while in a bumpy car at speed, but for now I'll just get this one running. (At least it has basic, dim, amber lighting.)

[bell]

i'd get rid of anything that doesn't need to be there.
yes tape/cap off the wires you're not using (if they ground out it could cause problems.

and check out the old school radio in my 911

[}{arlequin]

Thanks to everyone's input, everything is operating fine. While I'm happy with that, I'm still looking into some other cd players. Particularly, the OEM issues for Porsche and BMW. Do any of you pros know how easily "adaptable" these units are?

The OEM radios seem to not have any wires in the back, just a plug. Makes sense when you deal with a "one brand" car and radio set up, but is it possible to wire those radios into our cars? Would I need to find such a plug and wire it? Where could I find a "schematic" identifying each pin's function on the back of the radio? Other people have wired newer Becker radios into older cars, what changes were necessary to accomplish this?

Thanks.