[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by wrxnofx

Makes no sense. Where is the stock radio harness? That should provide both constant power and switched power, as well as ground. There should have been no need to tie into the headlight wiring at all. Ironically, the largest fuse in this car should be 25A. However, by default not all wires for the headlights are fused (which is why most people add in the aftermarket relays for high and low beams). Perhaps that's why they added the fuses.

I'd yank all that crap off, add the proper relays to the headlights, and find the proper radio harness behind the radio unit. Then tap into that if you really want to retain the aftermarket head unit.

Yanking said crap off Have headlight and dash light relay threads printed out and will be adding those over the next few weeks. Thanks!

Originally Posted by blucille

without the stock radio wiring, I'd go to the fusebox directly and find some switched and constant feeds that are unused, maybe you don't have a sunroof or heated seats or something.

For constant power, you could go straight to the battery, with a fuse of course.

40amp is way too much, unless you have an outboard amp. Typical 10watt maybe up to 20 if it's a real "high power" radio.

Going with 15a fuse most likely straight to the battery. Thanks!

Originally Posted by jrwilson

Just finished this on my car. There should be both switched and constant power available. Confusingly, the colours are reversed from normal - yellow for switched, red for constant. If the stereo has lighting tied to the headlights, you can easily build a blade adapter to tap into the wire on the ignition switch and therefore not cut or damage any wiring. Ground I just used an existing hole in the dashboard.

I'll never understand these hackjobs. It's not that hard to do it right.

I noticed that too - red and yellow are reversed. The lighting on the stereo is tasteful and controlled easiest from the head unit itself - good idea for the future though.

Originally Posted by isby

I believe that the old Blaupunkts had a wiring option whereby the radio could be connected to the headlight wiring. The idea was that the radio would detect when the headlights were switched on and would automatically dim the lights on the radio’s faceplate. This may explain why the radio wiring was tied in to the lights.

Thanks for the information. Much appreciated!




Again, thank you so far...Just replaced the ignition switch (pain in the ass job) and wiring through the door jams for the plungers (even worse pain in the ass job) to the dome lights - which were cut like all other wiring. I now have dome lights and power windows that actually work properly after shutting down the car. Always wondered why my windows worked all the time - now I know. Well, back out to the workshop...


Erik