Duncan_GT

Ok guys, I'm at a loss. The girlfriend got me a new radio for Christmas, tried installing it, blah blah blah. Long story short, the tech support for the radio screwed up and they're sending me a new adapter. So as of now, my stock radio is completely out of the car, and I taped off with electrical tape all of the connections. Everything was fine until this evening when I turned my headlights on. My headlights and brake lights turn on, but my instrument panel (gauges) and clock do not. I figured I blew the fuse, so I checked when I got home. Sure enough, blown fuse (#13).

I've replaced the fuse now 3 times, its blown them all. What am I doing wrong? Is it because the radio isn't installed? (There's no receiver, its just wires hanging out. But they all have electrical tape around them)

HACKGT350

double check to see if all the wires are taped off...it sounds like one isnt covered and is grounding out and blowing the fuse.

mattdel

Light Blue/Red wire is the illumination circuit on the radio(ties in to 10amp fuse#13, rear window defrost, clock, heater control illum, radio, trans selector, fog lamps, ashtray) check that for short to ground. Also check your lighter socket for a coin.

Duncan_GT

Where are the wires you're talking about?

dawson1112

When you pulled the stock unit out you had to take out the shifter boot console . There is a cig lighter in that and the ground wire is notorious for coming off and grounding on the center post for the lighter. Also the wire that controls the ilumination of the radio was in the plug on the back of the stock unit. I wouldn't have cut that plug off I would have just gone to walmart or someplace and picked up an adaptor to plug into it.

Constant 12V+ Green/Yellow
Switched 12V+ Yellow/Black
Ground Black/Green
Illumination Light Blue/Red
Dimmer n/a
Amplifier Remote Dark Blue
Antenna Right Front
Front Speakers 5" x 7" Doors
Left Front (+) Orange/Light Green
Left Front (-) Light Blue/White
Right Front (+) White/Light Green
Right Front (-) Dark Green/Orange
Rear Speakers 5" x 7" Rear Deck
Left Rear (+) Gray/Light Blue
Left Rear (-) Tan/Yellow
Right Rear (+) Orange/Red
Right Rear (-) Brown/Pink

Duncan_GT

I did buy an adapter for it, I didn't cut any wires. Also I didnt have to take out the shifter to get the unit out. I could see having to do that for the cd player.

During installation, I was supposed to crimp the two blue wires together w the blue wire from the adapter. Those two blue wires are still twisted together, so I wonder if thats causing the short. I've also got three orange wires that arent needed, so I tied them off together.

dawson1112

Could you give the model of after market unit you are installing . I am wondering if the 2 blue wires are the issue myself. The one should be to turn on the amps and the other should be for a power ant. As for the orange wires Im not sure I would need to look at the wiring for that particular unit.

Duncan_GT

Its a crutchfield receiver. XML8150. The wiring harness (which has the two blue wires) plugs in to the old harness. Then the adapter plugs in to the new wiring harness. I had to crimp wires for the new wiring harness and adapter. I post a picture in an hour or so while I'm at work

Duncan_GT

Here's the pics:

Here's the new wiring harness attached to the old one, with the wires taped off


Wiring harness close-up


The connection from the car harness to the new harness.



I didn't get a pic of the adapter plug-in from the harness to the receiver, but its trashed anyways since tech support had me cut the wrong wire. To clear things up, none of these wires should be tied together, correct? I had them tied together when I tried to turn the unit on, I'm really hoping I didn't short the receiver out

mattdel

The only time stereo wires are tied together are when you have 6 or more speakers, like little tweeters in the dash or something, then you would tie their wires to the same side door speaker. Other than that there is no reason to do that.