Problem with 99 Dodge Neon head unit install

I recently attempted to install an aftermarket Kenwood CD player/Tuner into a 1999 Dodge Neon.  I removed the stock receiver and tested the wires with a multimeter.  Batt wire(Yellow) was reading 12.46 vlts constant.  The ignition wire (red) was reading 12 vlts with the ignition off or on.  I thought this was strange,  but I went ahead and connected the Kenwood CD player to test it and it worked fine.  After hooking everything up and mounting the head unit into the dash I attempted to turn the unit on again but it did not work.  It will take a cd into it and spit it out ( you hear motor sound) but will not play.  No lights or any indications that the unit is receiving power.  I then unhooked everything and retested the wires.  Now the ignition wire (red) reads nothing.  I checked the fuse box in dash console and all fuses were good.  I checked fuses under hood and they were good.  I searched for a fuse somewhere in the wiring but couldn't find one.  What is the problem?  Sounds like a fuse but how many fuses and fuse boxes are on a 1999 Dodge Neon?  Kirby

Did you check the fuse on the back of the Kenwood deck or the inline fuse ?Jeff

Velocity Custom Home Theater

Mobile Audio/Video Specialist

Morden, Manitoba CANADA

I checked the fuse on the back of the Kenwood deck (10amp).  It was good.  I attempted to find an inline fuse but after following the wire and searching I found nothing but wire, which goes up under the drivers console and presumably to the steering column/ignition.  It appears that the problem is somwhere in the ignition wire and not in the harness connection or CD player.  If I can't find a solution I have thought of just hooking the cigarette lighter hot wire to the unit in place of the ignition wire.  It is right there and is getting power.  What do you think?  Any possible problems that could arise from doing this?Kirby

I recently attempted to install an aftermarket Kenwood CD player/Tuner into a 1999 Dodge Neon.  I removed the stock receiver and tested the wires with a multimeter.  Batt wire(Yellow) was reading 12.46 vlts constant.  The ignition wire (red) was reading 12 vlts with the ignition off or on.  I thought this was strange,  but I went ahead and connected the Kenwood CD player to test it and it worked fine.  After hooking everything up and mounting the head unit into the dash I attempted to turn the unit on again but it did not work.  It will take a cd into it and spit it out ( you hear motor sound) but will not play.  No lights or any indications that the unit is receiving power.  I then unhooked everything and retested the wires.  Now the ignition wire (red) reads nothing.  I checked the fuse box in dash console and all fuses were good.  I checked fuses under hood and they were good.  I searched for a fuse somewhere in the wiring but couldn't find one.  I checked the fuse on the back of the Kenwood deck (10amp).  It was good.  I attempted to find an inline fuse but after following the wire and searching I found nothing but wire, which goes up under the drivers console and presumably to the steering column/ignition.  It appears that the problem is somwhere in the ignition wire and not in the harness connection or CD player.  If I can't find a solution I have thought of just hooking the cigarette lighter hot wire to the unit in place of the ignition wire.  It is right there and is getting power.   Anyone know of possible problems that could arise from doing this? What is the problem?Kirby

There is ussally two fuse pannels in a car, one inside and one under the hood. make sure you check evreysingle one! A fuse might controll that wire and it could say trunk light. did you use a wire harnness? you should never cut factory harness off.

hey kirb hopefully you didn't cut the wiring harness of the car (factory plugs)because if you already checked the fuses and thir ok i'd just get the metra wring kit fo that car and start over . as far as checking the voltage dont worry about that just take a test light and go through the factory harness with the key off the one that lights up is your memory wire. then after you find that one mark it .then turn your key on and do it agian you should have one more wire that turns onthe test light with the test light touching the wire commence to turn the key back and fur thus causing the light to turn on and off then you fund your 12v switched as far as verifying the speakers and polarity wich is vary important heres an old trick i like to use and it saves time take a (AA battery) with a piece of wire on both sides and run throgh the wires you have left wich should be your dimmer wire which only turns on when the lights are switched on. once you hit a speaker you'll know because you will hear a crackle out of that sidead just keep repeating til yu find all four speakersf.b.e.

oh i forgot if you get the wiring kit you wont have to go through all that trouble and its only 12 to 16 dollars dpends on where you shopf.b.e.

My problem is that the red wire in the wiring harness is not getting power and I have checked and double checked all the fuses.  I didn't cut the factory wires. The only possible thing I can think of now is that mabey the wire itself is cut or disconnected somewhere out of reach.  Does anyone have any input?Kirby

Try running a new constant wire from another source on the fuse panel ( I know you said that this wire is OK, but just try this and see if it works ) and also find another 12 volt switched source from the fuse panel and wire it up to the RED wire on the Kenwood deck. Take the BLACK wire from the Kenwood and attach it straight to the frame of the inner wall of the OEM radio area and ground it or use the grounding strap. Post your results.Jeff

Velocity Custom Home Theater

Mobile Audio/Video Specialist

Morden, Manitoba CANADA