1987 GM, too hard to install unit!

Home / the12volt's Install Bay / Car Audio / 1987 GM, too hard to install unit! (

Topic Closed)

Welcome Guest :)

Members

< Prev Topic Next Topic >

ed112

Member - Posts: 3

Joined: June 30, 2004

Location: Albania

Posted: June 30, 2004 at 1:00 PM / IP Logged

Hi,

Im putting in a new CD player into a 87 GM, no amp or subs are being hooked up. The new head unit has:

* 8 wires for the speakers

* Ground, Ignition, Battery

* Illumination, Remote Trigger, Motor Antenna

The radio doesn't work at all when I turn on the ignition. The factory plug for this GM has only 11 wires (8 speaker wires, ground, ignition, battery).

Can someone please explain what I am doing wrong ? Does the illumination wire not being hooked up to anything have anything to do with it ? Or do I need to test with a multimeter each wire on the factory plug to see what is going wrong ?

I would appreciate anybodys advice on this installation because the car is a fossil

icu400

Copper - Posts: 123

Joined: April 12, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: June 30, 2004 at 1:15 PM / IP Logged

illumination won't matter, remote won't matter since you have no amp, and I doubt you have a motor antenna

check a few things:

1) all wires not being used are wrapped up

2) no bare connections inside

3) fuse for the stereo

peace

forbidden

Platinum - Posts: 5,352

This member has made a donation to the12volt.com. Click here for more info.

This member has been recognized as an authority in Mobile Audio and Video. Click here for more info.

Joined: November 01, 2003

Location: Alberta, Canada

Posted: June 30, 2004 at 1:40 PM / IP Logged

have a look at www.installdr.com to see if your vehicle and it's wiring plug is listed there.

Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.

kgerry

Platinum - Posts: 3,455

This member consistently provides reliable information

Joined: February 07, 2004

Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Posted: June 30, 2004 at 3:54 PM / IP Logged

you need to make sure the constant power is hooked up to that unit...this is not supplied thru the 3 plugs that stack on the back but thru the small 2 pin connector that is on the other side of the rear of the radio...the orange wire in that connector ( there should be an orange and a brown ) needs to see 12V constant or the radio wont work

Kevin Gerry

Certified Electronics Technician

MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer

Classic Car Audio

since 1979

ed112

Member - Posts: 3

Joined: June 30, 2004

Location: Albania

Posted: July 01, 2004 at 12:51 AM / IP Logged

Why isn't constant power supplied by the wire in one of the 3 plugs ? Why do you need to connect B+ to the orange wire on that separate connector ? I don't get it ..... whats the difference in these wires ?

Thanx a million.

jimmeezgolfvr6

Silver - Posts: 258

Joined: March 10, 2002

Location: Canada

Posted: July 01, 2004 at 2:33 AM / IP Logged

that orange wire on the separate connector is the one that's supplying constant +12v power. on the 3 other connectors, none of those wires are constant +12v. the yellow wire on one of those 3 connectors is only switched +12v (when the key is in the accessory position). i can't really explain why.....those cars are just built that way.

good luck!

Search for other posts by jimmeezgolfvr6

kgerry

Platinum - Posts: 3,455

Joined: February 07, 2004

Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Posted: July 01, 2004 at 11:51 AM / IP Logged

on the power plug the yellow is 12 v switched, black is ground, grey is illumination and pink if it's there is power antenna.... 12v constant is supplied on the small 2 pin plug i mentioned... dont question why.... that's just the way it is....

hook it to 12 v constant and i'm sure you'll find your problem is solved.....

Kevin Gerry

Certified Electronics Technician

MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer

Classic Car Audio

since 1979

ed112

Member - Posts: 3

Joined: June 30, 2004

Location: Albania

Posted: July 02, 2004 at 10:46 AM / IP Logged

Okay, I've established by way of multimeter that no power is running through the memory B+ wire. Im thinking of drawing a cable directly to the positive terminal of the battery from the head unit (remember i have no amp).

My question is, what gauge size wire do I use and what fuse amp rating should I employ to fuse this wire ?

Would a 16awg wire with a 1A fuse do the job ??

kgerry

Platinum - Posts: 3,455

Joined: February 07, 2004

Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Posted: July 02, 2004 at 12:04 PM / IP Logged

did you check the fuses in the vehicle? does the cig lighter or interior dome light work? they are all on the same circuit......

Kevin Gerry

Certified Electronics Technician

MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer

Classic Car Audio

since 1979

mcgyver74

Member - Posts: 3

Joined: July 02, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: July 02, 2004 at 12:39 PM / IP Logged

I tend to agree with everyone here. Your radio is not getting 12V constant. There is no need to run a wire to the battery. there is a wire back there that is +12 Constant. It is orange. IF the stock wiring is there, then it is part of a 2 pin plug that is back there somwehere. Worst case scenario, you can tie into the Cig lighter

GM's used the same color scheme for a long time (Since 1978 I think), the only thing that changed was the plugs, With adapter harnesses becoming so widely available I haven't had to splice a car's wiring harness in a long time so I don't know if the new GM/s are still using the same color scheme but If I recall correctly the basic Color scheme for a GM radio for a post 78 model is

B+ Orange

Ign Yellow

Grnd Black

Illum (Grey if i recall correctly)

Power Antenna Pink

Speaks were

Rt Front + Light Green

Rt Front - Dark Green

Left Front + Tan

Left Front - Grey

Right Rear + Dark Blue

Right Rear - Light Blue

Left Rear + Brown

Left Rear - Yerllow

The wiring in a GM is kinda counter intuitive since the Positive speaker wires in the back are the darker wire and in the front it is the lighter colored wire. Oh and be carefull on a pre 78-79 GM, they used Common ground wiring that could toast a high power unit in less time then it takes me to get ito trouble at a bar :)

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This topic is closed.

Printable version

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Search the12volt.com

Follow the12volt.com

Disclaimer: *All information on this site ( the12volt.com ) is provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular use. Any user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and use of this information. Please verify all wire colors and diagrams before applying any information.

1987 GM, too hard to install unit!

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.This topic is closed.

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This topic is closed.