no acc power

First post, new to this forum. I have done a search on this problem and I may need to connect my stereo to my cig. lighter but I will state my issue first. I have a 1989 Toyota Corolla. I replaced the factory HU a few years ago and thought I needed to remove the factory harness plugs since the aftermarket HU was different. I was able to find out the wiring colours etc. no problem. My problem happened last June when my car was broken into and the stereo was stolen. I have tried to install three different HU thinking each one was defective (used hand-me-downs) but using a DDVM I have determined I have no ACC power at the factory wire. The constant power is fine. The wiring appears to be fine with no apparent damage from the break-in. I checked the fuses both in the engine bay and under the dash (and the two in-line fuses on each HU) and all appears fine here. I even changed the ACC radio 7.5A fuse anyway. With no clear reason why there is no power I have resigned myself to getting ACC power from the cig. lighter. Here is my question... my radio fuse is 7.5A and my cig. lighter fuse is a 15A. I assume I cannot connect to this. I have read in some posts about the ignition. Does the radio ACC power wire connect to the ignition on its way from the fuse box? If I do need rewire anything what gauge wire do I ask for? Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any assistance.

You can use the cig lighter without a problem. Just remember that you have the stereo on your cig. circuit now so if you plug in a charger for your phone and also other items ( if you have a splitter ) that it will draw close to 15 amps and may blow the fuse on the cig line. If you don't use the cig for too many thing, it should be fine for you.Jeff

Velocity Custom Home Theater

Mobile Audio/Video Specialist

Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Thanks. I would be using the cig. lighter to power my FM transmitter for my MP3 player. No aux in with my HU. What is the best way to add an additional wire. I was also thinking of adding some type of plug connectors to all my wires as they seem to be getting shorter each time I go in there. Is this advisable? What is the best way to attach wires anyway?

Well I tried connecting power via the cig. lighter which somewhat worked. The power was read at the wiring harness plugs at 26 volts but when attaching three different HU's all did not power on! This is getting really frustrating!! I can't seem to get a reading at the memory connection now, where before I was. I'm at a loss.

Trace everything back to the fuse box with a DMM. If this doesn't single out the problem, run all new wires off of the ignition harness. Be sure to add in-line fuses.

I am getting power from the lighter wire but it's strange all three HU are dead. The people I got them from all said everything was operational. I have heard that one can test the HU by connecting the ACC power and ground to the car battery. I also heard that this should not be done as it would damage the HU. Which is accurate? When you said run new wires from the ignition harness I assume you are talking about where the key goes into the ignition. Is there a ignition harness elsewhere? And this would only be for the ACC power and not the memory wire as well? Sorry if this is a stupid question.