I need a new 12 volt ignition wire!

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=27445
Printed Date: July 05, 2025 at 3:01 AM

Topic: I need a new 12 volt ignition wire!

Posted By: ragnarok
Subject: I need a new 12 volt ignition wire!
Date Posted: February 29, 2004 at 11:04 AM

I just took the old tape deck stereo out of my 89 volkswagen fox. Time for an upgrade huh? Well I got all of my amps and subs wired up now its time to throw my new sony xplod head unit in. Well what it looks like to me is that the previous owner didnt have a 12 volt ignition wire either, so instead he spliced two ends from one 12 volt always on source. So what do I do now? Where can I get a new 12 volt ignition wire from? This is extremely frustrating as I have spent all the time on wiring everything else!

Please help, Im sure someone has had this problem!

Thanks!

Replies:

Posted By: jimmeezgolfvr6
Date Posted: February 29, 2004 at 11:20 AM

2 solutions:
the closest ignition wire should be the one found at the back of the defrost switch which should be pretty much right next to the head unit area. i think it's BLACK / YELLOW, according to memory. however, the major drawback to this is that it is live with ignition on, meaning that if you want to just sit in your car and listen to your deck without the car running, the energy drain to your battery will be very high since there will be many other things that turn on as well.

the better solution would be to use the key sense wire which is part of the main ignition harness. it should be BROWN / red approx 18 or 20 gauge, and will show +12v with the key in the key cylinder.

good luck

Posted By: I AM
Date Posted: February 29, 2004 at 2:30 PM

where do you find this wire on the main ignition harness...........I am also having this problem ragnarok is having....

Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: February 29, 2004 at 4:12 PM

The main ignition harness will run from the key tumbler down the steering column towards the fuse block, it will have many wires in the harness. The correct wire will give +12volts with the key in and turned to on/acc or run but gives no voltage with the keys removed. Try this link.

( 1987-93 Volkswagen Fox Alarm Information )

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

Posted By: Dauber
Date Posted: March 02, 2004 at 5:35 PM

That key sense wire should be behind the radio as well, because me friend had a 90 Jetta and I hooked it up that way as well.

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Kyle@Audio Obsession Sound