Head unit Sony cdx-5100 problem
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=32109
Printed Date: July 16, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Topic: Head unit Sony cdx-5100 problem
Posted By: apetryne
Subject: Head unit Sony cdx-5100 problem
Date Posted: May 13, 2004 at 4:53 PM
Hello all I have a 86 VW without any wiring harness installed i the car. Tried to hook up my sonycdx5100 player the other day but i couldnt get power to the unit. I have three wires coming from the dash: Red (power) brown(earth) an a white wire with a blue stripe. Connected the red wire and the brown to the unit,but no joy. I dont know what the third wire is for, but when i accidentally shorted it whith the chassis on the unit, the display illuminated..(still wouldnt turn on-just illumination). I would really appreciate any and somtechnical clarifying on this. Ps: my old radio works just fine so the car wiring should be ok. Thanks in advance
Replies:
Posted By: kgerry
Date Posted: May 13, 2004 at 5:06 PM
if i'm not mistaken that model year only supplied a constant power to the radio... you'll have to find a separate switched power source ( usually at the bank of switches below the radio, heater controls, etc. ) meter the WHITE/ blue and see if it has power...live, switched, with dash lights, etc. could also be a power antenna turn on wire...
-------------
Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer
Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979
Posted By: apetryne
Date Posted: May 14, 2004 at 2:30 AM
Hi Thanks for the quick reply. You are correct about the wiring. Can i test the player safely directly from the battery? Want to eliminate this as the culprit. Can i just hook up the red wire to + and earth to the chassis The player doesnt have a ISO connector at the back, just one sony? connector. do you know what the yellow wire is for? Also have a switch on the head unit whit 2 modes : A=cars with accessory switch on ignition B= cars without accessory switch. Sorry for the hopless newbie questions cheers
Posted By: kgerry
Date Posted: May 14, 2004 at 9:41 AM
yellow is battery 12 v ( constant power ) set your selector switch to B mode and use only the red or yellow power wire ( you may even have to use them both together, depending on how the unit sums voltage ) or as i said, take acc power from your heater control circuit and set to mode A ------------- Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer
Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979
Posted By: apetryne
Date Posted: May 14, 2004 at 2:49 PM
Thanks for all help. the first config either doesnt work (red+red) or blows the fuse (yellow+red together). Guess I have to try to take acc from heater control circut and see what happens thanks
Posted By: jimmeezgolfvr6
Date Posted: May 15, 2004 at 1:06 PM
if it's not too much work for you, i'd suggest that you go to the ignition cylinder (where you usually stick your key in to start your car) and find the key sense wire. here in north america, that wire should be BROWN / red. as soon as you stick your key in, that wire should show +12v....you can connect this to your accessory wire (red) for your sony head unit. the yellow wire of your sony simply needs to be connected any constant +12v, and that red wire that you've mentioned coming from your car should be an adequate source of +12v. the brown wire is ground, and that WHITE/ blue wire should be illumination.
good luck!
Posted By: kgerry
Date Posted: May 15, 2004 at 1:37 PM
since when has key sense shown a positive voltage?
-------------
Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer
Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979
Posted By: apetryne
Date Posted: May 15, 2004 at 2:56 PM
Im really starting to doubt the contition of my head unit. When I connected red+yellow (from the unit) to the red from the dash + black from unit to brown from dash the fuse blows and smoke comes from omes from the unit..(!). In other words: could this happen if the yellow wire (from unit) is connected to the red from the dash? I really dont wanna waste anymore time on finding wires etc. without being positive that my player i really works. Is there a simple way of testing this without using the wires from the dash? again thanks for the replies guys.
Posted By: jimmeezgolfvr6
Date Posted: May 16, 2004 at 3:19 AM
kgerry, key sense really is positive on that car.....as well as on the corrado, passat, jetta, cabriolet, you get the idea. on some of the newer models, it won't show positive until you turn the key to "ignition on", but it will continue to be live even after you turn the key back to "ignition off", and will stay live until you remove the key. but don't take my word for it, go give it a try.
and as for apetryne's question, you're right, that head unit doesn't sound healthy. you can try testing it right on the battery of the car. just lead those 3 wires directly to the battery terminals.
good luck!
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