Installing an aftermarket radio into a late model 01 Dodge Caravan. Pretty standard stuff using Metra’s Chrysler harness (1817). Turns out there was an amp in the vehicle but the remote turn on wire wasn’t in the factory harness. Verified this by testing the harness for impedance on the factory speakers; there wasn’t a connection until the factory radio was on (yes it played). I did a little research and found that there is supposedly a “digital remote turn on switch” for this factory amp. No clue how to use it though.
On the back of the factory radio was the bolt that held the braided ground wire and the other little ground wire on the tab. The gray and black standard plugs were there. Also what I assumed to be the single wire for steering wheel controls in the white harness. When hooking up the aftermarket radio, it turns on and runs fine. No problems at all with switched power, constant or ground. But the only time I could get any output on the speakers is when I connected the small ground plug directly to ground. This only turned the factory amp on for a minute and it died as soon as I tried to start the car.
Anyway to do this without bypassing the factory amp?
are you sure you have all the wires hooked up and none that are just hanging, you have to connect the power antenna wire as well (blue) even if you don't have a power antenna. I had the same problem for my 1988 caravan with infinity sound.
Actually yeah, checked it. I pulled the dash back apart and stripped the harnesses all the way down. No other wires there. Also the remote turn on is supposed to be pin one on the black harness. It is empty. And i actaully did get sound to it temporarily by playing with the grounds. So I really do think it has a digital remote turn on. Just not sure how to use it.
personallly I just bypass the amp on those vehicles I've seen numerous times factory amps frying out when you integrate the aftermarket radio to them.
Yeah i figured that but its for a customer. He has a lease vehicle and dosn't want us to be running wire through the doors. So its really my only choice. Any other ideas?
FIGURED IT OUT. The remote turn for the amp is controlled by a relay under the hood. So to bypass it pull out the "MPS" relay on the left side of the hood. Then run your remote turn on wire from the radio the were pin 87 on the relay was. Thats it.