12v accessory 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=92657
Printed Date: May 04, 2024 at 10:08 PM

Topic: 12v accessory wire

Posted By: kenvette
Subject: 12v accessory wire
Date Posted: April 07, 2007 at 5:09 PM

I am installing an after-market radio in my 2001 Sunfire. The existing wire harness does not seem to have a switched 12V (ACC) wire to connect to the red wire of my radio harness. Where can I find this wire to tap into it?

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Ken

Replies:

Posted By: custom audio ny
Date Posted: April 07, 2007 at 5:20 PM

The wire should be yellow @ the radio harness at the dash..as it has been with GM since the 1960's. If that wire is dead check the acc fuse. If the wire is still dead after you replace the fuse....tap off the thick brown wire @ the ignition harness and put your own fuse on that wire to prevent burning of wires or a main if something goes wrong.

Now theres one other possible scenereo, I don't recall the sunfire but a few of that era GM cars used a seperate amp/tuner box that is located elswhere in the vehicle...the unit in the dash is just a controller and you can not use any wires there. A quick way to tell is if there is no antenna cable at that area. If not you will need to locate the tuner/amp box (it is silver..has fins on one side like an amp..a few plugs on it..and the antenna cable.

You will need to extend all those wires and use an antenna extension cable and run those to where you are installing the new deck..all your speaker wires are there as well.

Hope that helped.

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Custom Audio
Lynbrook NY

ASE/MECP master certified

Posted By: kenvette
Date Posted: April 07, 2007 at 6:21 PM

This car does not have a separate amp/tuner & controller. There is only one yellow wire at the radio harness and it is for the left rear speaker (-). The ignition harness is really hard to get at. Is there any other point where I can access the ACC feed?

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Ken

Posted By: custom audio ny
Date Posted: April 07, 2007 at 7:29 PM

There should be another yellow wire there for ACC...it is in the same harness as the ground (black) constant (orange) dimmer and ill. (brown and gray)..unless...the factory harness is hacked..isin't it?

Ok..this is cheesy but if you can not get to the ignition harness go to the (uggh) fuse box. Use a fuse tap from the radio acc fuse and it will get you home, so to speak.

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Custom Audio
Lynbrook NY

ASE/MECP master certified

Posted By: kenvette
Date Posted: April 07, 2007 at 8:10 PM

Made it to the brown ACC wire. Tapped in, added an inline fuse and everyone is happy. Thanks for your help.

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Ken

Posted By: custom audio ny
Date Posted: April 07, 2007 at 9:59 PM

No problem at all ken....but will the mystery of the missing yellow accessory wire at the dash ever be solved???lol

Take it easy.

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Custom Audio
Lynbrook NY

ASE/MECP master certified

Posted By: burns25
Date Posted: April 08, 2007 at 10:46 PM

the 2001 sunfire has the class 2 databus which means that there is no accessory at the radio, that is why you could not find one.

Posted By: custom audio ny
Date Posted: April 09, 2007 at 12:19 AM

DOH !!! I overlooked that....the Factory RDS head units of that year are databus....my bad....

kenvette...did you lose the doorchime ??

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Custom Audio
Lynbrook NY

ASE/MECP master certified

Posted By: kenvette
Date Posted: April 09, 2007 at 7:57 AM

Yes, I lost the doorchime. I was aware of that in advance, but didn't figure it was worth the extra coin for the databus cable. Thanks guys.

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Ken