Stereo Wiring

[JonnyGrant]

Hi guys, at the w-end my stereo stopped working much to my wife's dismay!
Turns out that the Black wire on the stereo had melted and I don't know why, any ideas?
I now need to fit a new one and am not sure of the wiring.
Can anyone help me?

The wires I have on my S3C are:

Blue
Red
Brown
Purple/Red X2
Black

Gray/Black X2 (Speakers)
Green/Black X2 (Speakers)

Cheers, jonnyg

[tubbystu]

The black cable is generically the ground.

What is the make & model of the stereo unit ? Most manufacturers website will still list old model numbers tech details. Were the cable colours the same on the unit as the wiring harness ?

I guess dear old TVR would have primarily followed the manufacturers code for the items that they factory fitted. There is a newer code that applies across most manufacturers of both car & ICE units.

+12v constant - Yellow
+12v switched at ignition - Red
display dimming - Orange
Ground - Black
Electric aerial - Blue
Left fr spkr - White & white with black stripe
Left r spkr - Green & green with black stripe
Right fr spkr - Grey & grey with black stripe
Right r spkr - Purple & purple with black stripe

Halfords sell a range of harness adaptors to suit any new head unit. These come with colour coded cables which helps.

See here for more info www.installdr.com/TechDocs/999009.

None of this really immediately helps you, so with a multi-meter you need to ident the main cables.

You need to identify the ground, swiched 12v and constant 12v supplies at least.

HTH

Edited by tubbystu on Thursday 19th April 10:56

[bonefish]

A melted earth(black wire) indicates to me a dead short which is a little worrying as it could lead to a fire.. May explain why you need a new radio now but I'm surprised that no fuse blew. I'd check that you have the correct fuse value installed for the main supply, and perhaps fit an in-line fuse soley to protect the radio supply wiring.

I've not long put a new radio in my S3c but unsurprisingly it's got a differing wiring colour scheme !!

Red is +12v that is switched on/off with the ignition.
I've a sneaking suspicion that the brown will be your permament live (should be yellow)
Black is earth, and blue switches the electric aerial relay (if fitted)

But as tubbystu says you'll need to make 100% sure with a multimeter, or use a light bulb at a push.

[JonnyGrant]

Hi guys thanks for your replys verry helpful stuff,
If Red is +12v ignition wire
And the brown is my permament live
Black is earth, and blue switches the electric aerial relay.

Then what is the two Red/purple wires that are joined together for?
I thought that they were the permament!!

Maybe thats why my stereo blow up!

jg

[tubbystu]

JonnyGrant said:

Hi guys thanks for your replys verry helpful stuff,
If Red is +12v ignition wire
And the brown is my permament live
Black is earth, and blue switches the electric aerial relay.

Then what is the two Red/purple wires that are joined together for?
I thought that they were the permament!!

Maybe thats why my stereo blow up!

jg

You need to ascertain whether they are a 12v supply and if they are switched or not etc.

What colour cable did they connect to on what head unit ?

Did the unit used to work with the ignition off ? Or was it switched off when ignition waS switched off ?

The earth melting is a concern. Does everything else electrical still function as normal ?

Earthing points in plastic cars are always a bit of a problem.