Wired radio wrong

[Thewolf]

It should be the orange wire that was marked IPS or something like that. It's the wire that makes your radio lights turn on, but then again I don't know how much you guys had to drink LOL.

[Papa Rad17]

some people on here just get a little irritated and worked about little thing sometimes

[spc2125]

im looking at it now and i see a red wire that is soldered two wires. to the orange (illuminate dash light) and to the magenta (ignition/switched)

[Greencoupe2.2]

im guessing you have one of theese harnesses installed http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...a-70-2003.html and if so get a fuse tap like this http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...ier=32416_0_0_
and plug it into an unused acc switch controled fuse on the passenger side like where the sunroof fuse is then run a wire from this to the switched accesory lead on your headunit. Also your head unit will still light-up without the illumantion wire connected you just wont be able to dim it. Wiring it this way ensures you have a safe fused connection, and this only applies to 2002 up which i think you have and since you didnt buy the chime module (assummingly) this needs to be done.

Typical Head Unit Wire Harness
Function Typical Wire Colors
Memory / Constant 12V(+) Yellow
Switch / Accessory Red
Ground Black
Illumination Orange/White
Antenna Remote Blue
Amp Remote Blue/White
Left Front (+) White
Left Front (-) White/Black
Right Front (+) Grey
Right Front (-) Grey/Black
Left Rear (+) Green
Left Rear (-) Green/Black
Right Rear (+) Violet
Right Rear (-) Violet/Black

[spc2125]

Ok so i fixed it today

2001 Oldsmobile Alero Car Radio Stereo Audio Wiring Diagram
Car Radio Constant 12v+ Wire: Orange
Car Radio Switched 12v+ Wire: The radio harness does not provide a switched power source. Run a wire to the steering column and use the brown wire in the ignition switch harness.
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black/White
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Brown
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire: Gray
Car Stereo Antenna Trigger: Dark Green
Car Stereo Amp Trigger Wire: N/A
Car Stereo Amplifier Location: N/A
Car Audio Front Speakers Size: N/A
Car Audio Front Speakers Location: N/A
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Tan
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Gray
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Light Green
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Dark Green
Car Audio Rear Speakers Size: N/A
Car Audio Rear Speakers Location: N/A
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Brown
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Yellow
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Dark Blue
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Light Blue

Thats why i messed up

[bogitto]

I just finished installing a new headunit for my 03 Alero. everything works well, howeevr i noticed my gauge lights are not working properly. Out in the sun I can barely see the gauge lights but at night it works fine. I did not wire the dimmer wire of the radio to the alero harness...

I used metra 70-2003 wiring harness.... and referred to this page for the wiring diagram http://www.modifiedlife.com/radio-wi...smobile-alero/

The diagram says dimmer/illumination is NA so I did not bother connecting it to the harness...

Thanks for your help

[zzyzzx]

I'm thinking that "your friend" doesn't know how to use a voltmeter. I never trust what the schematic says, even if it's from a factory service manual. I verify everything with a voltmeter or a signal generator (to test to speakers) before I wire up an aftermarket head unit. It's easy enough to figure out what the constant power/switched power/and dash light circuits are if you simply test them with a voltmeter.