Wired radio wrong

[spc2125]

So my friend installed my aftermarket a while ago and when he installed it, i would have to turn the headlight switch all the way in order for it to work. So now i have to ride around with my night lights on during the day just to get my radio working. Is this the only way to wire the radio?
If not which color wires did he mess up and which is the right way?
Thanks

[Shiwnath]

There should be an Accessory wire that goes from the factory wiring to the deck wiring so the radio would turn on when the key is in the ACC position. He probably wired the Accessory wire on the radio wiring harness to the headlight wiring...why he woould do this i have no idea.

[Papa Rad17]

^id say that sounds right.

[robalero]

what on earth......even if there is no ACC wire go to the fuse panel on the side of your dash ( driver side ) and attach the wire to the one that says radio.....wow thats the wierdest way ive ever heard of a radio being hooked up

[lonnie]

That's why harnesses come labeled...that is if a harness was used.

[spc2125]

That's why harnesses come labeled...that is if a harness was used.

used a harness, just incorrectly i guess haha

[lonnie]

used a harness, just incorrectly i guess haha
lol...well at least you didn't fry anything.

[Shiwnath]

Seriously how do you use a harness incorrectly? Is it that hard to match the colors together? Other then matching the wires to the proper color, its basically plug and play. Im not trying to hate, i just want to know the logic that was used to wire it to your headlights lol.

[Redog]

Seriously how do you use a harness incorrectly? Is it that hard to match the colors together? Other then matching the wires to the proper color, its basically plug and play. Im not trying to hate, i just want to know the logic that was used to wire it to your headlights lol.

I was thinking the same thing. I mean my 3 year old knows what colors go to what.

Was this your buddy, or was it you and just saying your buddy did it?

I hope I neve need medical care in MA

[lonnie]

Oh give the guy a break...we have all had a "friend" screw up our stuff even though said "friend" reminds us and resembles themselves when looking in a mirror...LOL!

[robalero]

well the guy could be color blind also and not know it

[spc2125]

no im serious it was my friend because i didnt know how to solder and he did so i let him do it. Hes actually really good with electronics and cars (he works at Raytheon)
anyways, idk where he screwed up. im going to look at it this weekend and ill snap photos of what it looks like :lol:

[lonnie]

Soldering? I'll be the first to say that the best connection is a fused connection but man you can pop these thing in, in like 5 to 10 mins using crimp caps, and I've never had one break free.

[03glgold]

no im serious it was my friend because i didnt know how to solder and he did so i let him do it. Hes actually really good with electronics and cars (he works at Raytheon)
anyways, idk where he screwed up. im going to look at it this weekend and ill snap photos of what it looks like :lol:
If he is really good with electronics and cars then how did he manage to screw up installing a color coded harness

[spc2125]

If he is really good with electronics and cars then how did he manage to screw up installing a color coded harness

How does a professional football player drop a pass?
How does a professional soccer player miss a penalty kick?
How does a professional basketball player miss a free throw?

[03glgold]

How does a professional football player drop a pass?
How does a professional soccer player miss a penalty kick?
How does a professional basketball player miss a free throw?

a.He gets hit
b. The goalie blocks it
c. His girlfriend is making out with some random dude in his line of sight while he is trying to shoot and he throws the ball away so he can go and kick the other guys tail.


Seriously though I know mistakes happen but I have used multiple of the harnesses and never had any trouble reading the different color keys and matching things up. We were taught that in elementary school. How much had said friend had to drink before installing said radio...LOL

[Papa Rad17]

hmmm... I'll have to go with c on this one. as an answer to all the above questions. but I can understand screwing up a wire, Iv done it many a times before myself.

[03glgold]

hmmm... I'll have to go with c on this one. as an answer to all the above questions. but I can understand screwing up a wire, Iv done it many a times before myself.

I know but I was just giving him crap in the first place but as he seemed to get so fired up about it I just had to drag it out a little longer. I know that stuff doesn't always go like it is supposed to.

[Papa Rad17]

I was trying to add a bit of comic relief.

[03glgold]

I was trying to add a bit of comic relief.

are you implying that my smart assed answers to his scenarios didn't help...lol <== drowning man

[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_12452_Metra-70-2003.html and if so get a fuse tap like this http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Cooper-Bussmann-ATM-fuse-tap-converts-one-into-two-fusible-circuits-10-Amps-maximum-on-added-circuit/_/N-25gq?counter=0&filterByKeyWord=fuse+tap&fromString=search&itemIdentifier=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-wiring-diagram-and-car-stereo-wire-diagram-2003-oldsmobile-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.