New car radio not working - now what?

It all sounds so simple: car radios are equipped with standard connectors that allow you to connect them to the car's speakers and power supply. In case of incompatibility, a suitable adapter allows you to connect, at least in theory, as practice sometimes shows otherwise.

Simple Basic Principle

The car radio is an electronic component that obeys all the laws of physics, like all other electrical parts. . Electronic components are also called " consumers ". These can be lamps, seat heating, auxiliary motors ( power windows ) or a car audio system.
A basic principle of electronics is that current always flows through circuits. Each consumer of electricity must be installed in a closed circuit. It consists of a positive and negative power supply and auxiliary cables.

Simply put, all cables leading to the consumer are outgoing cables, and all wires leading back to the power source are return cables. .

Grounding saves cable

If each consumer of electricity in a car had its own separate circuit, this would result in cable spaghetti. Therefore, a simple trick is used that simplifies installation and reduces the cost of the car: metal car body . The battery and alternator are connected to the body with a thick cable. Each consumer can create a return wire through a metal connection. Sounds ingenious and simple, but can lead to problems when installing car radios.

What network connection does the radio require?

This is not a stupid question at all, since the radio requires not one, but THREE connectors . Two refer to the car radio itself. The third relates to speakers. Both car audio connectors

- permanent plus – ignition plus

Permanent positive supports radio memory functions. It:

– selected menu language – disable demo mode – channel settings – the position of the CD or MP3 player when the vehicle was switched off.

Plus, ignition is the power for the normal operation of the car radio.

Previously, these functions worked independently. Modern car radios require a secure connection to both power sources to ensure they work.

New car radio

There are many reasons for a new car radio . The old one is broken or its functions are not updated. Handsfree and connection features for MP3 players are now standard. Buying an old used car usually comes with an old radio without these features.

Fortunately, new car radios come with adapters to connect to the car's mains. Remarkable that its yellow and red cables are not without reason interrupted by a plug connector.

Appropriate tools are required

To install a new car radio you will need:
1 multimeter
1 wire stripper (watch the quality, no experimenting with carpet knives)
1 set of cable terminals and connection blocks (glossy terminals)
1 pointed pliers
1 small flathead screwdriver (pay attention to the quality, a cheap voltage indicator breaks easily)

A universal tool for installing a car radio is a multimeter. This device is available for less than £10 , practical and can help to find the wiring fault to prevent power errors. All you have to do now is act systematically.

New car radio settings keep changing

This should be easy to fix: the fact that it works means that it is powered . Permanent plus and plus ignition swapped. That's why the red and yellow cables have a male connector . Just pull them out and cross connect. Problem solved and radio is working as it should.

New car radio not working

Everything is connected, but the radio does not work. The following faults are possible:

Radio is dead

1. Check the fusesThe cause of a power outage in a car is often a blown fuse. Check the fuse block. Do not forget: there is a flat fuse next to the plug of the car radio!

2. Next steps If the radio does not work despite the whole fuses, the problem is in the power supply.The first measure is the installation of the old radio in the order of the test . If it's OK, the basic wiring harness work is fine. In this case, the connection fails. Now the multimeter will come in handy to monitor the connection. The important colors are red, yellow and brown or black on the vehicle's plug connectors.Council : probes have a cap that insulates the shaft, leaving only its tip free. After removing the cover, the pressure gauge can be inserted into the plug-in connectors.The multimeter is set to 20 volts DC. Now the connector is checked for power.

2.1 Remove the key from the ignition

2.2 Place the black probe on the brown or black cable and bring the red probe to the yellow connector.No response: the yellow contact is not a permanent positive or ground fault.12 Volt indication: yellow connector is permanently positive, grounding is present.

2.3 Place the black probe on the brown or black cable and bring the red probe to the red connector.No response: the red contact is not a permanent positive or ground fault.12 Volt indication: the red connector is permanently positive, ground is present.

2.4 Turn on the ignition (without starting the engine) Check positive ignition using the same procedure.

2.5 Ground fault detection Connect the black sensor to the body metal. Connect the red pressure gauge to the yellow cable connectors and then to the red cable. If power is present, the ground cable may break. If the plug has a live ground, connect it to the adapter. This allows you to check which cable leads to ground. If the cable does not go anywhere, the adapter connector must be adapted. This is painstaking work that requires certain skills. In principle, the pins of the adapter plug are suitable for a different connection. That's why there are so many free power connections.

2.6 Turn on the light If a ground is found on the connector, this is not necessarily definitive. Deviant designs of some car manufacturers cause confusion. Repeat steps 1-4 for switched on lighting . If the circuit is no longer found, then the ground is faulty or not properly connected to the radio.

Posting a permanent positive The easiest way to set a constant positive value is to run the cable directly from the battery. Installing the wire requires some skill, but should create a clean solution, which requires a 10 amp fuse. Otherwise, you risk a cable fire in the event of an overvoltage.

Ground installation The good news is that grounding installation is very easy. All you need is a long black cable connected to the ring terminal. The terminal can be connected to any metal body part. The black cable is then connected to the black adapter cable by cutting it in half, insulating and connecting it to the shiny terminal.

Setting the ignition plus If a useful permanent plus is not found on the wiring harness, it can be purchased from another consumer. If this fault occurs, the ignition may be faulty. Instead of installing a new ignition, you can look elsewhere for the positive ignition. Suitable for example , cigarette lighter or car socket for 12 V. Disassemble the component and gain access to its electrical connection. Determine the correct cable connection with a multimeter. The remaining cable - ideally red - is used for Y-connection . It is installed in the electrical socket of the cigarette lighter. At the open end, another cable can be connected to the adapter's positive ignition connector. It would be ideal if this cable was provided with 10 amp fuse .

Radio error message

It is possible that a new car radio will display an error message. And a typical message would be:

"Incorrect wiring, check the wiring, then turn on the power"

In this case the radio does not work at all and cannot be turned off. The following happened:

The radio made a ground through the case. This can happen if the mounting frame or housing damaged the ground cable during installation. The radio should be disassembled and ground checked. This should resolve the error.

Installing a new car radio is not always as easy as the manufacturers promise. With a systematic approach, with a little skill and the right tools, you can install the most stubborn car radio in any car.