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'94 C4 Wiring Problem

Old May 19, 2008 | 02:54 PM
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Default '94 C4 Wiring Problem

In my '94, I replaced the factory bose head unit with a Kenwood using a PAC OEM1. The radio works great, however when I try to use the cd player, it does not work and I get no sound whatsoever. This is actually the second aftermarket head unit to have this exact same problem, so I concluded that the problem must be with the wiring.

After a call to PAC, the tech suggested that I may have gotten the power antenna lead and amp. lead mixed up causing the bose system amps to shut off when the cd player is turned on along with lowering the antenna.

Has anyone ever had a problem like this ? The tech did suggest that the wires are similar in color, blue/white vs. solid blue.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

-Ernie

Last edited by rayosequis; May 19, 2008 at 05:54 PM.
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Old May 19, 2008 | 05:48 PM
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After thinking about this a little more, do these Bose systems have a separate lead for the antenna ? Or is it always in the up position regardless of whether of not you are using the radio or cd player ?

If it's not separate, then that would explain everything...

Last edited by rayosequis; May 19, 2008 at 05:54 PM.
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Old May 19, 2008 | 08:31 PM
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Originally Posted by rayosequis
After thinking about this a little more, do these Bose systems have a separate lead for the antenna ? Or is it always in the up position regardless of whether of not you are using the radio or cd player ?

If it's not separate, then that would explain everything...

My Eclipse HU rasies and lowers the antenna according to what I am listening to; Up for radio, down for CD's and Sirius.
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Old May 19, 2008 | 09:16 PM
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Originally Posted by RandyJ75
My Eclipse HU rasies and lowers the antenna according to what I am listening to; Up for radio, down for CD's and Sirius.

This is exactly what my Kenwood does, however, when the antenna goes down after switching to the cd player, it will emit no sound whatsoever.

After trying several different searches, I came across an old post in which the poster said that he read somewhere else that in the late '90's bose systems, the power antenna wire also sent a signal to the bose relays.

If this is the case, it would explain why the radio works, but the cd player will not as when it cuts power to the antenna it also cuts the signal to the relays.

Thanks for your response.

-Ernie
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Old May 19, 2008 | 10:45 PM
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you need to use the remote wire not power antenna wire. your antenna will stay up regardless of source but your bose amps will stay on

this is common in many cars not just vettes
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Old May 20, 2008 | 01:08 AM
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Originally Posted by pentavolvo
you need to use the remote wire not power antenna wire. your antenna will stay up regardless of source but your bose amps will stay on

this is common in many cars not just vettes
Thanks for the confirmation ! Maybe this can be put in the FAQ somewhere ? You would not believe the trouble this has caused me, I practically gave away a very nice Pioneer 1.5 din because I had this same problem and assumed that the unit had a channel out.
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Old May 20, 2008 | 01:14 AM
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sorry lol

i can see how it would be confusing as hell
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Old May 22, 2008 | 05:26 PM
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do you have a wiring diagram? I have one in Haynes but it doesn't give positive and negative for speaker wires. tks
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so what exactly was the fix because this is the same problem I'm having...no sound on cd, radio sounds great...

I'm not getting my antenna to do anything though it stays down...?

I'm trying to install the HU in an 88/c4. Thanks for any info..
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