'82 radio wiring problems
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From: Ormond Beach Florida
'82 radio wiring problems
I am trying to wire in a new RETRO SOUND RC-900C AM/FM radio w/front Aux input to existing original wiring. I am also installing the power antenna assembly. The wires coming from the left rear fender well are Green/Grey/White and these wires run to a relay in the jack storage area. The wires from the relay are Orange/Black/Brown and they are part of the original wiring bundle that leads to the center guage cluster area of the dash. The rest of the wires from this bundle are Yellow (3 total)/Grey/Black/Brown (2 total)/Light Blue/Dark Blue. The Orange wire is HOT at ignition switch position ACCY and Run. One of the Yellow wires is HOT at RUN only. I suspect that the Light Blue/Dark Blue/ and non-energized yellow wires are for speakers (front and rear). Black, I assume is GROUND. I only have a RED and DARK BLUE coming from the power antenna assembly. HELP PLEASE with the connection.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 632
Likes: 38
From: Roseville CA
The wiring harness that comes from the radio has three wires, yellow (switched power from radio), orange (power on constant), and black (ground).
I bypassed the relay when I installed a Metra power antenna. Green is connected to yellow (radio switched), white is connected to orange (power on constant, and gray is connected to black (ground).
Last edited by Yellow1980; Feb 6, 2012 at 09:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From: Ormond Beach Florida
Radio Wiring issues - follow up
The wiring harness that comes from the radio has three wires, yellow (switched power from radio), orange (power on constant), and black (ground).
I bypassed the relay when I installed a Metra power antenna. Green is connected to yellow (radio switched), white is connected to orange (power on constant, and gray is connected to black (ground).
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 632
Likes: 38
From: Roseville CA
The relay is not needed with the Metra power antenna. Keeping it in the circuit can cause erratic power antenna behavior. Going up when it should go down and down when it should be up. The switched power from the radio controls when the antenna goes up and down.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From: Ormond Beach Florida
Thank you Yellow1980. I will be working on the radio/ant installation this weekend. Your explanation makes sense to me and should be the answer to my questions. I will repost when complete. Thanks again.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From: Ormond Beach Florida
Yellow1980, I am attempting to install the antenna and radio this weekend and I am still a little confused on the hookup to radio plug. I have made the connections you suggested in eliminating the relay. My radio plug has 5 wires with tags from one plug (the other plug is for speaker leads). They are Yellow (Memory 12v+) and Black (Ground). These are a slightly larger DIA wire than the other three. The other three consist of Red (12v+), Blue (Power antenna), and Blue/White (Amp turn on). I also have a grounding strap that I suspect goes from the motor assembly of the power antenna to a suitable frame location to complete the ground.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 632
Likes: 38
From: Roseville CA
Orange wire on your vette normally means it is a power on constant circuit.
Yellow wire on your vette normally means it is a switched power circuit.
Black wire on your vette normally means ground.
Blue wire from radio normally means switched power (power antenna).
New radio wire harness = vette wire
blue = yellow from relay (this wire is routed through the center console to the relay mounted in the storage compartment (at least in a 1980)
yellow = orange
red = yellow from key switched power
black = black or ground wire attached to frame
blue amp = not used unless you are hooking up an amp
not used = gray from lights dimmer switch
LINK to my power antenna install article.
Yellow wire on your vette normally means it is a switched power circuit.
Black wire on your vette normally means ground.
Blue wire from radio normally means switched power (power antenna).
New radio wire harness = vette wire
blue = yellow from relay (this wire is routed through the center console to the relay mounted in the storage compartment (at least in a 1980)
yellow = orange
red = yellow from key switched power
black = black or ground wire attached to frame
blue amp = not used unless you are hooking up an amp
not used = gray from lights dimmer switch
LINK to my power antenna install article.
Last edited by Yellow1980; Feb 11, 2012 at 05:25 PM.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From: Ormond Beach Florida
Excellent and crystal clear article. Thanks Dave for your attention with this matter. I am confident now to go ahead and solder in the connections and complete the installation of the radio and antenna. Again, thank you.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From: Ormond Beach Florida
Dave,
Wiring completed today (Monday). The radio and antenna work fine in the RUN position of the ignition switch. However, when I turn the key back to the ACC position...nothing. Antenna goes down and radio shuts off. I noticed one brown wire and one grey wire not being used. not used = gray from lights dimmer switch. But I am stumped on the brown and the ACC position not powering the radio. Yes, the red (radio harness) has power at the plug in the ACC position
Wiring completed today (Monday). The radio and antenna work fine in the RUN position of the ignition switch. However, when I turn the key back to the ACC position...nothing. Antenna goes down and radio shuts off. I noticed one brown wire and one grey wire not being used. not used = gray from lights dimmer switch. But I am stumped on the brown and the ACC position not powering the radio. Yes, the red (radio harness) has power at the plug in the ACC position
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 632
Likes: 38
From: Roseville CA
Dave,
Wiring completed today (Monday). The radio and antenna work fine in the RUN position of the ignition switch. However, when I turn the key back to the ACC position...nothing. Antenna goes down and radio shuts off. I noticed one brown wire and one grey wire not being used. not used = gray from lights dimmer switch. But I am stumped on the brown and the ACC position not powering the radio. Yes, the red (radio harness) has power at the plug in the ACC position
Wiring completed today (Monday). The radio and antenna work fine in the RUN position of the ignition switch. However, when I turn the key back to the ACC position...nothing. Antenna goes down and radio shuts off. I noticed one brown wire and one grey wire not being used. not used = gray from lights dimmer switch. But I am stumped on the brown and the ACC position not powering the radio. Yes, the red (radio harness) has power at the plug in the ACC position
I don't know what your brown wire is suppose to connected to. There is a guy on this forum that has wiring diagrams he emails to members. You should ask him to send you one for your vette. It should be listed on the diagram what that wire is for if it is an original wire.
Is your radio keeping the time you set, your set radio stations, and any customized settings?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From: Ormond Beach Florida
Thanks. I am out checking for blown fuses, etc. The wire that is supposed to be switched is at the Run position. At least I am assume it is the RUN position (second click from off and right before start). Strange indeed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Dave,
Wiring completed today (Monday). The radio and antenna work fine in the RUN position of the ignition switch. However, when I turn the key back to the ACC position...nothing. Antenna goes down and radio shuts off. I noticed one brown wire and one grey wire not being used. not used = gray from lights dimmer switch. But I am stumped on the brown and the ACC position not powering the radio. Yes, the red (radio harness) has power at the plug in the ACC position
Wiring completed today (Monday). The radio and antenna work fine in the RUN position of the ignition switch. However, when I turn the key back to the ACC position...nothing. Antenna goes down and radio shuts off. I noticed one brown wire and one grey wire not being used. not used = gray from lights dimmer switch. But I am stumped on the brown and the ACC position not powering the radio. Yes, the red (radio harness) has power at the plug in the ACC position
Gray goes to the instrument LPS 7.5 amp fuse. This only powers the radio lights.
Think of it this way. The brown powers the lights in the radio so it runs from the light circuit of the car. The lights should og on when you put the ignition to start or accessory. The gray comes of the dimmer in the light switch so you can dim the radio lights.
Yellow goes to the 10 amp radio fuse.This powers the radio.
Orange goes to the CTSY 20 AMP fuse. This is hot at all times.
I beleive what happens is the orange supplies constant power to the deck. When you turn the key on or to accessory the Yellow (from radio fuse) is powered up and controls the switch in the radio to let the power go through from the orange and make the radio work.
So you should have no power to the radio fuse in the off position but have power to it in the on and Accessory position. Check at the fuse with a meter.
Jim
Last edited by jdp6000; Feb 15, 2012 at 09:11 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From: Ormond Beach Florida
IT IS WORKING! I am embarrassed to say, even after owning chevy products for over 45 years, that it was operator error that was the problem. I was not turning the key backwards past lock to accessory position (thanks for the diagram Yellow1980) and for sticking with me through this conundrum of idiocy. The wiring is all correct (yes the brown and grey are not used with this radio setup), antenna is operating as designed, and I am a happy camper once again. Bring on the next problem (lol)...my friends on the forum can handle it if I can't because they are very knowledgeable and experienced people.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 632
Likes: 38
From: Roseville CA
IT IS WORKING! I am embarrassed to say, even after owning chevy products for over 45 years, that it was operator error that was the problem. I was not turning the key backwards past lock to accessory position (thanks for the diagram Yellow1980) and for sticking with me through this conundrum of idiocy. The wiring is all correct (yes the brown and grey are not used with this radio setup), antenna is operating as designed, and I am a happy camper once again. Bring on the next problem (lol)...my friends on the forum can handle it if I can't because they are very knowledgeable and experienced people.
