96 Olds Stereo installation problems

[wwepatriot]

both those fuses function, I blew about 4 of the 10 amp fuses in the cars fuse box trying to get the wiring correct, without the fuse, the Radio does not come on.

[wwepatriot]

yeah, the the fuse on the radio is attached to the yellow wire, and then theirs the radio fuse in the cars fuse box which is a 10 amp.

both are good.

[AWP9521]

I would assume the car came with the factory harness connections hacked off, if that is the case, find the previous owner and kick him where it really hurts for doing the chop job.

That said, I would save myself a lot of grief and go to a wrecking yard, find a 96 Olds Cutlas Ciera, cut the radio harness out if it and take it back home and play "match the colors" to restore the original harness, then go and get the correct harness adapter kit for the car and wire it (again playing "match the colors") to the Dual, then it becomes Plug N Play.

My 2 cents.

Originally Posted by AWP9521

[...] then go and get the correct harness adapter kit for the car and wire it (again playing "match the colors") to the Dual, then it becomes Plug N Play.

If... the head unit area was the only place the circuit was hacked.

This is a pretty straight-up and simple install. There shouldn't be this many problems.

OP, stick a meter across each of the power leads from the car, one at a time, with the car off (no keys) and then again with the car running. What are your readings?

Wait... do you have a meter and know how to use one?

Also, try tracing the power wires under the dash. Visually inspect they are both connected to something; preferably the fuse box.

Can you provide pictures of this install? Your wiring, the rear of the radio, the harness if any?

Another thought... was the radio in there the OEM factory model, or was there something else installed? If someone before you had a different radio, there may already an aftermarket harness attached to the factory harness. Then wire leads.

Pictures and full disclosure would help a lot.

[wwepatriot]

it was the original radio with harness and all in it, but the harness is so oddball, no adapters not even the kits you buy had the correct connections to it. Most likely due to the car being old as it is.

FYI is, the radio is installed and connected and both front and back speakers work, like I said, it keeps no memory of time or anything in it, plus something keeps blowing the 20 amp fuse which powers the cig lighter and other functions like power locks and all.

I did the meter test prior to install to find which ones was hot, I think I came across 2 which was the orange wire, and then a yellow wire, both the orange and yellow wire had to be connected with each other for some reason with the Yellow and Red wire on the Radio in order for it to power on at all, although direct connection of the red wire into the fuse box on the 10A Radio had it powering on.

Its quite confusing.

[PaulD]

the wire from the cars harness that gets power all the time goes to the yellow wire on the radio, the car wire that only gets 12V with the key on goes to the red wire on the radio. The orange wire on the radio is for illumination, the blue wire is for the auto antenna and the blue/white wire is for amp turn on. This is pretty much a standard connection and wiring scheme for aftrmarket.

[PaulD]

Car Radio Battery Constant 12v+ Wire: Orange GOES TO YELLOW ON RADIO
Car Radio Accessory Switched 12v+ Wire: Yellow GOES TO RED ON RADIO - DOING THESE FIRST 2 RIGHT WILL FIX THE MEMORY PROBLEM
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black GROUND THE BLACK RADIO WIRE TO METAL, NOT THIS WIRE
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Gray GOES TO ORANGE ON THE RADIO
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire: Brown
Car Stereo Antenna Trigger Wire: Pink
Car Stereo Amp Trigger Wire: N/A
Car Stereo Amplifier Location: N/A
Car Audio Front Speakers Size: 3 1/2″
Car Audio Front Speakers Location: Dash
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: 6″ x 9″
Car Audio Rear Speakers Location: Rear Deck
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