I've had my jetta for about 8 months now and when i bought it the guy never gave me the code to the radio. So i took it out and put a cd player in. It worked fine for a while then burnt up. I got another cd player and installed it and it just stopped working. I noticed that on the factory connections in the car its missing a red ignition wire, almost like it was never even there. So i wired my radio ignition wire straight to the (+) battery wire. All that means is i have to turn the cd playter on and off manually. Can i run an ignition wire for the radio? Is there some reason why they never ran one? Would wireing the ignition from the radio to the + wire casue it to burn up, is there something in the ignition that puts out a different amprage.
If you car had six factory speakers make sure it isn't the AKTIV system with amps in the doors. If it is, do a google search on "volkswagen AKTIV" to find solutions.
My 87 Jetta's radio (aftermarket of course, but first one installed) bypasses the ignition. I don't know what caused your system to burn out, but this wiring setup seems to be fairly common. You get used to it, and it can come in handy when you want your tunes but don't want the engine running or the vent system sucking your battery dry (i.e. washing car)
If you don't want to accidently leave the radio on all night you can purchase wiring kits from radio shack or an autoparts store that are designed to connect off the fuse box. The kit comes with a wire that leads off of a connecter that inserts into a fuse slot. Just choose the fuse of a component that is wired through the ignition.
The kits cost about $5.
Radio wiring
