Help identifying wires behind the radio
 

Hey,

I have been trying to track down the short in my dash somewhere (I keep blowing the cigarrette lighter/clock fuse). I'm 95% sure I've got it narrowed down to the radio. When I unplugged the radio and put in a new fuse my clock came on and my key buzzer worked again. When I plugged the power back into my radio I blew the fuse.

Anyways, I'm trying to figure out what the problem could be. I'm sure where two of the wires behind radio go or what they are even for. I've attached a picture pointing out the two wires in question, hopefully someone can help me out.

Thanks.

The wire on the left is for the backlight for the air control, I believe...
And the wire on the right is a hot that hooks either into the stereo or to your amps.

If plugging the hot into your stereo is killing the fuse, you best be looking for a new stereo =)

Sorry, I'm not familar with radio wiring or the terminology invovled. What do you mean by a "hot", you mean like its live or is constantly supplying power?

Also, where exactly is thing supposed to plug into on the stock stereo? There is a metal tab beside the main plug that it looks like it fits onto, is this the correct spot? Does it even need to be plugged in?

I was afraid I might need end up needing a new head unit, oh well, not like I was attached to the stock one anyways. Kinda sucks trying to find stations with that knob at night.

Ok, curiousity got me and went outside to check that "hot" plug. I tried plugging everything on the radio except that and the fuse didn't blow, but the radio didn't work either. :(

So then it looks like I'll be shopping for a new head unit first of this week then I guess. Unless there are any other ideas out there.

Can you take a picture of the back of the unit?
I wouldn't be able to say without seeing it, but if you have a picture I could probably figure out where the "hot" would plug in.
(for future reference, a "hot" is generally just the positive of the electrical signal... i.e., the opposite of "ground")

I'll grab a picture of the back of the unit tomorrow. However the only place I can see that makes sense for it to plug into (judging by the plug's location and shape) is this metal tab that comes off of the chassis of the radio.

Who knows, maybe its being plugged into the wrong spot.

Sounds like you are grounding it out.

D'oh, good point, that could cause problems, especially if this is a "hot" plug.

Hmm, now to figure out where to plug it in.

I got a feeling you don't plug that one in. I *believe* that for the GSL Models to turn on the remote amps as well.

That's what I'm thinking, too.

If the tab is actually connected to the chassis then it's not the right spot....

The chassis is 'ground'... so if you plug that hot into a spot that's connected to the chassis you're lookin' for a new fuse.

DirectFreak: my '83 GSL parts car stereo accepts power through there... in fact, it doesn't turn on without it. (I think I get just the clock if I don't plug it in)
My guess would be that the amps are turned on via the multipin cable....

I'm not sure which stereo the GS has though....

Well, the thing is I tried it all without plugging the sucker in and my radio didn't work but everything else did. :(

I'll look at it more tomorrow when I actually have light (balancing a flash light on your shoulder while messing with wires and what not isn't fun) and I'll get those pictures too.

Maybe the problem is something other than this plug then. Oh well, its late and I've got work tomorrow. Thanks for all the help thus far, I'll post an update tomorrow when I get back to work on it.

Success!

Everything in the car now works except for the dome light and the front driver's side speaker. :)

Yall were right, the little blue plug wasn't needed. I pulled out the radio complely out and brought it inside to snap some pictures, looking at closely I realized there was no way that blue plug went anywhere so we decided to try it again. This time the radio worked along with all the other accessories. Previously we had forgotten to hook up the big plug that goes in the back of the cubby and completes the circuit.

So all is well, I've got my radio working, I learned how to read those electrical diagrams in my haynes manual, and I have a better understanding now of how the things in my dash are wired.

Talking to the PO, it looks like the dome light went out at a different point in time from the clock so that might just be a bad unit. The speaker is just a simple replacement (although getting to it might be a little tough.

Thanks for all the help guys, couldn't have figured it out without yall.

Glad you got it figured out.

I just replaced the bulb in my dome light and it died again already =(