Radio wiring

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

TJ79Cheyenne

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2013
Posts
64
Reaction score
0
Location
Somerset, WI
First Name
Torrance
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350
Hey guys got a radio question for ya. I have an aftermarket radio in my 79 c20 and it was working fine until about 2 weeks ago. I redid the wiring so i could at least have a radio(red n yellow hooked together). Well im trying to rewire it so that my constant works again but if i do it so the red and yellow are hooked up seperately i have no power... Used a test light and my constant wire is getting power so that puzzled me... Anything that you guys can think of that i overlooked? Theres nothing going into the area on my fuseblock for the constant but that hasnt stopped it from working before.. any helps appreciated.
 

Konas new ride

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2013
Posts
791
Reaction score
35
Location
Alberta
First Name
Gerald
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Usually yellow on radio goes to constant power and red goes to ignition power.
 

TJ79Cheyenne

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2013
Posts
64
Reaction score
0
Location
Somerset, WI
First Name
Torrance
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350
Yup n thats how i had it wired before. For some reason it just decided to quit working. Now it only works when my red n yellow wires are hooked together.. i dont get why it would randomly quit one day
 

chevyk10

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Posts
358
Reaction score
6
Location
WV
First Name
Daniel
Truck Year
1984 chevy
Truck Model
k-10
Engine Size
358 Dart block with aluminum heads 430hp/450ft-lb torque
I assume the fuses are okay?
Did you check the power on both wires?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,008
Reaction score
8,977
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
That's what I'd be thinking. You're constant power source lost power somewhere, either a fuse or came disconnected. :shrug: Maybe try the yellow wire on a different constant power source that you know works. Does other things work like the Cig lighter socket and such?
 

TJ79Cheyenne

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2013
Posts
64
Reaction score
0
Location
Somerset, WI
First Name
Torrance
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350
I checked both my constant wire and the red power wire and they both tested good. Dont think they'd test good if any fuses were blown... Its a mystery!
 

John81287

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Posts
636
Reaction score
3
Location
Mchenry,IL
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20
Engine Size
5.0
Could be the fuse in the back of the head unit itself?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

TJ79Cheyenne

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2013
Posts
64
Reaction score
0
Location
Somerset, WI
First Name
Torrance
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350
That fuse is good too haha. I'm pretty confused about this one
 

John81287

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Posts
636
Reaction score
3
Location
Mchenry,IL
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20
Engine Size
5.0
Are you basing that on looks? Or did ya check it for continuity? I know it sounds silly but it wouldn't be the first time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

TJ79Cheyenne

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2013
Posts
64
Reaction score
0
Location
Somerset, WI
First Name
Torrance
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350
I'm basing it on looks. everything still looks good. the tips do look like they got burnt by something.
 

John81287

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Posts
636
Reaction score
3
Location
Mchenry,IL
First Name
John
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20
Engine Size
5.0
I'd replace it just for giggles and grins. I know it might sound silly but for .10 why not try it before you give yourself a bigger headache trying to find the issue.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

TJ79Cheyenne

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2013
Posts
64
Reaction score
0
Location
Somerset, WI
First Name
Torrance
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350
I was reinstalling it with the red n yellow wired together n tried to turn it on n couldn't figure out why it wouldn't work. Totally blanked puttin the fuse back in. plugged that back in n she turned on like normal lol so dont think its that fuse. who knows though. worth a shot i suppose
 

Konas new ride

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2013
Posts
791
Reaction score
35
Location
Alberta
First Name
Gerald
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Do you have your directions for installation? Are you sure on your radio it is yellow for constant and red for ignition power??? This is the only thing i can see to be the cause of your problem. I'm not saying your wrong.. im just saying.. maybe ya got em backwards.. I'm trying to help.. not trying to be a jerk. If your twisting the wires on your deck to get it to work.. it sounds to me like you have a power loss on your supply wires..
 

TJ79Cheyenne

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2013
Posts
64
Reaction score
0
Location
Somerset, WI
First Name
Torrance
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350
haha yeah I have installed plenty of stereos before so I have a good idea of what I am doing. Like i said before the way I had it set up before is yellow to yellow. red to red. black to black. n it worked for over a year and a half. Then one day was driving home from work and it quit...
 

Konas new ride

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2013
Posts
791
Reaction score
35
Location
Alberta
First Name
Gerald
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
hmmm... Try a different stereo.. sounds like you have a killer internal short...
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,856
Posts
903,618
Members
33,369
Latest member
mitchell1128
Top