Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help

[jmsheahan]

Please bear with me as electrics are my serious downfall - they confuse the hell out of me even though I'm sure this task is simple enough 

I have a 90 spec mk2 gti and an Alpine ida-311RR I'm trying to fit. The headunit has come with an adapter that the 2 standard iso plugs in the cars loom plugs into. This then in turn goes into the headunit. All well and good however, the headunit will not power up.

Am I right in thinking the yellow wire is a live? These do not match up from the car loom to the adapter wire. I shall post some pics later as it's easier to explain that way but any pointers or links to tutorials would be appreciated.

In addition, the stereo I had before would never work unless having the key in the ignition (didn't need to have ign on). How would I go about wiring up a constant live so the headunit doesn't forget which track it got to?

[troublestarter]

swap the red and yellow round in the alpine loom (they are bulleted) that will make it keeps its memory

[jmsheahan]

swap the red and yellow round in the alpine loom (they are bulleted) that will make it keeps its memory

Cheers for that  Having trouble just getting it to power up at the mo though. Just been out and taken some pics. Anyone know what I need to do?

2 connectors in the car loom


The Alpine adapter/wiring


The back of the headunit


The only live wire in the car loom was red/brown. That matches up to the yellow wire with the fuse in on the alpine loom so I know power is getting through. I'm guessing one of the other wires must be wrong.

[Ozz]

The red and the red/brown wire from the car should both be live when you have the ignition on. Run the car's red/brown to the red wire from the stereo and the car's red wire to the yellow from the stereo. Think that's right anyway, just wired my h/u in the mk3 and the colours sound the same 

[jmsheahan]

The red and the red/brown wire from the car should both be live when you have the ignition on. Run the car's red/brown to the red wire from the stereo and the car's red wire to the yellow from the stereo. Think that's right anyway, just wired my h/u in the mk3 and the colours sound the same 

Ok, well the red/brown wire is def the only live one with the ignition key in/on. Nothing is live when no key in. Could this be my problem?

[Ozz]

Sounds like a problem yeh, red should be live, check your fuses as you may have shorted something out. 

[jmsheahan]

Cheers I shall check. Was hoping it would be just plug and play as my last headunit plugs in and works fine 

[troublestarter]

you must have a blown fuse no'21 in the fuse box is the stereo permanent 12v supply
i also noticed the grey/blue illumination wire is cut and burnt i would seriously check all the wiring behind the dash before connecting the stereo
you may have a dead short somewhere

[jmsheahan]

you must have a blown fuse no'21 in the fuse box is the stereo permanent 12v supply
i also noticed the grey/blue illumination wire is cut and burnt i would seriously check all the wiring behind the dash before connecting the stereo
you may have a dead short somewhere

Joy  Ok cheers I shall report back. Feckin' electrics.

[jmsheahan]

Sorted. Was a blown fuse on 22. Traced the wires as far as I could and all looked ok. Hopefully just one of those things; will be keeping an eye on it.

Weird that the old HU worked though, that fuse must have been blown since I bought the car. Cheers for the help.