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General => Car audio => Topic started by: jmsheahan on 13 August 2010, 09:14

Title: Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help
Post by: jmsheahan on 13 August 2010, 09:14
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  :laugh:

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?
Title: Re: Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help
Post by: troublestarter on 13 August 2010, 10:16
swap the red and yellow round in the alpine loom (they are bulleted) that will make it keeps its memory
Title: Re: Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help
Post by: jmsheahan on 13 August 2010, 19:40
swap the red and yellow round in the alpine loom (they are bulleted) that will make it keeps its memory


Cheers for that  :smiley: 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
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/jmsheahan_44/DSCN0447.jpg)

The Alpine adapter/wiring
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/jmsheahan_44/DSCN0448.jpg)

The back of the headunit
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/jmsheahan_44/DSCN0449.jpg)

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.
Title: Re: Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help
Post by: Ozz on 13 August 2010, 19:44
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  :smiley:
Title: Re: Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help
Post by: jmsheahan on 13 August 2010, 20:05
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  :smiley:

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?
Title: Re: Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help
Post by: Ozz on 13 August 2010, 23:39
Sounds like a problem yeh, red should be live, check your fuses as you may have shorted something out.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help
Post by: jmsheahan on 14 August 2010, 08:45
Cheers I shall check. Was hoping it would be just plug and play as my last headunit plugs in and works fine  :grin:
Title: Re: Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help
Post by: troublestarter on 14 August 2010, 10:26
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
Title: Re: Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help
Post by: jmsheahan on 14 August 2010, 11:28
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  :undecided: Ok cheers I shall report back. Feckin' electrics.
Title: Re: Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help
Post by: jmsheahan on 14 August 2010, 14:46
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.
Title: Re: Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help
Post by: Ozz on 14 August 2010, 14:52
Previous one was probably running off the switched live from the ignition, but didn't have the permanent live, hence kept forgetting place in cd (and I'm assuming not storing presets etc.)  :wink:
Title: Re: Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help
Post by: jmsheahan on 14 August 2010, 15:00
Previous one was probably running off the switched live from the ignition, but didn't have the permanent live, hence kept forgetting place in cd (and I'm assuming not storing presets etc.)  :wink:

Must have been yeah. I thought the new one would have done the same though? But zilch. Anyway working now, very nice headunit if I do say so myself  :smiley:
Title: Re: Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help
Post by: Ozz on 14 August 2010, 19:17
Just fitted a new h/u and found the official cable to hook an ipod up to it just kicking around the garage - result! So got new h/u with fully controllable ipod attached to it as well!   :smug:
Title: Re: Mk2 + Alpine headunit wiring help
Post by: jmsheahan on 15 August 2010, 14:10
Just fitted a new h/u and found the official cable to hook an ipod up to it just kicking around the garage - result! So got new h/u with fully controllable ipod attached to it as well!   :smug:

Score  :smug: