So I'm sure this is just a simple wiring problem, but when I turn on my lights on my 91 camaro RS my stereo turns off. Complete power loss on the CD player. It is an aftermarket stereo and I installed it myself. I checked over the wiring and it all looks good, but any ideas here? Does anyone have a good wiring diagram source?

Thanks in advance!

 

What did you grab for your power source, the factory wiring? Otherwise it could be a bad ground issue. Does anything else turn off, or just the stereo? And I take it the factory radio wasn't doing this?

 

Go to austinthirdgen.org all kinds of wiring diagrams. LOL

 

I used the factory wiring. I looked to make sure the grounds were good. They seemed to be just fine. No corrosion and all tight. I will double check stuff tomorrow.

I bought the car without the factory cd player. I do have it, but its wasn't installed. Missing the wiring harness from radio to car. Wish I had it, I would love to get the original back into it, but I had this stereo in my garage and its free. So I put it in. Just a curious wiring problem I'm sure.

 

Well, I tore into it yesterday and today with no luck. I actually removed the entire dashboard and still couldn't solve any problems. So it still kills my radio when I turn the lights on. Would it work if I just ran a new power line to accessory wire under the steering wheel to run the radio?

 

Did the lights still turn the radio off when the radio is unplugged?
Are the two power supply wires hooked up right (the "live all the time" memory, and the "key switched" for the main radio)?
You sure the ground you're using is a good ground source?
And yes, you can run both supply wires direct to an unused, or the appropriate radio terminal in the fuse panel.
Don't forget the live/switched hookup if you want to keep your station presets and clock in memory.

 

Okay, I just went out and double checked the wiring. I have it hooked up as the diagram shows. Red to accessory, yellow to bat for memory, and the ground hooked up to the ground. It all seems to be good. I am really not sure whats going on. I have a few things to do around town this afternoon, but will tackle this again tonight. I might try and run another ground and see if that will fix it. Maybe something is wrong with the current one that I don't see.

Ill post more tonight. Thanks

 

Mystery solved! It turns out it was a bad ground connection. Stripped and soldered it back to the connection so it would hold well and gave the radio its own ground as well. So good news there.

While I had my dash apart, I cleaned out my vents so I don't get dust every time I turn on the air, and fixed the tac wiring as well. Now it is all working great.


Here are some pics of my escapade.