Aftermarket CD player help

[87ChevyCaprise]

I have a 1999 ford escort sport zx2. It does have a built in amp and 6 disc changed in it already but we took out factory deck and have replaced it. When I turn the car key completely off the deck remains on. I know that this is an ignition wire problem(red wire), how to I make it to so the deck will shut off with the key. Also the amp has a really faint blue light the lights up when the deck is on. Yes it's supposed to but I don't have the power wire on it at all so why does it have power??

[SLYentist]

You need to find the true ignition wire from the ignition cylinder. Search for ignition wiring diagrams for your car, the wire may not necessarily be red. If yours was ripped off, you might be able to just replace it. If your OE system was never dictated by a control lead, then you'll want to create a 22-20 gauge wire lead from a bus bar or constant post in the UHJB and install it with an inline switch.

[Max1636]

^^? Maybe this guy knows something I don't but I'm not sure what he's talking about.

On a head unit you have three power wires. You have your BLACK which is your ground or negative, you have your RED which is a permanent source of power used to store radio presets and other settings. Lastly the YELLOW wire is the switched power. The yellow wire should not have voltage when the car is off. Thats how the deck knows when your car is off. The yellow wire in your case appears to have been connected to a permanent source of power that stays on when the key is turned off. Use a multimeter to find the +12v wire which switches off when the key is off.

[87ChevyCaprise]

I need more help than this!

[SLYentist]

The problem with looking for a particular color wire as the ignition-only wire is that it varies from car to car. If you a have pre-existing wiring harness, you'll have to test the suspect leads with a DMM with the key in and out of the ignition respectively. I suggested making your own remote lead by wiring a small fusible link between the UHJB and the head unit with an inline switch in between.

To support Max, the head unit accepts the same power connections as almost all external amps. You'll have the constant (12V+), ground (12V-), and a remote lead (12V+ only when key is turned to accessory or run).