need advice

[chrisiseffincool]

Basically I've been having problems wiring my head unit in the past because the factory harness was cut out of my car and I can't figure out how to get power to the head unit or the ignition wired. I just bought some Crescendo 6.5's and tweeters with a crossover and have no idea how to wire everything.

I then called up my local car audio store and told him I had 2 crescendo mids and 2 tweeters with a crossover plus a Hifonics 4 channel amp..he said that the amp is unnecessary and went on about something about the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass and I would only have High Pass if I use that amp. If I connected all the speakers to the head unit, then I would have High, Mid, and Low pass. What should I do in this case? I mounted all the speakers and have wires running into the cabin, and the car audio store said they would wire the head unit to the speakers Monday for $60 but I want to do it myself and by tomorrow. Any suggestions? Maybe someone could give me their number and could walk me through this shit hahaha..thanks.

I had this issue several times when i first started car audio. Here is the simplest thing in my opinion. The red wire goes from the radio to the positive side of the battery. The yellow wire will go from the radio, to a switch, then to the positive side of the battery. If you think you will have an issue with leaving the radio on when you get out, then wire it to a fuse that cuts off with the car. But I like the switch b/c if you go to a car show, or a parking lot, you can leave the radio on without leaving your keys in your car. Then lastly, run the black wire from the radio to a ground in the car, or the negative side of the battery. One more FYI tidbit, do not run the wires through the door jams. Drill a hole in the firewall, then run the wires through the hole. Make sure you use a grommet on the hole, or cover the wires in split loom. Here is a diagram that might help you out.

you got that backward....yellow is constant, red is switched.

@OP - what kind of car...year, model, make, trim level...I'll tell you exactly which wires you need to use. If you can't find a constant signal the fuse is probably blown (this happens when thieves cut the ground and power at the same time)

2002 VW GTI 1.8T I don't know what trim level is though, sorry. The constant on the radio is a yellow wire, so does that go to the battery? I ran the constant to battery, ignition to fuse box, and ground to negative on the battery.

Edited December 19, 2010 by chrisiseffincool

[Bakerman]

Basically I've been having problems wiring my head unit in the past because the factory harness was cut out of my car and I can't figure out how to get power to the head unit or the ignition wired. I just bought some Crescendo 6.5's and tweeters with a crossover and have no idea how to wire everything.

I then called up my local car audio store and told him I had 2 crescendo mids and 2 tweeters with a crossover plus a Hifonics 4 channel amp..he said that the amp is unnecessary and went on about something about the High Pass/Mid Pass/Low Pass and I would only have High Pass if I use that amp. If I connected all the speakers to the head unit, then I would have High, Mid, and Low pass. What should I do in this case? I mounted all the speakers and have wires running into the cabin, and the car audio store said they would wire the head unit to the speakers Monday for $60 but I want to do it myself and by tomorrow. Any suggestions? Maybe someone could give me their number and could walk me through this shit hahaha..thanks.

I had this issue several times when i first started car audio. Here is the simplest thing in my opinion. The red wire goes from the radio to the positive side of the battery. The yellow wire will go from the radio, to a switch, then to the positive side of the battery. If you think you will have an issue with leaving the radio on when you get out, then wire it to a fuse that cuts off with the car. But I like the switch b/c if you go to a car show, or a parking lot, you can leave the radio on without leaving your keys in your car. Then lastly, run the black wire from the radio to a ground in the car, or the negative side of the battery. One more FYI tidbit, do not run the wires through the door jams. Drill a hole in the firewall, then run the wires through the hole. Make sure you use a grommet on the hole, or cover the wires in split loom. Here is a diagram that might help you out.

I just realized, I have the red and yellow wires mixed up...I apologize, and I hope nobody made stupid comments about it. Sorry, I apologize.

[Bakerman]

Okay, test the radio first...take the radio out of the dash, and carry it to your battery. Touch the black wire to the negative...now, with the yellow and red twisted together, touch them to the positive. If radio doesn't come on, then the something is wrong with the radio. Check fuses in the back, and make sure they are good. If no fuses are blown, you may have a bad radio. If the radio works, then wire it like the diagram above...with the exception of I have the red and yellow wires confused. I apologize for that. Red should go to a switch, then to the battery, and the yellow goes straight to the battery.

[Superjay]

oddly, directechs does not have the audio wire colors for that car...sorry.

But, yes, take the radio out of the car to test it. check the fuses, like baker said, and, if it's a Pioneer, check that the resistor isn't blown (it can and does happen)...if it is, bypass it to test the radio.

[chrisiseffincool]

The radio worked when I touched the wires directly to the battery. Where should I hook up the ignition wire or do I have to hook it up to a fuse? And if so which fuses should I try?

[raolito1980]

Hey bro check this webpage and you might find your wiring diagram for your car. Let me know if it works.

http://crutchfield.custhelp.com/app/answers/list/p/469%2C476%2C924%2C5731%2C5811

Edit: lol forgot to paste the link!

Edited December 19, 2010 by raolito1980

[chrisiseffincool]

I just wired everything the same again except using 14 guage primary wire from lowes..maybe this is the reason. Any thoughts?

[raolito1980]

I was reading something online that I really dont know if its affecting your radio http://www.fixya.com/cars/t592212-installing_stereo_in_2001_jetta_w

[Bakerman]

The radio worked when I touched the wires directly to the battery. Where should I hook up the ignition wire or do I have to hook it up to a fuse? And if so which fuses should I try?

Ignition wire should go to a switch, then to the battery. Here is an easy way to do it if you don't want so many wires going through your firewall. Run a main power (blue) from the positive of your battery, to the side A of the switch. Splice in your red wire from the radio to this side of the switch. Then run the yellow wire from the radio to the other side of the switch. Next, run the ground wire (black) from the radio to a ground in your car...if a decent one can't be found, run it to the negative side of your battery.

[chrisiseffincool]

I'm trying it now..I think the ring terminals might be bad but I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks a shit ton for the help so far, this is just really frustrating.