Trah84Z

iTrader: (1)

ever since i bought my ~brown horse~ the stereo does not work. the fuse in the power wire and the fuse in the radio itself is working...my question is what setting do i use on my little meter checker doohickey to test the wires?...also i noticed the wire dubbed ~remote~ for the stereo is not connected to anything...is this a problem?...

88TAJeff

Do you have any amps on the system? If so, usually the remote wire powers them. Set the Doohickey on the " Ohms" setting to test the wires.

NEEDAZ

NO, DO NOT SET IT OHMS WITH OUT KNOWING WHATS GOING ON FIRST. If you set it to ohms and there is voltage on the wire it can damage the meter. What wires are you testing and what are you looking for? By not working do mean it's dead, not coming on at all? Is it an after market radio or is it stock? It seems it's after market so start with the black/red/yellow wires (in the decks harness). Set the meter to DC volts, put the black lead on the black wire (in the decks harness) and the red lead on the yellow wire (in the decks harness). This should have 12Vdc all the time. Then with the black lead still on the black wire, try the red wire (in the decks harness). It should have 12Vdc with the ignition in the RUN and ACC positions, and 0Vdc with the ignition off. Post back with results.


Edit: The make a model of the deck would help as well.

Trah84Z

iTrader: (1)

i just tested the wires like you said with the DC...i'm using an analog multimeter and when i tested the red wire it showed 50 on the scale, i had the dial set to 50 because it only goes 10 then 50...when i tested the yellow wire nothing.

i even checked the yellow wire at the fuse...nothing...i followed the yellow wire back and it is connected to a pink wire which looks to be spliced from a orange wire...there is a little blue ~box~ that connects the orange and pink wire, where the orange wire continues through and the pink wire starts...i unclipped the box and tried to check the orange wire as well but got no reading.

i'm thinking that the orange wire might go to the clock in my middle console since it is also not working...

this is very frustrating

NEEDAZ

The orange wire is the constant 12V. You need to get 12V back on that wire. I have no idea what you mean by it read 50, it should read 12V.

firebirdjosh

iTrader: (1)

My guess is he doesn't know how to read it. Probably reading a 50mA scale on the meter. Or it was set on 0-50mV, etc.

Trah84Z

iTrader: (1)

this is like the multimeter i used...link ...on the *** i set it to DC 50 and the needle went to the DC 50 line...and yeah...i really don't know how to read it...should have got a digital one huh...so all i have to do is follow the orange wire and get power back to it?...anybody have any help on this...the wire dissapears into a void and i have no idea what i am doing...

firebirdjosh

iTrader: (1)

If it went to the 50 line then you maxed it out- must be doing something wrong since your car doesn't have 50+ volts. Get an accurate meter, learn to use it (practice measuring battery voltages), then tackle this project.

NEEDAZ

You set it to 50Vdc and it went full scale (the needle went the whole way accost the scale)? Or did you set it to 50Vdc and it went part way across the scale near some line that said 50, but not the one at full scale? Like Josh said, try reading it at the battery, that may help you see what you're reading.

Trah84Z

iTrader: (1)

i set it to 50Vdc and it went part way up the scale to where there was a ~50~...i'll try tinkering with it today...well off to work...

NEEDAZ

Then it wasn't reading 50Vdc. Look at the scale, you should see several groups of numbers (one group on top of other) running across the scale. One of then should end at 50. This is the group of numbers that matters. Then where ever the needle lands in that group of numbers (the one that ends at 50) is where you look of the reading. I can't think of a better way to describe it right now. Set the 50Vdc at should go about 1/4 of the scale for 12V.

PhLaXuS

I've been spoiled by those $50 RadioShack autoranging meters. I'd have to look for a while now to use one that didn't auto-range. Awww...crap...I must be losing my "touch"...

Trah84Z

iTrader: (1)

you described it perfectly...thank you...i really think the problem is with the orange wire...

NEEDAZ

It's funny, I look at analog meters every evening (doing repair and calibration work) and that is the best I could describe it (and using improper terms).