This is gonna sound kinda weird, but, I was wondering how many volts it takes to power my stereo in my '89 GTA. It is a stock tape deck (right now). I want to take it out and power it out of the car, so I can fix a problem with it. I just figured it was on a 12 volt circut, but I stuck a meter in the power terminal, and it read 4.3 volts, where the hell does that come from, is that a stand by mode or what? Please help, I dont want to fry the pos.

 

You stuck a voltmeter on the power terminal of what? The radio while it was still hooked up to the car?

If so then maybe you accidently stuck it on the power antenna/remote lead?

Or maybe you had you multimeter set on ampheres?

4.3 volts is WAY too low.

Regardless, 13.8 is nominal but most head units will operate with a voltage supply of ~11.5V up to ~15V. As long as you hook it to a car battery it'll be fine.

 

IF you need to ask this question you should NOT be trying to fix it!!!!!!!!!

 

Well, I stuck the tester, (with the radio out of the car) in the lone connector that has just two wires going out of it (I believe red and black). I turned the ignition to the "On" position, and stuck the meter in the terminal (the one with two wires going out of it, and yes my tester was on volts), and it read 4.3 volts. PLEASE HELP