Expert: Peter G. Lee - 8/15/2006

Question
I replaced my radio in my '98 Camry and when I did, the OEM radio was tied to the dimmer for my instrument panel.  Now the only way to get the instrument panel to come on, is to hard wire it to my accessory switch and that means my dash lights are on any time my car is switched on, how can I fix this since the OEM radio was incorporated with this.

Answer

Sounds like an incorrect hook up.
You wire the car to suit the radio not the other way around, so, if as in an Audi, there is no Acc wire then  you fit one from the fuse box not wire the radio "hot" to live, get the idea?
Anyway the following covers 99% of all known hook up problems, use it inconjunction with what you know and all should be OK

THE FOLLOWING IS THE PROCEDURE I FOLLOW IN A CAR I DON'T KNOW,

You will need;
An AA torch battery
Some paper / masking tape for labels
A pen
Paper to make notes
A 12v test probe, (like a screwdriver with a lead and clip on it and a bulb inside)
(Or a test meter set to 20VDC)

Favourite beverage x 4.

Speaker wires. These are normally twisted together in pairs if you are lucky and are the same colour for each pair but one with a colour trace on, i.e. blue and blue/white, green and green/white. (but not always) Touch a pair across the battery and you will hear a noise on the corresponding speaker, label it (e.g. left rear), continue until all four are identified and labelled.

Drink

Earth one side of your meter or tester to a metal part of the car, probe each wire until you have a wire that is live all the time with the ignition OFF, label this ‘+30’.
Switch on ignition and redo test until you find another previously dead wire now live, this is ‘+15’ accessory.
Switch off ignition and switch on the side / park lights, repeat test until you find a third live ( NOTE, if fitted, not always there), label this ‘dimmer’. Switch off the lights

Drink

You should now have two or three left. One will be earth, (usually black or brown); one could be to an amp and or electric ariel (usually blue or blue/white) and one for phone mute if fitted, (sometimes white but it would go to a phone holder or hands free unit). Connect your DIN plug to the correct wires, test and jobs a good un’.

Two drinks!

DIN connections are.

Speakers

Right rear -,  right front -,   left front -,  left rear-,
Right rear +, Right front +, left front +, left rear +

Power block viewed from cable side

Phone mute (white),/   n/c, /      ariel & amp (blue), /ignition (red)

N/c, / 12vlive, (yellow or orange), / lights, (various colours),/ negative (black)