Expert: Cleggsan - 11/22/2010

Question
QUESTION: Removed delco radio from 2002 cavalier, installed in 2005 silverado work truck.Everything works except the illumination on the radio. I have in the truck harness, 2 orange wires, 8 speaker wires, and 1 black wire. How can I make the lights work on the radio.Thanks

ANSWER: Go here:

http://www.modifiedlife.com/2005-chevrolet-silverado-c1500-car-radio-wiring-guid

According to this the illumination wire is grey.

Go here for the Cavalier:

http://www.modifiedlife.com/2002-chevrolet-cavalier-car-radio-stereo-wiring-diag

According to that one the illumination wire is also grey.

Hope this helps.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I only have in the harness of the truck, 2 orange, 8 speaker wires, and 1 black. I beleive there is no illumination wire there, however the old radio had illumination. Maybe on data line? I would need to know on the back of the new radio, what terminal to apply 12 volts to?? will taht work??
Thanks

Answer
No, data line is something else.

You should be able to turn the display on by applying a 12v line to it.  

Should be a grey wire coming from the car system - not the radio unit.  The grey wire is coming from the ignition through the panel dimmer which lowers the voltage to match the radio display with the car panel displays.  You may be able to trace back a wire to the dash area and try that line.   There should be a marking on the back of the radio unit or the cover to show its wiring connections.  But, you should be able to apply a 12v line to the wire you think is the right one to test and see if that turns on the display.