Expert: Peter G. Lee - 10/14/2006

Question
hi i have a honda civic 1.5 lsi 1992 and i am trying to fit an aiwa car cd stereo into it, i have a bit of a problem as the car itself doesnt have the connectors on and instead just has scotch blocks, iv found of the net that on the car the yellow and red wire is the 12 volt power, and the black is ground obviously. anyway i have cut blocks of cd player well friend did and didnt see what came from where, i plugged it into vauxhall astra with connectors on and it works straight away i try wire it to civic however and when i turn ignition on the cd player powers up but goes off within 2/3 seconds, what is the matter?, i have the yellor wire of stereo plugged into live on car and black to earth, thanks paul  

Answer
Hi Paul,
I would STRONGLY suggest you wire the car up for ISO DIN plus and then ALL ISO DIN head units will plug straight in.
There are TWO 12v lives, perm and ignition (ACC) and I think you may have got it wrong.
Below is my idiots guide to becoming an expert installer, follow it , solder on a pair of ISO DIN plus from your audio dealer and all will be well.


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’.

Drink!

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)

Drink!

Best of luck and don't forget the feed back please.
Peter