1993 astro van new stereo install

[majurbludd]

I am an active lurker but this is my first post. I have installed stereos before but this one is giving me some issues. I wired in new speakers into the van. I got the adapter kit from crutchfield and installed a Pioneer MVH-X370BT Media Receiver. I soldered all the wires together. Everything worked for a whole 24 hours and then the radio shutoff and now it wont turn on. I pulled the radio back out to check the soldering to make sure there were no cold solders. After the wires were soldered they were covered with electrical tape.

The antenna power wire is not hooked up. Antenna isn't powered.
The Dash light dimmer wire is not hooked up. Where does it go?
The remote wire is not hooked up. I don't have an amp.

This is a new van to me and the dash lights and only the dash lights do not work. Interior lights and headlights work. This issue is not new and was like this before the radio install.

I have checked the fuses underneath the steering column all are good.

I have a new dimmer switch to swap in hopes the dash lights will turn on.

So should I check the dimmer switch first and then move on to why the stereo isn't on and does the dash light dimmer wire need to be hooked up from the new aftermarket radio? And where does the dash light dimmer wire exactly go?

[Leeann_93]

So you decided not to use an adapter harness that plugs into the factory wiring why?

[1998kingbong]

fusable link? Bad voltage regulator?

[chevymaher]

Check you cig lighter fuse see if it popped.
My stereo don't have a dimmer. it is LCD set it and forget it.
Dash lights are a completely different problem.

Main things are do you have the constant power and keyed power wires right. No constant power and the stereo resets to default everytime you shut the van off.

[Leeann_93]

This is what I have for the radio:

[WoodButcher]

I've got the same issue in my '93 w/ the dash lights but my stereo is fine.
You don't mention testing for power, have you?
If you solve the issue be sure to let us know.

[majurbludd]

So you decided not to use an adapter harness that plugs into the factory wiring why?

I used an adaptor harness straight from crutchfield.

[majurbludd]

fusable link? Bad voltage regulator?

Fuseable link is something I thought about, after I checked all the blade fuses

[majurbludd]

Check you cig lighter fuse see if it popped.
My stereo don't have a dimmer. it is LCD set it and forget it.
Dash lights are a completely different problem.

Main things are do you have the constant power and keyed power wires right. No constant power and the stereo resets to default everytime you shut the van off.

cig fuse didn't pop but I will swap it just in case. my new stereo is lcd as well who knows why I have that extra dimmer line. If dash lights are a separate problem ill work through this one first, being that it did work just fine when first installed.

[majurbludd]

I've got the same issue in my '93 w/ the dash lights but my stereo is fine.
You don't mention testing for power, have you?
If you solve the issue be sure to let us know.

I have not tested for power I know that's the first step, but I had to run out the door. Ill test for power look over the new connections again and swap a blade fuse. I can also check fusable links and I assume that one that could have blown would be under the dash.

[Leeann_93]

So you decided not to use an adapter harness that plugs into the factory wiring why?

I used an adaptor harness straight from crutchfield.

That's a good thing. So you had good instructions, too.


Is the radio one that has a fuse stuck into the back of it? I'd check that fuse if all other fuses check out. I got a radio a few years ago with a faulty blade-type fuse in it; did the same thing and drove me nuts for a few days until I checked that one.

[majurbludd]

DELETED

[majurbludd]

I have power to the constant wire and the ignition wire. and continuity with the ground wire. I can get 12volts on the red and 10 volts on the yellow. Its just hard to find a good piece of metal to ground things to, most of the interior is plastic. All fuses under dash are good as they have been replaced. Fuse in back of radio is good.

[StormVet91]

Majur, check for power getting to the stereo, n backup power for memory, if u have power there, than ther may be a fuse on the stereo, round the back, a small mini-fuse, usually 20amp, red I think.

[majurbludd]

ok read the wires again directly from the very back of the radio harness connected to the plug into the headunit. again red ignition reads 12 volts. constant power reads 10. ground wire has continuity. back up power? where would I find that one? im starting to wonder if the unit is a dud.

[majurbludd]

This is what I have for the radio:

I ve checked the fuses and my fuse box has different amperages listed

[majurbludd]

I also called crutchfield just to ask and get some quick guidance. I suspected the unit was bad but come to find out that the unit powers up fine hooked directly to the battery. So somewhere between the battery and my radio lies a problem.

[majurbludd]

Just to recap.

1. Hooked up stereo worked fine now it wont power on.
2. All fuses checked visually in fuse box and changed. Fuse in back of radio is good visually.
3. 12 volts at ignition wire. 10 volts at constant power. black wire has continuity.
4. Radio hooked directly to battery powers up.

WTF

[The Drummer]

you say 10 volts at constant power ,is that what your batterie reeds? ,cause you should have the same reedings direct at batt and on constant wire ,at least i asume you should , what i did in mine is drill a hole by the the gas pedal and ran a 12 volt red wire from there direct to the amp in the back and i drilled another hole on the driver side just under where the dog house goes and ran that wire along the tranny dip stick to the cowl and then to the box by batterie , as for grounds i used a self tap screw for the back amp and hooked the front one under the bolt that secures the plastic dog house cover , the only thing i can see why your head unit wont fire up is that 10 volt deal ,or maybe a bad ground ,not much else it can be .

[majurbludd]

you say 10 volts at constant power ,is that what your batterie reeds? ,cause you should have the same reedings direct at batt and on constant wire ,at least i asume you should , what i did in mine is drill a hole by the the gas pedal and ran a 12 volt red wire from there direct to the amp in the back and i drilled another hole on the driver side just under where the dog house goes and ran that wire along the tranny dip stick to the cowl and then to the box by batterie , as for grounds i used a self tap screw for the back amp and hooked the front one under the bolt that secures the plastic dog house cover , the only thing i can see why your head unit wont fire up is that 10 volt deal ,or maybe a bad ground ,not much else it can be .

I didn't read the battery. Probably should have but its a brand new battery maybe a month old. I don't have an amp hooked up yet but eventually I will, ( I have 2 subs and no amp, not hooked up.) So my next step should be to take readings all over the yellow wire and possibly replace it? I'm pretty sure it should be 12 volts as well. Ill take another reading from the yellow wire on the van itself, hopefully its the new harness wire itself.

Out of curiosity could one splice the red and yellow wires together? Would that make it so that you have to turn off the radio manually after the vehicle is shut down?