1993 astro van new stereo install

[majurbludd]

sure enough its the constant wire from the van that reads 10 volts. sometimes I am able to get 12 bolts from it but mostly 10 which leads me to believe its a short in the wire somewhere. I have begun taking the dash apart to trace the wire but its hell to get to it right now. without me being able to see the wires right now im assuming there is a harness somewhere for the radio made by chevy and if I can get 12 volts at the other end of the wire I may just replace the whole harness.

[Lumpy]

sure enough its the constant wire from the van that reads 10 volts. sometimes I am able to get 12 bolts from it but mostly 10 which leads me to believe its a short in the wire somewhere...

It's not a short. Don't mess around with installing a new harness. Simply install a new, larger gauge wire for just that one wire. Easy Peacebottomastifirism.


Lump

[Leeann_93]

Oh, and I found my complete Radio wiring scan from the '93 FSM.

[The Drummer]

head units and anything that as inner power supplys like the effects we use in bands if they dont get the exact right voltages they go bizerk ,so ya test the betterie anyway for voltage ,should reed at least 12 volts , yes you may use the same wire for juice , but the thing is if you use the ignition wire as a source for both you will lose any/all settings everytime you turn off the switch , not a good option imho , if you go the other way around and use the constant wire for both (wich i doubt since it is the one with 10 volts), it should work fine , if you ever leave/forget the radio open long enough it will drain the batt and leave you stranded so again not the best option , use the cig lighter wire thats a constant lead (as long as it as 12 volts you should be golden .

[majurbludd]

sure enough its the constant wire from the van that reads 10 volts. sometimes I am able to get 12 bolts from it but mostly 10 which leads me to believe its a short in the wire somewhere...

It's not a short. Don't mess around with installing a new harness. Simply install a new, larger gauge wire for just that one wire. Easy Peacebottomastifirism.


Lump

Sure enough I started pulling the dash off to look where the wires go. I see now that the wire at issue is connected to the whole wiring harness of the vehicle, I was hoping just that piece for the radio was separate. Your suggestion of using the bigger gauge wire would involve following the wire back to the other end and replacing it that way? Or are you suggesting I run the wire straight to the battery? Im just trying to make sure.

[majurbludd]

head units and anything that as inner power supplys like the effects we use in bands if they dont get the exact right voltages they go bizerk ,so ya test the betterie anyway for voltage ,should reed at least 12 volts , yes you may use the same wire for juice , but the thing is if you use the ignition wire as a source for both you will lose any/all settings everytime you turn off the switch , not a good option imho , if you go the other way around and use the constant wire for both (wich i doubt since it is the one with 10 volts), it should work fine , if you ever leave/forget the radio open long enough it will drain the batt and leave you stranded so again not the best option , use the cig lighter wire thats a constant lead (as long as it as 12 volts you should be golden .

Im going to look into your cig idea. That would negate the cig lighter correct? Because running both on the same fuse would pop the fuse, correct? Or could I pop in a larger fuse and be golden. ( Im not the best with electric stuff sorry for the newb questions.)

[The Drummer]

Well it all depends on the unit s juice consumption ,you might be able to use the cig lighter still , just try it, worst case you in for one fuse replacement , using a bigger fuse is definetly not the best of solution , usualy tho and by the wire size for the cig lighter ,i dont think it should be a problem , again make sure you get 12 volts or actualy the same voltage as the batterie , if its under 12 volts tho batterie needs charging , and if you charge it and it still dont give you 12 volts batterie is week and needs replacement (usualy) , i am no expert my self but i think this sounds bout right .

[Lumpy]

sure enough its the constant wire from the van that reads 10 volts. sometimes I am able to get 12 bolts from it but mostly 10 which leads me to believe its a short in the wire somewhere...

It's not a short. Don't mess around with installing a new harness. Simply install a new, larger gauge wire for just that one wire. Easy Peacebottomastifirism.


Lump

... Your suggestion of using the bigger gauge wire would involve following the wire back to the other end and replacing it that way? Or are you suggesting I run the wire straight to the battery? Im just trying to make sure.

Point A, Point B. Don't try and over complicate things. You need a wire from here to there. You don't have to make it follow the trip through Duluth then make a left at Covington and detour through Montrose.

Don't even REPLACE it. Just add a new wire.


Lump

[majurbludd]

So attempted to follow the the yellow constant wire back and assumed it was going into the fuse box radio fuse. I pulled 4 screws out of the fuse box and attempted to pull the fuse box away from the vehicles bulkhead. With no luck and frustration and a crappy flashlight, i ended up running a wire directly to the battery. I ran this wire with a toggle kill-switch (aviation style). So as of now I have music but i have to manually shut the radio on and off. My truck is wired in a similar way from a previous owner. If anyone knows a trick to get the fuse box apart im all ears.

[Lumpy]

You took the detour through Montrose.


Lump