Hello all! Just been trying to wire up me new stereo.

 

I linked the corresponding connections from the car (non-Nissan connector) to old Jap stereo to the new Panasonic one via an ISO plug. But the stereo won't come on - nothing, then it got dark :rolleyes: so I gave up. for tonight.

 

I followed the wiring diagram stuck on the back of the old head unit but this ended up being slightly different to what was actually connected to it.

 

What I would like to know is how to test which wires prutruding from the car are which? Can I put a battery across the speaker wires etc? What voltage? How do I test which wires connect to the battery/power and ignition. Its not as easy as matching the colours to those at the speaker ends cos they change colour somewhere in between.

 

Plus the earth wire wasn't connected up to the old unit :confused: - isn't that dangerous?

 

Got a pair of new front speakers (16cm, I'll need to drill some new holes I think) - the stock one really had had it! Had some fun and games getting the door trims off - as its an Import I had to take the seatbelts off which were v tight. Cant wait to try and put it all back on - not.

 

Cheers in advance

 

Pete :)

I cant say that i know a lot about the wiring on jap cars but I hope the following helps.

 

to be honest , your best bet is a multimeter (£20 quid should get you one, any electrical store, b&Q, maplins etc)

 

Failing the multimeter, you need a 12v bulb (which you know is working.

 

If you have identified the earth on the car, leave the ignition off and while holding the earth to the one contact of the bulb, go through the other wires in turn, holding each to the other contact. If any of them light the bulb you will have found a permanent feed (12v supply whether the ignition is on or off) a lot of head units use this for maintaining memory. if you find it write it on a bit of electrical tape and label it.

 

next, switch the ignition on to aux (where your leccy windows work), switch off the headlights and go through the same process (ignoring the permanent feed identified above) when you find one that lights the bulb, this is your switched feed, it will be the main supply to your head unit (this is usually so that you cannot leave the stereo on and drain the battery). label it again.

 

next, switch on your headlights and go threough the process agiain, find the one which is live when the lights are switched on and this will give you the supply to light your fascia on the head unit.

 

The speaker wires are usually in pairs and usually identified by opposite colours, eg : blue with a white strip matches white with a blue stripe, or they may be part of a two core cable. And looking briefly at the wiring diagram (link below) it seems to be the same on the zed.

 

As I said all the above would be easier with a volt/multimeter

 

You also have to find the feed coming out of your stereo that goes to the leccy arial, and the wire to which you should attach it, but thats another story. the above should at least get you power to your head unit and limit your options for blowing your unit up

 

A couple of points, it is a good idea to put an inline fuse on your feeds, switched or otherwise. if you have to join wires a well soldered joint is better than any plastic connector block.

 

If the earth was not fitted to your old stereo, I am surprised that it was working. It is not dangerous, per se, as in a car there is no true earth, it is the return to the battery through the bodywork and in a controlled unit like a stereo, it would be like taking a connection of a battery, no connection , no circuit, no sound.

 

http://www.300zx.co.uk/cgi-bin/manual.cgi

Pete, if you want to bring it up to mine over the weekend, ive got a multimeter and a zed to compare against, (nissan plugs to iso conector, to sony radio) Ive also got a spare nissan to iso connnecter if you should need one.

When I fitted a new head unit the ISO to Nissan connector had an earth cable but the Nissan wiring loom didn't. The old unit had a separate earth connected to the casing. It did not work without it. Your old unit may have been getting an earth from the aerial cable.....

 

Phil

I had this "problem" too. Spent a good while scratching my head about a bust unit, but lo and behold it started working when I earthed the thing.

 

I'm not proud.

:p

Think it is fair to say we have all had the hours of frustration, then that moment where you realise and could give yourself a severe slapping.

 

There should be a word to describe it.lol

John Cooper Clarke had a word to describe it - Twat ! ;) LOL

 

http://www.cyberspike.com/clarke/twat.html

Thanks Jock - that sounds a great help! One for the FAQ section when/if it comes :) .

 

Berks, if Jocks method doesn't work I'll get in touch - thanks mate!

 

Cheers boys

 

Pete

To find the speaker wire use an AA or AAA battery, when the speaker makes a noise youhave a "pair" of wires for that speaker...

Took me a fair few hours today but it's all in now! New speakers all round and a shiny new CD player - and everything works - woohoo!! :D:D:D

 

In the end I lopped off the wierd harness connector and traced the source of each wire as Jock said (cheers again bud! :D ) and labelled them all and traced the speakers with the AA battery (cheers Mark!).

 

The hardest bit was getting the stereo and tray/shelf thingy to sit right so I could get the dash back together, that took bloody ages :rolleyes: . But the door trims weren't a problem.

 

Just thought I'd share my success! More money saved through 300zx.co.uk :cool: :)

 

Cheers

 

Pete

glad to hear you got it sorted, well done :D

FWIW - without an earth connection, it will earth through the aerial connector.

You are welcome