Club 80-90 Forums

Hello everyone,

I'm trying to figure out my wiring behind the dash. The previous owner wired in a new JVC player unit, but has messed up the wiring. I don't have a working clock or dash lights, and I read awhile ago this can be caused by incorrect radio installation.

The PO wired a new 'live' wire all the way from the engine bay to the dash in an attempt to power the dash lights and clock. The new wire led to a chocolate block connector under the dash that had wires going to the clock, and original looking wires (brown, and blue/grey) going to small plastic bulb holders. The 'live' wire from the engine bay was unfused and unconnected to any power source. It suggests an unfinished job.

In the photo, I have two mystery connectors that are not plugged into anything. Can you help identify them?


The stereo is powered by a red wire coming out of the front loom that splits (one goes to the stereo, the other continues to the bottom mystery connector in the photo). The PO also ran a new ground wire for stereo to the van frame (right side, under dash). Pulling fuse 3 kills the stereo, so I'm guessing the red wire is routed through there.

So I would like to get my clock, and dash lights working using the original wiring, and identify the mystery connectors.

Thanks,
Lewis

Hi Lewis,

I have no experience of poor radio install causing issues, however I did have the same symptoms. Mine were caused by my local garage "fixing" a non functioning fog lamp warning light.
Basically I found they had removed the dash pod (not very carefully) which had resulted in the rather brittle plastic on the main connector block, breaking. As such the pcb was not being pushed home far enough and therefore not contacting the terminals on the dash pod.
I had to search around under the dash for the fragments of broken plastic and then reassemble them and wrap them in tape to mend the offending connector.
After that everything lit up as it should.
Lesson learnt = plastic parts are very fragile after 25 years.

Hope you get it sorted soon.