Club 80-90 Forums

Hi guys

I'm in the process of sorting out the head unit wiring & I have a quick question.

The loom to the back of the head unit seems to be tied into the cig lighter wires as standard. 5 wires total.
Red (12v) to the head unit
Brown (earth) to the head unit
Red (12v) to the cig lighter - thicker wire
Brown (earth) to the cig lighter - thicker wire
Grey/blue (lights) to the cig lighter

This is all great so far. However, to my surprise, these wires don't run towards the fuse box & earth crowns, but towards the steering wheel & then into the main loom somewhere.

So question is, where do all these wires terminate please? The lights I'm not concerned about, but the 2 earth wires must go to the chassis somewhere & the feeds must pick up the battery somewhere. I need to find out where so I can make decisions on their future use & fusing position.

Many thanks.

Well, seen as no one seemed to know.....

I investigated.

The power feed for the head unit comes straight off of the back of the hazard lights switch.
The power feed for the cig lighter is tied on the fuse for the brake lights.

The earth for it all is part of a loop. Thick wire from the crowns under the passenger side to the cig lighter, from there smaller gauge to the head unit, then up to the clocks, then finally back to the earth crowns.

Never know, it might be handy for someone one day.

I think its safe to say that its not that other owners don't know but that most vehicles have changed stereo units several times and the wiring often isn't standard. All thats actually required is power via a fuse and an earth and most take their power from the leisure battery anyway (mine does). Early radios didn't draw so much power. Modern ones do which is why in all the ones I've encountered the power is taken directly from the fusebox - its often simplicity that dictates whats been done.