Aftermarket radio only on when lights are on

[robert1700]

Easy answer grounded to light ground not the case here


I have grounded the radio to the car and still the radio only turns on with the lights. I have traced the 12v and ignition wires to there correct locations

The car has no other electrical issues

Btw it's a 1987 with a premium factory system. The car came with no radio

325i

[WhyNot]

Easy answer grounded to light ground not the case here


I have grounded the radio to the car and still the radio only turns on with the lights. I have traced the 12v and ignition wires to there correct locations

The car has no other electrical issues

Btw it's a 1987 with a premium factory system. The car came with no radio

325i

im no expert but it sounds like you are using the 'illum' wire to feed the unit.
that illum is the illumination when the lights are on.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=191119

(+12V Unswitched) Yellow----Red/Green (Changes to Yellow at C302)

(+12V ACC) Red-------------Violet/White (Changes to Voilet/Grey at C302)

(Ground) Black---------------Brown (may also be Brown/Black)

(ILL) Orange-----------------Grey/Red (Changes to White at C302)
(P ANT) Blue-----------------White (this is one of 2 white wires)

(AMP REM) Blue/White--------White (this is the one in the same harness as the speakers)

Luke

[robert1700]

Nope using the green red ignition wire and red 12 v. After 100 installs of radios over my life this is a first

[Gregs///M]

Measure your accessory and constant power wires with a meter, DC scale. Turn the illumination on and off to see which wire switches "states." Constant should be constant 12 volts of course. Accessory should turn on with 1 notch turn of the key.

Measure your ground with continuity to chassis ground. Does its electrical state change when illumination is turned on?

With over 100 radio installs, you should know these basic troubleshooting techniques.

Worse comes to worse, your radio harness might have been tampered with. Grab new radio wires at the ignition harness.

[robert1700]

So I swapped in a whole new radio harness and same thing. Took this too my e30 BMW master tech, worked at BMW Seattle for 31 years. We are both stumped. At this point I wired the ignition wire to the cigarette lighter. Hopefully there wont be a big draw.