Stereo guys i need your halp!

[StealthiE30]

Ok so i decided it was time for an upgrade on my stockish stereo system.
So yesterday i finally had time to put in a panasonic head unit i had,
along with a 12inch infinty sub and some no name 1200 watt mono amp.
Well i got everything wired up per some of the diagrams i found on here
and nothing! No power to the head unit, no power to the amp, nothing!
The stereo was working before i did this, the only issue was i had to input my
stereo code and adjust my settings every time i turned the car on.
Its an 85 eta that had the front two speakers replaced by the PO.
Will post pics if needed, and any help is much appreciated.

[AndrewBird]

Did you check for blown fuses?

[StealthiE30]

Did you check for blown fuses?

Yes I did, there are a few that control the radio correct?

[StealthiE30]

Dear first you have to plug all the jacks and then try it. May be there are some wiring problem. have you checked it by any meter? I don't there should be any problem in you stereo head. Can you took some pictures of your wired work and upload them on you post. Then you can get the right and clear guidance form forum. Without them we can only told you the ideas which we guess from your post.

My wire work is shit lol, but it is done per diagrams i have found online. I will try to upload some pics after work today. And by jacks do you mean Rca inputs?

[AndrewBird]

Double check your connections at the HU. You must have wiring something wrong.

[Gregs///M]

Without the radio turning on, the amp will not turn on. First troubleshoot the radio.

There should be constant 12 volts on the yellow wire.
Switched 12V on the red wire (key switched)
and ground on the black wire, it should go to a brown wire or chassis ground.

Should be simple to verify those three wires.

Remote turn on for the amp should be connected to the OEM white wire or the blue/white wire from the head unit. This triggers the amp to turn on.

Be sure you installed a fuse on the main battery connection for the sub amp.

[Thizzelle]

use lukes wire up thread in sticky threads and get back to us. something isn't hooked up right. And if your not getting 12v from the wires then trace that wire to find the problem. Simple but time consuming

[StealthiE30]

Without the radio turning on, the amp will not turn on. First troubleshoot the radio.

There should be constant 12 volts on the yellow wire.
Switched 12V on the red wire (key switched)
and ground on the black wire, it should go to a brown wire or chassis ground.

Should be simple to verify those three wires.

Remote turn on for the amp should be connected to the OEM white wire or the blue/white wire from the head unit. This triggers the amp to turn on.

Be sure you installed a fuse on the main battery connection for the sub amp.

Thanks for the input, im quite sure ive got those all hooked up right. Heres a few pics dont mind the tape, ill be crimping them up once i have it all figured out.





I had these switched around in the pic to see if that was the right way...



The only real confusing wires were all the speaker wires... as i had more wires then actual speakers...





And heres a pic of the fuse and ground out back...

[StealthiE30]

And fuse 12,17, and 27 were all good in the fusebox.

[future rs]

Do you have a multi meter?

[StealthiE30]

I do not, i was going to borrow my friends but forgot to grab it before he took off..

[AndrewBird]

You don't need a multimeter, you need a test light. Buy one (they are only a few bucks) and check for power and switched power at the dash. Also, did you read Luke's sticky? You should be able to unwrap the harness and find twisted pairs of speaker wires. Remember, there are two wires for every speaker, meaning there should be 8 wires.

[StealthiE30]

You don't need a multimeter, you need a test light. Buy one (they are only a few bucks) and check for power and switched power at the dash. Also, did you read Luke's sticky? You should be able to unwrap the harness and find twisted pairs of speaker wires. Remember, there are two wires for every speaker, meaning there should be 8 wires.

Ok ill get a test light, would not having all the speaker wires hooked up prevent everything from turning on?

[dwvw]

No, it should turn on without any speakers connected. I am not a big fan of test lights. You probably won't damage anything in an E30 with one, but don't use it on any unknown wiring on anything more modern. Buy a multimeter, they are cheap nowadays and will give you much better info than a test light.

[Gregs///M]

The wire on your yellow is grey/red. This is the illumination power wire and will not work.

You need to find the constant power source wire. Red/green wire or red/yellow wire. I think I can see red/yellow in the pic.