Stereo guys i need your halp!

[StereoInstaller1]

The issue with multimeters on electricals (not electronics) is that they can see "ghost voltage" caused by a carbon trace across a burned fuse...so for basic power testing, I HIGHLY recommend the use of a test light.

Luke

[dwvw]

WTF are you talking about, if there is any, it will show it, if there is none, it won't show any.
It won't just do it for voltage, but current as well, and continuity etc etc.

[AndrewBird]

No. A meter is used to measure HOW MUCH voltage you have, NOT if there is any. That is what a test light is for. Yes, if you get a reading with a multimeter, you generally have confirmation of current flow, but not always.

[toointoxicated60]

Multimeters are good for measuring voltage, but NOT for checking if it's there. They can give false positives in certain circumstances where a test light won't.

Mow that's fucking stupid. A meter will tell you if there is voltage, that's kinda the whole point to a multimeter....

[StealthiE30]

FYI, if you don't do the amp bypass, you will have diminished sound quality and will eventually fry the stock amp, resulting in no sound. Just because it works now, does not mean it is correctly installed.

Im not using a stock amp anymore, do i still need a bypass?

[AndrewBird]

Multimeters are good for measuring voltage, but NOT for checking if it's there. They can give false positives in certain circumstances where a test light won't.

[Thizzelle]

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.

yes don't waste money on test light, get multi meter, way better.

[AndrewBird]

FYI, if you don't do the amp bypass, you will have diminished sound quality and will eventually fry the stock amp, resulting in no sound. Just because it works now, does not mean it is correctly installed.

[idanity]

fwiw you can have your stereo work while the keys are out of the ignition too.

wire your constant to both power wires on the hu, and when you get gas, or leave your date in the car you can still listen to music while your keys are in your pocket, in/out of shops.

[StealthiE30]

According to the ETK for your car found here:

http://www.wedophones.com/BMWManualsLead.htm

Constant power - Red/Green
Switched Power - Violet/Grey
Ground - Brown
LH Front Speaker - Yellow/Red
LH Rear Speaker - Yellow/Black

Both of these will have Yellow/Brown for ground. There will be one for each speaker.

RH Front Speaker - Blue/Red
RH Rear Speaker - Blue/Black

Both of these will have a Blue/Brown for ground. There will be one for each speaker.

Unwrap the harness and find the ground wires. This should help:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=3360388&postcount=3

You will also want to bypass the amp as he shows as well.

Thanks dude, i got it figured out. I just had to switch the red/grey for the red/green, which are easily mistakable with my terrible sight haha.

[StealthiE30]

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.

You are the man! Thats all i need to do was switch that one wire around! I am sooo siked right now! Just got back from a little testing cruise, and it just got that much better in my eta i instantly forgot it only had 120hp LOL! Thanks again for the help guise! :up:

[AndrewBird]

According to the ETK for your car found here:

http://www.wedophones.com/BMWManualsLead.htm

Constant power - Red/Green
Switched Power - Violet/Grey
Ground - Brown
LH Front Speaker - Yellow/Red
LH Rear Speaker - Yellow/Black

Both of these will have Yellow/Brown for ground. There will be one for each speaker.

RH Front Speaker - Blue/Red
RH Rear Speaker - Blue/Black

Both of these will have a Blue/Brown for ground. There will be one for each speaker.

Unwrap the harness and find the ground wires. This should help:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=3360388&postcount=3

You will also want to bypass the amp as he shows as well.

[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.

[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.

[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?