I own a '91 Cherokee Limited that I've had for 4 months. During that time I never had a radio installed but decided this week I would install an aftermarket radio. I was successful in installing the radio with one problem: anytime I try to turn on the instrument panel lights, the fuse for it or its dimmer blows.

Now I've already searched for any corroded or frayed wires connecting to the radio that might be accidentally grounding out but couldn't find any. All the wires connecting to the radio look like their in impeccable shape but I've only looked so far as what I can see inside the dash and underneath without taking the dash apart.

There's already been some threads on this topic but I haven't been able to be satisfied with their conclusions and wouldn't mind more of a walk-through on remedying the problem.

 

When you wired it, did you get to a point where you had these types of wires?

In this picture everything that is hooked up is dealing only with the speakers, the open wires deal with power and illumination and radio memory I believe (and yes I have since gone back and replaced the nuts with terminals) if that's the case let me know. I may be able to help.

 

yes. i bought a radio wire harness for a 91 cherokee from a local shop, and given a harness for the radio from a friend. i soldered the two harnesses together, making sure the colors matched each wire.

here's a few photos:

http://deadlandairsoft.com/radio.jpg

http://deadlandairsoft.com/dash.jpg

the grey wire that is cut and taped on the harness is for the radio's dimmer, i had the notion it would help, but it obviously doesn't.

 

Why is the wire printed with "RIGHT FRONT NEGATIVE" and not "DIMMER"?

 

You can't hook the dimmer wire up to the aftermarket deck, just clip that wire between the plug and the new deck. I think it's the orange wire, but you should double check before cutting it.

 

ha! because i'm a moron, i hadn't notice that until now. i took a look at some wiring diagram online earlier today that mention that wire was for the dimmer. i'll get that corrected right away.

 

the only orange wire is orange and white, could that be the one?

 

Cool, happens to all of us.

From: http://www.modifiedlife.com/1991-jee...iring-diagram/


1991 Jeep Cherokee Car Radio Stereo Audio Wiring Diagram
Car Radio Battery Constant 12v+ Wire: Red/White
Car Radio Accessory Switched 12v+ Wire: Violet/White
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Blue/Red
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire: Red/Black
Car Stereo Antenna Trigger: Violet/Orange
Car Stereo Amp Trigger Wire: N/A
Car Stereo Amplifier Location: N/A
Car Audio Front Speakers Size: N/A
Car Audio Front Speakers Location: N/A
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Gray
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Yellow
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): White/Red
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown/Red
Car Audio Rear Speakers Size: N/A
Car Audio Rear Speakers Location: N/A
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Gray/White
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown/White
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): White/Black
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown

 

Some aftermarket decks have it...

 

i'm going to embarrass myself: i had the radio's harness ground soldered to the jeep's dimmer wire. i assumed since i couldn't find black i could instead go with orange and white. i found the jeep's ground, it was isolated from the harness because it was also possibly connected to the 6-cd disc changer in the rear.

i should have remembered electronic basics.

still, i appreciate all the interest everyone has had with resolving this issue and i can only hope i'll use my brain the next time before i decide to pick someone else's.

 

And some birds can't fly.

 

Hey I always love getting decks like that! I had a cheap vr3 from Walmart that did that.