Slim357

Ok Im pissed as hell my radio will not work. Iv rewired it several times but every time same result. When I plug the radio in the numbers on the dash clock go away but the back light still works but if I unplug it the numbers show up. The PO cut the harness to install an after market radio in the jeep so I cant use a plug adapter as I dont have the OEM plug. Please help I hate not having tunes in the jeep.

Crf136n

So if I was in your situation I would first be sure you have a good solid ground, straight to the frame, not through the factory harness. A stereo needs a positive at all times power lead, a positive only on ignition lead and a ground; everything else is either speaker or some add on like power antenna or whatever. I would take a wire long enough to run outside of the vehicle straight to the battery as a test wire. It would be a pretty good idea to use a 15 amp fuseable link form an auto parts store for this...leave everything else connected.. Disconnect ONLY the power at all times qire and connect that to the jumper straight to the battery...if it still doesnt work, then reconnect that wire and disconnect ONLY the power on ignition and connect that to the lead straight to the battery (wont damage anything as its still +12v, the purpose of this wire is to only supply power when the ignition is on so that it doesnt drain the battery). Process of elimination on the key connections. If that doesnt work then my bet is a bad stereo, but it sounds like the dimmer wire maybe got mixed up with a power wire.

Be sure you are not doing this in a garage, you have one battery cable loose so you can pull it off in a hurry and a fire extinguisher close by...dont ask me how I know, just be ready to act fast if your wire tinkering results in smoke coming out of the dash!!! (And no, I didnt burn my garage or even truck down, but it could have gotten out of hand real quick and possibly taken my garage with it had I not acted fast; fortunately only casualty was some burnt wires and plastic but sure made me realize how quick electrical can go wrong with one stupid simple oversight)

67 GMC

Is it the original radio? The harness colors changed a bit from year to year. I know I had an issue on my '87 putting a stock '90 radio in. I seem to remember having an issue with the clock too. My backlight doesn't work but I'm not sure if it's the radio that's the issue.

I'd try and get the radio to work on the bench first to rule out other issues like grounding etc. My radio had a sticker on the bottom that showed what terminals were what. It was a pain. Like the last poster said, most of the wires are for the speakers. There's a wire for a power antenna (maybe), the constant power and the key-on power. Did you try putting the parking lights on to see if your radio lights up?

Slim357

Its a kenwood radio and no how would park lights being on change anything?

freegdr

Double check wiring...
1988-90 Jeep Cherokee Stereo Wiring....http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/...tail/1150.html

Slim357

I think thats the diagram I used

freegdr

Did ya confirm power to 12v wires constant and keyed.If theres power radios no good.

Slim357

Ill find out asap its pouring down rain at the moment and I dont have a garage to work in :/

freegdr

Aint raining in side jeep test light and crank the Ac....lol..

Slim357

What is this a/c you speak of my jeep wouldnt know what to do if it worked

freegdr

Lol...next project

67 GMC

I assumed you had a Jeep radio you were putting back with an OEM harness. How can you plug it in without a connector? If you want the display to dim, you need that hooked up properly which is why I asked if you turned the park lights on to see if anything changed. If something worked that didn't before, you'd know. Check to see if you have the voltage between ground and the five wires that carry power. You need a voltmeter to be sure someone hasn't hacked the harness somewhere else.

Constant 12V+ Pink
Switched 12V+ Purple/Orange
Ground Black
Illumination Orange/Black
Dimmer Dark Blue/White
Antenna Trigger-Gray
Speakers
Left Front (+)Green
Left Front (-)Black/Yellow
Right Front (+)White
Right Front (-)Black
Left Rear (+)Gray/White
Left Rear (-)Brown/White
Right Rear (+)White/Black
Right Rear (-)Brown

Slim357

Good news turns out it was a bad ground on the factory wire. I ran a new ground wire over to the drivers side where there is a stud with a bolt on it and everything works now. Hell even my subs hit harder on this radio . Thanks for all the help guys.

freegdr

Kool we were going there next.

Slim357

Lol ya I tried to get a volt reading using it and couldnt get one. So I move the - lead over to a spot in my door jam that there is paint missing from and got my readings. So I moved the ground. Also found I wired a speaker backwards so the radio went into protect mode lol had to call Kenwood to figure that out......