Searcher

I picked up a radio (Pioneer DEH 150MP) from a 98 XJ. It was already wired up so I removed my Sony deck and installed the Pioneer. My XJ wiring is factory and the connections are with Crutchfield adapters. Problem is that when the deck is powered up, my dash lights and parking lights come on. Anyone ever had this happen and know the fix? The deck wasn't powering down when I turned the key off but for some reason that corrected it's self today and is now working perfectly. Does the computer and antitheft have anything to do with it (on my beetle the computer plays a big role with the radio)? Mine is also a 98 XJ.

94zj318

I'd double check the wiring to make sure the previous owner/installer wired it up correctly... the radio is in no way connected to the computer, and receives it power via the 12V battery (Chrysler didn't start integrating their radios into the CAN-BUS (computer) until the mid-2000s when the WK Jeep Grand Cherokee came out). I'd have a sneaking suspicion that the previous owner/installer connected the illumination wire, which is NOT needed in a Chrysler installation... they should NOT have connected it. You might want to figure out what that wire is, disconnect it, test it, and see if it makes a difference.

Hope this helps

Searcher

Thanks for the info. Mainly I just needed to know for sure that the sound system wasn't computer controlled. You were right. For some reason the dimmer wire was tied into the switched 12 vdc (it had no place to connect to the deck). I released it and taped it off as well as the blue and white wire for the power antenna (not required). Everything is working perfectly now.