Confused.... installing new HU in my car and can't get it to power up

Discussion in 'Car Audio Head Units' started by ilb916, Jun 25, 2010.

  1. ilb916

    ilb916 New Member

    Just bought a Dual XDM6400 and tried wiring it up. My car was broken into and the wires were kinda messy. Dude at the store said to hard-wire it so I didn't get any harnesses. Looking at the wiring info in the deck manual, it says the yellow wire is "memory" and to connect to constant 12v source, the red is "accessory" and to connect to an existing ignition circuit or switched 12v source, and of course black is ground. Looking at my repair manual for my 1978 Buick Electra, it says orange is the constant 12v and yellow is the switched 12v. So I connected it like this:
    Deck ==> Car
    Yellow ==> Orange
    Red ==> Yellow
    Black ==> Black

    I have yet to connect any of the other wires (remote turn-on and the speaker/pre-amp wires). Initially, the only loose black wire I saw had a ringed connector at the end of it, so I snipped that off and wired everything up. Turned the car over and no response from the deck. Tried another black/ground wire off of a disconnected harness of some sort and still no response from the deck. I'm at a loss, is there something I am missing? Shouldn't it power on at this point? What should I do?:confused:
     
  2. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    have you checked the fuse for the radio?

    use a multi meter to find power if you must.
     
  3. ilb916

    ilb916 New Member

    I actually just finished doing both of those things. The fuse in the radio spot on the fuse block is 20a but its supposed to be 10a. Checked out the length of the wire and it appears to be in good shape, no melting or anything so I'll replace the fuse ASAP. The orange wire coming out of the car is definitely hot at all times, but the yellow one is not hot... ever. Not in off, acc, or run. There were an assortment of other wires hanging out back there, tested them all and none seemed to fit the cold in the off position, hot in acc and run category. Confused again. Where to go from here? Thanks for the response. :)
     
    Last edited: Jun 26, 2010
  4. ilb916

    ilb916 New Member

    Ugh, I feel like the world's biggest idiot. I went and got a 10a fuse and pulled the 20a out and noticed that it had the tiniest break in the circuit. It was like a hairline crack, no black/brown spots or anything. Replaced it with the 10a and everything went swimmingly. Thanks for the help!
     
  5. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    its always the simplest thing that gets you. glad to hear you found the problem.
     
  6. Bad_dude

    Bad_dude Member

    Becareful b/c if the 20A broke the 10A might not last. It could be short that the 20A broke.
     
  7. Fbmowner

    Fbmowner Full Member

    If it makes you feel better, i banged my head for an hour trying to figure out why my break lights stopped working. I noticed when my remote start wasnt shutting down when i pressed the breaks...checked wires among wires to find out i must have shorted the brake switch wire when i was tying in the remote start wire for the break shutdown and blew the fuse in the car.

    EDIT - Didnt see how old this post was, sry for bump