BIG SHAFE Posted January 22, 2005 Report Share Posted January 22, 2005 I am helping a friend put in his new head unit, but we have hit a brick wall. Let me first give some history so you have some background on the car. Originally he had a old Pioneer radio that was stolen out of his car, the dash was ripped up, etc. Now I am trying to get his current head unit to work, Kenwood kdc mp425, but we have ran into a rather huge problem. The head unit was ordered from Crutchfield, along with the wiring harness and instructions. The first one we wired it up and had no power to the unit, it wouldn't turn on. I double and triple checked the 12V constant (always hot) and 12V ignition wires (hot when key is on) and all the fuses, including thorough inspection of the fuse for the radio. I called Crutchfield for support and he suggested that I touch the power and ground wires to the battery, which we did and it still wouldn't turn on. He said the head unit was bad and I also couldn't think of another reason that it wouldn't turn on besides the head unit being bad. So we sent it back in exchange for another head unit. Now, assuming that the new head unit was good, we hooked up the wiring harness and this head unit would not turn on. So before I try everything again, I'm looking for some help. I have a idea to put the ground wire on the chasis somewhere rather than in the harness, where there is a spot for it. I was also thinking that something happened to the wires when the old unit was stolen, but the constant and ignition wires are hot? Maybe there is something special with the Kenwood's I dont know about? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el aguila Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 Did you try connecting the new headunits 12v and ground to the battery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest brown99gti Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 make shur all of the pins in the wiring harness are all pushed all the way in and make shur the ground is on metal not on painted metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bam Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 Originally posted by brown99gti: Make sure all of the pins in the wiring harness are pushed all the way in and make sure the ground is on metal, not on painted metal. I'm stupid and can't spell so BAM6I4 fixed my post for me.*Fixed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG SHAFE Posted January 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 Originally posted by el aguila: Did you try connecting the new headunits 12v and ground to the battery? Haven't tried that yet. Originally posted by brown99gti: make shur all of the pins in the wiring harness are all pushed all the way in and make shur the ground is on metal not on painted metal. The ground goes into the harness, its not grounded to the chassis. There is a ground in the car wiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex1647545498 Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 How did you check for 12v power and constant? Did you use a muti meter for the + then use some metal surface behind the dash for ground? If that's the case then you should ground the head unit yourself. There should somewhere behind the dash you can tap into. Like a bolt or with a self tapping screw. I guess I can't be more helpful without knowing all the details on how you did your diagnostics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG SHAFE Posted January 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 Originally posted by Mr. 2: How did you check for 12v power and constant? Did you use a muti meter for the + then use some metal surface behind the dash for ground? If that's the case then you should ground the head unit yourself. There should somewhere behind the dash you can tap into. Like a bolt or with a self tapping screw. I guess I can't be more helpful without knowing all the details on how you did your diagnostics. I used the existing ground in the harness, since the oem harness has a ground in it. Yes I used a multi-meter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bgbdbn Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 Check it by touching the wires directly to the battery. If the works ground it to metal behind the dash. I always ground mine by itself behind the dash. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex1647545498 Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 Me too. Grounding it to the metal behind the dash is better IMO. Try to connect the power directly to the battery first. If the head unit comes on then do the ground to the metal deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG SHAFE Posted January 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 Ok cool, thanks for the help. I'll give it a try then reply back with the results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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