Afterstock stereo not turning on!

[RedEmma]

Hi,

im new to this forum! i currently have a 2007 Pt cruiser. i tried installing an aftermarket stereo thats new, i didn't want to have to pay bestbuy an extra 100$ for installation, so i wanted to do it myself. when i attached the harness it wouldn't turn on, all the wires are connected to each individual wire. basically the wiring is correct, i've installed stereos before, but this time it will not turn on, is there something im doing wrong? i really want my stereo in my car, and if it helps the harness from the car has basically two harnesses. what do i do? help me please

[lowpt]

read this and see if it helps.

How to: Get power to radio and add circuits for power

[RedEmma]

i already read on that, and i really don't get it, is there something im missing, if you dont mind me asking, what is that smaller harness from the car?

[lowpt]

MAybe the guy that did that write up will chime in and better help you. the way I understand it is the 06- up cars don't have a switched power wire to connect an aftermarket radio to.

[WolfmanG]

hey man, the CANBUS system wont let you hook up an after market stereo. basically what you gotta do is find an ignition wire and hook the power up directly to that, or you can do when Xwing wrote up. i had the same prob so the only way i can turn off the stereo is by ejecting the face. lol

[xwing777]

06' and up use a computer that delivers the power to devices as needed but they have to communicate with each other. When you add an aftermarket radio it cant talk to the cars computer so the computer wont send power. So you have 3 options

1) A quick fix is to tap into the cig lighter OR wire a toggle switch directly to the battery. But if you have a high powered radio and/or plan to use the cig socket for other stuff it can exceed the load and blow fuses and/or melt wires

2) You can get a Pac module that will intergrate with the cars computer send the power wire Pac-Audio.com Product Details | iPod Integration for your car and More by Pac-Audio - Connecting you to the future **Can be found less than $50 amazon/ebay and is the cleanest solution as your canbus (cars computer) retains a completed circuit like it came factory and no splices or cut wires.

3) You can do as i did and use the factory fuse to trigger a relay that is ran to an extra fuse block. This comes in handy if your planning to add other stuff so you wont have this issue again and again each time

[Chromenut]

Originally Posted by xwing777

3) You can do as i did and use the factory fuse to trigger a relay that is ran to an extra fuse block. This comes in handy if your planning to add other stuff so you wont have this issue again and again each time

Bingo! Best bet, plus using the relay pulls the load off the CANBUS system, so you end up protecting all other devices connected to the car's computer. I suggest using the relay for all additions on the '06 and up. Horns, light, etc.

[RedEmma]

Xwing, im a really noob when it comes to this, can you elaborate, like if you were talking to a 10 year old? i would like to know more about the first and second option.