Replacement Stereo Power Woes

[jage]

It's on when the van is off right? Just checking!

Maybe pull the stereo, jury wire a light (eg. small turn signal bulb) and run around a bit to see if you can isolate when the light goes out.

I'd also replace the fuse just because.

[spurious]

I may have missed something in the quick reading, but it sounds like you are testing the power wire that has power for a designated time. When you turn the key off the radio will have power for 5 min. And turns off when door opens or timed out?

[daveb]

Originally Posted by spurious

I may have missed something in the quick reading, but it sounds like you are testing the power wire that has power for a designated time. When you turn the key off the radio will have power for 5 min. And turns off when door opens or timed out?

Yes you don't want to be on that circuit!

[falbhan]

Originally Posted by jage

It's on when the van is off right? Just checking!

Maybe pull the stereo, jury wire a light (eg. small turn signal bulb) and run around a bit to see if you can isolate when the light goes out.

I'd also replace the fuse just because.

Testing with a bulb as we speak. I'll try a fuse depending on what happens.

[falbhan]

Well, I'm as puzzled as ever. Tried the bulb test and the bulb stayed on. As soon as I round up a fuse I'll pop that in and see what effect it has.

[spurious]

Well your situation is interesting.
Ok I'll ask some questions.
1. Your new stereo does it plug into the original wiring harness, if so are you using original connector?

2. If not what wire are you connecting to? (colors)

3. What are you grounding to when testing? (try grounding to chassis, then to the wiring harness ground)
By chance you might be losing your ground???

[jage]

Originally Posted by falbhan

Tried the bulb test and the bulb stayed on.

How long? While driving? How long after shutting down the van and closing the doors?

OK, so alternate theory- could it be the ground wire for the radio?

[daveb]

Current flow can cause those test probes to light up. You don't own a voltmeter? The light probes are great for finding a hot circuit but like whats posted, the ground wire (Aligator clip) must be hooked to the chassis somewhere not another circuit or wire unless you know it is a dedicated ground.

[falbhan]

Originally Posted by spurious

Well your situation is interesting.
Ok I'll ask some questions.
1. Your new stereo does it plug into the original wiring harness, if so are you using original connector?

2. If not what wire are you connecting to? (colors)

3. What are you grounding to when testing? (try grounding to chassis, then to the wiring harness ground)
By chance you might be losing your ground???

Into the original harness I'm using the harness that SMB installed with the original VAIC N1. All my testing has been through the yellow wire which matches up to the red/white on the Ford connector. I suppose the "AVIC" harness could be a problem, but I hate to cut into the Ford wiring.

Grounding directly from stereo to the grounding point SMB used for the AVIC. A steel tube/bar that runs horizontally directly forward of where the installed stereo sits.

[falbhan]

Originally Posted by jage

How long? While driving? How long after shutting down the van and closing the doors?

OK, so alternate theory- could it be the ground wire for the radio?

Well over an hour with the vehicle parked. I've never had a problem as long as the keys were in and on ACC. Never tried with the ignition on.

Hard to imagine it's the ground. If it is it would have to be the contact between the connector and the steel tube it's screwed to as the ground wire and connector were tested directly to a battery and passed.