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I just put a clarion cd player in a 89 suburban, and it doesn' teven pretend to turn on. I bought the harness to interface to the factory wiring and matched up all of the colors and have them wired with wire nuts and black tape. I have checked fuses. I didn't get that screw in the back on yet, in case i had to take it out to trouble shoot, which i did. That isn't a ground is it? I need help. I think my next move will be to check continuity in my harness, then check for 12v on the power and ignition leads and if the ground is actually grounded to suburban. Does any body else have any ideas? Should i bench test the unit first? Thanks for reading all of this for such a simple install i am really frustrated.
R2
Posts: 1 | From: Great Falls, MT, USA | Registered: Jun 1999
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I prefer to use butt connectors since wire nuts are bulky and I've seen them come loose in a car before. But since you do have them it would be pretty simple to take the unit out and test with just the battery, take the constant 12 volt and accesory lead to the positive battery and the ground to battery ground, that will tell you if the unit works or not. I've never seen the screw on back be a ground but then I've never installed a Clarion before. Checking continuity on the harness is a good idea, a buddy of mine installed a CD player that would turn on and off while he was driving and the power pin on the harness wasn't in tight and when the harnesses were pushed together it pushed the pin out.
Posts: 2575 | From: GA | Registered: May 1999
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Did the factory radio work before you pulled it out? Check the simple things first like is the deck getting power? ACC. and Batt. ? ground?, even if the ground in the harness fails, the antenna connection usually provides enough of a ground to run the deck, but don't rely on it as a sole ground point as the connections in the fender corrode and create problems down the road. Maybe you do have a defective deck. Bench test it. If it's brand new, take it back to the place you got it and they should be able to bench test it and depending on what they find, repair/replace it, or offer some advice.
------------------ inno73@hotmail.com
Posts: 490 | From: Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada | Registered: May 1999
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I had the same problem with my Clarion ARX 5175 tape deck. I checked all the wiring, good power, good ground, good everything. Neverthless the radio would not turn on unless the antenna was plugged in to the unit.
quote:Originally posted by sqandspl: I had the same problem with my Clarion ARX 5175 tape deck. I checked all the wiring, good power, good ground, good everything. Neverthless the radio would not turn on unless the antenna was plugged in to the unit.
---- I can (almost) guarantee that you did not have a good ground wire hooked up.
Was it a nissan or older ford by chance?
Anyhow, the shield of the antenna is grounded, which is why the deck turns on when it is plugged in.
Check for continuity between the chassis of the deck and the vehicle ground when the antenna is unplugged, this will tell you if you have a good ground.
------------------ Jeff President, Sweet Sounds Inc. Team Sweet Sounds is gathering information....all are welcome Authorized Dealer for Cerwin Vega, Image Dynamics, Clarion Pro Audio, Stinger, Hifonics, Digital Designs, Memphis and more.....
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I checked the ground contiunuity from the back of the deck to the chassis and it checks good. The only thing I can figure is that, although the factory ground checks out, the antenna ground must offer less resistance to the radio than the factory ground. Is there an internal problem that can cause this situation?
In any case, I think I will make my own ground to the firewall of my car and run it to the radio to see if I can cure the problem. BTW, it is an '82 Pontiac 6000. It has been my experience both with my '82 and my '90 6000, compared to other American cars and Japanese cars, that they have to rank as one of the worst in the noise and ground loop departments!!
quote:Originally posted by sqandspl: I checked the ground contiunuity from the back of the deck to the chassis and it checks good. The only thing I can figure is that, although the factory ground checks out, the antenna ground must offer less resistance to the radio than the factory ground. Is there an internal problem that can cause this situation?
I assume you checked with the antenna unplugged, correct? If so, than you probably have a burnt trace or broken connection in the deck. If this is the case, I strongly recommend that you run a 18 awg (or larger) wire between the vehicle chassis and the back of the deck. Just use the rear brace support screw.
And note: even if the antenna did offer less resistance, the deck would still work with the greater resistance (assuming it's only a small amount more).
also, did you use a DMM? what values were you reading?
------------------ Jeff President, Sweet Sounds Inc. Team Sweet Sounds is gathering information....all are welcome Authorized Dealer for Cerwin Vega, Image Dynamics, Clarion Pro Audio, Stinger, Hifonics, Digital Designs, Memphis and more.....
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The antenna was not plugged in. I used a Simpson analog meter, so that's why I can only assume the exact values of my ground. It reads very near zero ohms for the ground.
If there is a broken connection/burnt trace in the deck, how can running a ground wire to it from the chassis help? Do you mean to ground the chassis of the radio, or to re-run the ground wire from the harness to the chassis?
About a month ago the amp turn on wire shorted and it blew the .5 amp fuse on the amp turn on lead. Could this have caused the problem? I smelt no burning and saw no smoke. I replaced the fuse and the turn on works again. This deck has been serivced twice under warranty (lamps) so if it needs servicing again, I'll just trash it.
I noticed you deal Clarion Pro Audio so I'll ask you a couple more questions. Do you know of any problems with noise in the amp fan on APA4200G amplifiers? Mine is too loud! Its in the trunk but I can hear it inside the car! Can you get me a Pro-Audio badge for an older APA 4100. Clarion won't give me one and Crutchfield can't get one, either.
Hey thanks for your time Jeff!!!
Posts: 291 | From: Dublin VA USA | Registered: Sep 1999
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how can running a ground wire to it from the chassis help? Do you mean to ground the chassis of the radio, or to re-run the ground wire from the harness to the chassis?
--often times the ground wire inside the unit is connected to the chassis, this will usually give supply the deck with a better ground then a very long run from the antenna wire. That is ground the chassis of the radio.
That short could have caused the problem. Only a tech could tell you for sure. Only Clarion could get you that badge, and I haven't dealt with that amp, but you could simply try moving it to a different location.
cya
------------------ Jeff President, Sweet Sounds Inc. Team Sweet Sounds is gathering information....all are welcome Authorized Dealer for Cerwin Vega, Image Dynamics, Clarion Pro Audio, Stinger, Hifonics, Digital Designs, Memphis and more.....
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