**EDITED

I bought a head unit for my 67 VC Valiant, tried to wire it up like I've done a few times before. When I connect the red wire to the ACC at the fuse box like I think I should it turns on instantly with no key in the ignition.

I also noticed that I can use windscreen wipers and other things like this as well without a key.

Does this indicate that my key switch is faulty?

Or is this typically just the way things are, and I should just put a switch across the ACC myself and hopefully remember to turn it off when the cars not running...

Thanks for any help/advice you can give.

Ben

You need to find a spot in the fuse box that is hot when the key is in the on positon to hook red to. (A.K.A. 12+ switched)
Yellow is hot all the time for the memory in the radio. (A.KA. 12+ Battery)
Should be able to hook red to the original power for the factory radio.
Factory radio didn't come on without the key did it?

Dave

_________________
86 Miser 170,000+
2 1/4" exhaust
Holley 1920 #55
HEI MSD BLaster 2
17.8 mpg

When I purchased the car, the radio had already been removed and I have no way to contact the owner.

The fuse box only has two fuses in it, a red and yellow wire going in a pink, dark blue and white wire going out. These connect to various things such as lighting or the windscreen wiper.

Is it normal for you to be able to use the windscreen wiper when the key is in the full off position?

Cheers for the help!

The connector for the radio isn't there?
Are there empty space's in the fuse box to put more fuse's?

Dave

_________________
86 Miser 170,000+
2 1/4" exhaust
Holley 1920 #55
HEI MSD BLaster 2
17.8 mpg

Hi Dave,

Yeah no previous connectors or anything from the previous radio system - no wiring harness or anything. (The car also came with no speakers or aerial).

What I figured I'd do was look at the wiring diagram and it'd show me the fuse box, and the in from the key switch which would have the red wire (which should normally only be live with the key in on yeah?) and I'd be able to connect in there.

I'll try upload some photos of the wiring diagram I have, as well as the fuse box I tried to jump into.

Cheers

Just a quick caveat, which wire is memory and which wire is ACC really depends on the make of radio. Some radios power from ACC and some from the constant (memory). And the colours of these can change drastically. Best to check the radio manufacturers info to be sure.

_________________
Mattelderca
78 NYB (gone now), two S series, three old Snow Cruisers and a Doo.

He edited his first post, which had that info in it. All that info is gone now.
He was confused as to what to do with the red wire.
Brussell: Post model number for stereo and we can double check the wire info and get this right.

Dave

_________________
86 Miser 170,000+
2 1/4" exhaust
Holley 1920 #55
HEI MSD BLaster 2
17.8 mpg

The way I read your question, there is a problem with your harness and fuse block allowing several devices to be operated without an ignition key. And red wire is the main feed to dash from battery; would that be correct?
Wipers, radio, heater blower, directional signal lights, AC controls, and convertible top should only activate with key in ACC or ON. Lighter, head lights, brake lights, horn, parking lights, and four way flashers should work without ignition key.

American 1967 A bodies use six fuses, and I suspect your car would as well. If I understood your query, you need to trace out the large #10 gage red and black wires under dash, their connections to amp gage, splices, and connection to fuse block and ignition switch. If only two fuses are in use, there has been some serious harness hacking under taken at some point that needs to be corrected.

Here are wiring diagrams that will help you sort out your harness.

Bill

_________________
67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

I caught the other acc. being powered with the key off. Just a thought, one that might sound crazy but I have seen it! If you connect the new radio wrong with the ACC. (switched) and BATTERY (constant) wires reversed, depending on the radio, it can feedback through the radio. Meaning the battery connection powers the accessories. question is, did the wipers and such turn on without the key before you installed the new radio?

_________________
Mattelderca
78 NYB (gone now), two S series, three old Snow Cruisers and a Doo.

His original question in the first post, that has now been edited out confusing you all, was where the red wire coming out of the sony head unit went to.
We need the model number of the sony unit to be sure of the wiring.

Dave

_________________
86 Miser 170,000+
2 1/4" exhaust
Holley 1920 #55
HEI MSD BLaster 2
17.8 mpg

Hi,

Sorry for the confusion.

I'm certain that the red wire is the memory wire and that this connects to the ACC point under the dash as shown on the wiring diagram.
The yellow wire I am certain goes direct to a 12v source and should always be on (confirmed this with head unit instructions)

The wiring diagram (which I will try to upload this weekend when I am back home) shows the ACC leading into a fuse box which has only 2 fuses (as shown in diagram) I connect here where I believe I should and the unit still turns on without key in the ignition.

I did a 'soft' install first meaning the head unit isn't set into the dash and I can easily access everything (well easy as you can, when your upside down in the summer), so I am happy and more than willing to try any other ideas?

With the head unit removed, and everything as previous to it's installation the wipers, and indicators activate without a key, (has always been like this).

I thought perhaps the cigar lighter should only work when the car is in motion so I spliced the red wire to that - unit still turned on (no key in use)

My question is does this indicate that my key/switch is faulty?

I'll try see if I can find any further evidence that the wiring harness has been messed with on the inside of the car and report back.


Thanks for the help so far!

Do the items that come on without the key in, do they still come on when you turn the key to acc?

Dave

_________________
86 Miser 170,000+
2 1/4" exhaust
Holley 1920 #55
HEI MSD BLaster 2
17.8 mpg

Yeah all those items, wipers lights and indicators work with and without the key.

The horn only works when the car is running though - it is not the original horn and was installed by a mechanic though.

If this is a modern head unit from within the last 15 years, the wires have been standardized. The Germans solved all this radio fuss with the d.I.n. system and wiring standard. The red is not a memory anything. Yellow wire is constant power. That needs to to straight to the battery. That stores the information and operates the radio. Black is ground. Red is a remote. The red needs to be attached to the ignition hot. Use a $4.00 no touch tester to see which wires under the dash have power when the ignition is on. Connecting the wires oppositely will result in nothing but the fuse on the back of the radio blowing. Nothing more. The green, purple and white and grey leads are for speakers. Gray and white are front, green and purple are back. The blue and white is an extension of the red wire that is switched on the head unit. That would be for an amp. Tan is usually a power antenna and dark brown is usually a dimmer.

Doesn't get any easier then this http://www.bcae1.com/images/gifs/assimple.gif

Dave

_________________
86 Miser 170,000+
2 1/4" exhaust
Holley 1920 #55
HEI MSD BLaster 2
17.8 mpg