how to an ISO for my radio

[lsearson]

hi i recently bought an ISO from halfords to enable me to install my new radio but when i got it home the colours of the wires dont match them of the wires in my merc 124 has anybody had this problems or know where i can get a wiring diagram to help me out

thank you

 

[barrie]

The ISO connector from Halfords will have the colours explained on the rear of the packet. Your car will have a battery 12v DC live, a switched 12V live, lights on 12V live and an earth. Use a multimeter or testlamp to sort these out and connect to the ISO connector.

You will have either 2 or 4 pairs of speaker cables but to find out which pair is which use a 1.5V AA battery with a wire soldered or attatched to each end. Touching the wires to a pair of speaker wires will make a popping noise telling you which speaker you are connected to. If you can, look at the speaker to see which direction it is moving in.If it moves outwards you have connected the positive of the battery to the positive of the speaker. If it moves inwards you have connected the positive of the battery to the negative of the speaker. mark your wire accordingly and move onto the next pair.
Connect as per the color codes on the box and that's it!!



Hope this helps

Bazza

 

[jack-n-gill]

Radio stuff

What a brilliant reply.
Well done Bazza.
Even I could follow that.

 

[jack-n-gill]

Radio stuff

What a brilliant reply.
Well done Bazza.
Even I could follow that.

 

[lsearson]

hi on the back of the box gives me the colours of the iso and the trace colours but in the car i dont have most of the colours which are suggested i have mainly green and brown coloured cables in the car

thanx for reply

 

[barrie]

The colours in your car will not match those of the ISO connector.You need to follow the steps above to work out what each wire in your car does, then match this to the correct wire on the connector.

Colours on the cables are only so you can tell which is which when following the code.

Eg: brown wire in your car might be the ground wire, but on the connector it might be black. Different colours but they are doing the same job.

If you are still struggling tomorrow let me know and I will take the stereo out of my 190E and tell you what the coding is(good chance they are the same)



Bazza

 

[lsearson]

iso

ive been trying all day 2day trying to link it up but it still wont work for me i would be so happy if u could let me know the colours of your cables mine are as follows i have 14 wires in total here goes

1. grey aerial lead
2.black and green
3.all green
4. black and grey
5.all grey
6.black
7.brown and red
8.white
9.brown
10.brown and green

the next four wire come from a little black grip box about an inch wide
11.red and white
12.grey and purple
13.black and yellow
14.brown

wires 6 and 7 are strapped together with black ribbon and so are 9 and 10

hope this help

 

[barrie]

I just took my stereo out and had a look, a bit different from yours but worth a shot

1st 4 are power and are connected in the black box you described

Red - Perm. 12v
Grey/green - 12v switched from lights
Black/Yellow - 12v swithched from ignition
Brown - Ground or Earth

Grey + Grey/Blue - Left rear speaker
Grey + Grey/Red - Right rear speaker
Brown + Brown/Green - Left front speaker
Black + Brown/Red - Right front speaker


I also have a switch wire from the stereo to the electric aerial(battery feed and ground taken from the car loom). I think this wire is White/Blue

The 2 pairs for the front speakers are wrapped in the ribbon as you describe, so I would suggest this as a starting point, just figure out which side and the phasing and the speakers are done.

As for the power use a test lamp(very cheap from a motor factors) or a 12v bulb with a wire soldered to each contact, if you do not have access to a multimeter.
The brown will be your ground so with everything switched off in the car check for 12v at one of the other wires.This will be your Battery feed.
Next switch on your ignition and check the other two,this is your ignition feed.
Just to be sure, switch on your lights and check for 12v at the remaining wire.

The wire that is left could be for an electric aerial, if fitted. Make sure ther is not 12v at it when the ignition is on, and that is not connected to ground and then connect it to a 12v supply, your aerial should go up if it works.

Remember, even though it is 12v, it can still cause a lot of damage to your car, so make sure any 12v feeds cannot come in contact with any exposed metal work.

Hope this helps but if you still cannot figure it out I suggest taking the car to an auto-electrician(not some spotty geek from *al*ords, who will charge £25 to connect 2 ISO's together, but will be lost when it comes to something like this)



Bazza