Another radio question

[DeltaV]

So I've been digging through the dash and Bradley Artigue's wiring diagram, and while I can see where the radio connection power connection is, it sort of seems like a dead end connection, there isn't anything it could plug in to, and there is another connector attached to it's back. I've done a few radios before, and there was always a 'free' connector from the radio that it didn't matter if I cut it off to re-wire (although I think I usually had a crutchfield connector anyway that plugged into the existing harness). I'm nervous to just start cutting wires, because I've found that if I unplug the harness, the hazard lights stop working. Do I just tap or Y off the power I need from the harness?

[18Fiatsandcounting]

How modern is your radio, and what connectors does it have coming out of the back? I doubt any connectors for modern radios would match up with a Fiat connector that is several decades old (with the exception of the coaxial connector for the antenna).

Most Fiats that I've seen with aftermarket radios just wire up the positive lead for the radio to a point on the fuse box that has 12volts on it when the ignition switch is in the run position. If you tap into the 12 volt wire for the hazard control, that would work, but the radio may stay on even if the car is turned off, since the hazard lights are supposed to work even without the car being on. The ground lead can just be connected to the chassis (scrub off any paint at the connection point), and if you have a connector for a power antenna control on your radio, that would just connector to the power antenna (if you have one).

I'm not sure I've helped answer your question, but it's hard for me to picture exactly what you've got.

-Bryan

[DeltaV]

Yeah, that was helpful I think; I guess I just wasn't sure about the whole 'just grab whatever 12V is convenient' method of getting power, especially with a connector labeled 'radio'. I wasn't expecting to have a connector to easily splice in a modern Kenwood, I guess I just hoped that there would be a dedicated hot wire for the radio I could use that wouldn't be serial with any other connectors.

[GeorgeT]

I wired mine into the "Key In Ignition" warning circuit: if the key was in the ignition, the radio would play even if the ignition was off, as soon as the key was removed the radio went off.

[TX82FIAT]

Same here, wired radio to key in position one to complete the circuit. Like the idea of being able to just sit in the car and listen to the radio if parked someplace.

[spider2081]

I haven't installed a radio in years but don't most radios require a constant voltage for the memory and a switched voltage for the display?? The last radio I installed in my Spider was a JVC. Its constant voltage wire was also the power amp wire and required being fused at 10 amps which really surprised me. The wire didn't have a fuse holder so I added one and fused it with a 1 amp fuse. when I turned up the volume up the fuse would blow. I called the help line and the suggested not fusing the wire. I didn't like that so 10 amps seems to hold and the wire I used can handle it.

[GeorgeT]

I haven't installed a radio in years but don't most radios require a constant voltage for the memory and a switched voltage for the display?? The last radio I installed in my Spider was a JVC. Its constant voltage wire was also the power amp wire and required being fused at 10 amps which really surprised me. The wire didn't have a fuse holder so I added one and fused it with a 1 amp fuse. when I turned up the volume up the fuse would blow. I called the help line and the suggested not fusing the wire. I didn't like that so 10 amps seems to hold and the wire I used can handle it.

You are correct and all the radios I installed had a connection for constant power (for a clock, presets etc.) and another connector for a switched power source for playing.