Ferrariferg Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Well I just stayed up all night to get my new stereo installed. I had a hell of a time trying to find any useful information on what wires were for what. None of my books (Service Manual and Haynes) had any diagrams. And I did NOT want to rewire my car or run it off the battery like a lot of people do. So since i took the time to figure everything out with a test light and multimeter I figured I could post my findings for everyone. You will have 2 Connectors. 1 six pin and 1 eight pin. 6 Pin (Not all Wires are used) Blue with Red stripe- Constant Power/Battery Yellow with Green stripe- ACC Power 8 Pin (Speakers. Some wires are used by multiple speakers) Blue with Red stripe and Blue with Black stripe are Front Right Yellow with Red stripe and Yellow with Blue stripe are Front Left White and Blue with Black stripe are Rear Right Green and Yellow with Blue stripe are Rear Left Ground is the Solid Black wire that comes on your stereo harness. Just attach that to the car with a screw. As far as the antenna goes I'll leave that up to you. Some people like to retain the factory Button and others don't. Hope this helps someone. I know I could have used it. Kyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyuri Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 Eh, just FYI I found the wiring diagrams for the stereo on FSM pages: '79: BE-74 '80: EL-82 '81: EL-91, EL-92 '82: EL-102, EL-103 '83: EL-106, EL-107 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger.svoboda Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 You are better off running new speaker wire from the rears as they are the easiest to get at. Nissan used a one wire common for left and right coming back to where the radio sits. If you rewire then you have separate commons for all speakers as you should have for a modern stereo. Be sure to tape off or insulate somehow the old common that you clip off the rear speakers. You could use the old hot side wires but I choose to go to a heavier gage wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrariferg Posted August 18, 2008 Author Share Posted August 18, 2008 They are harder to get to in the 2+2. You have to pull the rear panels off. You can pull the grills off but you cant get them to stay in because they are clipped in the back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger.svoboda Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 still better to rewire. while you are in there you might want to run new coax from the antenna the original is a little delicate. I've had two that were bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayamajhia Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 I also ran all my three speakers its own wire and didn't use the factory wire, I disconnected. I can get the radio to work but now since i put my CD player in to my old radio. I am having problem with my dash light. My dash light don't comeup when i turn my headlight on and also the rear lights and all four side marker light they are not working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayamajhia Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 I think its good to run a new wire for the speakers. I have 280zx 1980 non turbo 2 seater. Also if you search in this forum for manual then you can download them and if you look under electrical you can find the information on radio wires. Guys also if you could help with what is going on with my lights since i put my cd player on. Also i have taken my cd player out at this time and still the lights don't come up on dash when my headlight is on and the lights in rear and 4 light around the car they don't work. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvmy280zxt Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Hey bud. I just had the same prob with the same lights you are. I checked my fuses and they look good. But still nothing worked. I had to no sh!t pull each one out and and re-insert them and they all worked. Also check the wires going into you hazzard switch. I had one that the soddering was busted on and that was a prob too. I had to crimp them 2gether to get my dash light to work. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrariferg Posted August 20, 2008 Author Share Posted August 20, 2008 still better to rewire. while you are in there you might want to run new coax from the antenna the original is a little delicate. I've had two that were bad. There really isnt a reason to rewire unless you are wanting to have a higher output sound system. I don't want anything with a lot of bass or anything. The old wires are working just fine. I can crank my rock all the way up and I dont get a bit of static or distortion. It's much better than what was in there. As far as the antenna. The only trouble I have with it is that the cable is about 3" too short. But that is an easy fix. I do have another problem. My dash dimmer doesnt work anymore. Anyone have any idea why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvmy280zxt Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 There really isnt a reason to rewire unless you are wanting to have a higher output sound system. I don't want anything with a lot of bass or anything. The old wires are working just fine. I can crank my rock all the way up and I dont get a bit of static or distortion. It's much better than what was in there. As far as the antenna. The only trouble I have with it is that the cable is about 3" too short. But that is an easy fix. I do have another problem. My dash dimmer doesnt work anymore. Anyone have any idea why? It might of fried out. I have an extra one here if you need it. OH are you hazzards working? Mine didnt work for at least 15 yrs. And I finallly fixed them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrariferg Posted August 21, 2008 Author Share Posted August 21, 2008 It might of fried out. I have an extra one here if you need it. OH are you hazzards working? Mine didnt work for at least 15 yrs. And I finallly fixed them. It was working before I messed with the radio. Its no big deal to me. I just like to keep as many things working as possible. My hazzards work fine. But hopefully I will never have to use them. lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnZ Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 You might want to check that the "dimmer" wire for the factory radio is not grounded. Some dimmers will act as a ground until the lights are turned on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lumberjackj Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Being an MECP certified installer, i have learned that the dimmer/illumination function typically causes problems. If not with your older cars system, the radios displays life is usually diminished. With older cars, they usually use a common ground system, but I havent torn apart my Z yet. When I decide to tear into it, I plan on rewiring my stereo because the power demands/draws that new-age electronics have on this older wiring makes me slightly uneasy. Scosche also makes a hidden antenna that I have used in past cars with great sucess, compareable to a external antenna in signal strength, to shave the ugly one the PO put on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S130Z Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I installed my Alpine head unit about 2 months ago. Even wired up the dimmer and have had no problems with it. I did rewire all my speaker and had to replace all of them too. The 40w amp on the back of the head unit was too much for the stock speakers and blew them all. Let me tell you something, Getting to those speakers in the dash is not the easyest thing to do. But after some hard work I have a great sounding stereo with my Ipod hooked up in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrariferg Posted November 30, 2008 Author Share Posted November 30, 2008 I finally got everything sorted out. I had a bad ground. I figured I would take a look at everything while I had my radio out to install my boost/vac gauge. I also got that hidden antenna. I love it. Good reception and I don't have to have an antenna go up and down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iestyn.lewis Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 Thanks for putting this info here, I'm about to install a stereo myself. Nice having what you need to know in one place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niku-Sama Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 this doesent work with my '79, there is a blue with red stripe wire but it has no constant voltage to it with the car off. the only constant i found was the ciggerette lighter, but ground it seperatly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrariferg Posted December 5, 2008 Author Share Posted December 5, 2008 It might not work for everyone. There are different types of stereo setups that came on the 280zx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niku-Sama Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 you know i got to thinkin about that and i pulled the old radio out and i went dur, it doesent...or mine atleast didnt need a constant voltage because th presets were manual, you press the button (hella hard i might add) and it manualls moves the dial to the spot on the band Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrariferg Posted December 5, 2008 Author Share Posted December 5, 2008 lol. Yeah. That might might be it. As far as the accessory power and the speakers it might be the same. You will just have to run a wire with an inline fuse from the battery for your constant. Just check car toys or the auto section at best buy. They should carry a roll of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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