Wiring things into the car

Phil. · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

I just bought a A2DP bluetooth adapter for the car so along with a new tasker profile I should be able to have a play list play automatically when i'm in the car.

I have exactly zero experience with wiring things into cars. The bike has never been an issue, always tapped into the rear light. However I don't know where to start with a car.

My first thought was the cigarette lighter but that seems to be live when the ignition is off.

Any pointers on where's a good place to take power from? It's a MK4 Mondeo by the way.

Thanks

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

One of the feed wires for the radio is probably live only when the ignition is on (although if I wired it I would have the whole stereo wired to be on whether the ignition is on or off). You should be able to tap into that wire easily (and as a bonus with luck it will be a separate plug in adaptor for the radio rather than a bit of the main loom that you are chopping up).

All the best

Keith
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kingsmith · Scooby Slapper Joined: 04 Apr 2009 Karma :

you need to find a live when the ignition is on prob from the live feed from the radio, or try find a spare unused fuse holder in the fuse panel they usualy have one spare..

then wire it all in and make sure where ever you take it from you get a in line fuse in place just in case....

and if you not that compitant get some one round (mate ) who knows what to do..

its not that hard , when you look it it.

all the best
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UnknownStuntm... · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Karma :

Ford certainly used to adhere to the ISO wiring, where the switched live for accessories including radio equipment is yellow. If you can, pull the stereo out and have a look for a connector behind there. There will most likely be a couple of wires thicker than the rest, a brown (earth) and a yellow (switched live).

Sony were among manufacturers who didn't like yellow for this, they liked red. So be on the lookout for a red one too - might even have a connector to allow you to swap the red and yellow over.

Anyhow, use a circuit tester on the combination of red, yellow and brown to get the right cable then solder in to this. Put a fuse in too. Oh, and take the negative lead off the battery while you're soldering.