I have a 1993 Civic Si and the stereo in it (don't know the model off hand, panasonic something I think) doesn't save any of my settings when the car is off. Whenever I get into the car it goes back to demo mode and I have to take my CD out and put it back in in order to play my CD, as well as having to readjust the volume and radio station. I was wondering if this was because my stereo was just old and needs to be replaced, or if it was just wired up wrong by the previous owner. I pulled it out a little while ago and checked the wiring and everything looked fine from what I could see, but that was from a novice's point of view.

I was considering just buying a new stereo, but I wanted to make sure that the problem wasn't something that had to do with my car and not the current stereo. I'd hate to buy a new one just to run into the same problem.


Modified by ShinyNewPenny at 1:24 PM 11/2/2007

 

You have a blown constant power fuse. Most likely in the fuse box under the hood.

 

After you test the radio fuse in the fusebox under the dash also test the radio/back up fuse that is in the fusebox in the engine bay.

 

Looking through the manual, I see the radio fuse under the dash, but I don't see the radio/back up fuse in the under-hood fuse box. Do you know which fuse that would be (#)?

I dunno where my multi-meter is atm... I might have to go out and buy a new one tomorrow.

 

 

Thanks

That sticker on the top of my fuse box is all wrinkled/faded and hard to read.

 

You're welcome

 

Ok, I looked at the back up fuse(under-hood) and the radio fuse(under-dash) and both looked fine. I also checked the fuse in the radio while I was at it, that was fine too.

I did notice that whoever installed the stereo ran a wire connecting the red and yellow wires from the stereo into 1 wire going directly into the fuse box (into the radio fuse) Could that be why my stereo isn't working right?

 

Yes. That is why. Looks like they tied the constant and the accessory together. A multimeter or test light would be very beneficial right now if you have one.

 

Ok, my question now is once I get my hands on a multimeter, what do I check? I've never really dealt with stereo wiring, or car wiring for that matter.

 

Is the factory harness still there? or has it been lopped off?

I would set it to voltage, hook it up to a good ground, and then probe the accessory and constant wires on the factory harness (with the key turned to accessory of course).

With the key on accessory, they should both read ~ 12v

 

Ok, I finally got a multimeter and a day off work. I just pulled out the radio and all the wires (except 2) are cut behind the factory plug thing and taped to the wires coming out of the stereo. There are 2 wires coming from the factory harness that are cut, but not attached to anything. One was a Yellow wire with a red strip and the other was a red wire with a black strip. The yellow wire was 12v with the key turned and the red one wasn't reading anything. I'm guessing I should connect the yellow wire coming from the stereo to the yellow/red wire on the factory harness? Same with the red and red/black wires?

This whole thing is a big mess and was put together horribly.

 

1993 Honda Civic Stereo Information
Constant 12V+ White/Blue
Switched 12V+ Yellow/Red
Ground Black
Illumination Red/Black
Dimmer n/a
Antenna Driver's Pillar
Left Front (+) Blue/Green
Left Front (-) Gray/Black
Right Front (+) Red/Green
Right Front (-) Brown/Black
Left Rear (+) Blue/Yellow
Left Rear (-) Gray/White
Right Rear (+) Red/Yellow
Right Rear (-) Brown/White

 

Forgot to make a post, but right after my last post I looked up a wiring diagram and went out to my car and hooked everything up right. Works like a champ.

Thanks for the help.