Ferrari Mailing List: Re: More Stereo Installation & Wiring Expertise Needed

[Mike Fleischer (themightytoe]

Well

1.  Does it work if you add a supply or power it from a battery then 
start the car?  If so great, if not, you could have some vibration in 
the running vehicle that is shaking a speaker or wire connection to 
cause the protect circuit to kick in.

2.  If you have a multimeter, measure the main supply (switched) to the 
radio's voltage level with the vehicle off and on, it should read higher 
with the vehicle on (around 14.4 volts), and slightly lower when on the 
ACC mode (battery).  The protect circuit can also kick in if you draw 
the voltage from the supply way down.  This can be due to a large power 
sink in your radio circuit (like driving the wrong resistance speakers) 
or a weak regulator in your car. 

And of course measure against chassis ground.  Also I always check the 
ground wire against chassis ground first to make sure I don't have a 
floating ground.

It sounds like the factory radio power wire you have is not sufficient 
to power the new radio or is an "Italian" supply :)  Maybe its using an 
early version of KERS from Maranello?  :)

A headache to be sure but you'll sort it.

BR,
Mike

Robert W. Garven Jr. wrote:
> Dear Friends,
>
> I have good and bad news, the good news is the kenwood KDC-MP342U is  
> installed and sounds great 22 watts RMSx4 USB Drive and sounds  
> unbelievable from the 6" Boston Acoustics Door Speakers and 6x9 Boston  
> Acoustics speakers I mounted in shallow boxes behind the seats.
>
> The bad news is the stereo only works with the engine off......
>
> Here is what I tried
> 1. Red power wire to fuse #4 rear defroster, Yellow Memory wire to  
> Factory radio wire, ground to factory fusebox & relay ground point.  
> Unit does not work unless you turn the ignition switch to ACC. It also  
> goes off when you turn the starter until the engine starts. Result  
> yesterday I got lots of ignition noise toady the unit says "Protect"  
> which the manual says that the speaker wire has a short circuit which  
> it doesn't. I spent hours crimping, marking checking and rechecking  
> the wires.  Also it works perfectly when the engine is off or the  
> ignition is on ACC.
>
> 2. I hooked both red and yellow wires to the factory radio power wire,  
> same "Protect" warning.
>
> 3. I hooked the box that I assume was a filter in between the power  
> and ground wires, same "Protect" warning.
>
> 4. I hooked both red and yellow wires to the power lead of the filter  
> box and the ground to the ground wires, same "Protect" warning. I  
> hooked this up to the factory grey wires, and to the #4 fuse wire,  
> same "Protect" warning.
>
> 5. I hooked both red & yellow wires to the #4 fuse, same "Protect"  
> warning.
>
> 6. I hooked up a new ground wire from the passenger seat rail, same  
> "Protect" warning.
>
> I am at a complete loss the unit worked every time with the engine off  
> or with the ignition switch turned to ACC. I cleaned up my tools and  
> decided to ask again for any help or suggestions. I am wondering since  
> the powwer antenna and the radio or on the same circuit if that is  
> what is causing the short circuit. I also know that even if I got the  
> unit to work I would have the horrible static noise.
>
> Rob
> depressed and confused
>
> here is the f-chat saga with photos
>
> http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=138605244#post138605244
>
>
>
> Robert W. Garven Jr.
> rgarven [at] gmail.com
>
>
>   "The Ferrari is a dream - people dream of owning this special  
> vehicle and for most people it will remain a dream apart from for  
> those lucky few". Enzo Ferrari
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Apr 11, 2009, at 11:21 AM, Robert W. Garven Jr. wrote:
>
>   
> > All,
> >
> > As you know Ive been trying to tackle a better stereo in my 75 GT4
> > with mixed results. I have not found a CD player that would mount
> > vertically but have found a high power Kenwood
> > KDC-MP342U which has a USB port that I can plug a micro thumb drive in
> > that works great. I recently placed one in my driver a 1998 Isuzu
> > Rodeo. I am really happy with every aspect
> > of this head unit but know I will have to take out my center console
> > and do some cutting to make it fit.
> >
> > Here is my question and here is where Paul might be able to help. This
> > unit needs to be turned off at the ignition or it will slowly sap the
> > battery (something that makes no sense to me). The
> > 75 GT4 has several devices, antenna and radio which work all the time
> > and are independent of the ignition being on.  Is there some way that
> > I can tie on to another fuse or set up some kind
> > of relay to make this happen. Remember this is not my area of
> > expertise, and I just spent 3 months with a small subwoofer which I
> > failed to get working and tossed the whole setup. I was
> > thinking of a toggle off on switch but thought something simpler that
> > I would not forget to switch off would be better.  Any suggestion will
> > be highly appreciated.
> >
> >
> > Robert W. Garven Jr.
> > rgarven [at] gmail.com
> >
> >
> >  "The Ferrari is a dream - people dream of owning this special
> > vehicle and for most people it will remain a dream apart from for
> > those lucky few". Enzo Ferrari
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >     
>
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