Installed amp, no radio light when head light is on

[JamesWhite]

I just installed amp JL XD700 on my 2010 4runner SR5. I used male and female harnesses to bring all 4 speaker outs from HU as input to the amp, and send amp outs back to factory speaker wiring system. I reconnected all other wires from HU to existing system except I tied a brunch on the ACC wire (to the HU) for the amp remote start.

The issue is that when I switch the head light on, there is no backlight on the radio, no illuminating lights on the radio buttons. When I switch to any other position with head light off (like DRL), the radio looks okay with back light and no button lights on. The system sounds perfect no matter the head light is on or off. The lights on AC buttons are functioning normally.

The only thing I can guess is that the ACC wire shared by both HU and amp. When the head light is on, there may not be enough power to switch on the back light, but this does not convince me because the radio still sounds good. Any suggestions/clues? Thanks!

 

[eddiebx]

This is just a wild guess, but could it have something to do with the interior light dimmer switch being all the way at minimum? Or perhaps the way you tapped it is tricking the headunit into thinking the dimmer is set to minimum?

 

[JamesWhite]

This is just a wild guess, but could it have something to do with the interior light dimmer switch being all the way at minimum? Or perhaps the way you tapped it is tricking the headunit into thinking the dimmer is set to minimum?

Thanks for the reply.

The backlight is totally blacked out when headlight is on .
I will try to adjust the dimmer all the way down to see how it looks when switching off headlight.

 

[Hawaiian4runner]

I just installed amp JL XD700 on my 2010 4runner SR5. I used male and female harnesses to bring all 4 speaker outs from HU as input to the amp, and send amp outs back to factory speaker wiring system. I reconnected all other wires from HU to existing system except I tied a brunch on the ACC wire (to the HU) for the amp remote start.

The issue is that when I switch the head light on, there is no backlight on the radio, no illuminating lights on the radio buttons. When I switch to any other position with head light off (like DRL), the radio looks okay with back light and no button lights on. The system sounds perfect no matter the head light is on or off. The lights on AC buttons are functioning normally.

The only thing I can guess is that the ACC wire shared by both HU and amp. When the head light is on, there may not be enough power to switch on the back light, but this does not convince me because the radio still sounds good. Any suggestions/clues? Thanks!

Personally I do not like aftermarket harnesses. If all else fails, get rid of it and just splice in to the speaker wires out of the HU run that to the amp and connect the amps speaker outs to the other end of the wires you cut.

 

[JamesWhite]

Personally I do not like aftermarket harnesses. If all else fails, get rid of it and just splice in to the speaker wires out of the HU run that to the amp and connect the amps speaker outs to the other end of the wires you cut.

Agree for your point. I don't mind cutting factory wires, actually I did cut some when installing speakers. I used harnesses only because I did not want to work inside car for so many connections with awkward body position

 

[eddiebx]

Out of curiosity, are you talking about a stock headunit or an aftermarket one? I was under the impression you only installed an aftermarket amp to the stock headunit?

 

[JamesWhite]

Out of curiosity, are you talking about a stock headunit or an aftermarket one? I was under the impression you only installed an aftermarket amp to the stock headunit?

Stock headunit and aftermarket amp

 

[eddiebx]

Stock headunit and aftermarket amp

By chance, do you have any pictures of how the harness is connected inline?

I guess I would start by checking to make sure that the aftermarket harness's pin layout is correct, ie. the wires are being feed pin to pin in the exact order.

Next thing I would do is to double check that you did in fact tap into the ACC wire and not something else by accident.

Last thing I would do is temporarily disconnect the amp's remote turn on lead from the ACC wire (just hook directly to the battery for testing) and see if that resolves the back light issue.

If I am understanding your situation correctly, you only spliced into the +/- speaker wires, and tapped into the ACC wires for this install? Neither of which should really cause issues with the back lighting...

 

[JamesWhite]

I recalled that the aftermarket harness used for rear speakers has only 4 wires but the factory harness has 5 wires coming off. The wiring diagram also does not show the 5th wire. I took it as granted and believe it maybe for some upgraded models and the manufacture uses one type of harness for all models.
The aftermarket does not come with the pins for the positions with no wire leads. Yesterday I tried to find the pins used for the harness in local stores with no success. I ended up pull out the 5th pin from the factory harness and inserted it into the aftermarket one. Therefore the 5th wire connected to the existing system without cutting.
For now the system works as it should be. Sound is fantastic, all controls and lights are functioning normally. I made the subwoofer box on the Saturday and still waiting to the delivery of carpet. After the subwoofer I will finish my audio upgrading project as planned. I will also replace the head unit ultimately in a few months.

 

[eddiebx]

Nice, so it sounds like you got it resolved?? Never take extra wires for granted