'99 Maxima dimmer switch no longer works after stereo install
11-08-2013, 06:59 PM
#1
Newbie - Just Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5
'99 Maxima dimmer switch no longer works after stereo install
I recently installed a Kenwood DPX500BT stereo in my '99 Maxima SE with the non-Bose six speaker system. Everything works just fine except the dimmer switch on the dash. The orange/white (illum) wire from the aftermarket Scosche harness is wired correctly to the red/blue (illumination control) wire. The wiring harness doesn't allow you to wire up the red/yellow (light switch) wire. See diagram below in red. I tried to connect them both to the orange/white (illum) wire on the aftermarket harness to no avail. I had to ground it to the chassis with a separate piece of wire to get the dash lights to even work.
I understand that aftermarket radios can't usually use the dimmer switch... which I'm fine with... but the problem is the dash lights can no longer be dimmed. Is there any way to configure the wires to get the dimmer to work for the dash lights?
I understand that aftermarket radios can't usually use the dimmer switch... which I'm fine with... but the problem is the dash lights can no longer be dimmed. Is there any way to configure the wires to get the dimmer to work for the dash lights?
Last edited by ack_thpt; 11-09-2013 at 04:38 AM.
11-08-2013, 08:47 PM
#3
After a bit more checking it appears the org/white wire that comes out of the Kenwood should go to your cars light control switch. I don't believe your Kenwood uses the Red/blue light switch wires of your harness at all.
The only wire the Kenwood uses for lighting control is the org/white one. That has to go to either the cars red/yellow (Illumine) wire, most likely, or to the cars Blue/yellow (light switch) wire.
That harness just makes figuring out the connections more confusing. As far as the lighting connections go you may try and bypass the harness and connect the Kenwood directly to the car wiring.
The Kenwood unit picks up ground from it's black wire. It does not appear that any other wires from the Kenwood or your harness should be grounded.
Hope all this helps and does not add to the confusion.
The only wire the Kenwood uses for lighting control is the org/white one. That has to go to either the cars red/yellow (Illumine) wire, most likely, or to the cars Blue/yellow (light switch) wire.
That harness just makes figuring out the connections more confusing. As far as the lighting connections go you may try and bypass the harness and connect the Kenwood directly to the car wiring.
The Kenwood unit picks up ground from it's black wire. It does not appear that any other wires from the Kenwood or your harness should be grounded.
Hope all this helps and does not add to the confusion.
Last edited by Nopike; 11-08-2013 at 09:02 PM.
11-08-2013, 09:06 PM
#4
When I replaced the non-Bose head unit in my 97 with a Sony, I connected the orange/white wire of the Sony harness to the red/blue wire, pin 8 of the Nissan harness. I did not connect anything to the red/yellow wire, pin 7 of the Nissan harness. I connected the black wire of the Sony harness to the chassis.
In the wiring diagram that you attached, pin numbers 21 & up are for an external CD player.
Here is the wiring diagram I made for my self:
In the wiring diagram that you attached, pin numbers 21 & up are for an external CD player.
Here is the wiring diagram I made for my self:
Code:
Signal Sony Harness Metra Adaptor Wire Harness Pin # -------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------- ----- Ground Black Black 9 Radio power Red Red Blue/blk stripe 10 Station Memory Yellow Yellow Pink/blu Stripe 6 Antenna Blue Blue Black/red stripe 5 LF Speaker pos White White Blue/wht stripe 2 LF Speaker neg White/blk stripe White/blk stripe Blue/yel stripe 1 RF Speaker pos Gray Gray Brown 4 RF Speaker neg Gray/blk stripe Gray/blk stripe Brown/wht stripe 3 LR Speaker pos Green Green Red 14 LR Speaker neg Green/blk stripe Green/blk stripe Green 13 RR Speaker pos Purple Violet Blue 16 RR Speaker neg Purple/blk stripe Violet/blk Stripe Pink 15 Amplifier Remote On Blue/wht stripe Blue/wht stripe 12 Amplifier Ground Black/wht stripe Illumination Orange/wht stripe Orange Red/blu stripe 8 Dimmer Orange/blk stripe Red/yel stripe 7
11-09-2013, 04:42 AM
#5
Newbie - Just Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5
When I replaced the non-Bose head unit in my 97 with a Sony, I connected the orange/white wire of the Sony harness to the red/blue wire, pin 8 of the Nissan harness. I did not connect anything to the red/yellow wire, pin 7 of the Nissan harness. I connected the black wire of the Sony harness to the chassis.
In the wiring diagram that you attached, pin numbers 21 & up are for an external CD player.
Here is the wiring diagram I made for my self:
In the wiring diagram that you attached, pin numbers 21 & up are for an external CD player.
Here is the wiring diagram I made for my self:
Code:
Signal Sony Harness Metra Adaptor Wire Harness Pin # -------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------- ----- Ground Black Black 9 Radio power Red Red Blue/blk stripe 10 Station Memory Yellow Yellow Pink/blu Stripe 6 Antenna Blue Blue Black/red stripe 5 LF Speaker pos White White Blue/wht stripe 2 LF Speaker neg White/blk stripe White/blk stripe Blue/yel stripe 1 RF Speaker pos Gray Gray Brown 4 RF Speaker neg Gray/blk stripe Gray/blk stripe Brown/wht stripe 3 LR Speaker pos Green Green Red 14 LR Speaker neg Green/blk stripe Green/blk stripe Green 13 RR Speaker pos Purple Violet Blue 16 RR Speaker neg Purple/blk stripe Violet/blk Stripe Pink 15 Amplifier Remote On Blue/wht stripe Blue/wht stripe 12 Amplifier Ground Black/wht stripe Illumination Orange/wht stripe Orange Red/blu stripe 8 Dimmer Orange/blk stripe Red/yel stripe 7
I made a mistake in the post. Doh! I meant to say the orange wire IS connected to the red/BLUE wire (pin 8). The red yellow/wire (pin 7) is the one I grounded. I updated the post. So it appears to be connected properly. Just no dimming and no lights w/o the makeshift ground of the red/yellow wire.
The fuses are good.
Going to pull out the dimmer switch and test it as that's all that's left as far as I can tell. I will get back to ya.
Last edited by ack_thpt; 11-09-2013 at 12:16 PM.
11-09-2013, 05:15 AM
#6
Newbie - Just Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5
After doing some more reading it looks like the fact that I can ground the red/yellow wire and get the dash lights to work means the switch is fried. Must have burnt it out while installing the radio. Off to eBay...
Thanks all.
Thanks all.
11-09-2013, 10:25 AM
#7
Ah... gotcha DennisMik on the external CD harnesses.
I made a mistake in the post. Doh! I meant to say the orange wire IS connected to the red/BLUE wire (pin 7). The red yellow/wire (pin 8) is the one I grounded. I updated the post. So it appears to be connected properly. Just no dimming and no lights w/o the makeshift ground of the red/yellow wire.
The fuses are good.
Going to pull out the dimmer switch and test it as that's all that's left as far as I can tell. I will get back to ya.
I made a mistake in the post. Doh! I meant to say the orange wire IS connected to the red/BLUE wire (pin 7). The red yellow/wire (pin 8) is the one I grounded. I updated the post. So it appears to be connected properly. Just no dimming and no lights w/o the makeshift ground of the red/yellow wire.
The fuses are good.
Going to pull out the dimmer switch and test it as that's all that's left as far as I can tell. I will get back to ya.
The red/blue wire is 12 volts coming from fuse # 18 for all the dash lights. The blue/yellow wire comes from the dimmer switch in the dash board. This wire is used to supply ground to the light bulb. The voltage level on this wire changes from ground for maximum brightness to 12 volts for no light.
I hope that you never grounded the blue yellow wire in the nissan harness as this would be shorting out the variable resistor in the dimmer switch. This is why I did not connect any wire to pin 7, the blue/yellow wire in the nissan harness. When you connected the Scosche orange/white to both the red/blue and red/yellow, this is probably the when you burned out the dimmer switch.
11-09-2013, 12:20 PM
#8
Newbie - Just Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5
I hope you just made a typing mistake as those pin numbers above are reversed.
The red/blue wire is 12 volts coming from fuse # 18 for all the dash lights. The blue/yellow wire comes from the dimmer switch in the dash board. This wire is used to supply ground to the light bulb. The voltage level on this wire changes from ground for maximum brightness to 12 volts for no light.
I hope that you never grounded the blue yellow wire in the nissan harness as this would be shorting out the variable resistor in the dimmer switch. This is why I did not connect any wire to pin 7, the blue/yellow wire in the nissan harness. When you connected the Scosche orange/white to both the red/blue and red/yellow, this is probably the when you burned out the dimmer switch.
The red/blue wire is 12 volts coming from fuse # 18 for all the dash lights. The blue/yellow wire comes from the dimmer switch in the dash board. This wire is used to supply ground to the light bulb. The voltage level on this wire changes from ground for maximum brightness to 12 volts for no light.
I hope that you never grounded the blue yellow wire in the nissan harness as this would be shorting out the variable resistor in the dimmer switch. This is why I did not connect any wire to pin 7, the blue/yellow wire in the nissan harness. When you connected the Scosche orange/white to both the red/blue and red/yellow, this is probably the when you burned out the dimmer switch.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Greenmaxspeed
4th Generation Classifieds (1995-1999)
0
08-08-2015 12:39 PM
MikesChevelle
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
4
08-06-2015 11:36 AM
kjm900r
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
6
08-05-2015 07:14 AM