DIY: Radio switch
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Prowlin' with a Purpose
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DIY: Radio switch
ok not sure where this was supposed to go.. but here goes..
I was sitting in my car thinking... wouldnt it be cool to be able to listen to the radio without having my key in the ignition
reason for this switch was so i can have the radio on, fill the tank, and run in and pay without having to worry about someone stealing my car, friends moving it, and whatnot
so after some deliberating, i decided to do it
things you need...
philips screwdriver
switch (on-off)
wire, any gauge, doesnt matter what color..
connectors to attach the wires to teh switch
basically remove the shroud from the steering column figure out where the wire harness is.. it shouldnt be too hard, its big beefy wires
now you know where everything is... placement of the switch is up to you
disconnect the ground wire from the battery!!! you dont wanna blow fuses or zap yourself
tap into the white wire, run it to the switch
tap into the white with red stripe, and run it to the switch, if you have a lighted switch, run the ground...
thats it... you can now turn on the radio without having the key in the ignition, since you tapped the wires, you can still use the key acc position too so no functionality has been hurt
happy moddin
I was sitting in my car thinking... wouldnt it be cool to be able to listen to the radio without having my key in the ignition
reason for this switch was so i can have the radio on, fill the tank, and run in and pay without having to worry about someone stealing my car, friends moving it, and whatnot
so after some deliberating, i decided to do it
things you need...
philips screwdriver
switch (on-off)
wire, any gauge, doesnt matter what color..
connectors to attach the wires to teh switch
basically remove the shroud from the steering column figure out where the wire harness is.. it shouldnt be too hard, its big beefy wires
now you know where everything is... placement of the switch is up to you
disconnect the ground wire from the battery!!! you dont wanna blow fuses or zap yourself
tap into the white wire, run it to the switch
tap into the white with red stripe, and run it to the switch, if you have a lighted switch, run the ground...
thats it... you can now turn on the radio without having the key in the ignition, since you tapped the wires, you can still use the key acc position too so no functionality has been hurt
happy moddin 
Thread Starter
Prowlin' with a Purpose
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Originally Posted by IronFist
So if the car is running, does it matter what position the switch is in or will the radio work regardless?
Yup, i'm an A$$hole.
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From: Florida
Rep Power: 328 I woulda hidden the switch elsewhere, but neat mod. Next project is use a cluster of relays to make it so the radio stays on after you take the key out, but shuts off as soon as you open the door 
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They have that stock in Dodge Caravans... kinda interesting but neat I guess
Easier way to do this mod is to splice switched power into the constant power wire
Easier way to do this mod is to splice switched power into the constant power wire
Thread Starter
Prowlin' with a Purpose
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From: Minnesota
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Originally Posted by abmerop18
ncie diy. i got the same HU as you 
which is the same thing.. except you got the newer version with like an extra display mode.. but the faceplates are interchangeable.. hehe
Registered!!
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From: bay area, california
Rep Power: 338 but the wire in teh radio harness is cuter? I dont get it, why is bigger neccesary here?
unless you plan to run a coffee maker off your accessory socket while stopped...... I thought this was just for your radio? maybe cell phone charging too?
unless you plan to run a coffee maker off your accessory socket while stopped...... I thought this was just for your radio? maybe cell phone charging too?
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From: bay area, california
Rep Power: 338 this will work for any accessory.
those of us with more powerful systems might consider responsible listening with the car off or protection agasint dead batteries if this is something we are serious about doing.
those of us with more powerful systems might consider responsible listening with the car off or protection agasint dead batteries if this is something we are serious about doing.
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From: bay area, california
Rep Power: 338 definitely able to get away with a deep cycle battery. my car could run no subbass on a die hard deep cycle battery for 7 days straight (straight being only when im actually driving) before the battery died.
never tried to kill the battery with subbass in a single run, but the goal is to last through a drive in movie at high volume including subbass.
deep dycle is defintiely the way to go for any extended listening with the car off.
but you can just upgrade the under hood battery to a red top and the car should be good for at least an hour with the vehicle off with 1200 rms of subbass at medium volumes.
never tried to kill the battery with subbass in a single run, but the goal is to last through a drive in movie at high volume including subbass.
deep dycle is defintiely the way to go for any extended listening with the car off.
but you can just upgrade the under hood battery to a red top and the car should be good for at least an hour with the vehicle off with 1200 rms of subbass at medium volumes.
