Radio Hot Lead

Good Morning All,
So, I'd like to be able to play radio without having the key on.

The fifteen-conductor connector to the radio has two red w/ black stripe wires - is one of these the one I want? If so, which one?

Any problem with splicing into the cigar lighter hot lead for this?

Thanks...

Well, I went ahead and spliced into lighter 12V (and changed to 25A fuse) - and may live to regret it as the clock on the radio is now on constantly. Switched power turns out to be on the yellow/black stripe lead.

How long before this will run battery down?

To answer my own question - not long! Battery was almost dead day before yesterday morning but it did start the car.

Pulled radio out to change back to original switched 12V lead. Radio was very warm to the touch so obviously something more than just the LED's for clock was running!

The entire radio was on all night.

If you want to do something like this, your best bet is to wire in a switch to be able to turn it off.

Although I don't see why you'd want to have a radio that's on without the key.

DjDom said:

Although I don't see why you'd want to have a radio that's on without the key.

Click to expand...

My wife's Trailblazer LS does this. Very annoying. Turn the car off and the radio stays on until you open the door to exit. GM engineering I guess.

Yes, that's a GM thing. That's a feature almost all of them have. But why would you want it to be on without the keys?