Fox Dimmer wire for aftermarket radio?

M

Mikesbaron

Member

Jun 1, 2019

59

0

6

WA

Jun 18, 2019

#1

• Jun 18, 2019

• #1

1979 where PO butchered stock harness to install an aftermarket stereo. I have everything connected except for the orange/white dimmer wire from the head unit. I can't figure out which wire on the car's harness is the correct dimmer wire. I've tried testing the wires coming from the headlight switch box but I'm not finding one that only comes on when the light switch is pull to ON.

What colored wire should I hook into ?

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,260

17,945

224

Massachusetts

Jun 18, 2019

#2

• Jun 18, 2019

• #2

Light blue with red tracer comes from the dimmer.

 

M

Mikesbaron

Member

Jun 1, 2019

59

0

6

WA

Jun 18, 2019

#3

• Jun 18, 2019

• #3

Ok so "dimmer" you mean the switch assembly on the lower left of the dash that I pull out to turn the lights on, and rotate to dim the dash panel?
If so, I tried all of those but I'll try again. If I'm doing i t correctly, I should be looking for a wire that has 0 volts until I pull the light switch out (or in other words to the ON) position?

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,260

17,945

224

Massachusetts

Jun 18, 2019

#4

• Jun 18, 2019

• #4

Correct. The factory radio lighting and much of the interior lighting is tied to the blue/red wire coming off the dimmer. It should be 0 volts with lights off and then come on with the parking lamps provided the dimmer wheel isn't set to full dim/off

 

F

firefyteremt

Member

Jun 3, 2019

16

12

13

NE Conn

Jun 21, 2019

#5

• Jun 21, 2019

• #5

Just so you know, the wire is just a 12v+ wire when the parking lights are on, the aftermarket head unit takes the 12v+ input and dims down the display a little bit when the lights are turned on.