Need help finding constant power source

[redneck_bill]

Ok, this is probably an easy question for you guys so please bear with the newb. having some trouble putting a CD player into an '84 Cavalier.

I got the thing all in and wired up but the only way I could get it to

work was to splice the power and the 12v constant wire together on the

radio side of the harness and plug that into the factory harness. The

result is every time I turn the car off the radio resets and loses any

radio stations that were saved and also resets the clock. The factory

radio wasn't connected to the car's constant power source because it

used the old fashioned push-buttons to save radio stations. How can I

tap into the 12 constant circuit? I'm kinda new at this but I know the

12 volt constant wires are orange. There's one running behind the

radio I could cut and connect to but wouldn't that short out whatever

that wire goes to currently? Someone told me I could get an amp wiring

kit and run the yellow 12v wire straight to the car's battery but I'm

not sure how to go about that either. Any advice?

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[req 5,000+ posts]

check your fuse box, its usually eaither under the dash where the drivers feet are, or on the side under a little pull-out-flap between the driver door and the dashboard.

will look somthing like this

there is usually a label on the cover that you have to remove that looks like this

find the one that says RADIO and pull out that corresponding fuse

if the fuse is blown, it will look like this;

if its fine, they will still be connected inside and look like this

if you cant find the label, just pull out EVERY fuse and check it. replace any broken ones with the same kind (you can get them at ANY auto store for a few bucks)

your best friend will be a multimeter and a 9v battery.

use the multimeter to test for DC voltage (12v) - the constant wire should ALWAYS have 12v (after you replace the fuse) and the ignition wire should ONLY have 12v when the key is cranked to ON position. then use the 9v battery to test each individual pair of speakers. take the speaker lines and gently\quickly tap them to the battery - it should make a popping noise, that will tell you the speaker lines are correct, and what speaker they go to //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

If you need to find a constant power wire, your cigarette lighter will have one going to it you could tap off of.

 

[redneck_bill]

That sounds like a cool trick with the 9 volt battery. I'll check all the fuses, just for fun. I have a feeling I'm gonna end up stealing the wire from the cigarette lighter, I was just hoping there was another way.