When the headlights are turned on the radio turns off

[97srad750 10+ year member]

I just bought this car. It's an 01 Ford Explorer. It looks like the previous owner cut off the factory harness and then they put it back on. I assume they had an aftermarket radio in it at one point. The wires seem to match up. I didn't notice it until I picked the car up from the lot last night.

Any suggestions?

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[Upgrayedd 10+ year member]

radio grounded to ill circuit?

 

[NoCoSPL 10+ year member]

On some fords when you don't have the instrument cluster lights turned up you cant see anything on the factory deck when the lights are on. Or it straight up shuts off?

 

[97srad750 10+ year member]

It straight up shuts off, and if you cut off the lights it comes back on

 

[NoCoSPL 10+ year member]

See if your ground wire gets engergized when you turn on the lights leaving you with no difference of potential. But never the less pull out the multimeter and find whats hot and whats not and if worst comes to worse tap your own Accessory and 12v constant along with a new ground.

 

[TnT_Sounds 10+ year member]

Sounds like a relay malfunction. Have you read through the manual and compare the wiring harnesses?

 

[350regal 10+ year member]

you probably have the power or ground hooked up to the illumination wire like someone else said.

 

[Treo15x2 10+ year member]

you probably have the power or ground hooked up to the illumination wire like someone else said.

x2

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, sounds like the switched power and illumination wires are crossed.

 

[97srad750 10+ year member]

It was two crossed up wires. Both red and black. I switched them and I have radio at night.

 

[Franklinnn 10+ year member]

That was the first mistake i ever made, and thankfully a .20$ fuse popped instead of a electrical fire, burnt stereo, exploded battery!

glad its fixed now