High Power AM/FM Stereo Car Cassette Player (120-2104A) Installation Faxback Doc. # 18186 BEFORE YOU BEGIN THE INSTALLATION IMPORTANT: Please note that the installation might require cutting or modifying your vehicle. To properly install your auto sound system, you should be able to answer all of these questions about your vehicle's electrical and existing sound systems. Does my vehicle have a 12-volt negative ground system? Which of the stereo's wires is the power wire? Which terminal on my vehicle's fuse box is for accessories? How do I connect a wire to the fuse box? Which stereo wires are line-level outputs and which are speaker outputs? Be sure your speakers can handle 28 watts of power (14 watts per channel). Each speaker must have an impedance of at least 4 ohms. Your local Radio Shack store carries a full line of speakers. Preparing the Mounting Area Before you mount the stereo, to be sure you have all the necessary parts: Main Unit Mounting Bolt Mounting Sleeve Metal Strap (bend if necessary) Washer & Nut Locking Flange Self-Tapping Screw. Then confirm that the stereo fits your vehicle's stereo mounting area. NOTE: This autosound stereo system is a DIN-E size unit that requires a 2 1/8-inch high by 7 1/4-inch wide by 8 1/2-inch deep mounting area. If the mounting area is too large, you should be able to mount the stereo with the supplied mounting sleeve or an in-dash installation kit, available at your local Radio Shack store. Follow the installation kit's instructions to mount the stereo. Routing Speaker Wire If you install speakers, avoid routing the speaker wire near moving parts or sharp edges. You can usually route it along the wiring channel beneath the vehicle's door facings by carefully removing the molding that holds the carpet in place. After you route the speaker wire, replace the molding. Testing the Stereo Before you mount the stereo or connect it to any speakers, test the stereo by temporarily connecting the power wires and attaching the front panel as described in "Making the Connections," "Attaching and Removing the Front Panel," and "Testing the Connections," below. IMPORTANT: Do not cut any stereo wires. If you cut any wire, you cannot obtain a refund or exchange on this product. Radio Shack will provide warranty service if you cut a wire and find the product is defective. MAKING THE CONNECTIONS Using an Adapter Harness If you are replacing an existing stereo, or if your vehicle has been factory-wired for autosound components, you might be able to use an adapter harness to connect the power source and speakers. Radio Shack stores sell adapter harnesses for most vehicles. Follow the directions supplied with the adapter harness to temporarily connect the power source, speakers, and antenna. Connecting Ground, Power, and Optional Components CAUTIONS: Before you begin, for your personal safety and your stereo's protection, disconnect the cable from your vehicle battery's negative (-) terminal. Failure to connect the power and ground wires first might result in damage to the unit if you incorrectly connect other wires by mistake. Using fuses with greater than the specified rating might damage the unit and could void its warranty. Follow these steps to connect ground and primary, accessory, and remote power. See illustration "A" on Faxback Doc.# 18002,"Connections" to check the connections. 1. Connect the black ground wire to a chassis ground, such as a metal screw attached to a metal part of the vehicle's frame. Be sure that the screw is not insulated from the chassis by a plastic part. 2. Connect the red power lead B+ wire (with in-line fuse holder) to a point in your vehicle's fuse block that has power only when you turn the vehicle's ignition on or to the accessory (ACC) position. This connection provides power to the stereo only when you turn on the ignition or ACC. This prevents vehicle battery drain if you leave the stereo on when you turn off the ignition. 3. Connect the yellow wire (with in-line fuse holder) to your vehicle battery's positive (+) terminal or to a fuse that provides a continuous source of 12 volts. This connection provides continuous power for the clock and tuner memory when the ignition is turned off. 4. Connect the blue/white wire to any optional equipment that you want the stereo to turn on and off, such as a power antenna. This wire does not provide power to the equipment. It simply turns it on and off. If you do not use this wire, secure it with a wire tie and do not let it touch metal. Note: The optional equipment must be designed for use with a switched power lead. ATTACHING AND REMOVING THE FRONT PANEL Follow these steps to attach the front panel to the main unit. 1. Gently insert the tabs on the left side of the front panel into the slots on the left edge of the main unit. 2. Press the right side of the panel into the housing until it locks into place. Follow these steps to detach the front panel from the main unit. 1. Press the front panel release button to unlock the panel from the housing. 2. Hold the front panel at the right edge and gently pull the panel away from the housing. NOTE: To keep the front panel safe from dust and scratches, always store it in its protective carrying case when not attached to the main unit. TESTING THE CONNECTIONS Before you test the connections: 1. Plug the 14-pin wire harness into the stereo's 14-pin wiring socket. 2. Reconnect your vehicle battery's negative (-) cable. 3. Attach the stereo's front panel. Then turn on your vehicle's ignition and verify that everything works properly (the stereo works properly when the display lights and the time display appears). If the stereo does not work properly, IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF YOUR VEHICLE'S IGNITION. Then disconnect your vehicle battery's negative (-) cable, unplug the wiring harness, and recheck all connections. If the display lights but the time display does not appear, the power and ground connections might be reversed. After you test the stereo and verify that everything works properly, make sure the connections are correctly identified, then: 1. Unplug the 14-pin wire harness from the stereo's 14-pin wiring socket. 2. Disconnect your vehicle battery's negative (-) cable. 3. Remove the stereo's front panel. Then following the instructions in "Connecting Speakers," below and "Mounting the Stereo," below. CONNECTING SPEAKERS CAUTIONS: Be sure to secure any unused wires with a wire tie and insulate them with electrical tape so they do not touch metal. Be sure to connect a separate wire to each speaker terminal. Do not use a common wire or chassis ground for any speaker connection. To connect only two speakers, front or rear follow these steps (see illustration "B" in Faxback Doc.# 18002, Connections). 1. Use a small screwdriver to move the switch on the bottom of the unit to that 2-channel position. 2. Connect the gray wire to the right speaker's positive terminal. This terminal is usually marked with a plus (+) sign or red mark. 3. Connect the violet/black wire to the right speaker's negative terminal. This terminal might be marked with a minus(-) sign, or it might not be marked at all. 4. Connect the white wire to the left speaker's positive (+) terminal. 5. Connect the green/black wire to the left speaker's negative (-) terminal. To connect four speakers, follow these steps (see illustration "B" in Faxback Doc# 18002, Connections). 1. Use a small screwdriver to move the switch on the bottom of the unit to the 4-channel position. 2. Connect the gray wire to the front right speaker's positive terminal. This terminal is usually marked with a plus (+) sign or red mark. 3. Connect the gray/black wire to the front right speaker's negative terminal. This terminal might be marked with a minus (-) sign, or it might not be marked at all. 4. Connect the white wire to the front left speaker's positive (+) terminal. 5. Connect the white/black wire to the front left speaker's negative (-) terminal. 6. Connect the violet wire to the rear right speaker's positive (+) terminal. 7. Connect the violet/black wire to the rear right speaker's negative (-) terminal. 8. Connect the green wire to the rear left speaker's positive (+) terminal. 9. Connect the green/black wire to the rear left speaker's negative (-) terminal. CHECKING THE CONNECTIONS Make sure you have made all connections before you continue. MOUNTING THE STEREO Be sure you test the stereo first and verify that it works properly. Follow these steps to mount the stereo. Caution: Make sure your vehicle's battery cable is disconnected from the negative (-) terminal and the wiring harness is disconnected. NOTE: If you are using an in-dash installation kit, follow the procedure outlined in the kit, and proceed to Step 2 (skip Step 1). 1. Insert the mounting sleeve into the dash. Then use a screwdriver to bend out the locking flanges. NOTE: To further secure the stereo, if your vehicle's dashboard permits access to the back of your stereo, attach one end of the supplied metal strap to the bolt on the back of the stereo. Then attach the other end of the strap to a solid metal part of the vehicle using an existing bolt or the supplied self-tapping screw. This strap also ensures that the stereo is properly grounded. 2. Slide the main unit into the mounting sleeve until it locks into place. 3. Connect the vehicle's antenna cable to the stereo's antenna socket. 4. Reconnect the wiring harness and the antenna. 5. Reconnect your vehicle battery's negative (-) cable. REMOVING THE STEREO Follow these steps to remove the stereo from the dash. 1. Disconnect your vehicle's battery cable from the negative (-) terminal. 2. If necessary, remove the metal strap attached to the back of the stereo. 3. Remove the detachable front panel. See "Attaching and Removing the Front Panel," above. 4. Insert each supplied key into a hole on the sides of the main unit. 5. Press the keys downward and slide the stereo out of the dash. Note: To remove the keys, push up on the retaining tabs under the unit then pull the keys out. 6. Disconnect the wiring harness and antenna. 7. Reconnect your vehicle battery's negative (-) cable. CONNECTING LINE-LEVEL COMPONENTS This stereo has pre-amp outputs (phono connectors) for connection to an equalizer/booster, power amplifier, or other device that has line-level inputs. To ensure a low-noise connection, connect a ground wire between the stereo and the additional component. The following diagram shows a typical system using the line outputs, see illustration "C" on Faxback Doc.# 18002, Connections. NOTE: Always refer to the component's owner's manual to ensure proper connections. (CS 11/20/95)