Shlomo has a pretty nice aftermarket stereo, it's an Aiwa 40x4 head unit with Pioneer speakers all around-- a Sony amplifier and small subwoofer where the first aid box used to be.

The problem is that the power wire from the head unit to the amplifier doesn't seem to be sending constant electricity, and the amplifier won't stay powered up. The amp draws power directly from the battery, and has an in-line fuse-- this wire is 'soft' power, I believe.

I ran a new wire from the radio to the amplifier and it does power up, but only for around a second and then the light fades off.

Does this sound like a head unit problem or one with the amplifier? Any recommended courses of action? I have the console ripped out because I'm adding seat heating, and I want to get the radio functioning as it was before I button down the hatches and put it all back together!

Would the power antenna 'switch' wire only send power when the radio is on?

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http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Untitled-1.jpg

What you can try is to just hook the wire to a switched 12V source (such as a cigarette lighter or another ignition switched power wire) and if the amp turns on, then it has to be the head unit. Some people have wired it into the 12V switched wire on the headunit, but I think this would lead to the amp running whenever the car is on, whether the radio is powered on or not. My car has an old manual antenna, so I don't know about the power antenna being an option. Hopefully this helps you, not causes more confusion (I've been known to do that very often.)
-Zach

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1978 240D Auomatic
Custom Charcoal Gray, Navy MB tex, kenwood/Elemental/Boston/Aura sound,
Shaved antenna and emblems.

1990 Lincoln Town Car, Sleeper/Strip car in progress, 17.75@77mph.