I am looking for 2 constant power wires in the console behind the ashtray (for the C280).
Does anyone know how to locate these for:

1. Constant power wire to the radio.
2. Any other constant power wire that is back there.


I want constant power to the radio for my CD player to be wired to it so that I can turn my cd player on/off as long as the radio is on, regardless if the key is in the ignition.
I want any constant power wire so that I can have the memory stored to my CD player. (Temporarily, I have a wire coming from the center console, hidden throughout the car, into the trunk, and actually hooked on the actual battery. I don't like this setup at all, this is a temp fix, but I want to find a permanent solution! Thanks all.

Make your own
 

I have found that it works best to make your own, take heavy gauge wires from the battery to the dash. route a wire to the battery negative terminal as well. Just make sure you put a fuse as close to the positive terminal as you can.

Do you really think I should just stick with my homemade one? ONly make it more durable and add a fuse to it?
Hmmm, a possibility, but is there not a constant power wire back there?!
Also, what about constant power to the radio? I need one of those.
Thanks Mach. :)

I would, just make your own, there is an easy firewall access behind battery in passgenger side, behind glove comptartment. When you bring these wires through, you can hook up as many things as you need to the positive wire. later you may want to add an inverter to it. that is why i like it to be heavy gauge because over the years you may have alot of things running from it. If you use one of the existing thing wires, you could keep blowing fuses, then you have to find which fuse etc.

Are you looking for the install the CD unit in the dash area or in the trunk?

When I installed my changer in the trunk of my 90 300CE I picked up the constant power and switched power from the power antenna plug in the trunk. One pin had constant power and another had swithced power that worked with the radio. The switched power worked regardless of the antenna switch on the dash and the ignition key. In other words...if I could turn the radio on, the CD changer got powered up....when the radio shuts off so does the changer. Very simple.

This was the quickest and cleanest way I found to isntall my CD changer. Only wire(s) I ran to behind the radio was for the FM Modulator and Wired remote.

I'm not sure if this is what you want to do....hope this helps.

Kevin, I appreciate your help, but my problem is that my FM Modulation unit is actually behind the stereo. ONly the CD Changer is in the trunk. So I want to avoid running wiring throughout the car if I have to. Thanks. :)

1995 C280...the constant power behind your radio probably has a color code red with a blue line...
You can use a test light to check all wires for power.
You will have a brown ground wire, a pink/red switched power, a gray/blue illumination, a green/white speed-pulse, and some other wires.

Never connect a wire directly to the battery (especially NOT without using a fuse). The C class has some wires connected to the positive side of the battery and these wires run directly to the additional fuse box in the trunk. Lift this fuse box out of its socket (no tools needed), turn it 180 degrees round and you will see a lot of free pins at the bottom to which you can connect any permanent powered wire. Take a pin that leads to a spare fuse position and use that for any additives in your car and run the wire through the existing cable trays to the front.
It is possible to unscrew the lid over the front fuse box as well (after you have disconnected the battery), take out the parts that hold the fuses and look at the bottom side. It is possible to connect additional wires here as well...

greetingz,

Steve,
So the red wire with blue line is the constant for the radio? I don't need a fuse for that, correct? (Since the radio is already fused)
And the brown wire is the constant groud? And I obviously need to cut the wires to use with the test light, correct?

Once I do this, I will not need fuses for them, correct?

The permanent and switched power to your radio is already fused; right. You do not need an additional fuse for that and you can hook up the CD changer without any fear of blowing the fuse because of the extra demanded power.

To test light the wires, you can disconnect the plug at the back of the radio and start poking in that plug...you do not cut any wires.

greetingz,

But I don't have the tool to pull the radio out.

tool
 

David,

The tool for the radio removers is about 7.00 from the dealer.

I got one for mine.

Troy

ohhh, ok, I will do that. Thanks troy!
Headlight covers?