Making custom Denali CD changer harness, HELP!

[endo]

Hi all,

 

I've had some trouble with connectivity with my Denali CD changer t-tapped into my factory radio. So I've since removed the t-taps and disconnected the changer entirely (temporarily) and am building a new go-between harness that will be assembled/tested entirely outside of the truck and then installed between the factory radio + harness.

 

What I'm doing is taking the piggyback harness from a USA-Spec under-seat CD changer for 03+ GM applications and combining it with the "half cable" that came with my Denali CD changer (from JP customs) that was formerly t-tapped directly into the factory harness.

 

BTW, for anyone interested in doing this, the part number for the USA-Spec harness is "CAS-G7i"...got mine as discountcarstereo.com for like $20-30.

 

I'm all set to wire this up and was using this diagram from Linda's mega-thread on nav/changer installs:

 

But I ran into one issue that has caused me mild concern. First, note that the CAS-G7i harness is doing the EXACT same thing I want to do. But it has DIFFERENT wires tapped than the ones shown above.

 

On the 12-pin connector, the three audio pins are tapped (K, J, H) as shown in the diagram. But "G" is also tapped.

 

On the 24-pin connector, B1 and A12 are tapped, but A1 is NOT. Instead, B2 is tapped.

 

At this point, I'm tempted just to undo all the work they've done to this harness, and start from scratch based on the diagram.

 

Here is a pic of what I'm working with:

[jfernandez272003]

http://duramax.onlinedesk.net/navinstall/radio_harness.html

 

I would stick to your diagram and the link above!!

 

Too bad your experiment didn't work!!

[endo]

http://duramax.onlinedesk.net/navinstall/radio_harness.html

 

I would stick to your diagram and the link above!!

 

Too bad your experiment didn't work!!

 

Thanks for that link, I'd been trying to find that one but could only find a "part" of it. I'm about 99% I had it wires this way before. I'm still going to use this harness...just going to have to tap into some wires that I was hoping wouldn't have to be meddled with.

[poucedeleon]

Endo,

I am at the same point as you are. I hooked everything up per the diagram, but it is somewhat cloudy. If you get this harness to work it sure would make it easier for us folks still trying to figure this out.

[poucedeleon]

http://duramax.onlinedesk.net/navinstall/radio_harness.html

 

After looking at the Color diagram from Endo and getting the VCI sheet from Duramax.online I have found some discepencies. The wire colors don't match up. 14 in the color picture is "Dk Grn" but in the VCI sheet it's "Tan"

The VCI sheet says "9" NOT USED but the color pictures shows it as the Drain and that it is plugged into "C" on the 12pin Connector

The VCI sheet from Duramax show 7 wires used, but the info from Linda's site says you only use 6 wires.

If some one can clear this up I would appreciate it. Don't want to hook them up wrong.

[mikbor1]

Here's how I wired mine and I have no problems--I stripped some insulation off of the wires on the back of both the 12 pin and 24 pin plugs (the ones that plug into the back of the radio), wrapped the corresponding wire from the cd harness around that wire and soldered it--

 

1) TAN on CD changer harness goes to BLACK+WHITE on 12 pin plug

 

2) BROWN on CD changer harness Goes to BROWN+WHITE on 12 pin plug

 

3) LIGHT GREEN on CD changer harness goes to DARK GREEN/WHITE on 12 pin plug

 

4) DARK GREEN on CD changer harness goes to UPPER ORANGE (A1) on 24 pin harness

 

5) ORANGE on CD changer harness goes to LOWER ORANGE (B1) on 24 pin harness

 

6) BLACK on CD changer harness goes to BLACK/WHITE on 24 pin harness

 

Scotch-loc's can be used instead of soldering--All remaining wires on the CD harness are not used--Just tape off ends--

[poucedeleon]

Here's how I wired mine and I have no problems--I stripped some insulation off of the wires on the back of both the 12 pin and 24 pin plugs (the ones that plug into the back of the radio), wrapped the corresponding wire from the cd harness around that wire and soldered it--

 

1) TAN on CD changer harness goes to BLACK+WHITE on 12 pin plug

 

2) BROWN on CD changer harness Goes to BROWN+WHITE on 12 pin plug

 

3) LIGHT GREEN on CD changer harness goes to DARK GREEN/WHITE on 12 pin plug

 

4) DARK GREEN on CD changer harness goes to UPPER ORANGE (A1) on 24 pin harness

 

5) ORANGE on CD changer harness goes to LOWER ORANGE (B1) on 24 pin harness

 

6) BLACK on CD changer harness goes to BLACK/WHITE on 24 pin harness

 

Scotch-loc's can be used instead of soldering--All remaining wires on the CD harness are not used--Just tape off ends--

 

I don't have a Brown wire. I do have ORN/BLK which is represented by the color Brown in the picture. What did you do with the Drain wire?

So the Lt Blue, Gray and Drain are not used?

[mikbor1]

Lt.Blue, Grey, and Drain not touched--

[poucedeleon]

When I ran the Class ll data wire from my amp to the HU i used a 16ga wire (Only wire I had in Dk Blue) does it matter that it's 16ga not 18or20ga?

[mikbor1]

16 ga. is fine--18ga. or heavier is good--Get those tunes blarin'!

[poucedeleon]

Well I think I have a bad connection. I had sound but now nothing. I have power and I am able to change source, but no sound. It worked when I first powered up but then I lost my sound. I touched the wiring harness and it came back for a second but then went away again. I am going to do what you suggested. Remove some insulation wrap the wire around and solder then apply heat shrink. I think all the wires are in the right place just need a good connection.

[mikbor1]

Good Luck, keep us posted!

[endo]

I think those Scotch-Loc-type connectors are what got me into this trouble in the first place. I had my changer hooked up for a year with no troubles...but then it started dropping either the left or right channel in cold weather. Lately (before I pulled it) it was also playing sat radio and the CD at the same time (when in CD mode....when in sat mode, sat radio was uninterrupted).

[poucedeleon]

Did soldering your wires fix that?

[endo]

Did soldering your wires fix that?

 

Don't know yet, haven't done it. I pretty much have never soldered, so I'm having a friend help me this weekend and hope to learn a bit about doing it right (and not melting anything )