How do I get power to the radio?

Tiny
DADDYSBOBBAGURL
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 3.6L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 257,000 MILES
I just purchased this vehicle listed above. I was trying to install a radio when I checked the power wires for power. The 12-volt constant has no power, and the red ignition wire has no power. I tried grounding a test light and a multi meter to the battery itself, still no power from either yellow nor the red wire. I checked the fuses having to do with the radio. All fuses are good. I checked battery fuses and ignition fuses and relays, they're all good. And I cannot find an adapter plug for this vehicle. It's like the power wires don't line up. Please tell me how I can get power to red and yellow wires for the radio.
Wednesday, May 15th, 2024 AT 8:41 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,513 POSTS
There is only one power wire to the radio which is red/wht which is fused by the RDO fuse #17 in the fuse panel in the center of the dash to the right side of the radio. Here are the radio wiring diagrams so you can see how the system works, and which wires go to where to help with the new radio installation. Check out the images (below). Let us know if you need anything else.
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Thursday, May 16th, 2024 AT 12:25 PM
Tiny
DADDYSBOBBAGURL
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All the fuses relating to the radio are good. The radio fuse, the Amp fuse is also good. There is just no power coming from the constant 12 volts or the red switch wire going to the radio. I tried grounding a multimeter to the battery to check power inside the vehicle. Still no power. All fuses are good including fuse #17. That's for the radio.
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Friday, May 17th, 2024 AT 10:40 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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The power wire is red/wht also did the old radio work? If you put the voltmeter on the negative and positive battery terminal. Do you have voltage?
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Monday, May 20th, 2024 AT 11:36 AM
Tiny
DADDYSBOBBAGURL
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  • 9 POSTS
The radio that was in the vehicle when I bought it wasn't working. The battery has 12.4 volts. Everything else works fine. Just no power getting to radio at all.
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Monday, May 20th, 2024 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Using a test light do you have power at the RDO fuse?

This guide can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

please let me know.
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Monday, May 20th, 2024 AT 6:38 PM
Tiny
DADDYSBOBBAGURL
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I checked all fuses. Fuses are good. No power getting to power wire for radio. There is a constant 12volt wire which No power is there either.
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Tuesday, May 21st, 2024 AT 6:32 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Is there power at the RDO fuse?
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Tuesday, May 21st, 2024 AT 8:27 AM
Tiny
DADDYSBOBBAGURL
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Yes, power is getting to fuse for radio and Amp fuse has power also.
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Tuesday, May 21st, 2024 AT 10:13 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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And there is no power at the red/wht wire, correct? You can see by the wiring diagrams above the red/wht wire comes from the fuse panel right from the RDO fuse. Has the wiring been modified?
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Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 AT 10:39 AM
Tiny
DADDYSBOBBAGURL
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
There is no power coming to the radio plugs at all. I have no idea if the wiring was modified or not. I just bought this vehicle about two weeks ago. I grounded a test light to the battery to test for power. There is absolutely no power getting to the wires for the radio but there is ground but no power at all. All fuses are good for battery, Amp and radio.
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Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 AT 1:56 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Okay, thanks for the clarification. Let's check the 50 AMP Batt1 fuse in the under-hood fuse panel here is the location. Check out the images (below). Let us know how it goes.
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Friday, May 24th, 2024 AT 12:33 PM

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