'97 Impreza - Lighter and Radio Dead

J

Joe Lee

Have a '97 Impreza, which has served me well for many years. But a while
back, the after market CD Player/Radio went dead. Soon after (or maybe
simultaneoiusly since I seldom use it), the cigarette lighter went dead as
well. I found the fuse boxes and replaced the appropriate fuse, even though
all fuses looked fine. Then I figured out how to remove the radio and
checked the wiring, which looks clean and intact. No loose cables. The
connection was solid. Since the CD player is less than a year old, I doubt
it is the equipment itself. I do not have the original to use for a test. So
I have been living with no audio and cannot plug any devices (cooler,
flashlight, air pump, etc. into the lighter slot to make summer travel
easier. Do I have any options other than bringing it to a dealership or
audio installer? Any idea how much repair would cost? Love this vehicle, but
would like some pleasure and convenience. Any help will be appreciated.
 
Have a '97 Impreza, which has served me well for many years. But a while
back, the after market CD Player/Radio went dead. Soon after (or maybe
simultaneoiusly since I seldom use it), the cigarette lighter went dead as
well. I found the fuse boxes and replaced the appropriate fuse, even though
all fuses looked fine. Then I figured out how to remove the radio and
checked the wiring, which looks clean and intact. No loose cables. The
connection was solid. Since the CD player is less than a year old, I doubt
it is the equipment itself. I do not have the original to use for a test.So
I have been living with no audio and cannot plug any devices (cooler,
flashlight, air pump, etc.  into the lighter slot to make summer travel
easier. Do I have any options other than bringing it to a dealership or
audio installer? Any idea how much repair would cost? Love this vehicle, but
would like some pleasure and convenience.  Any help will be appreciated..

                                                                          ---
Joe ---  

I would remove the radio and test for current at the wiring harness
plug. With the key in the ACC or RUN position, 3 of the wires should
be hot (memory, illum, 12V). If all 3 hot then there is a problem
with the radio. Would also check the wire for the lighter.

Check the radio harness also for an inline fuse.
 
Have a '97 Impreza, which has served me well for many years. But a while
back, the after market CD Player/Radio went dead. Soon after (or maybe
simultaneoiusly since I seldom use it), the cigarette lighter went dead as
well. I found the fuse boxes and replaced the appropriate fuse, even though
all fuses looked fine. Then I figured out how to remove the radio and
checked the wiring, which looks clean and intact. No loose cables. The
connection was solid. Since the CD player is less than a year old, I doubt
it is the equipment itself. I do not have the original to use for a test. So
I have been living with no audio and cannot plug any devices (cooler,
flashlight, air pump, etc. into the lighter slot to make summer travel
easier. Do I have any options other than bringing it to a dealership or
audio installer? Any idea how much repair would cost? Love this vehicle, but
would like some pleasure and convenience. Any help will be appreciated.

A lot of time Japanese cars have two fuses for the radio, one in the fuse
block inside the car and one under the hood. Did you check both?
 
A lot of time Japanese cars have two fuses for the radio, one in the fuse
block inside the car and one under the hood. Did you check both?



Also, for dead lighter socket, there's a fuse directly behind the
socket.
 
Hi Joe!

I'll have to chime in with other posters on this one; probably
separate issues here. The only place the lighter and stereo share a
common source is the "ACC" position of the ignition switch. (OEM
stereo, anyway; who knows what the installer may have changed. Is the
aftermarket head plugged into the OEM stereo connector via a wiring
harness adapter? Otherwise, did the installer perhaps connect the
aftermarket unit to a different 12V source? You'll have to look.) They
just _might_ share a common ground point, tho, that is the first thing
I'd check; look for a black wire(s) running to a sheet metal screw
into the metal dash support somewhere nearby, and be sure it is clean
and tight..

I'm looking at the wiring diagram now. 12V for the ignition switch
comes from the battery, thru the fusible link, FL1, thru SBF4, a 45
amp fuse (both in the fuse box beneath the hood), and into the IG
switch at terminal 1, "B". This is all OK, or the car wouldn't run.
From the ignition switch at terminal 2, "ACC", 12V goes into the fuse
box beneath the dash. Fuse 17, a 15 amp one, is the switched 12V to
the stereo. Fuse 3, a 20 amp version, provides for the lighter. The
"always hot" lead to the stereo comes from the battery, thru the
fusible link FL1, thru SBF3, a 45 amp fuse, and thru a 10 amp fuse,
#25. These all in the box in the engine compartment, but a failure in
this circuit will _not_ affect the lighter.

I'd suggest that you get a 12V test light (for this kind of test, the
test light will provide less ambiguous results than is often the case
with a digital voltmeter (and is cheaper as well). If you're curious
as to why this is so (a function of input impedance) email directly
and I'll try to explain in more detail. Whatever, verify the above
power routing right on out to the stereo plug and lighter socket. If
there is 12V everywhere, you have a dead head unit / lighter, or a bad
ground as mentioned above.

Good luck with this!

ByeBye! S.

Have a '97 Impreza, which has served me well for many years. But a while
back, the after market CD Player/Radio went dead. Soon after (or maybe
simultaneoiusly since I seldom use it), the cigarette lighter went dead as
well. I found the fuse boxes and replaced the appropriate fuse, even though
all fuses looked fine. Then I figured out how to remove the radio and
checked the wiring, which looks clean and intact. No loose cables. The
connection was solid. Since the CD player is less than a year old, I doubt
it is the equipment itself. I do not have the original to use for a test. So
I have been living with no audio and cannot plug any devices (cooler,
flashlight, air pump, etc. into the lighter slot to make summer travel
easier. Do I have any options other than bringing it to a dealership or
audio installer? Any idea how much repair would cost? Love this vehicle, but
would like some pleasure and convenience. Any help will be appreciated.

Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101
 

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