[xj-s] Radio Connections (see radio fuse)

XJ-S
1

Ok, did some more dismantling…pulled the radio, no fuse. Pulled
off the passenger side kick panel on the console…there it is!!
But, its OK. So, with the radio out, I checked the power supply to
various terminals on the radio. This is what I have on the power
plug:
White: nothing, key on or off
Blue: power with lights on
Black: Nothing…possible ground? Don’t have my multimeter here
Yellow: Power with key on
Red: power always…Security/memory lead?

So, should the white have power to it? According to the wiring
diagram (hah) the fuse protected power source is white/pink? The
radio display is blank, no light, no numbers, security light
flashes once when power plug is connected. If I hook power to the
white lead only, at least I get a light on the display, but no
numbers, etc. Should I try running a power supplu to the white
lead, with the power plug connected to the radio? Or will this
cook the radio?–
Bill 87 TWR XJS Ontario, Canada
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

// please trim quoted text to context only

2

Hi Bill,

The Yellow wire is ignition switched main power in via the 20A inline
fuse and radio relay.
The Red wire is battery power for memory via the 2A inline fuse.
The White wire is the signal OUT of the radio to the antenna relay,
indicating radio on.
The Blue wire is from the panel lights, for radio lights via dimmer for
radios with regular lights (NOT AJ8700).

Do NOT apply power to White wire. That may be why radio is not working
if you applied power to the White/Pink wire (other end of the White
wire) at the antenna relay.

George Balthrop, Clifton, VA USA
89 and 85 XJ-S Coupes; 89 XJ40 VDP-----Original Message-----
From: 87 xjs tigerflyer@sympatico.ca

So, should the white have power to it? According to the wiring
diagram (hah) the fuse protected power source is white/pink? The
radio display is blank, no light, no numbers, security light
flashes once when power plug is connected. If I hook power to the
white lead only, at least I get a light on the display, but no
numbers, etc. Should I try running a power supplu to the white
lead, with the power plug connected to the radio? Or will this
cook the radio?

// please trim quoted text to context only

3

In reply to a message from 87 xjs sent Sat 6 Aug 2011:

Heck with it. I jumped the yellow to the white…It Lives!!! So,
now to find where the white wire comes from, and try and get power
to it…or just say the heck with it, make the jumper wire
permanent. This all started with a bad oil pressure gauge, that
wasn’t a bad gauge, but a bad connection, and cascaded to no gauges
at all, then some gauges, then no radio. Say what you want about
Jag quality, but the wiring system, IMHO, is a piece of S***. This
is not my first XJS, but it will be my last.–
The original message included these comments:

numbers, etc. Should I try running a power supplu to the white
lead, with the power plug connected to the radio? Or will this
cook the radio?

–
Bill 87 TWR XJS Ontario, Canada
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

// please trim quoted text to context only

1 Like
4

In reply to a message from George Balthrop sent Sat 6 Aug 2011:

so why does it work if power is applied to the white wire?–
The original message included these comments:

Do NOT apply power to White wire. That may be why radio is not working

–
Bill 87 TWR XJS Ontario, Canada
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

// please trim quoted text to context only

5

Hi Bill,

Apparently someone reversed the yellow & white wire positions on the
plug. If that is the case, the antenna will NOT work properly.

The Electrical Guide (which is NOT infallible) shows the Yellow wire as
being OVER the Red wire on the 6-position plug, and the White wire
being on the opposite side of the plug from the Yellow wire on the top
row (each of the 2 rows has 3 positions).

George Balthrop, Clifton, VA USA
89 and 85 XJ-S Coupes; 89 XJ40 VDP-----Original Message-----
From: 87 xjs tigerflyer@sympatico.ca

so why does it work if power is applied to the white wire?

// please trim quoted text to context only

6

In reply to a message from George Balthrop sent Sat 6 Aug 2011:

With cars as old as these and a number of previous owners, it is
always wise the confirm the alleged funtion of the wires. Who can
guarantee the the wiring has not been fiddiled with by one of the
previous owners or some short cutting mechanic? Confirm which wire
has battery power at all times, and which wire has 12V power only
when the switch is in accy (2), run (3), and the last wire is
probably the antenna wire - was it hooked to the antenna lead from
the radio to begin with? Better safe than sorry.–
lockheed 92 XJS Cpe/97 LT1 Miami FL/ 96 XJS Cv 4.0 Austin TX
Austin, TX, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

// please trim quoted text to context only

7

In reply to a message from lockheed sent Sat 6 Aug 2011:

The antenna worked when I got the car…it died after a while, and I
replaced it with one from my parts car. That one worked for a
while, then it too quit. There is something wrong with the relay I
think. Looking at the plug from the radio side, white is top left,
blue is top right, black is left middle, yellow is bottom left, and
red is bottom right. Red has power always, yellow has power in
accy and on key positions. Blue has power with the lights on. I
have connected yellow to white, and everything seems to work,
except the antenna. I have pretty much given up on having a power
antenna, I will just purchase a collapsable one. I can’t use a one
piece because of the TWR deck spoiler, which the antenna goes
through.

The radio worked fine, until I started trying to hook up an
aftermarket antenna, just by trial and error. I did something
wrong, blew the 20 amp antenna fuse, and then had no radio at all.
Replacing the antenna fuse didn’t bring back the radio, but the
fuses for both the radio and the memory circuits didn’t blow. Its
possible that I shorted something out inside the radio, trying to
connect the antenna. Regardless, its now working. One question
though…with the radio turned off, I still get the station display
on the radio. It goes off with the key off. I can’t remember if
this is normal. I haven’t driven this car since last year, and I’m
trying to bring it back to life so I can sell it.

I spent most of 2 days just getting the gauges and warning lights
to work. I have all of the warning lights working, with the
exception of the rear defroster light. It was working, then quit. I
cleaned the corrosion off the socket, replaced the bulb, still
nothing, no power to the printed circuit board. I really don’t
care, because all of the important lights are working.–
The original message included these comments:

guarantee the the wiring has not been fiddiled with by one of the
previous owners or some short cutting mechanic? Confirm which wire
has battery power at all times, and which wire has 12V power only
when the switch is in accy (2), run (3), and the last wire is
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

–
Bill 87 TWR XJS Ontario, Canada
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

// please trim quoted text to context only

8

In reply to a message from 87 xjs sent Sat 6 Aug 2011:

I shut down my radio messing with my antenna also. These two
threads have been great. Thanks guys.–
The original message included these comments:

except the antenna. I have pretty much given up on having a power
antenna, I will just purchase a collapsable one. I can’t use a one

–
1987 XJ-S, 1988 XJ-S Tremec TK500. AJ6 Torque kit, 2000 VDP
Toronto, Canada
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

// please trim quoted text to context only

9

In reply to a message from Repairman sent Sun 7 Aug 2011:

Did you get your radio working again? I put the standard antenna on
my 87 today. Works just fine, except I had to cut and splice a
north american style connecter onto the Jag radio lead. Because of
the TWR spoiler, to open the trunk, I have to push the antenna
down.–
The original message included these comments:

I shut down my radio messing with my antenna also. These two

except the antenna. I have pretty much given up on having a power
antenna, I will just purchase a collapsable one. I can’t use a one

–
Bill 87 TWR XJS Ontario, Canada
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

// please trim quoted text to context only