Hello All,

Was hoping to tap into the ashtray lighting and needed help identifying the three wires. The color coating on the wires are faded but it looks like:

Brown wire
Gray wire
White(maybe)

Positive 12v
Ground

T.I.A.

 

It would help to know the year and model, many people have acess to the service manuals with all of the wiring diagrams.

Brown is the ground. Always.

The white and grey are likely the supply. If I had to guess, one is power coming in, and the other is power going out to continue on to the next light in the circuit.

 

Sorry about that, the car is an 86na

:-)

 

What I'm seeing for the ashtray light is solid grey 1mm (17 guage) wire as supply for the circuit.
This comes out of the HVAC control, to the rear defrost switch, then arrives at the ashtray. The other wire, grey with black stripe, also 1mm, goes on to the central locking switch on the console

In any case, if you're looking to tap it for the radio illumination, you should be fine. I'd tap either one, and do it properly - strip back the wire, solder and tape. Don't waste your time with the T-splices; you'll only regret it later when all of the switch lights on your dash go out or you burn out your $700 AC control panel.

 

Thanks jpk for the feedback.

This is what I am trying to achieve from the ashtray power source.
The connecting of a TC-400 Tire Pressure Monitor System. So far the unit only comes on when the lights are turned on.

 

That's because the ashtray wiring is only for a light that's on the dash light circuit. You will have to tap into the radio power or run a wire back to the fuse panel.

 

Thanks CurtP!

 

Ashtray light is a very bad choice for that. Not only is it switched by the light switch, it's dimmed by the potentiometer for the dashboard lights, so if you dial down the dash lights, you'd be cutting voltage to your TPM.
You probably want ignition switched power, so look for the red wires feeding the radio. If I recall correctly, there should be a solid red and a red with white stripe. One is ignition switched, one is always hot (battery +; I think it would be the solid red). You should be able to figgure it out if you check with a meter. If you have an aftermarket radio, the yellow wire on the radio side of the harness should be switched power (provided it was installed correctly)

 

Thanks jpk!