Stereo wiring in '90 80Q, no switched DC?

[Ti Kan]

Jim writes:
> I recently bought a 1990 80Q and noticed the stereo (aftermarket) never shu=
> toff. The display was always on. So I figured they just wired it wrong and =
> pulled it out to take a look. Now I see why they did what they did. There d=
> oesn't seem to be a source of switched 12V back there. I measured every wir=
> e with the key on and the only +12 is the one they used which is always hot=
> . Anyone been here before and figure out how the factory radio was powered?

The Audi factory radios in those days are not wired through a switched
power connection.  They keep playing when you turn off ignition,
until you manually shut off the radio.  Thus there is no switched power
to the radio.  You'd have to run a wire yourself from somewhere with
switched power (leading to line 15 in the fuse/relay box) if you install
an aftermarket radio that requires it.

There may be a wire for radio illumination (so that the radio switches'
back illumination comes on when you turn on the parking/headlights,
regardless of whether the radio is turned on), but most aftermarket radios
don't use that.

-Ti
01 S4 2.7 biturbo quattro
84 5000S 2.1 turbo
80 4000 2.0
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    ///  Ti Kan                Vorsprung durch Technik
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