I just bought this same unit and began to install it last night.

The PO had installed a JVC receiver/tape unit. I didn't like the sound and I
wanted CDs and MP3. I suspected that his installation was not kosher. I was
right.

The new unit fits the dash just fine. If the PO hadn't munged up his
installation, I would have been able to just plug it into the same harness.
But once I started investigating the wiring I found a veritable rat's nest of
twisted splices, mismatched wires, and a quite a few whatthehellisthats.

So, I pulled out most of the mess. I discovered that he had wired all of the
speaker returns together. Huh? Just because it's marked (-) doesn't mean it's
a ground. That should account for the crappy sound and distortion at medium
volume.

The JVC unit has a wire that goes directly to +12v to provide power to keep
its settings, and a separate wire that should only have +12v when the ignition
is turned. This should make the stereo work as in most cars.

The PO had wired both of these to +12v with the result that the unit is always
on unless it is turned off at the front panel. It occurs to me that this may
be desirable in a camper. The stereo can be operated while everything else is
off.

But, should I decide on having it depend on the ignition, is there a point
that I can easily wire to? I can't seem to find any such wire back there.

Just to add to the fun, I see a white and black wire back there that's
obviously been purposefully severed and left dangling. It appears that some of
its insulation has been heated to near melting. This could have been caused by
a short, but it also could have been caused by sitting too close to the heat
sink on the stereo. I can't think of anything electrical that's not working.
Anyone got a clue what this wire may be?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of Alistair Bell
> Sent: Saturday, August 03, 2002 1:22 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: [review] JVC cd/mp3 player for van
>
>
> I just bought and installed a JVC KD-SX980 cd/mp3 payer in my
> '82 Westy,
> replacing an old Kenwood radio/tape deck.