Bought head unit. Wont turn on, sort of.

[Jesda]

I bought a CD/MP3 head unit for my Maxima (with Bose) and a Nissan wiring harness. I ran new speakers wires directly to 6x9s in the back, skipping the Bose amps. The problem is, the unit wont turn on. It comes on briefly when I touch the blue "amp turn on" wire to the metal part of the head unit, but thats as far as I can get.

My antenna is not connected because I do not have an adapter. I dont listen to local radio anyway. Do I have to connect the antenna to make the stereo come on?

Help, please!

[PoorManQ45]

Can you take a picture please? Try just hooking up the power and ground. DOn't bother with the speaker wires at first. Do that and see if you can get it to turn on. If you can, then continue the install. If you can't, then either, a: You're tai and need to make me some curry, or b: you're american and need to make me some fried chicken

You do not NEED an antenna to have the stereo come on.

[Jesda]

I found out that you need to have the antenna connected for the stereo to come on. Its used as a ground loop. Picked up an antenna adapter for $19. Life without Bose feels so good.

[zippitta]

Yea I was just about to say that most newer cars use the antenna as the ground

[PoorManQ45]

Hmm, I've never seen a HU that needed an antenna to turn on.

Usually there is a screw on the back of the HU chassis that's used for ground

[kill1get1free]

All of my HU's have used the antenna as a ground and 19 bucks for the adaptor sounds expensive but thats just the diference between wal-marts i guess. Got mine for $10.

[Silvia2b]

Actually they are supposed to ground through the ISO brackets when you bolt them to the sides of the radio with machine screws. Yes the antenna is grounded or you wouldn't receive any AM signal.

You should always use a separate ground wire when wiring a Nissan that does't have one in the harness. Unless you are using the factory unit.

Sorry, I was sick all last week didn't read this in time to help. I did read your post aobut your trip across the country and gettin stuck at motels.Funny stuff.