Toms cutlass

The yellow wire with Packard connector is power for the radio. Is there a dedicated wire for a light in a radio that is controlled by the dimmer/rheostat from the headlight switch that controls the dash lights? If so, location & color?

joe_padavano

The radio light does not dim with the dash lights.

Toms cutlass

Does the OE radio light come on when the radio is turned on, or is the radio light always on when the accessory or ignition is on? Thanks Joe.

joe_padavano

The light comes on with radio power only, not the dash illumination.

MDchanic

Late night, Joe? You know that's not right in a '70.

The grey wire runs the dash lights and goes to the incandescent bulb inside the radio dial.

Yellow: Power
Grey: Panel lights
Black: Ground

- Eric

Toms cutlass

Thank you very much for the clarification, Eric.

joe_padavano

Yeah, it was. Along with a glass of wine...

Eric is correct. I was thinking of all the aftermarket radios I have installed. The factory radio has a separate grey wire going to the illumination bulb on the top of the radio, as seen here.

Toms cutlass

Is there a dedicated grey wire pigtail specifically for the radio light coming off the main or dash harness somewhere? I'm not finding one. I could tap into one of the existing grey dash light wires if necessary. Thanks.

MDchanic

There is usually a black plastic plug with a grey, yellow, and black wire, that plugs into the back of the radio, but you can splice into the grey wire anywhere that's convenient.

- Eric

Toms cutlass

Joe may have been correct after all ... I couldn't find a grey wire dedicated for the radio dial light (or a dedicated black wire for ground). The wiring diagram shows only the yellow (power) lead wire and wires for front and rear speaker. Ground is apparently supplied by the metal plate on the rear dash where the left side of the radio fastens to the dash. No dedicated grey wire in the diagram (or behind my dash). Looks like the radio dial light was powered directly through the radio, not separately, and not through the dimmer / rheostat. The dial light must come on once the radio is turned on. Can anyone confirm?

I'm installing an aftermarket radio manufactured by Antique Automobile Radio - stock appearance for Cutlass 70-72 with modern digital internal components. The radio provides a grey wire for the dial light and a black ground wire. Want to have the dial light wired and operating exactly as original.