well i replaced my h/u today with a pioneer deh 4800. nice inexpensive ($150 from crutchfield)h/u imo. also put in a swix ps for the steering wheel controls. everything is working great but the only stupid little thing that eats at me is that the radio only comes on when the key is turned to on. accessory doesnt work anymore due to the fact that the switched 12v power wire is run to the windshield wiper fuse. i dont have a sunroof so i cant put it on that fuse. is there a fuse or somewhere else i can connect to that will give me back the accessory function? i read that there is a brown wire under the steeringwheel somewhere that someone had hooked up to that works but dont really want to start ripping that apart. anyone have ideas?

 

the power plugs in your car are always on or the cigarette lighter i dont knnown the wire color off hand but check your fuse box or just lift out your cupholders aand check

 

Why weren't you able to use the factory accessory power line for the original radio?

 

stock one didnt have the red power wire. had to tap to a fuse then to the h/u wire harness

 

wont the radio be on always if i do that?

 

ok found 2 seperate posts talking about the brown accy wire in the steering wheel behind the key. i guess ill just try that out.

 

Just an Idea but on my old silverado that i did, i tapped to the actual accesory fuse in the fuse panel. I dont know if thats what you tried yet or if the Cobalt has one in the inside fuse panel (i havent looked) but you could give it a shot.

 

ill look to see if there is one, worth a shot.thanks. the one i used was the windshield wiper fuse that power goes through only when the ignition is turned to on.

 

You can tag the brown wire and the deck will probably come on in the accessory position, but unfortunately I'm thinking you still won't get RAP (where the deck stays on after you shut the car off until you open a door).

If you do tag the brown wire, I would run it through a relay.