1988 Honda Prelude Radio question - Honda Prelude Forum

Countryb101 · 10-20-2011, 10:52 AM

When I got my Prelude someone had previously installed an aftermarket cd player in it. It works fine, however if you leave the radio on and turn off the car 10 or 15 minutes later the radio will come back on, by itself. Any ideas on how I would be able to remedy this problem?

Colfax · 10-20-2011, 02:22 PM

That's one I haven't heard of. For now, obviously, turn off the head unit when you shut the car off.

I have a couple questions: Did the car ever have an aftermarket alarm system? And about how the head unit was installed, did they cut the factory harness when they installed it, or did they use an adapter to install it? This can make a big difference in your troubleshooting.

Here is my advice if they cut the factory harness. Go the the junkyard and remove the factory stereo harness from a 3rd gen. If there are no 3rd gens there, I believe you can take the stereo harness from any Honda made after 1986. From what I've read, they are all the same after '86. To be safe, grab one from a 3rd gen if possible. Then remove the stereo and all of the stereo wiring from the car. Splice the new radio harness into your factory stereo wiring by simply matching wire colors. Then get an aftermarket harness adapter, available from any auto parts store, wal-mart, or stereo store. Wire that to your stereo harness, and just plug it in to your factory plugs.

I had to do this with my first 3rd gen Prelude I owned because someone had butchered the factory harness when they installed a stereo. And I can tell you that I had no issues with the stereo after doing this.

Of course, all of the above goes out the window if they didn't cut the factory harness, and you'll have to do some more in-depth troubleshooting of the harness.

toby tough · 10-20-2011, 07:23 PM

Maybe you can try detatching the face plate on the head unit when you shut 'er down if all else fails.

Countryb101 · 10-21-2011, 09:07 AM

Thanks ColFax; I believe that they used a harness if I remember correctly. This is not my daily driver(at the moment anyway) so I will have to check it out when I get back to the car this evening. I will let you know what I find though. If they did use an adapter any ideas then...lol?

@ Toby; unfortunately my aftermarket cd player does not have a detachable face. I know that's weird but its true.