Mysterious Wires

[sam_d]

I've just found these wires under the passenger seat of my 1997 Disco SE7.

Any idea what they do/are for?

As a quick check I got my multimeter out and the Red wire on the white connector is live.

http://www.samdaykin.co.uk/car/wires.jpg

Everyday I find something else interesting...

[Disco300Tdi]

the top 2 are radio antenna and power source

the 3rd looks like a computer plug

follow them and tell us where they go.....

[RobHay]

Who owned the vehicle before you? Did they have a transceiver set up there. Seems strange :eek: ...they are not original equipment are they?

Or........perhaps they had a in car dvd system set up?

[sam_d]

When you say radio, do you mean as in a UHF or standard car radio?

And I *think* the car may have originally come with (or had the option for) a multi CD changer. Could this be what the wires are for?

I'd like to know where the wires go but they disappear into a hole under the front passenger seat.

[Quiggers]

Is there also voltage on the yellow wire? If so what is the volts?

The lower one looks like a RS232 type, maybe. Common to hook up older monitors and computers and such to a PC.

Your SE7 is probably ex ASIO or ASIS or ONA:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

GQ

[Disco300Tdi]

When you say radio, do you mean as in a UHF or standard car radio?

And I *think* the car may have originally come with (or had the option for) a multi CD changer. Could this be what the wires are for?

I'd like to know where the wires go but they disappear into a hole under the front passenger seat.

UHF or 27meg CB type

[sam_d]

UHF or 27meg CB type

I've only got a handheld UHF CB so I'm not familiar with the connectors but from memory it isn't the same type of connector as AM CBs use. Well, not that same as used in the UK and I'm guessing it'll be the same type in Aus.

[Utemad]

It looks like you have aerial, power and data.

HF radio box perhaps?

Don't know about Landy OE but no stacker I've ever seen needed an antenna or an RS232 plug.

[JohnE]

is this a hoax, how come I get the link site but no photos??




weird



john

[Utemad]

What's with the carpet in your Disco? Looks like a doormat.

[langy]

It's an old analog car telephone hook up.

[Utemad]

It's an old analog car telephone hook up.

I was going to say that as I have an old 5110 handsfree with similar connections but the box is quite small. No bigger than current handsfree boxes. Were the analogue ones that much bigger that they had to be mounted under the seat?
I've never seen analogue car phone bits. Just handsets and stuff that is visible once installed.

[langy]

Some of the analog (Even early digital) car 'phones had control boxes about the size of two DVD boxes (thick).

[sam_d]

Righty, so it's looking as if they are wires for an old car phone setup then?

This could make sense as there are holes drilled into the side of the centre console which look about the right size and spacing for a phone caddy or somesuch.

Also, there is another mysterious wire that appears at the bottom of the drivers side pillar which looks like it could have been going to a microphone at one time.

Oh, and the mats which look like doormats are the car mats thrown in by the dealer. Generous eh!

[mrapocalypse]

Maybe it used to be a TAXI! :D that wiring is for the meter and two way!
Does it smell like puke? Was there a Sri Lankan CD in the deck? Does it not know where the Harbour bridge is?????
Geez i crack myself up!

[sam_d]

Maybe it used to be a TAXI! :D that wiring is for the meter and two way!
Does it smell like puke? Was there a Sri Lankan CD in the deck? Does it not know where the Harbour bridge is?????
Geez i crack myself up!

Maybe you are on to something! My SatNav does seem to take me very long ways round to places at times. Maybe it is picking up on residual taxi energies!

[Larry]

Langy is right, they are from an old NEC in vehicle car phone - I used to fit them years ago.
The tranceivers were quite large and either went under one of the front seats or in the boot in a sedan.

Larry.

[sam_d]

Okay, cool.

That answers the question then.

Do you remember what fuse they were generally powered through? Or the rating of the fuse?

[sam_d]

Further investigation tonight has found that the wires disappear somewhere under the carpet in the front passenger footwell the the power wire (the Red, black, blue and yellow) re-appear in the fuse box under the steering wheel.

I can't work out where the other two wires go but I am assuming they are quite redundant now so have been cut back.

Also during my investiation I found an old NEC carphone speaker mounted inside the fusebox. Everything is becoming clear now.

I'd still like to know what fuse the power is attached to though (the red and blue are both 12v, the black is earthed and the yellow is not used) cos this could make an excellent aux power socket for other in car devices such as a fridge or whatever.

[Utemad]

Yellow is probably phone mute
Red probably battery
Blue probably accessory power

Red and blue maybe both battery though so as the phone didn't switch off with the ignition.

I wouldn't think these wires would be big enough to run much. Digital car phone systems have about 1 amp fuses. Analogue may be higher given the older technology.

[Olfella]

Suggest that the cables may have been used for a HF transceiver, ie Flying doctor or 4WD radio network. the data cable would go to the antenna to drive a tuning unit.

[JohnE]

Mr fella
I think he is in the UK, not over here!

Btw for my money, it may be an ex wallopers car from over there, aerial lead, power souce and lead from remote head. Main unit wen tunder the seat.


john

[sam_d]

Mr fella
I think he is in the UK, not over here!

john

No, I am in NSW :)

As for the antenna, I can't find where the wire goes. But, I think the mystery is now all sorted. Finding the NEC speaker earlier has pretty much confirmed that is belonged to some in car phone thingybob.

I'm just trying to work out where the power wired are conencted though now. They are fairly substantial wires and are connected somewhere to something under the steering column in the mass of wires.

[JohnE]

Sorry mate, I thought I saw something that suggested you are from the UK,
oops sorry mr Fella. Flying Dr Radio, remote head, maybe you aren't that far off the money

oh well it was a phone connection then.



john

[JohnE]

I've only got a handheld UHF CB so I'm not familiar with the connectors but from memory it isn't the same type of connector as AM CBs use. Well, not that same as used in the UK and I'm guessing it'll be the same type in Aus.



this bit seemed to suggest you were of british origin, plus there is no location in your bio.


john

[DEFENDERZOOK]

the antenna wire probably would have gone up to the glass and had an external antenna fitted..........

[sam_d]

this bit seemed to suggest you were of british origin, plus there is no location in your bio.


john

Oh, I am a pom but I live in Sydney now. :)

I though my location was in my profile - I'm sure I did that at one point. Oh well, summat to sort out instead of doing work I suppose. :)

[JohnE]

goodo, thats all sorted, maybe its the accent as you write.
now back to the wires, I am curious now, we all find wires in our cars from previous owners some are easy to track others are ??????
have you found out where the aerial and the other plug go?



john

[Utemad]

have you found out where the aerial and the other plug go?

My bet is the aerial cable will be found tucked behind one of the a pillar trims.

Although mine has one run all the way back to the drivers side rear cargo window.