Illumination Wire - Replacing CDR-24

My previous post was to specific so I wanted to ask more generically... I'm replacing th stock CDR-24 unit with a Pioneer AVIC -X940BT. I'm at the point where I need to connect the illumination wire so that the new unit automatically dims when the lights are turned on. Others have done this by tapping into the light ring on the cigarette lighter in the console. However, this seems hard to get to as you have to loosen up or remove the console to get to it. There's a wiring diagram in the articles section of this site that shows the CDR-24 connector-A, pin 6 to be an illumination wire. Has anybody sucessfully used this wire on your installation of a replacement unit?

I'm pretty sure that the diagram you're talking about describes the left rear tail light. I found it easier to loosen the console than trying to get a wire out of the cockpit and hide it all the way to a tail light

Well I have a Boxster and not Cayman , so the tail light option is even less ideal for me. Hoping there's another option for an illumination wire other than having to pull apart the console Perhaps there's an illumination tap on the AC/fan control unit? or perhaps if I remove the AC/fan control unit, the wiring harness that runs under the console is accessible from there?

i never figured this out either, i have a x910 in my boxster and didn't hook up the illumination wire. the nav unit itself has an ambient light sensor that works well enough that it isn't an issue IMO. I also never hooked up the VSS wire since I couldn't get the wire harness off, routed the wire and everything.

Well I finally figured out how to tap into the illumination wire for the light ring at the cigarette lighter. I didn't have to loosen or remove the console. However, following Ken's instructions on the console removal, I simply popped out the trim plate underneath the parking brake handle. This gave me a clear view of the wiring harness and the plug that goes into the cigarette lighter. However, my hands were too small to reach far enough into this space and get enough leverage to unhook the plug from the wiring socket for the cigarette lighter. So, plan B. I was able to gently pull the three wires for this connection a littler closer to the access panel underneath the parking brake and with a little patience I could remove enough of the tape that holds the wires together in a bundle and separate the orange/white wire from the other two. Then a little more patience to take a wire tape, slide it over the wire, along with the illumination wire to my new stereo, and then reach in with some needle nose pliers and crimp the connection on the tap. I'm happy to report it works as other have said and it's really nice to have this level of integration. Thanks to all who have provided help along the way. Note: regarding the VSS (variable speed sensor) wire, I also did not hook this up. On my Pioneer AVIC -X940BT the accuracy is really good without it. It's really not needed in my opinion.

It's pretty easy to fish small wires up from the bottom (between the edge of the console and the carpet). I removed the ash tray housing and fashoined a hook with a solid copper wire , then carefully pulled the wire up to the ashtray housing opening. Then just tuck any exposed wires up under the console bottom in the footwell.

As was already mentioned, there's enoough flexiility in the bottom of the console trim where you can simply poke a wire out of it at the ashetray area where you tapped into the illumination wire. Once the wire is visible outside the console, run it alongside the console to the footwell and up behind the dash. You can then tuck the wire in underneach the console.

In my 987.2 there are two sets of illumination wires directly behind the headunit, in the far corners of the cavity. They feed the lights on the emergency flasher and lock controls. I tapped one in my install and it worked perfectly. You can identify them by looking for an in-line connector under a metal clip on the vertical support at the back corner of the cavity. One side of the connector has a red/white wire and a brown wire. The other side of the connector has red and black wires.

doesn't seem to be the same in the 987.1 , but i managed to top the cig lighter ring and route it to the headunit. pretty easy really, thanks for the help everybody!

Hi Everyone Well i am back after two years and before i consider replacing the unit with an aftermarket, i am determined to solve this &$*%$*(% problem. The radio has been working but no luck seeing anything in the dark. Does anyone have a picture of the wires that are connected on the back of a CDR 24 BOSE unit . I am not interested in in the diagram. I am trying to determine why NO lights come on. Is there an illumination wire missing. Thanks for even considering my lame request!! I should just buy a strip of white LED lights and attach them on the inside of the unit.. hhahah John

I don't have a CDR-24 and don't have a picture - but I'd like to clarify your issue. Are you having problems viewing the screen during daylight or at night ("in the dark")? The head-unit is at max brightness when the headlights/running lights are off. It dims when they are on. But the reason is so you aren't blinded by the display at night. If you are driving with lights on during the day, the screen will be too dim. If you can view the display during the day - your backlight is working - it isn't a wiring issue. I believe the daytime running lights (DRL) work differently on US cars than Canada. I think it also varies whether you have HIDs vs. halogen headlights. I find that with the DRL function enabled via the trip computer - my display is always too dim during daylight ( I have halogen BTW). So I turned off DRL and don't drive with parking/fog/or headlights on unless they are needed. That solves my problem. I know in Canada DRL is required. I always assumed their cars are programmed differently. Just an after thought. Is it possible that you have a US car imported to Canada?

Thanks for the response. Everything works on the radio except for the fact that there is no illumination- ie. during the night, the buttons are not backlit nor is the lcd screen. During the day i am able to see everything on the lcd. I am thinking that perhaps something is not connected - because both the lights on the lcd and all the lights that illuminate all the buttons do not work. The fuse onthe back of hte head unit is not blown, and the fuse on the kick panel is not blown. I replaced them and its made no differenc. When i took out the head unit i noticed three wires taped together. I suspect there was a wire that cam off this branch and ran to something else ( or not ) according to the cd r 24 pinout diagram, it does not need the illumination wire. Maybe this is a unit that was replaced. I know its a canadian car based on the vin. thanks for offering to help. john

I believe the CDR backlight brightness is supposed to be controlled by the same dimmer as the dash lights and the other illumination (switches, gauges...).So maybe that wire is missing. The "illumination wire" for all the instruments and switches is Grey/Red. If one of your unused wires is Gry/Red, maybe you are on to something. But I have no idea were you'd connect it to in the CDR-24 harness.

Well, just an update for everyone, I pulled the cover on the e-brake and noted that the illumination wire for the cigarette lighter was a white small gauge cable with a red stripe Seen here - wire on the right http://imgur.com/4Drj8H4.jpg I went to the back of the main console, just behind the stereo and found the same wire quite easily in one of the harness bundles that runsure under the console. Seen here http://imgur.com/MJETfaA.jpg I took a gamble and tapped that wire and my display is dimming as it should. Just thought people should know. I have an '06 987 cayman S, and the illumination wire for me was white with a red stripe. Regardless, you should be able to pull your email brake cover and confirm the color of the illumination wire for your harness and then go to the same location I used and tap the same color and gauge wire. I also uploaded both liked, hosted images to planet 9. Redundancy and all... Hope this helps someone out! -Brad