How to Connect a Car DVD Player

Get a DVD player working in your car.

Car DVD players are designed to work with a 12-volt Direct Current Negative Ground electrical system. Purchase a voltage inverter if your vehicle has a different system. The car DVD player won't work if the ground isn't in place, and incorrect connections can cause damage to the player. So check everything twice.

Things You'll Need

• Magnet
• Cable connectors

Instructions

1. Disconnect the car battery's negative terminal. That's the thick black lead.

2. Connect the black lead from the DVD player to the car's chassis. That's the ground. You can also use the metallic body, but check that is metal with a magnet---some bodies aren't.

   Connect the yellow constant 12-volt lead from the DVD player to a live terminal in the fuse block connecting to the car battery. Bypass the ignition switch. Connect the red lead to an accessory terminal in the fuse block.

3. Connect the blue lead to a power antenna if you have one. Connect the blue-with-white-stripe lead to the remote lead of other equipment. It's the remote out connection. Connect the orange-with-white-stripe lead to the car light control switch. Connect the brown lead to the cellular phone system---it's the telephone muting lead. Connect the light green lead to the parking brake---it's the connection that prevents front-seat passengers from watching video while the car moves.

4. Connect the rear ground terminal.

5. Connect any external components like video in or video out and subwoofer.

6. Connect the white-with-black-stripe lead to the negative terminal of the left front speaker. Connect the white lead to the positive. The gray-with-white-stripe connects to the negative of the right front speaker and the gray to the positive. The green-with-black-stripe goes to the negative of the left rear speaker. Green goes to the positive. Purple-with-black-stripe goes to the negative of the rear right speaker and purple to the positive.

7. Reconnect the car's battery.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware that the power cord leads and the connector lead to the car body may be different colors some systems. Verify by looking for labeling too.

References

• JVC KD-ADV38 DVD Player Manual