Stereo Problems! Help!!!

['93Z71]

Ok, just got a 1987 Dodge Ram (sorry, but it's a beater!). It has a decent Pioneer AM/FM/CD Player, 4 good Tweeter speaker, and 3 10" subs behind the seat. Never done anything with a stereo before, so here it goes: The deck will turn on and has power (it'll scan and so on) and you can hear the subs and speaker click on, but no sounds. Seems like a wire might be unplugges or something I hope. I really want to get this thing working because it seems decent! Any ideas would be great appreciated!

[BEENER]

might have a bad ground some where:think: :dunno:

[20"silverado]

so ur amp and cd player turn on right??? just no sound?re-check ur wiring/grounds...let us know

['93Z71]

Yup, I can here the amps and speaker click on and the cd player works, just no sounds at all. I am moving to a new house today, so when I get a sec. I'll check it out. I know that there is a fist full of wires underneath the dash that when I move them around the CD player will cut out, so there has to be something wrong under there!

['93Z71]

I rechecked the wiring and found nothing wrong, but don't know too much about stereos and stuff!

['93Z71]

Now the radio won't even turn on. Guess I got to go over everything again in the morning or on Sunday. Something must have just become uplugged:sniper:

[LiLHooT]

Sometimes with a rats nest...it is best to start over.

Your radio needs 4 main wires:

Power (only on when truck is on..test light helps on this)(usually red)
Ground (somewhere metal)(usually black)
Antenna (big nipple looking plug as thick as a pencil)
Memory (always has +12V to keep your radio stations)(Usually yellow)

Hopefully the :jackass: used a wiring harness (a plug that mates up with the factory plug on one end and all the necessary wires out of the other end)

Your deck should have 4 other wires coming out that go to +- left and +- right door speakers.

There will be 2 / 4 RCA (red/white) wires that run to your amp providing signal for the 3 subs.

There is also a kick-on wire (usually blue) that tells your amp to turn-on. This is only +12V when your deck is on.

Your amp will have 3 main wires (+12 / ground / kick-on (see above). There will most likely be 2 speaker wires coming out of 2 of the 4 speaker terminals going into the speaker box.

I would do as said above. Make sure all of your connections are correct. Most of the times in dealing with a rats nest it is best to start over from scrath.

If you disconnect all of the wires and shat sh|t which speaker is left and which is right...don't worry. Grab a 9V batt or one off of your power drill. Place the wires (one on + and one on -) on the terminals, and your speaker will pop or crackle. That will help you determine which is which.

Good luck and keep us posted!

['93Z71]

Thanks for the rundown. I know that there is a wiring harness under there and it was installed at Tweeter... so it should be installed decently. I'll give it a check tomorrow when it is not raining out!

[fox_forma]

did you check your fuse for the radio? I use to have an older chevy and when the fuse blew, for some reason the headunit would turn on then shut off then turn on, etc.

['93Z71]

I haven't checked the fuse that went for the stock radio yet, but there is a fuse that is connected to the battery for the subs and such and that one is good. I haven't checked anything out on it yet as it is still raining. This truck is a project truck and I have to work on it outside as my baby sleeps in the only garage spot left!

[95stroked1500]

there is another fuse on the back of the h/u itself also. when it goes, the radio won't work at all. maybe the unit gave up the ghost?

check that rca's are connected properly, gain adjustment on the amps, signal from the rca's to make sure the pre amp in the deck isn't dead, check fuses in the amps (just cause the h/u switches the turn on relay in the amp, doesn't mean the rest of the amp is working), make sure the fuse under the hood is good- i've seen them with a hair line crack you about have to use a magnifying glass to see,.... too much to look at over a computer screen.

['93Z71]

Well, I popped a new battery in and hguess what?... the radio turns on and everything workes perfectly. I cleaned the battery contacts and checked all the wiring. So, everything is working for now. Thank you all for the help!

[Lt. Smash454]

just to let you know, putting DC voltage into a speaker will damage the voicecoil of the speaker. Speakers work on AC voltage, and that is what stops the voicecoil from blowing. Even putting an ohmmeter across a speaker will damage it.

[LiLHooT]

just to let you know, putting DC voltage into a speaker will damage the voicecoil of the speaker. Speakers work on AC voltage, and that is what stops the voicecoil from blowing. Even putting an ohmmeter across a speaker will damage it.

Sorry to pop you buble but voltage has jack sh|t to do with any thing. It is amperage that can damage does the damage.:read:

[Lt. Smash454]

sorry, putting DC current threw a speaker will damage the voicecoil. The only reason that a speaker is able to handle the power it does is that AC current alternates, allowing the voicecoil to cool between the AC wave peaks. If you put straight DC current to a voicecoil, it will overheat and blow, they are too thin, and cannot handle constant current. Which is also why squaring waves (clipping incase you didn't know) will damage a speaker, because there is a longer period in which the voltage (or current as your prefer) is constant. Believe it or not, speakers do not work on DC voltage, even tho they are labeled + and -. And also, believe it or not, 9V batteries and even cordless drill batteries are DC current. And as well, learn your sh|t before talking sh|t. Car audio amplifiers make the power they do by the amperage they produce.

[LiLHooT]

Cool you jets... Your statement was putting DC voltage to a speaker will damage the voice coil. That in itself won't. At least not for a very brief moment. The potential enery in a 9v is minimal at best.

And yes batteries are DC :twak: There is no such animal as an AC battery.:twak:

[Lt. Smash454]

Cool you jets... Your statement was putting DC voltage to a speaker will damage the voice coil. That in itself won't. At least not for a very brief moment. The potential enery in a 9v is minimal at best.

And yes batteries are DC :twak: There is no such animal as an AC battery.:twak:
Ya, i apologize dude, i was in a really bad mood when i read that. Ya, for a brief second wont, but i could see someone sitting there with a battery on the speaker "well, i just heard a pop, but nothing anymore" haha, that would be entertaining...dont think that one is covered by warranty.

[LiLHooT]

Ya, i apologize dude, i was in a really bad mood when i read that. Ya, for a brief second wont, but i could see someone sitting there with a battery on the speaker "well, i just heard a pop, but nothing anymore" haha, that would be entertaining...dont think that one is covered by warranty.

LOL I had about 2 pitchers of margarita's in me when I made my comment...so I started it! :wink:

[Lt. Smash454]

haha, no worries, must have been a fun night. Ya, i'm having stupid ass problems with my dumbass stereo right now, got to rip the whole thing out and do it again from scratch. Then install a few systems for people, yada yada, help my bud get his piece running (81 malibu) better.