Expert: Cleggsan - 8/19/2009

Question
I have a 04 dodge stratus, i was trying to replace a radio unit, when i accidentally cut the two plugs off, i found a way to get them back together and got a wiring harness. I connected the harness to the original plugs, and then wired the harness that came with the radio into the wiring harness that plugged into the car, when i hook the ground up and turn the car on it blows the interior light fuses and radio won't work. Also when i grounded the radio to another bolt it blew the radio fuse. I don't know how to either ground the radio or if there's a wire crossed, but i matched everything color to color, could it be the ground or the radio, I don't know. Please give me some advice, because i'm lost.......

Answer
Go here:

http://www.modifiedlife.com/2004-dodge-stratus-car-stereo-radio-wiring-diagram/

for the wiring colors and connections for the car.

Get the wiring outputs for the radio unit from the owners manual.  Use either a VOM or visually check very carefully the matching of the functions of the radio to the functions of the car.

Based on your comments it is clear the wiring is not correct.  And it is most likely the power lines and ground wires that are mixed up.  It is NOT color to color!  It is function to function.

Good luck.  Let me know if there is more you need.

C