Expert: Cleggsan - 9/27/2009

Question
We are trying to hook up a car stereo into our 1999 Pontiac Sunfire.  The problem is that we can get the stereo to work but the speakers don't work.  The power is working but the speakers aren't.  Could you please let us know if we may be doing something wrong?   Thanks!

Answer
If you go to:

http://www.installdr.com/InstallDocs/GM/PDF/460025.pdf

and look down through the pages, near the bottom you will find all the hook up and speaker connection color codes,  etc.  

This may help you with the speaker connections.  If the problem is with wiring this will help you solve it.

If the head unit you are installing is defective you need to find out what is wrong.  Best way is to "bench test" it.  Pull the unit out of the car, operate if from the car battery and hook up at least one known-good speaker directly to one channel of the output.  You will need extra wire leads to do that, but it will prove out the unit is working.  You will need the installation manual from the radio unit in order to determine the connections.

If you use a wiring harness for the install it will help with the wiring problem, also. This page has many accessories for your car including wiring harnesses to hook up the new head stereo unit:

http://www.installer.com/cars/by_car.php?carid=4787

Hope this puts you on the right track.

C