Expert: Cleggsan - 9/9/2009

Question
My car is a 1997 chevy metro. when i hook up the car stereo to my car it won't come on. i don't know how to test my wires in my car. what should i do?

Answer
If you don't have the wiring diagram for the car (I googled around for it but did not find it easily; all other chevy models are available for easy download but this is a foreign car and I don't know who makes this for GM) you will have to trace it out by using an ohmmeter (you can buy a vom that will do this handely at either Walmart or Home Depot for under $10) and put tape lables on the wires indicating which speaker they go to, etc.

Also, you may be able to easily pickup a wiring harness at Bestbuy or even Walmart carries some models.  You can always find what you need at crutchfield.com or installer.com

Once you know where each wire goes/comes-from you can then match it up with the wiring coming out of the stereo unit.  It's wiring should be included with the unit in the box, or you can download it from their site.

Then, make sure you have the power lines, ground and speaker connections made properly.

The test is if it works!  Of course you can bench test the stereo unit by pulling it out and powering it connected directly to the battery and an external, known good speaker connected to one of the channel outputs, etc....

Hope this helps.
C