Expert: Ernesto R - 11/28/2007

Question
QUESTION: I just bought a 1996 Lincoln Continental and the stereo doesnt work. It illuminates but nothing shows up on the display. I checked the fuses, I tried using a different radio,(same radio but from different car), and I used a voltmeter to check for current. All checked out fine. So whats not working? Im guessing bad RCU maybe or amplifier?? But I don't know for sure. How do I check to see of the RCU is in good working order?

ANSWER: bad radio it is in the trunk  right side of spare tire
that is the radio  if the unit at front don't have the antenna plug  you can find one from oemautosound

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QUESTION: I replaced the stereo in the trunk, but still nothing. Is it possible I have a bad wire somewhere? I tried sticking a voltmeter in the holes that attach to the harness's where the wires go and found it wasn't getting any juice. Im assuming the factory harness from the tape deck to the amp went bad, but would all the power wires go out such as antenna,constant,and main?

ANSWER: the radio is in the trunk, all the power moves from the trunk to the front  

the unit at front is just a tape player and remove control  nothing else

what unit did you replace ?
have you check all the fuses ? there are 3 for this system

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I replaced the unit in the front and the unit in the trunk and nothing. I used my dads since he and i have the same car and stereo. but when i put it in my car it doesnt work. when i put it back in his car it works. I checked the fuses under the drivers side dash board and under the hood, they are all fine, trust me I checked 3 times at least. I made sure all wire harness's are connected properly and firmly. I made sure the antenna is connected. could it be a computer glitch, or is their an inline fuse somewhere in the OEM harness I dont know about? By the way this is a JBL luxury radio.

Answer
JBL luxury!! yes i know i have 4 radios looking at me right now

in the rear amplifier there is a plug 14 pins  3+3 on top and
8 on the second row
test  1 and 6 on the top first near antenna and last pin in the plug  both of them need to have power with the key on the ignition,
power only in the first one with the ignition off