stereo and electrical problems

2001 Blazer 4dr. The stereo has always been a problem. It was replaced or repaired at the dealer, but still would not come on sometime.I also installed an amp and woofer, and seem to happen more often. Well, after the amp went out, I took it all out. Now the radio doesn't come on at all nor does the electronic compass and thermostat (the little overhead console). All my fuses are good, I have power to the stereo connectors so I assume the stereo is shot, though it still accepts and ejects cd's. But my compass still doesn't work. Does the compass run through the stereo? If anyone has a clue please respond. Thanks.

You sure all the fuses are good?

This sounds like a text book fuse problem, that or through your install you blew the display.

did you by chance blow a speaker? Some radios that are made now will not work if even one speaker is blown. I have had that a couple tiems already. It would explain why your stereo and amp do not work but as far as the others thigns all I can figure up is maybe they patched off of a wire in the back so the compass only coems on when the stereo is on. I know amps are like that but not sure about the compass situation.

I checked all the fuses, even the ones under the hood.
The place where tapped 12v is still reading 14v. I pulled the stereo and still have power to the connectors on back. i would assume the stereo is bad, if not for compass. I'll have to get a manual to see a wiring diagram.

Also, one speaker has been out for some time but I haven't fixed it since it's in the back where the kids are.

Speakers won't stop your deck from working. The speakers are passive in the system.

I checked all the fuses, even the ones under the hood.
The place where tapped 12v is still reading 14v. I pulled the stereo and still have power to the connectors on back. i would assume the stereo is bad, if not for compass. I'll have to get a manual to see a wiring diagram.
You do know that there is more than one power source to the back of the radio right? You should have one for the memory that stays hot all the time (in my Impala this one also supplies the power for the eject, you should have the same head unit I've got). There is one that is hot when the headlights are on and one that is hot when the key is on.

It sounds like the source that is supplied from the key is not energizing, this source may also supply the other accessories that you are have problems with. I would check for problems in this circuit start with the fuse then continuing by looking for lose connectors, broken wires,etc. You could also check for a lose ground wire.

On most aftermarket stereos the red wire is to go to the ignition (hot when key is on) and the yellow wire is to the battery (hot always)...check your manual to be sure, but I haven't found one to differ from this yet...good luck

Oh, and about the radio not working because of a blown speaker.... some of the newer ones have a protection circuit on them that internally kills the power to the internal amp when it detects very low resistence (indicating a short), generally a blown speaker is a result of an open circuit( either the wire making up the coil being burnt in two or an internal wire simply coming off.) This will show near infinte resistence and not be picked up the protection circuit. It is possible for a blown speaker to disable the head unit, but it occurs in the rare event that the speaker overheats and melts the insulation off the voice coil without burning the wire in two (this will show zero resistence and trip it out).

On most aftermarket stereos the red wire is to go to the ignition (hot when key is on) and the yellow wire is to the battery (hot always)...check your manual to be sure, but I haven't found one to differ from this yet...good luck

I just checked my Haynes book it shows:

Ignition= yellow
Battery= orange
Headlight= brown

I would make sure though....I've found that the Haynes book is wrong on several things.

I changed out my radio but can't remember the wire colors.

Why aren't you using a wiring harness for this.

The GM harness should match right up.

Why aren't you using a wiring harness for this.

The GM harness should match right up.

He's not installing an aftermarket radio. We were telling him which color wires to check for the problems he is having. Read the last 6 posts. Do you know what the colors are?

Opps, my bad..got to get these glasses checked, missed that factory thingy...haven't checked a gm radio lately but do they have a fuse in the back of them also...

He's not installing an aftermarket radio. We were telling him which color wires to check for the problems he is having. Read the last 6 posts. Do you know what the colors are?


oops, my bad, just a misunderstanding.

thats correct yellow in the car will b 12v switched orange is constant brown and grey are light wires but you should use a meter to check these wires because rear speaker wires are also brown and yellow also factory radios will play with a blown speaker and most after market ones will not . good luck.