Stereo doesnt work. Recall button only.

My nieghbor has a '94 Pontiac Bonneville se or sse or something, and he asked for me to look on the net to find something out about his radio.

The previous owner had a car phone installed. So there are traces of wiring snips, but I believe every original wire is still hooked up.

Nothing on the radio works, except the "Recall" button, which shows you and incorrect time. lol.

What causes this and how can I go along fixing it?

Thanks, Andrew.

You are saying that none of the buttons on the stereo its self works except recall?

If so then the stereo may have bit the dust...

If its the buttons on the steering wheel than that may be another story..

This sounds very similar to a problem I ran into recently. I tried to install a CD player from my 93 into my 90. As soon as the steering wheel control connector was plugged in, the radio did some rather strange things. None of the buttons worked and the display was wierd. I'd suggest disconnecting the connector (6-7 pin connector with only 2-3 wires) and see if the radio operates normally. If it does, then I would say that is is an incompatible radio.

What type of radio is it anyway? CD, cassette, factory GM, original to the vehicle?

There are no buttons on the steering wheel, and it has the factory cassette deck.

I have unplugged and plugged it back in. I also have checked all the fuses. I dont know. Right now Im fighting another problem, thats another thread...

Thanks, Andrew