[shorod]

There won't be any fuses on the speaker leads, any short circuit protection is typically built in to the hybrid amplifier ICs. I've never seen fused speaker leads in cars, stock or aftermarket. Home audio, yeah, I've seen it on vintage stuff, but newer equipment also incorporates the protection into the output stage.

I wonder if the the steering wheel volume down button is now shorting within the button pad cauing the volume to not be able to increase. The same clockspring is used for the button illumination as for the supply to the volume controls and other steering wheel audio controls. Please clarify, do any of the other audio controls work? Does the button illumination work? The buttons also provide their signals to the radio through the horn clockspring. Does the horn work? If the illumination and horn work but none of the other buttons, I would suspect that the steering wheel "Vol -" button may be stuck shorted.

The audio system should have a diagnostic mode. I don't have the service manual for the 2000 model year which I believe is different from the 2002. I've posted the steps for the 2002 below, it may be worth a try. Someone may have also posted the steps for the 2000, try searching the forum. A professional scan tool can also access the audio system if you can't find the self diagnostics.

Audio Unit Self-Diagnostic Mode
NOTE: To enter the speaker walk-around test or the audio unit self-diagnostic mode, must be ON and in radio tuner mode (AM/FM). The audio unit self-diagnostic mode can only be entered while in the speaker walk-around test.

1. To enter the speaker walk-around test, simultaneously press the audio unit preset buttons 3 and 6.

1. The speaker walk-around test stops at each speaker and applies a different tone to each speaker for about 1-2 seconds. Each speaker is tested and displayed on the audio unit in the following sequence: RF, LF, LR, RR, Subwoofer I, Subwoofer II except for Premium CDX6 no Subwoofer I, Subwoofer II will display.

1. The speaker walk-around test automatically continues and tests:

• for speaker short. If a short is present, SPKR SHORT will be displayed.
• for CD/DJ. The audio unit display will show NO DJ if not present.

The speaker walk-around test will end and the audio unit will return to its previous setting.
To enter the following audio unit self-diagnostic modes, press the preset button desired while in the speaker walk-around test. This will abort the speaker walk-around test and start the selected test.

1. The audio unit self-diagnostic mode has five tests available:

• Preset button 1 = Audio internal/external SELF TEST. If SELF FAIL is displayed, press TUNE > to scroll view the DTCs stored. Refer to the audio unit Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) Index. If the system is OK, SELF PASS is displayed.
• Preset button 2 = View/Clear continuous diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). NO DTCs is displayed if no DTCs are retrieved. If DTCs FOUND is displayed, press TUNE > button to view the DTCs retrieved. Refer to the audio unit Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) Index. To clear all DTCs press the EJECT button. DTCs CLEAR will be displayed.
• Preset button 3 = SIGNAL TEST. This test measures the average strength at the current tuner setting.
• Preset button 4 = Software configuration level. This test queries each audio system controller for its software configuration level. SOFT LEVELS will be displayed upon completion of the query. Press TUNE > to scroll view the software configuration version level.

-Rod