re power line to radio fried

[flash250]

I was installing some accent lights on my 97 escort. I was connecting them directly to the back of the radio power source. By accident the red power line touched the back of the radio. I thought the radio was fried so i bought a new radio but it still won't turn on. I installed it on my 91 escort and it works fine. What else can i do besides have an electrician check it out.

[bigrod118]

check the fuse for the radio, probably blew it when it touched.

[flash250]

i did all that already i think i might have shorted the power line coming in cause all the other line's are fine. looks like i have to pull the dash and follow the wiring...AARRGGHH

[A. Souphound]

Originally Posted by flash250

i did all that already i think i might have shorted the power line coming in cause all the other line's are fine. looks like i have to pull the dash and follow the wiring...AARRGGHH

Check the 'power line' with a 12V Trouble light to see if you have power. Also check the radio fuse with a trouble light or a VOM. Sometimes a visual inspection of the fuse/s does not detect a bad fuse.
There are several 'power lines' coming into the radio for lights etc. and the circuit also includes the ignition switch. You may be trying to hook-up to a now dead circuit.

[Jet-Lee]

check all your fuses. The only time this has ever happened to me, I popped a fuse. In my '99 it runs the radio through the "power locks" fuse.

[flash250]

Thanks I'll Check It Out

[flash250]

souphound where do i go to check for the dead circuit i've checkd all the fuse's with the light tester and i've checked the yellow power line it has power going thru and the wiring harness (not the speaker harness) is fine caues i tried to get power by bypassing it and it still won't turn on

[A. Souphound]

Originally Posted by flash250

souphound where do i go to check for the dead circuit i've checkd all the fuse's with the light tester and i've checked the yellow power line it has power going thru and the wiring harness (not the speaker harness) is fine caues i tried to get power by bypassing it and it still won't turn on

Went you 'grounded' the 'Red Wire' (pwr) you had to have blown a fuse.
Checked the fuse/s with the test light as follows:
1. Turn the ignition switch 'On'
2. Attach the test light ground (-) alligator clip to a good chassis ground.
3. Probe each terminal at the top of each fuse with the test light.
If the fuse is good, there will be power on both terminals. If a fuse is blown, one side will have power to it but the otherside will not.
Check all fuses in this manner both in the fuse panel, and also the Power Distribution panel.
If you have tested an found a 'hot wire' with the test light, and have wired that to the incoming power wire of the radio. It should work. If it doesn't put a jumper wire from the car chassis to the radio chassis to assure a good ground between the two.
If the radio still doesn't come on, you may have blown a diode or a fuse
inside the radio. Some cars with chassis ground radio's have a fuse or diode between the switch and chassis ground to protect the radio in case of reverse polarity.

[flash250]

where would i find the power distribution panel???

[flash250]

Thanx souphound checking both terminals on the fuse helped it was a fuse