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CD Player install

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 2:14 am
by integrator
Just wondering if anyone has encountered my problem. I am installing a Kenwood CD player using a Metra harness I don't get any sound from the speakers. Is there a factory amp somewhere that I have to bypass. I searched but I couldn't find anything. I guess I will have to go until tomorrow without CD's.

Someone please let me know there thoughts. ONly thing I can think of is that there is a factory amplifier somewhere. Oh yeah I'm returnig the Metra mounting kit. Don't buy it, it sucks.

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 6:22 am
by evolutionmovement
There's no factory amp I know of. I wired mine directly to the car with the wires that came off the stereo and have never had a problem. I can't help you with colors, though, as I did it about 6 yrs ago. Just check the connections at the speaker and stereo. If none of them work, it must have something to do with the harness or the stereo.

Steve

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 7:56 am
by boostjunkie
Steve is right. The stock radio is internally amped. Check your connections to make sure that the right wires are tapped into from the harness to the aftermarket radio.

Did you hook up the radio while the battery was still connected? If so, you might have blown the fuse to the radio. Check under the dash for the fuse. Even if the battery was disconnected, check the fuse anyway.

Make sure there are no shorts. Use a voltmeter if possible.

If you crimped the connections, make sure the wires make good contact with the crimps.

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:24 pm
by AWD_addict
If you let some friends help you, and they didn't disconnect the battery like you told them to, then the fuse is probably blown.
Or if there was no fuse because the previous owner removed it, then you will need to get the head unit repaired.
Yes, working on my stereo was a learning experience.

Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 12:21 am
by integrator
Well the stereo powers up fine but I don't get any sound. I put the stock deck back in for now so I can have radio. I'm not sure what is wrong because I installed the deck into my CRX and it works fine. It just doesn't work in the Legacy. This is very strange.

So, I know the deck output is working, the fuse isn't blown and all of the features on the new deck appear to work fine but I have no sound. Could there be an aftermarket amp? I will investigate and let you guys know wht I come up with.

Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 2:01 am
by BAC5.2
Did you wire it right?

It should work just fine if the stock one works fine.

Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 4:10 am
by integrator
Well, I've triple checked the wiring. ONly conclusion I can come to is that the harness is wrong. Are all of the head unit plugs the same from 89-94? I have a Metra Harness and I've wired it up. I've installed many decks including one in a Lexus where I've had to bypass the factory amp and they've all worked flawlessly. I'm not sure why this one will not work. I will plug it in once more tonite although I'm positive it still will not work.

When I turn the car on I do get a pop in the left rear speaker. Maybe I should try reseting the deck or something.

Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 4:31 am
by vrg3
Yes, all BC/BF head units connectors are the same.

What happens if you only hook up one speaker? Like maybe the left rear?

Do you know when and where your car was made? Maybe some cars have a shared ground between speakers or something...

Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 3:09 pm
by magicmike
Give us the metra part number. If I'm not mistaken there is a plug that is for multi purpose that will fit but all of the wire colors are jumbled around in the plug. its a unuversal and comes with a little book telling you what wire is what on the harness. This may be your problem. What year legacy do you have, and this ia a stupid question but are you sure you have a legacy and not a loyal, or a GL/DL. Those are the only common ground setups that I know of.

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 1:34 am
by integrator
I figured it out thanks for all your help. I actually feel kinda stupid but after reading over your replies I realized that I did everything right except I half assed the ground. I grounded it to the bracket behind the dash. I hooked the ground wire around my key instead and Voila! sound. It was late so I put it off until tomorrow. Can anybody mention a GOOD grounding spot not to far from the deck?

Thanks again.

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 6:11 pm
by evolutionmovement
IIRC I used the bottom bracket that the console bolts to. I believe there may be an OEM ground there, so that's why I used it.

Steve

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 8:28 pm
by integrator
It's funny, I tried the same ground that you just mentioned and I still get no sound. This is the weirdest problem I've ever come across. I tried grounding it to the steering column, the bracket and other odds and ends under the dash it the deck still has no output. I even tried hooking it up to the key again. Now it won't even work that way.

I am in no way mechanically uninclined since I've been working on cars for at least 4 yrs and 2 yrs as a full time job. I don't understand why this thing is so difficult to ground. I will be grounding it directly to the battery next time and if that doesn't work I will eliminate the metra harness altogether and hard wire it into the factory wires. I bought the Metra harness to make the install EASY.

Oh well this post is getting to long, I'm just frustrated since the damn thing won't work.

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 4:09 pm
by integrator
Okay, I broke down and called Metra for help. They asked me if any of my speakers were blown. Both rears are blown (which I didn't actually notice at first, but still wouldn't have suspected them.) The tach support guy told me (after some time on hold of course) that I should just unplug the blown speakers and the deck will work. Now the deck works, thanks everyone for all of your help.