Preston's Radio

["Al Powell" <APOWELL@agcom.tamu.edu>]

> From: Preston Brown <pbrown@econ.yale.edu>
[snip]
> The connectors to the OEM radio are 3:
> 
> 2 push-in connectors w/4 wires apiece, for the front and rear speakers.  
> These are inserted next to each other, and are identical, i.e. I can 
> switch where they are plugged into the radio and it will reverse the 
> speakers front/rear.

You got it.  This must be + and - for each speaker;  probably front 
and rear each grouped into one connector.
> 
> 1 (larger) connector with other wires -- I assume ground, power, etc.  
> There are at least 5 wires though, heaven knows what for.

These would be some combination of:
a) Radio power
b) Antenna power relay
c) Ground
d) Data (if the car has one of those zoomy data readouts in the dash)
e)  ?

> The antenna appears to be directly connected into the radio, with no 
> visible means for disconnecting it (correct??)

Nyet.  It "gotsta" unplug, just don't use a claw hammer to get it 
loose.   The connection to my Bose will rotate easily, but it takes a 
firm pull at 90 degrees to the connector to get it off.
 
> 2 Questions:
> 
> 1. Can I order the hardware from Crutchfield (w/o a radio) that will
> enable me to connect the AIWA radio up to this set of connectors,
> including a transformer to lower the level for the rear speakers to
> line-level? 

They're a good bet, and no, you don't need to order the radio along 
with the stuff.  Just tell em what car it's going into and what the 
stock radio is.  Transformer is $30.
 
> 2. (much more important) I think that I have a big wiring problem, but I 
> don't know where to start looking for it.  The rear speakers, that is all 
> the ones on the rear deck and on the rear doors, are not working.  At 
> all.  I don't think that it is a problem with the radio because if I 
> switch the plugs (as described above) the front speakers still work on 
> the "rear" connection.  

OK - has to be bad wires.  Run new ones - under the carpet along the 
outer sides next to door sills; tuck neatly.  Why waste time on the 
old ones.   UNLESS - you check the wires at the speakers.  They could 
have simply been knowned loose!  It only takes one per side!

> In addition, the antenna doesn't raise.  Is it 
> possible that all of these things are part of the same circuit, and 
> that's why they aren't working?  

Not likely.  Could be bad antenna or bad connection at antenna.  
Check visually - that's cheap!

> Anyhow, I need some pointers on where to 
> start looking/probing with my voltmeter to see what's broken.  If you 
> want some more details, please mail me.

My sugestions:
Run new wires to back speakers.  Check the antenna power lead and see 
if you have voltage when the radio is turned on.  If yes, bad 
antenna.   If no, you may end up deciding to run another wire rather 
than chase it around the car.  Before you change this system out, get a 
wiring diagram so you know which leads go where, because you WILL 
need them even with the adapters.


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Al Powell                           Voice:  409/845-2807
Ag Communications                   Fax:    409/862-1202
107 Reed McDonald Bldg.             Email:  a-powell1@tamu.edu 
College Station, TX  77843-2112
W3 page - http://agcomwww.tamu.edu/agcom/satellit/rpe/alpage.htm

"These are not my figures I'm quoting.  They're from someone who
knows what he's talking about."  
                        Anonymous US Congressman.

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