Re: Need help with stereo installation in 86 5kcst

[M Connors <mconnor@frontiernet.net>]

Rokas,
I recently updated my stereo on my '87 5KTQ.  My stereo problem was the same as
yours. With the OEM Blaupunkt Unit installed the back speakers would not work.
I figured it was time to update my stereo so I bought a new Blau Denver CD (135
Watts) player as a replacement.   When I installed my new Blau unit connecting
the back speakers resulted in no audio!  Not even the "audible beep" could be
heard when pressing the various buttons on the steero face.  To make a long
story short it turns out there was some type of short in the rear amplifier
that was shunting the stereo signal out.  I recall several posts on the list
recently regarding bad rear amplifiers and the possibility of FIRE!  As a quick
fix,  I abandoned the existing rear wiring and amplifier (unplugged the amp)
and ran new wire from the instrument cluster.  I found, at least in my case,
that my new stereo was powerful enough to drive my system without the rear
amp.    BTW, if you don't want to hack up your car's existing wiring in the
instrument cluster; Crutchfield (www.crutchfield.com) is an excellent source
for adapters to adapt your existing speakers plugs to your new stereo.  I
bought an antenna adapter and speaker plug adapters from Cruthfield.  They both
worked great and made for a custom installation!  Good Luck with the project.

Regards
Mark

Rokas Reipa wrote:

> Finally decided to pull out the original Blaupunkt head unit from my 86
> 5kcst and replace it with an Alpine CD head unit(with 35w x 4 channels).
> Front speakers work ok, however when I connect the rear speakers, all is
> lost. No music comes out of any speakers. The car has the 10 speaker system
> with the amplified rear speakers. Does the rear amp need to be bypassed
> somehow? Please help. TIA
>
> Rokas
> 86 5kcst