jmrjames

Thank you !!!!!!!!!!!

So if it is not hooked up it will make no difference.

Jim Chambers

SQLGuy, sent you a PM re: speakers. I connected one of the door speaker plugs to a rear output on the amp and I get good sound up front. That tells me that something is amiss between the amp and the rear speakers, both B pillar speakers and the cargo speaker.

SQLGuy

Usually, if it's not hooked up, you'll get no backlight on the head unit. If you don't have a handy dimmer or headlight line, the best thing is generally to hook it to ignition 12V.

You might check, though, whether the little lamp in the ashtray is always on, on with headlights, or dimmed. It might make a good source of power for the illumination line.

VehiGAZ

Jim - I have replaced my HU and my antenna base on my '89, and still have the same next-to-no reception problem you have. The coax antenna wire is at the top of my list of suspects, but I have not yet that it is really the problem.

I do not want to dismantle the interior to replace it, though! My next diagnostic step will be to set up my old antenna with 12V power and connect it to the HU with some new coax wire (can I use cable TV wire??) to see if that helps. I will be replacing almost all of the sound system components this summer, so fixing the reception problem has to happen with that project.

Good luck!

jmrjames

I wanted to thank you all for your help. I just replaced the defective head unit and it works good. I also applied power to that black antenna wire and the radio reception and quality increased. I would have left it unconnected without the advice here.

VehiGAZ

Connect your illumination lead, too! You will get full-backlight on the HU, which will be a very annoying distraction at night. Attach it to any wire that provides instrument panel lighting. I routed mine over to the "upstream" side of the dimmer control with excellent results.

Don't wait - do it while you are in there!

jmrjames

Thank you for keeping me from making a mistake by not hooking that wire up. I am going to use the clock light wire to tap into.