How do I remove the radio?

If the guys who worked on your a/c had to work under the dash (which is necessary for some a/c components), they could have loosened a connection or damaged the speaker wire.

To check, try the following methods:

1) Remove the radio (search for instructions online), pull it out of the dash far enough to release the antenna and wiring connectors from the back (usually by pulling them straight out), then remove the stereo entirely. Then you can check the connectors and the wiring in the console for any obvious problems.

2) You didn't say which speaker quit working, but if the a/c guys had anything to do with it, it was probably one of the fronts. Check the wiring by removing any cover panels under the appropriate side of the dashboard, then sticking your head under the dash with a flashlight and looking for anything wrong with the wiring. IMPORTANT NOTE: Any time you're working under the dash, disconnect the car battery first to prevent accidental activation of the air bags.

3) Depending upon the age of the stereo, it is possible (though fairly unlikely) that one channel has gone dead. To test this while the stereo is out, you'll need to:

--provide power by running a wire from the positive terminal of the car battery to the appropriate terminal on the back of the stereo, which usually corresponds to a red wire on the connector.

--provide a ground in the same way, from either the battery's negative terminal or a known good ground point. The ground wire from the stereo is usually black (sometimes dark brown).

--provide a substitute pair of wires to the dead speaker (or any other car speaker you've got hanging around). Usually, each pair of speaker wires from the stereo is a wire of one color and another wire of the same color with a stripe (for example, purple and purple/white). Figure out those connections from the stereo, then connect the other ends of the wires to the speaker.

--turn the car key to "accessory," then turn on the stereo and see if the test speaker works. If it does, you know the problem is the wiring or connectors under the dash. If it doesn't, then the problem is the stereo itself.

--if the stereo doesn't turn on at all, it probably means that you've connected power to the "keep alive" terminal that keeps the radio's memory alive. Look instead for another brightly colored wire (often with an inline fuse, usually NOT blue), and try providing power to that terminal. Sometimes, a sticker on the stereo will show the proper electrical connections, or you could try looking online.

4) Or, you could call up the guys who worked on your a/c. First, ask them exactly what they repaired/replaced on your a/c, then ask if any of their work was under the dash. If they say yes, then tell them you think they screwed up your stereo wiring. If they admit that's possible, ask them to fix it themselves, or agree to pay the cost of a car audio installer to fix the problem, if the installer finds out it's probably their fault.

The following diagram shows a typical auto a/c system. The components usually found under the dash are shown at lower left. If the a/c guys repaired or replaced the expansion valve or anything related to the evaporator, that means they were almost certainly under the dash. (On GM vehicles, however, the expansion valve is often in the engine compartment, but the other components are similar to those shown here.)

Odds are that the wiring for that speaker is loose or damaged. Check it from the stereo output and pull the speaker out to check the connection

Hi, the aftermarket stereo does not use the illumination wire. You must tape that wire off (purple/gray). That wire is either connected to the wrong place or is touching chassis ground and causing your instrument lights to dim.
Connect the stereo's red wire to the car's black/yellow wire; and connect the stereo's yellow wire to the car's red/white wire.


1987 Mercedes 300E Car Stereo Wiring Chart
Car Radio Battery Constant 12v+ Wire: Red/White
Car Radio Accessory Switched 12v+ Wire: Black/Yellow
Car Radio Ground Wire: Brown
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Purple/Gray
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire: N/A
Car Stereo Antenna Trigger Wire: White
Car Stereo Amp Trigger Wire: N/A
Car Stereo Amplifier Location: N/A
Car Audio Front Speakers Size: 4? Speakers Dash
Car Audio Front Speakers Location: N/A
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Yellow
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Black
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): White
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Black
Car Audio Rear Speakers Size: 5 1/4? Speakers
Car Audio Rear Speakers Location: Rear Deck
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Red
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Black
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Green
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Black

Safety Precautions

Before removing the stereo or any other electrical component, it is vital that you first disconnect the grounding cable from the Neon's battery. The grounding cable connects the battery to the frame or chassis of the vehicle.

Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the grounding cable's camp from the negative battery lead. Make sure to rest the clamp away from the negative lead post until the removal is complete.

Remove the Dash Trim Panel

The dash trim panel that surrounds the Neon stereo needs to be removed to access the stereo. The panel contains, but is not connected to, the climate control knobs on the dashboard.

Grab the panel at the bottom corners and pry it from the dash. You will likely be able to remove the panel without the assistance of a trim pry tool, but if you are having difficulty removing the panel by hand, wrap a thin cloth around a trim panel removal tool or flat head screwdriver to remove the panel.

Once the lower edge of the panel is relieved from the panel, you can work your hands (or flat pry tool) around the perimeter to separate the remaining edges.

Since the panel is not connected to the climate control knobs, you will not need to disconnect the wiring to the knobs. The panel, once free, can be set aside until you replace the stereo.

Remove the Stereo

The Neon stereo deck is held into the stereo mounting bracket by 10 millimeter bolts on either side of the radio. Remove the bolts and store them in the ashtray for safe-keeping.

Pull the stereo from the dock. The unit will easily slide from the mounting bracket with an even pull from the left and right of the stereo. Pull the stereo far enough to reach the wiring on the rear of the radio.

The wiring to the stereo includes the antenna, the power supply and the speaker wires. There may also be patch cables connected if an amplifier is connected to your stereo system. Pull the cables from the stereo. The antenna and power supply are single cables. The speaker wires (and patch cables) will be grouped by wire binders. The plastic wire binders should be pulled as a unit. Do not pull the wires themselves.

Once the wiring has been disconnected from the stereo, the unit will be completely free from the Neon.

If you plan to operate the vehicle before installing a new stereo or re-installing the factory deck; reconnect the grounding cable to the negative battery lead. Otherwise, leave the cable away from the negative lead until all of your work is completed.

it sounds like u didn't put the speaker connector thoroughly! Putting the stereo back might have disconnected the connection. Check it again!

trace the wires from this burned out speaker to the stereo, are they actually connected to speaker output or to 12V+ you could have a fried stereo/amplifier or miswired speakers. is one of the wires from the speaker connected to ground? at either end, this could also cook your speakers and amp/stereo...

Hi have you tried using the settings on the stereo that controls the balance from front to back and side to side if you have changed these settings without knowing then the stereo output might be in the possition for the one side.
If after doing this you still have the same problem then i would remove the stereo and check all the wires are secure if they are then you need to remove the casing for the side speakers and check the wires for corrosion and make sure connected properly.

Usually the speakers wont just suddenly stop working if the problem was with the speaker then you would have noticed over time that the sound was distorted or would have sounded crackley from the speakers.
If this is not the case then check the speaker balance on stereo and then check wires.

Let me know how you get on or if you need further assistance ok

If your looking to remove the amplifier whilst keeping the speaker connection to the stereo, you'll need to map what inputs are to which speakers, lable those inputs and connect them to the corresponding outputs afterlabeling them and removing the amplifier

How to set up radio without wiring diagram : First you need to hook up the lead and ground power wire to your radio.(the lead usually has a line all the way down it). Turn power on to the radio and switch to am/fm. Locate any lead speaker wire and connect it to front right -. Then take all ground speaker wires one by one and touch them to front right +. As soon as you hear a sound, find out which speaker it is coming from, as soon as you have identified correct speaker remove wires from right speaker and mark them carefully. Do this with the rest of speaker lead wires an speaker ground wires and you will be able to connect your stereo.

here are the factory wire colors and what they do.

1999 Ford Escort
Radio Stereo Audio Wiring Diagram
Car Radio Battery Constant 12v+ Wire: Blue/Red
Car Radio Accessory Switched 12v+ Wire: Blue/Black
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Red/Black
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire: Green
Car Stereo Antenna Trigger: N/A
Car Stereo Amp Trigger Wire: White/Orange
Car Stereo Amplifier Location: Under the driver seat.
Car Audio Front Speakers Size: N/A
Car Audio Front Speakers Location: N/A
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Violet
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Blue/Orange
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Blue/White
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): White
Car Audio Rear Speakers Size: N/A
Car Audio Rear Speakers Location: N/A
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): White/Blue
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Red/Blue
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): White/Green
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Blue
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