Car Stereos: Monsoon problems, fuse boxes, power fuse

Question
QUESTION: I have a 2004 Grand Am GT with the monsoon cd player. I removed it to put an aftermarket HU in. I didn't have a wiring harness so I decided not to go ahead with it. Tried to put the stock unit back in and it wont work. The lights come on for the buttons, but that's it. I checked fuses and all seems to be ok. Do you have any ideas?

Jack

ANSWER: Hi Jack,

About the only guess I'd have would be a blown fuse.  The radio fuse should be located in the fuse box on the passenger side of the dash.  Often people don't realize there are two interior fuse boxes in this vehicle; one on the driver's side, and one on the passenger side.  

If the fuse is good, all you can do is test the orange power wire in the radio harness and see if you have voltage.  If there's voltage on the orange wire, and the radio still won't turn on, then the radio may be defective; if there's no voltage, then you might be able to re-wire it to another power source--the orange wire at the cigarette lighter is probably the easiest place to find constant power, in this case.

Hope this helps!

Brian

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: That fuse was blown, but still wont play music. It will eject the cd and when you push one of the button it shows the clock, but thats it. Do you have any over ideas?

Jack

Answer
Unfortunately, the only ideas I have at this point are fairly unlikely.  In most cars, I'd suggest that you'd look for the radio's accessory power fuse; that's the fuse that supplies power when you turn the key on.  However, in your Grand Am there is no such fuse.  The radio is switched on and off with digital signals through the vehicle's data bus system.  If the data bus isn't telling the radio your key is on (which seems to be the case) then it's unfortunately a problem for a dealer to look at.

The factory radio is also the source for your vehicle's warning chimes.  Do you still hear a chime when you have the door open and the key on, or when the lights are on with the key out?  

Are your windshield wipers and power windows working normally?  It's a long shot, but if these functions have stopped working, then you might have a defective key switch.

Sorry I can't be more helpful!

Brian