Car Stereos: no sound aftermarket radio, amp fuse, hyundai tiburon

Question
Hi Brian, I am installing an aftermarket stereo in a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon.  Everything appears to be hooked up right.  But when the stereo comes on, there is no sound.  I have read that it may have something to do with the factory amplifier.  But I'm not sure what to do.  The stereo works when I hook it up to another speaker.  

Answer
Hi Victoria,

If your Tiburon is equipped with an Infinity sound system from the factory, then it does have a factory amplifier.  It's pretty easy to make the amplifier work with the new head unit; you just have to make sure the amplifier activation wire in the stock harness is connected to the new head unit's remote output.  If you're using an adapter harness that fits the Hyundai plug, then there should be a blue/white wire in the harness.  This needs to be connected to the blue/white wire from your new head unit.  If your deck does not have a blue/white wire, then use the solid blue wire instead.  

The color of the activation wire in the Hyundai plug is white with an orange stripe.  Check to make sure this matches up with the blue/white wire in the adapter harness; occasionally you'll find a harness that's not pinned correctly.

The factory amp has its own fuse in the dash fuse panel.  It's a 20-amp fuse, and it should be labeled "amp" in the fuse diagram.

Your problem can also be caused by a grounded or shorted speaker wire.  A problem with one speaker wire can kill the sound to all the speakers, as the deck's internal amp shuts down for protection.  Double-check your speaker connections and make sure all wires are fully insulated, and that you don't have any wires that are pinched against a metal surface in the dash or on the back of the stereo.  If you installed new speakers, there may be a pinched or shorted wire at one of the speaker connections; or a speaker may have an internal short.

Hope this helps!

Brian