Audio Systems: I need help...., eclipse stereo, electrical department

Question
Hi..well to start off I have a 1995 Dodge Ram P/U with an Eclipse stereo. When I got the truck the everything worked fine, the Cd and Radio worked. I started having problems with my alarm system because it had an auto-start and I had to have the alarm taken out due to the fact that it would auto-start on it's own. When the mechanic took out my alarm, my father when to pick up my truck since I was out of town and drove it to my house and parked it there. When I got home and got into my truck, the radio would not turn on. All it would say on the front is "HELP". I know before when the battery would be disconnected or something there is a certain CD that is programmed to the stereo to when you put in the CD it restarts the radio. Now when I put in the CD all it does is spins inside. There's no sound or anything and it continues to say "help". I went back to my mechanic and he said he would take a look at it and fix but for another $100 and I was not about to pay him extra money after I had already paid him. I'm not sure if he cut a wire or what but now I do not have a radio. If you can help me or at least give me some advice, I would really appreciate it...thank you so much.  Cristy

Answer
Without knowing what was done when the auto-start was disabled it will be difficult to make a good prognostication.  It seems likely that a wire was rendered inactive - that feeds some portion of the radio system.

I don't know which radio you have so that would be a big guess, also.  These are made by Fujitsu-ten and manuals on them are skimpy, unfortunately.

http://www.eclipse-web.com/download/manual/index2.html
The above may have your model; you can study more from the operating manuals.

Here is what I would recommend:  Obtain a voltmeter (Walmart electrical department for $9.83) and check each place where there should be a 12v feed.  If the radio is totally contained within the dash mounting space there are probably 2 or at most 3 12 connections.  One is direct from the battery (through a fuse somewhere in the car), and one from the ignition for start or turnon of the unit....  This may lead to which voltage line may have been severed.

Hope this helps, but come back to me after studying it out and needing more help.

C



PS: Thanks for the rating, but how can you expect me to give you a more precise reply when you didn't even give me the model of your radio or the alarm system and autostart.  I will  give you further information if you will help me with what you have going on. I am a pretty good mind reader, but I can't guess everything; you must help by giving further information about the details of your problem.