So I just picked up a 97 Legacy Outback with 130k for $3000. It had the stock radio in it until one day I took it out to hook up a sub and amp. When I took the stereo out I tore 2 wires on accident. A yellow wire and a green and white wire. I connected them and put the radio back in seeing as it isn't compatible with a sub or amp. The radio wasn't working so I checked the fuse and it was blown. I replaced the fuse, still no radio, ensured the wires that tore were connected and they were. Still nothing. Think I fried the radio? Im about to go on a 4 hour road trip in a few days and I want some tunes. Help?

It doesn't take much to fry board level components, when there is an electrical short, that blows a fuse. If you wired in a sub and amplifier incorrectly, that too could fry a radio.

Does the radio not turn on at all? Or does it turn on but you have no sound?

 

Most radios have short protection for the speaker circuits. If one of the speaker wires shorts it cuts power to all of them to prevent damage to the internal amp.

 

There are some sharp edges in the dash. Are you sure you didn't cut the insulation on any of the other wires?

Have stock 6 disk and Subaru Amp for sale.  

Larry

Just an update, I swapped stereos and fuses. Still nothing. It seems to me I'm not power to the radio. I just have no clue what can cause that besides a bad fuse or bad stereo.

Do you have a volt meter? 

 

Some one my have put an inline fuse in if it was not a stock radio.  

Greetings from the tip of Africa!

 

Perhaps when the two wires were ripped out, you replaced them incorrectly (i.e. swapped around).

 

If they were say a speaker positive, and an accessory or battery +12V swapped that would cause a bit of chaos, and probably fry the radio.

 

Most of these radios have more than one fuse, and more than one power cable.

Cable 1: Permanent +12V from battery (unswitched)

Cable 2: Ignition Key related > gives +12V to radio when ignition is switched on. 

 

These two power cables are usually Red and Yellow in colour. Both need to be powered for the radio to work.

 

Check both fuses are okay. Then get a multimeter tester and see if cables are actually providing voltage at the input socket to the radio. Eliminate the obvious stuff.

 

If you are out of your depth, then stop mucking around. Rather go to your local college that does electronics as a course (don't phone them). Ask the lecturer who could help you sort it out on the cheap. A good student. They know who the boffins in their class are. Usually electronics fundis are into car audio, it's just a question of finding the right techie. Ask for help, they are usually quite keen to help and will rarely charge much (if at all), do a trade or whatever. If they are so inclined, ask them to explain what they do in fixing it, you get to learn some cool stuff. If they hit a brick wall in the repair, one of their buddies will then be called in, hehe.

 

Remember: Once you fry your car stereo, you cannot unfry it.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Oh yeah. First post. Hello to all. Thanks for the resource. Respect!

Edited January 11, 201412 yr by algraysa