Mighty Max radio help!

[MitsuMax]

Okay so here I am installing a factory cassette radio from a 1996-97 mirage on my 1988 Mitsu. I connected all the wires respectively but I have a blue/white wire left over, I have no idea what it's for. I turn the key on and I have power but I have no sound. :( I check the speaker wire and rub on the speaker terminals and all I hear is like a static/crackling sound, this only when I rub the wire on the speaker, can anyone help? Thanks for any input!

[iceman]

Is the blue and white wire from the truck or the radio? Also is this a new install or did the truck come with a radio from the factory? Is the radio you are installing new or used? And does it have dash speakers? Also you probably already found something like this but here is all the colors for the radio harness.
Car Radio Battery Constant 12v+ Wire: Red/Black
Car Radio Accessory Switched 12v+ Wire: Blue
Car Radio Ground Wire: Chassis
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Green/White
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire: Black/Yellow
Car Stereo Antenna Trigger Wire: N/A
Car Stereo Amp Trigger Wire: N/A
Car Stereo Amplifier Location: N/A
Car Audio Front Speakers Size: 4″ Speakers
Car Audio Front Speakers Location: Dash
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): White/Blue
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Black/Blue
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): White/Red
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Black/Red
Car Audio Rear Speakers Size: 6 1/2″ Speakers
Car Audio Rear Speakers Location: Rear Corners
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Yellow/Blue
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Gray/Blue
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Yellow/Red
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Gray/Red

[FmaxinOut]

the blue/white wire on some factory radios are for factory amps so that could be why you have no sound

[4doorciv]

You can always buy an aftermarket radio. The radio harness I'm using is a plug and play harness from the 1990 Plymouth laser/Mitsubishi eclipse/eagle talon that was bought at Walmart. Splice into radio harness and plug into truck.

You might have a few wires crossed, like speaker - goes to a different speaker +.

[92bluemax]

I installed a kenwood in my truck and I had no problems hooking it up ! I just don't have a constant clock on anymore with my key on:P

[MitsuMax]

Thanks for all the help but it turned out the body fuse was out, the radio one was good though. Now it all looks stock :))

[92bluemax]

glad you got it working

[ikeepzitclean]

good to hear its working now. FYI, best thing to have handy whenever installing a stereo or that sort of thing is a 9v battery and a tester w/ a bulb on it to check for hot wires. I've installed a lot of car audio systems and those are 2 of the things that always come in handy.

[MitsuMax]

I'll keep that in mind, my radio is weird. It works when it wants to so sometimes I get left without tunes at random times.

[lush90]

I get the need for a test light but how do you use the 9V battery?

[92bluemax]

I'll keep that in mind, my radio is weird. It works when it wants to so sometimes I get left without tunes at random times.Time to re-check the wires

[ikeepzitclean]

I'll keep that in mind, my radio is weird. It works when it wants to so sometimes I get left without tunes at random times.

check the 12v+ hot wire to make sure its not loose. sometimes a bad ignition switch can cause the electronics to act weird too. but first start off w/ the easy stuff and check your wire connections


I get the need for a test light but how do you use the 9V battery?

9v battery can be used to find out which wires go to what speaker in case u have a cut wire harness or something like that.. attach one wire to + and one to - of the 9v battery and u should hear a faint static/soft crackling noise in whichever speaker the wires run to.

however, I always run new wires for cars over 15 yrs old. old wiring aint reliable, especially w/ this new technology and wattage in the new speakers, HUs, amps, tweets, etc. running new wires gives me peace of mind and i know its done right. :thumbup:

[92bluemax]

got in my truck yesterday,and mine wouldn't work ! I had to remove the faceplate and put it back on, and it works now:shrug:

[ikeepzitclean]

got in my truck yesterday,and mine wouldn't work ! I had to remove the faceplate and put it back on, and it works now:shrug:

well if u already checked ur wiring and its hooked up secure and its still acting up u could possibly have a defective HU.

[geezer101]

I know this is an old thread but my cousin was given a stereo with a detachable face that was glitchy as. I cleaned all the contacts on the back of the faceplate and on the contacts up front of the head unit and he got back all functions and display (the guy he bought it off for $20 wanted it back after I fixed it - some people...) I used some cotton tips and a little metal polish on the copper contacts and it sorted out the connection issues.

[pennyman1]

dirty contacts on detachable faceplate radios are the #1 issue for dead HUs. Friend of mine just replaced one in his 94 Supra for that reason - I offered to clean it for him, but he wanted to change it out for a double din one with a big screen on it from one of his other cars. I may grab the old one before he tosses it.

[irving3d]

the accesory wire is supposed to be plain blue? or blue and white? because the previous owner cut off the harness and i am having a hard time hardwiring in the radio. all my other wires seem to be right.

[baby max]

This thread was unbelievably helpful. Finally got my truck running and back from Alabama, and I wanted to put my kenwood radio in there. Got the accessories cover off and the radio out and almost died when I was the mess of wires in there. When the truck was purchased in 1990 they put in an aftermarket cassette deck and left the old harness in and just spliced into the new one. I cut out the original harness and the old harness, and spliced my new stereo into the wires.

If you no longer have the blue accessories cable I suggest unplugging the ac unit, which should be in the same area as the radio, and getting one of the splice adapters and splicing a new cable into that one, that is what I had to do for my radio. I will also post before and after pictures of my radio setup.