I Can't trace Carerra door speaker wires to the stereo

[jkarolyi]

I have an '89 Carerra and I'm trying to figure out where the speaker wires that go to the built in crossovers (under the door handle) end up.

The stock stereo is weird in that it sends low-level signal to the stock amp under the seat, which then sends amped signal back to the head unit, which then sends it out to the speakers. I get positive current from one of the wires (which goes off when the stereo shuts off), but it must be some kind of odd output because my speakers won't work from it.

Basically, I'm trying to have a straight connection from my new aftermarket stereo to my door speaker crossovers (which I'm replacing with an aftermarket crossover as well) using the stock wires. Running new wires in that labyrinth under the dash and through the door jambs is frightening to me.

Has anyone put in an aftermarket stereo using the stock door wiring?

[arerrac]

bump

I would like to know too. Looking to do the same thing this winter.

-W

[450knotOffice]

I ended up having a professional installer rewire my entire system and bypass that stupid front / back fader in the center console.

It might be worth it to let someone else do it.

[jkarolyi]

Why do stereo manufacturers design crazy over-engineered radios for OEM installations? My old VW Corrado G60 had a six-speaker system that took me days to figure out. It actually had amps in each door which powered all six speakers!!! I actually made a website about it when I finally figured it out:

http://www.corrado-club.com/aktiv/

That one was made by Panasonic and the '89 Carerra is a Blaupunkt system. I've never seen any system so needlessly complicated sold by them on the open market.

All this work for systems that sound worse than a 10 year old Sparkomatic with Kraco speakers.

[jkarolyi]

I don't have a front/back fader in my center console. Where would that be on an '89 model? I think you might have found the problem...

[Rockafella]

I've done this in an 85, so assume it will be pretty close/conceptually same. The wires drop off the head unit into a stock harness where they lead to the fader switch in the console. From there, they head back up under the dash and "T" off to go to the front doors while the rear speaker wires drop under the passenger seat and run along the right side to the package shelf.

The hard part is figuring out what is what in the rats nest. The easiest way is to pull the blower motor covers and look for the brown speaker wires, follow those back to the fader switch. I just spliced off the fader, as I used the factory speaker wire to connect to an amp in the trunk. Pretty simple when you find them. Email me if you get stuck and need pics.

[Sizzle]

Rockafella -- I've been troubleshooting my stereo in my 84 for some time now (installing a simple Kenwood 235), and I'm in good shape with one last missing piece -- My power antenna on the right front fender won't deploy.....the harness most certainly has a wire for powering the antenna, and everything is hooked up and working, but that antenna won't move anymore. Poor ground on the antenna hookup?