97 4runner Stereo problems

[scott_morris70]

I tried the search function but i am having no luck finding any info on this problem.* I am having a stereo issue with my 97 limited 4runner.* I had a cheap e-bay double DIN stereo that had been installed by the previous owner.* one day it just stopped working.* power was on but all the speakers went dead.* the only thing that still worked was the bass (on a 12" sub and amp in the back of the rig) which was fed by RCA connections on the back of the stereo.* So all i could hear was low level bass.* After a while it started working again and worked for quite a while.* then is stopped again.* this went on for a month or so, i never knew when it would work and when it wouldn't.* finally fed up with it i ordered a new head unit thinking that the cheap ebay no name head unit was to blame,.* get the dash torn down and the wiring was a mess.* looked like the factory harness had been cut off and re spliced several times.* I found a color code chart and made sure that all the wires were going to the right places and they were.* I cut all the old splices out of the harness and spliced in all the connections to the speakers, power etc to the new stereo.* double checked all the connections and colors.* turn on the new unit and nothing.* doing the exact same thing.* all i hear is the bass.* So checked all the connections that i can find and they all are tight.* Frustrated i put it back together so we can go up into the mountains to get a Christmas tree.* About half way up the hill, after hitting a bump the speakers all start working.* it sounds great.* a half hour later it quits again.* does this a couple more times then out for good the rest of the trip and hasn't come back on since.* My theory is that there is a loos connection somewhere in the system that gets bumped and makes or breaks the connection.* problem is i cant find that connection.* i thought about replacing the factory wiring harness but i can not find even a diagram that shows the harness routing or part number.* if i knew the routing i could at least try to trace it down the bad connection.

Does any one have a wiring diagram or part number for the harness, or any idea where i should be looking.* I had the glove box out and checked the connections there but it didn't help anything.***

 

[Twisted Sid]

Before you do anymore rewiring, I'd check the connections and wires at the speakers to see if one is grounding out on some metal somewhere.

 

[scott_morris70]

would 1 grounding out take the whole system down? 1 time it went out when i rolled the driver window down.

 

[scott_morris70]

does anyone know or have any pictures of how the factory wiring harness is routed? just want to know where i need to start tearing things apart.

 

[Twisted Sid]

would 1 grounding out take the whole system down? 1 time it went out when i rolled the driver window down.

It could. I know one of my old head units did that. The signal from the decks internal amp would be cut like a protection mode but the pre amp RCAs would still work.

does anyone know or have any pictures of how the factory wiring harness is routed? just want to know where i need to start tearing things apart.

The door panels are easy to remove. I'd start there.

 

[scott_morris70]

Well, update. i reached up under the dash, behind the air ducting and wiggled around any wires i could feel. low and behold, it started working! so there must be something loose up under there. at least now i know where to be looking!