non-stock radio issue after bodyshop work, any suggestions on what I should focus on?

[78TypeLTCamaro]

Short Version of Story:

I got a Kenwood deck, EQ, and AMP. The EQ and AMP are 20 years old but work and worked before I dropped it off at the body shop. I am getting power to the radio, but no radio number display in the radio LCD screen or sound.

Longer Version of Story:

I got my car back finally last week. The first thing I did when I got in, was turned on my radio. No go. (my dome light was off as well) It was late on Friday so I figured I'll work on it next morning. I got power to it by tightening the neg wire to the dash ground screw the following Sat. But no sound or pop to the amp.

This past Sat I took a closer look and noticed the red wires were tapped into an orange wire. I know based on my search here, that is not correct, and when it was installed they should have used the original radio harness or tapped right into the fuse block. Yet it still works. It was a bit of a mess so I cleaned up the connections with T taps and butt connected the orange wire. After that was all done, I am at the same point, but now no radio number display on the screen.

With installing T taps, I am able to take out each component to help rule out the cause. I took out the EQ and that made no difference. I also played a cassette tape and I got no sound. The amp is getting power and with my limited electrical skills with a voltmeter, I think that is true. I got the pop when it came on.

What the hell could it be? The dome light is still not working and I am thinking it is related somehow? They replaced the windshield so they messed with the antenna cable, but that would not effect me playing a cassette.

Any suggestions? I checked the obvious, in-line fuse from the radio on the red wire, in-line fuse from the radio on the yellow wire, and the in-line fuse from the amp, and any fuses on the fuse block. The ground wires look good. One ground wire was spliced onto another ground wire which I removed and wired directly. There are 3 grounds. The only item that may be 'wrong' is when I butt connected the orange wire, I did not strip the wire, not sure if I needed to strip a wire for a butt connection? All the other wires were stripped at 1/8 length.

I even took the red wire from the radio and connected to the original yellow wire for the radio, same results.

Thanks in advance.

[Batman]

You need to strip wire for a butt connector. Pull the radio harness and check for voltage at both the red and yellow wires. Red should be power with the key on and yellow should get power all the time. If no power, then start tracing wires back to where they're tapped in.

As far as using T-taps, do yourself a favor and install all your T-taps in the garbage. It's not a question of if they'll fail, but when. Only ones I've seen that are any good pierce the main wire in 2 spots, but since they cost more most shops don't use them, the cheap fools!!

[78TypeLTCamaro]

Thanks. I'll re-do the butt connector first.

If I don't use T taps what are my other options? I wanted to make it detachable but if that is not preferable should I go with solder to join the wires?

[Batman]

Other than T-Taps, you can use 1/4" spade connectors (male and female) or bullet connectors (again, male and female).

[angel of death]

Did you try checking all ground lines? I ripped out my harness last week and found my 78 dome ran off rear harness, so check your grounds in trunk?
good luck.

[78TypeLTCamaro]

I gave up figuring it out and took it to a car stereo shop. They basically re-wired the stereo and it works now.

The dome light bulb was removed because the door gaskets are not sealing the door tight enough for the dome light switch to close the circuit. I found that out later, after my battery drained down to nothing. Wish they told me at the shop before I put the bulb back in.

So that was the outcome.