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Stereo Problems

My in-laws bought a '99 Grand Prix SE used. When they got the car, the radio played but the display was dead. Then the battery died. When the battery was replaced, the radio seemed to be dead. The theftlock light flashes and the radio will not power up. Completely dead.

Rather than spend $100 at the dealer to fix a radio that already has a burnt out display, I figured it would make more sense to get a new stereo.

We went to Circuit City, bought a $99 Pioneer CD player with free installation (free, with all the required parts brought the total with tax to $175). After the radio went in, the CD flayed frawlessly, FM was weak and AM was totally dead.

The guy said the antenna is bad. I asked him if we could replace it. He said even with a new antenna, there's no guarantee it would work b/c the OEM radio has a built-in amplifier that the aftermarket radios don't have, so he couldn't guarantee that any radio would work fully.

So I gave back the whole thing, got my $175 back, wasted 4 hours and back to the original dead radio.

Does any of this make sense? Does it make sense that you can never get an aftermarket radio to work in a GM car?

Any suggestions on what I can do to fix the radio that came with the car? I think the guy at Circuit City was BSing me and just didn't feel like trying to get it to work.

Reply to
jeffg
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All radios that are put in at the factory were designed specifically for that car. IE acoustics, antenna, etc etc. Why are you so worried about AM. Get over it. This is the 21st century. Today its XM and high power heads, and multiple speakers.

Reply to
Mike

Here is an idea. Go to your local auto salvage yard (AKA bone yard), ask if they have, or can get from the national salavage yard the same radio. Ergo, plug and plan for less or the same as an after market. You can also Google auto salvage yards and put in a request for the same.

If you go this route, be VERY specific as to the type of radio you need (such as GM Mason or the standard Delco).

What you went through sounds like someone who knows nothing beyond splacing wires. Any shop that specializes the field can make the recommandation for an after market radio. Just look at all the boom cars out there, K-Mart and Wal-Mart. These discounters would not be selling for long a product that doesn't fit as billed.

In terms of AM. Hay, its still FREE. XM radio is what, $ 19.99 a month?

Anyway, good luck, don't let this get you down..

Reply to
brxsep

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