1998 Eclipse (the low-end non-turbo one, I dunno the letters), manual 5 speed, minor mods like upgraded air intake, etc, nothing major.

I got in today, cranked it, popped in my fav CD, put it in gear, and the stereo just DIED. Dead, ka-put, nothing. No flicker, no warning, nothing. Just one second on, the next DEAD. What do I check, in order of likeliness? It's an aftermarket kenwood stereo with a built in CD player. It's wired for an amp/sub, but the wires are just disconnected and in the trunk not connected to anything. I checked, and they were NOT touching each other or any metal. I'm hoping it's a fuse? But the fuse box does not tell me which fuse is for the stereo. Ideas? Do I just pull every fuse and check them ALL? Certainly the stereo didn't just DIE? Right?! It's still got my fav CD in it! Ek! Help!? Everything around it works fine, interior lights come on, lighter light is on, just the stereo is completely dead. I can get the model off the stereo if you need that info.

Please tell me what to do, and how, in the order of the most likely problem. I can't afford to take it to a shop right now, and I can't can't can't live without my stereo!

Make sure the stereo ground is still attatched. And look at the fuse on the back of the stereo, that may be blown as well.

if it did happen to fry itself you can still get the CD out. find the RESET button and make sure the power is on. press the reset button and hold it for a couple seconds. the cd should eject

X2

OK... humm... must find the manual. Would not have the first clue where the ground wire is nor how to pull the stereo out to see the back of it, LOL! Should I disconnect the battery from the car before I try pulling the stereo out or anything like that? Me thinks this might be a good opportunity to disconnect all the extra wires and cables from the car/stereo that used to run to the amp/subs. And, yes, I bought the car this way, it was not of my own doing. (I only paid $2800, I expected minor issues)

the ground will be the only solid black wire. the power can be either red or yellow. it depends on the harness that was used. yes you can slide the stereo out without unhooking the battery.

Do I assume that since it was on when it died that it is still ON? I mean, I have no way of telling if it's on when it wont do anything. Usually you turn it on/off by holding a button down for 5 seconds, and then it lights up (for ON), or lights go off (for OFF). There is no "switch" that has an on/off "position".

turn your key to the "on" position. the unit should be getting power at this point.

FIXED! Thanks guys! Now if I get stuck again, I know where to come for help! Yay!

The stereo works now?

Yep. Just hitting the reset button to get my CD out made it work again. Yay! The only downfall, it also erased my preset equalizer setting, but, whatever! I can re-do that easy enough.