Looking for high-traffic auto, auto-repair forums for '96 Buick question

[Phait]

My cousin's stereo in his '96 Skylark was removed to install a new one but he needs some wiring diagram because once it was removed the dashboard lights went out, cruise control out, problem/red lights (engine etc.) are all on I think.

 

We've been looking all over for a decent forum or even just searching for repair manuals, Youtube but it's all been in vain so far.

[the stranger]

I would pull the stereo back out and retrace what went on and figure it out the hard way, but I found these links:

 

http://www.modifiedlife.com/1992-buick-skylark-car-stereo-wiring-diagram/

 

http://www.pdfqueen.com/96-buick-skylark-wiring-schematics

 

http://automotiveseoanalyzer.com/index.php?mode=key&key=wiring+diagram+for+1996+buick+skylark

 

related:

http://www.trustmymechanic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17187&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

[Phait]

Thanks man we're gonna give some of this a shot.

[thankyou]

Did you check the fuses? A stray lead may have touched ground - enough to pop a fuse.

[Phait]

They got the deck hooked up and it worked but now when power is on this sound comes out the left speaker and nothing else: http://www.jade-raven.com/etc/audio.mp3

 

Any idea what it could be?

[Coaster]

you knocked something loose, removed a connection you shouldnt have, or broke ground somewhere (less likely). dont get too carried away with the wiring diagram, take the stereo out and work backwards. get the car to work correctly with the stereo removed before anything else.

 

in a lot of ways it seems the car makers are moving away from one wire/chassis ground system but not in every way or on every car. my intrepid has a two wire system (at least partially) for all the external lighting - which is awesome.

 

if all the idiot lights are on all the time then you have likely lost a serious ground somewhere for every idiot system i have worked on has a fail open arrangement. there could be a different type i am unaware of but on a low end GM i dont think they do anything too fancy.

[Phait]

I dunno what he did but he got it kind of to work... sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.