The radio is playing games with me. w124 300ce

[ross-_-]

I would like some opinions / ideas.
Car is 1990 300ce. The stereo is an after market one.
Today I thought I would see to why the rear speakers were not working. I did start with checking to make sure there wasn't the option to balance all the sound to the front (the two front ones work only, very tinny).
So I remove the radio unit. There are some electric tape connection which were of questionable reliability, I replaced them with 'screw the wires in' type of connectors I had to hand. One of the rear speakers now worked.
Sounded good compared to having just the two front one!
I was on a roll now. It must be simple just to fix the other one as well. The audible delights that I was going to gain! Radio two!! I could hear radio devon already!! It was too good to be true.
I tested the wire by removing one of the front ones and connecting it to the rear and it worked.
I tested the speaker by removing it and testing it against an audio out type thing from my computer, it played the theme tune to csi just fine. (whoooooo are you, woo hoo, ooh who, you know the one)
So I knew they both worked. I re fit the speaker, attach the wires.
Not one single speaker works now. Nothing.
Checked the small fuse on the back of the unit, its okay.
Checked the main fuse (number 9?) that ones fine as well. And in good condition thankfully. Where do you even get that type?
Any way. Now I have nothing as I pushed my luck and though I was cleaver enough to fix both.
What are my options?
What caused this?
Ideas?
What will I do now without radio 2?
Ross.

 

[smithy]

is the radio out of the dash if so it may not be earthed

 

[GP801]

Does the head unit power up? The fuses can look ok even when they are not. They corrode over time. Try a different fuse first. If you need new ones they are easily available from Halfords amongst others. They cost so little its a good idea to replace them all to prevent future problems.

 

[jaymanek]

this happened to me once and it ended up being two speaker wires touching and shorting out... If this happens most units shut down all speaker output.

 

[ross-_-]

Yes it powers up and displays radio station names when you search for them.

Okay tomorrow to check.
Earthed?
Are wires touching? (put tape around all connections to rule that out I suppose?)
Replace the fuse to make sure.
jaymanek, was it behind the radio unit that they were touching or was it at one of the speakers in your case?
I will get back to you tomorrow when I have tries thanks for the input!

 

[OneCarefulOwner]

When you replaced the speaker, you definitely reconnected it the correct way round?