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Need help with an Alpine stereo

Thank You all for your input, assistance, and conversation. I got it out now so I can get on with adding a few wires to the harness and powering my antenna which hopefully when all done the radio will properly control.

Your a Great bunch of Guys....for sticking with this old carpenter and armature shade tree machanic to the end.

PS: your right I'm kick'n myself, I was sure those pins were to go rearward in those slots......

That's some pretty fancy stuff you got there looks good.
 
The Rest of the story - finis

The Rest of the story - finis

OK so you all helped me and here are the results.....
Yesterday I started the installation of the harness I made up from the dash components to the trunk. At first I was optimistic about getting to Connector #246 (an in line behind the dash by the glove box), but after removing the pocket below the radio, the radio, the glove box and the glove box top cover I came to realize there is no way to reach it. this is where the blue/red wire is missing from the connector. Ok new plan..... hook up the other wires while you figure out the new plan....

Removed the panel below the steering column disconnected the battery, then after waiting 10 min or so, removed all the connectors from the fuse box, removed the fuse box, then removed the fuse box bracket. On top of this bracket are several other connectors I needed access to the blue one C-289 mostly as I had to add three pins to each side (M & F) first thing I find is that even though the pins look similar the ones from the 98 and the 95 I have are different so I can't just insert them. New Plan #2 take pins from spare wires I have, splice them on to the wires, and insert them. OK that works.. I have to connect the blue / white wire from that C-246 I can't get to, to C-289 pin #5, which I just inserted. Can't get to the splice which is in a raceway behind the dash so I find the blue wire (C-285 fuse panel) that provides power to it and solder a splice in to it where it is convenient to get to.

Purple / blue pin #4 goes to purple / yellow (C-283 fuse panel) I replace this wire in the connector with a section that had the splice I needed in it and solder splice it into the place where I cut it out.

Pin #6 that darn blue / red from that connector I can't get to,.... insert the pin and I'll get to the other end later.

Connector #298 into fuse panel bottom, find the orange / blue pin #5 and remove it insert new pin with 2 wires in it and solder splice it where I cut it.

Put all that mess back together only the loose end of the blue / red wire to deal with. I route it over to the hole for the radio making sure it isn't getting pinched or in a place it can get cut ahhhh got it. What the heck I crimp it to the wire in the radio harness marked Power Antenna (blue).

Now I hook up the power, connect the radio and check for proper operation before running the wires the rest of the way to the trunk. Turn on the key the antenna goes up and motor keeps running. I turn the key off, antenna goes down. Check power at the connector. power is everywhere it should be when it should be, but at that darn blue / red wire. Check continuity and it is good from the radio plug to the other end the antenna module connector #413. Plug in the radio and nothing coming from it. Put it all back together glad I didn't remove the other antenna yet, go have an adult beverage go to bed..... I'll try the amp power lead maybe this Alpine CDA7838 doesn't control a power antenna. I did find out this is a 1999 model head unit, and if it doesn't have power out at the amp lead I'm getting rid of it......

Such a deal........ what the heck an interesting adventure and preportory for the up coming fog light adventure......
 
Hey Aussie....Does that antenna make a horrible grinding/clicking noise when it reaches the top of its extention point? If so, you may be the victim of a broken antenna. When these antennas are operating normally, it will reach it's extention maximum and back down an inch or so. You might try letting the antenna go all the way up and sit there for a minute making that irritating noise. Mine does this but after a few seconds it stops and will stay put in it's appropriate position. You will still get hours of satisfying musical dischord. You only have to be able to get past the first few seconds of annoying noise until you can fix the antenna. The masts on our antennas are notorious for breaking. Not sure if this is what you are experiencing, but its worth archiving this into the boards for future searches I figured.

[whip/noises] Back from the dead, thread...back from the dead.[whip/off]
 
"you may be the victim of a broken antenna"
You hit the nail on the head there.... I opened it up and sure enough the nylon drive belt for the antenna is broken off about 6" from the end. Anyone know where the best place is to get a new mast?
 
You can get them off of e-bay for around 15-20 bones. But personally, I would just grab one off a salvage car. Surely they would let you return it if it didn't work out for you. You may even be able to open it up and inspect it before you buy. These would be the cheapest ways to go...
 
I have checked about 35 cars in the wrecking yards around here, Portland, Orygun. Most had the fixed type, and of the few that had the power option most were bent, broken, or gone. The car this one came out of looked well maintained before the accident, so I thought “this one is probably a good one”…… That’s what I get for listening to myself 
I had to pay a whopping $3 for it and seems like I got my moneys worth…. The best part is I also got the wiring and connectors along with it. Now that the other stuff is installed, and I know that it works, guess I could look at this as a maintenance item. I saw where auto zone has some for about $20, that’s right around the ebay cost when you include the shipping, so I’ll have to check around and see what I can find locally, and I just may need to take another walk through the yards. One never knows what might have just come in…
Thanks for the suggestion….
 
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