Help with stock radio 1997 cassette w/cd changer

[974X4BLACKSPORT]

There is a little blue headphone thing that lights up on the radio display next to the channel display, I cannot find out what is means, not in the "audio guide" that came with the owners manual or anywhere. The problem is when this little blue headphone shapes thing appears I get NO sound out of my speakers, and it happen for NO reason at all, never touched anything. I know that when headphones are plugged in the speakers are turned OFF, but I dont have any headphone plugged in anywhere so why no sound?
I have the stock cassette am/fm with 6 cd changer along with rear seat controls, I fumbled around with everything I could think of still no sound. NOW the funny thing is this happen a few months ago also, but after parking it for a while (days on end) and then using it again to go to the store, out of the blue I once again had sound, but this time I want to fix it!

 

[96eb96]

There is a little blue headphone thing that lights up on the radio display next to the channel display, I cannot find out what is means, not in the "audio guide" that came with the owners manual or anywhere. The problem is when this little blue headphone shapes thing appears I get NO sound out of my speakers, and it happen for NO reason at all, never touched anything. I know that when headphones are plugged in the speakers are turned OFF, but I dont have any headphone plugged in anywhere so why no sound?
I have the stock cassette am/fm with 6 cd changer along with rear seat controls, I fumbled around with everything I could think of still no sound. NOW the funny thing is this happen a few months ago also, but after parking it for a while (days on end) and then using it again to go to the store, out of the blue I once again had sound, but this time I want to fix it!

Only thing that comes to mind is a bad headphone jack and it is shorting out. I believe it is in the back seat console area? Maybe tap that unit, gently stick a toothpick or plastic in there.

 

[974X4BLACKSPORT]

Yea, the headphone jacks are on the rear console, however when I try my headphones I canno get sound out of either phones jack either. I am thinking that the radio is for some reason in ""mute" mode (turns off sound from speakers) but dont know how wwhen or where it happend, but the "mute" button on the rear control panel has no effect.

 

[96eb96]

Yea, the headphone jacks are on the rear console, however when I try my headphones I canno get sound out of either phones jack either. I am thinking that the radio is for some reason in ""mute" mode (turns off sound from speakers) but dont know how wwhen or where it happend, but the "mute" button on the rear control panel has no effect.

You can disconnect the rear control panel to see if that is the problem. Beyond that, there could be an issue in the head unit or the actual radio, which is behind the kickpanel on the passenger side cargo area.

 

[974X4BLACKSPORT]

Yea, I disconnected the rear control panel at the bulkhead at the ffront off the console, the little blue headphone smbol on the radio was no longer there but still no sound out of the speakers, I have a feeling that for some reason the radio is on "mute" setting but cant figure out how to turn it off.

 

[974X4BLACKSPORT]

So what I found out is the stock amplifier has not been turning on, and finally (after much wire testing) found that the stock amp remote wire from the stock head unit (blue wire for 1997) is not taking voltage to the amp to turn the amp "on". The wire has continuity from the radio plug all the way to the amp plug, but no voltage at the wire when the radio is turned "on", an hence also no amp function.
The radio works, I bypassed the amp and ran the speakers wire directly to the radio, and it had sound, but not good sound at all very weak without the amp.
So, I guess the stock HU has failed internally somewhere.
I am open to suggestions on what alternative methods can I use to get the amp to turn on when the radio is turned on, all units are completely stock factory.

 

[toypaseo]

Find a switched 12V, use resistors to reduce 12V to 5V, and use that to trigger the OEM amp