More Radio Troubles: PO hacked connections to pieces!
 

So I started to work on re-attaching the stock radio in my '84 gs. I know it's going to sound a lot worse than newer aftermarket, but the temptation to have an old-school tape deck is too great. Anyways, I started removing the terrible wiring job that the PO had done, and it is AWFUL. I finally figured out which wires go to which (I think) and hooked up the radio. It turns on, lights up when I turn on the running lights, and stuff like that. The EQ also lights up, but the tape deck doesn't. When I was done, I hooked up the wires that go to the amps and, surprise, nothing happened. I started reading up on the manual, and it looks like there is supposed to be a "Balancer" under the center console, but when I removed it, all I found was this mess:
Attachment 616770
With what looks like a short where the "Balancer" should be. When I turn on the radio, I can hear the two amps in the back click on, so I think they're working fine. Also, the speaker hook-ups look like this:
Attachment 616771
(This is the front driver's speaker) Are these the stock wires? I can't tell. Also, does this sound like a wiring problem or a missing "Balancer" problem? Thanks y'all.

Not all models had the joystick balancer. What you have just bypasses it. Not a big deal. Try the fader/balance on the radio and see if you get any sound. Also ensure the antenna wire is connected.

The factory front speakers have a short pigtail soldered to the speaker with a two prong connector. What you have will work. It's an upgrade from the single cone factory speaker.

There might be a reason the factory radio was not installed.

Thanks for the response. Yeah I hope it isn't broken, but that's definitely a possibility. I may have something wired up wrong. there are three identical wires and I may have them switched. Will update tomorrow.

the speaker has been replaced but it is on the stock wiring.

Alright so an update on what I've figured out: I think both amps are working good. I took the bins out and looked and they make a clicking noise when they get turned on. Now, assuming that I have the radio hooked up right, They should be trying to send sound to the speakers, correct? Would it be possible for me to unhook the wires at the amps and plug up a test speaker? I'm starting to think that there may be some disconnected wires somewhere. Also, The cassette player isn't lighting up or anything when I turn on my running lights. If the tape deck is fried, would that mess anything else up? Thanks for the help so far.

You can disconnect the amps, but how would you connect a speaker?

I would trace all the wiring out from the back of the radio all the way to the amps. If you havn't already done so, remove the drivers seat. The wires run down the tunnel, across the back of the drivers seat support to the bin area. Get the factory service manual. It shows each configuration (radio only, radio + eq, radio + eq + cassette + joy stick).

Moar updates on the radio from hell: I grabbed a multi-meter and tested the connections from the radio to the amp: working good. I tested the connection from the amp to the speakers: Working good. HOWEVER: I have leaned that my radio only comes on when I have the acc switch on, NOT when the car is running. So obviously I have a wire hooked up wrong or something there. So I need to figure that out. Also, I'm wondering, is it possible to take out just the tape deck? I can take it apart and mess with it then; perhaps that is the problem. The final thing that I'm wondering is if the radio itself is having an output issue? If it's not outputting sound to begin with, That might explain the mess, so I would just need a new radio. Are there more detailed radio schematics available? Because the FSM doesn't really show much detail there. Thanks for the help so far!

Your not gonna find any schematic for the radio itself in the FSM because the radios weren't made by mazda, they were outsourced by other companies. You may be able to google the make and model of the radio and come up with something.

My biggest question is why are you going through so much hassle for a 30+ year old stock radio? 90% don't work anymore due to age, and its cheaper to get an aftermarket replacement. Unless you are going for originality?

Yeah I know it doesn't make much sense to fool with such an old radio, especially when it probably doesn't work. But I bought this car because it felt like the 80's so I figured what the hell. I'm going to get the radio out tonight and mess with it some. If I can't get it working I'll have to go aftermarket.

Update again! I finally had time to sit down and mess with the tape deck, and I actually got it to work! The lights come on, It spins tapes when I put them in, and the toggle lights come on too. I can also hear the amps switch on when I insert a cassette. I's slowly running out of things to test here, and I'm beginning to think it has to be one of the following: The radio could, for some reason, not be outputting sound to the amps. OR the amps themselves, although switching on, are broken. Advice? Is anyone knowledgeable with the radio wiring? Thanks

I just looked at the schematic and there is a connection on the back of the radio that is used for the front speaker output in systems that do not have the EQ or cassette player. They call the TYPE 3 on the schematic (page 50:34 of the wiring diagram). Try connecting a speaker at this point.

When I recently installed an after market radio in my GSL-SE, I ran the speaker wires from the new head unit (20 watts) to the rear bin and then used spade connectors to connect these speaker wires to the factory wiring out the of factory amps. This way I didn't need to run new speaker wires to the 4 speakers and made it easier if I ever did want to put it back to factory.

Thanks alot, this will help when I get to try it!

Update to the radio: FINALLY got the radio working again (I fried the fuse and it took forever to find it). Now, the "Station" light comes on when I tune the radio to a station. So that's new. I've been thinking, If this thing actually works, could I test the amp output to see whats happening? Thanks all

I wouldn't necessarily say it's impossible, just a bit more challenging. The stock radios are made by Clarion, and I'm pretty sure they have records, documentation and schematics dating back to 1983. Take some pictures of it with part numbers on the labels and try contacting them. The worst that can happen is they say no.

Something else to keep in mind is that my dad purchased a single DIN radio with cassette deck in 1989 from Radio Shack (I still have the dated receipt) and it sat in a closet unopened until early 2006 when I brought it home. In the owners manual, it has a complete internal schematic. If you're dead set on having a cassette deck, it might be a good option for you as it's a regular single DIN case and puts out a modern 50 watts per speaker. And I just happen to have a 84+ Mazda install kit here that I'll never use too.

I didn't say impossible