No sound rear speakers

I just installed a new stereo in a 1982 Monte Carlo. I get sound out of the front but not the rear. The system is connected with a universal harness. If I just have the front speaker harness attached i get sound out the front. when I attach the car harness of the rear speakers then I get no sound from neither the front or the back speakers. I think it's in the wiring setup for the rear speakers. It is set up as follows: Both positive wires run from the car harness to the rear speakers. the negative wires are spliced together into 1 wire. This wire was hooked up to the rear of the previous stereo. I have tried various combinations of wiring of the harnesses but I can't get the rear speakers to work. I hope my expaination makes sense and Thanks for any help that can be given Harveyharvey

Just take the positives and negatives from the harness and hook them to the positives and negatives on the speakers.

Check the speakers to make sure they actually work before getting a headache over this

Speakers work- they work when I reinstall the old radio. Any ideas why the front speakers quit working when I plug in the rear speaker car harness the the stereo harness? harvey

New speaker wire is my last resort..I am trying to do as little work possible!!! Thanks for your input

It sound like you will have to run new speaker wire, which is better since factory speaker wire isn't good anyway.

I have new speaker wire installed and it works. Thanks to all for their input and help!!!!! harvey