Stereo Very Hot

Just wired a Sony CDX-CA700X stereo into my daughters car (88 subaru wagon). All systems seem go. Speakers fade and balance properly, power on with switch - etc. After just about 30 seconds the rear of the unit starts really heating up, and gets so hot, it will sizzle when you touch it with a wet finger. Obviously I am not leaving it in the car until I get this situation resolved. Any help is greatly appreciated.

One problem is that you're running a Sony (only kidding, but I don't like Sony at all).  Might want to check all your wires to make sure they're not grounding out anywhere.  That's always the first thing I check.

im not sure about the specific car your installing in but i know im my mothers car (an altima) the area in the dash where the head unit goes, gets extremely hot from the engine heat and i had to put the stock head unit back in because of the heat overheating my after market h/u.

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Quad L Handyman services

An amplifier is designed to get hot. Excessive heat, unable to touch it though is a sign of something seriously wrong, either in the wiring of the unit to the vehicle or of the build quality of the unit.

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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.

On this vehicle you have to check the speaker wiring in the harness for a common ground setup. Most of these older Subarus had a common left and a common right. If that is the case with yours you will have to run at least a pair of speaker wires to the front and use the factory wires for the rear, but I would just run all 4 just to be on the safe side. Check your speakers while your doing this to see if they are ok also. If they are factory I would definitely replace them while you are doing this.