97 Ford Escort head unit

I am having big trouble installing my new head unit in this car. The red security light on the head unit comes on but the unit itself doesn't power. Thats not the biggest problem, I had to take off the climate controls to install the radio, now none of  these work. This is a big problem as it 15 deg outside today in the Northeast. Please help.

Did you use a wiring harness or did you just chop the old one? These are the wires for the stero harness. It sounds like you dont have constant and switched ingnition hooked up. 1997 Ford Escort Stereo Information

-------------
2009 0-1000 Trunk WR 154.0DB 2009 1001+ Trunk WR
2007 USACI World Champion
2007 World Record
2006 USACI Finals 2nd Place

link didnt post, here are the colors.

Constant 12V+ Blue/Red
Switched 12V+ Blue/Black
Ground Black
Illumination RED / Black
Dimmer n/a
Antenna Trigger n/a
Antenna Driver's Pillar
Front Speakers 5 1/4" Doors
Left Front (+) Purple
Left Front (-) Blue/Orange
Right Front (+) Blue/White
Right Front (-) White
Rear Speakers 6" x 8" Rear Deck
Left Rear (+) WHITE/ Blue
Left Rear (-) RED / Blue
Right Rear (+) WHITE/ Green
Right Rear (-) Blue


-------------
2009 0-1000 Trunk WR 154.0DB 2009 1001+ Trunk WR
2007 USACI World Champion
2007 World Record
2006 USACI Finals 2nd Place

I used a wiring harness for the radio that came with my Metra kit. The voltage is was showing good power on switched power. Why would the climate controls be affected? Thanks for your help.

Did you check all the functions? I know the Escort I did a few years ago, I thought the A/C was broken, because the A/C light didn't come on, but it was fine. I didn't turn the fan, and once I did, it powered fine.

And the connectors can only fit into one input, right? If not, you could have put one connector into the wrong socket.

Lastly, it may be a fuse, though I am not sure why, but it is still something to check.

BTW, 15'F is not bad, upstate NY had -7'F yesterday.

DXAV

I checked all the functions. The connectors only fit in one way  and have off center notch to verify. I already swapped out two fuses. My Rear defroster and climate control illumnation do work. Thanks

Any idea what fuses to check? The fusebox descrptions are almost cryptic.

Would it be a good idea to get rid of the harness and go directly to car? Could harness be bad?

Constant power, and by extension ground must be good because security light comes on the radio.

try putting a fuse on the 12volt and switched power, and hook it directly on the battery to see if the unit might be the problem

-------------
2009 0-1000 Trunk WR 154.0DB 2009 1001+ Trunk WR
2007 USACI World Champion
2007 World Record
2006 USACI Finals 2nd Place

I am not sure what you mean by that. Please explain.

honestly man...i have been dealing with metra for a long time...and i do work on those escorts and taurus's that you have to replace the dash in, and have ran into the same problem a few times.......make sure you check all your power conections and that the fuses aren't blown.....and if everything is cool, than the kit is bad....i have ran into that probelm before...so it wouldnt be suprising

take the radio.    put a 15 amp fuse in line with the 12+ and switched + wires and run that and your ground right on the battery.      make sure none of your speaker wires are touching metal or anything like that,   this is just a way to see if it is the unit that is bad.     really you need to pull and check each fuse and test it with a ditigal multimeter,     check the fuses in the dash and under the hood

-------------
2009 0-1000 Trunk WR 154.0DB 2009 1001+ Trunk WR
2007 USACI World Champion
2007 World Record
2006 USACI Finals 2nd Place

as far as the heater controls go, there is a cable connected to the right of the gas pedel. if you don't disconnect this prior to removing the fact. radio, you will pull it off and damage it. check that connection and see if the cable is on.