My son just bought his first truck, a 96 Dodge Dakota (w/ 93,140 miles! And well taken care of) The radio powers on every time but the speakers do not always work, we’ve searched the internet and looks like the amp is going into protect mode? 1) How to check the amp or 2) should he just buy a cheap stereo and a couple speakers and just bypass the amp? If 1) or 2) please give details on “how to” because we’re intermediate level at best! Thanks in advance

 

The amp is 21 years old. Probably time to replace or bypass.

 

Does his truck have the infinity sound system?

 

Yes, Infinity sound system

 

Ah. that changes things. Each speaker has an individual amplifier, mounted on the speaker. They are powered thru the head unit. I don't know if there is a separate fuse for them, or not...... it's possible you just have a bad connection at the back of the head unit. Might try pulling it, and playin' with the wires, and see if anything interesting happens.

 

Bad solder joints inside head unit most likely, common issue with that type of radio, easy thing would to just pull that system and upgrade, get a Metra adapter, a stereo without cd but with an aux input and some new speakers. That way he has a new system for around 100 bucks.

 

gertie240, we put in the exact stereo by Boss you recommended and 2 front speakers by Pioneer w/ the metra adapt for dbl din to single din. Same problem? radio always powers on but the speakers work intermittently. If they don't work I unplug the plug for the speakers at the back of the radio and plug it back in and something clicks and the speakers start working. We turn the pickup off then back on and the speaker do the same thing by not working?? We did not have the Acc 12v wire(red) hooked to the Green/Red wire to power the amp so we tried that and the speakers started working BUT when we shut the pickup off then back on again...same problem?

 

Problem solved! Just ran new wires to both speakers(thx jkeaton), so everything is new for like $100 bucks but a few less hairs on the ol noggin!!! lol, thx all!