Problems with Stereo Installation

Hey there!

I'm a novice(installed a few of these over the years- but far from a pro so bear with!)


I've been requisitioned by my girlfriend to install a simple Aftermarket Aiwa stereo into her 91 Toyota Tercel. She bought the car used and the OE Stereo was crappy(the LCD was too dim to read, it wouldn't hold any presets, ate tapes, -blech)

I took the dash apart and the old unit out and realized that whoever she bought the car from had hacked the wires and then put the OE unit back in to sell it.. Loads of fun for me it seems.

I got the wiring diagram from installdr.com and set about looking at the wires only to realize the dash wires didn't fully match the diagram colors. So it's try my luck time- using the diagram as a sort of guide I hoped.

found the power and the ground but the backup/battery power wire wouldn't work or hold presets when the car shut off. So I ran a new wire directly to the fuse box and that seemed to do the trick when I first tested it. Hooked up all the speakers/antenna, put the dash back together and took it for a drive..

Here's the fun part:
Got power but once again, wouldn't hold presets. Checked fuse connection 3-4 times and still nothing. Also the speakers(all of them) crack up really badly the louder the volume gets. Not crack up like they are blown- but crack up like the wire is not connected well(except it's ALL the speakers) Grrrrr. And to top it all off- the dome light, and the dash clock won't come on now either.

I ran out of daylight and she is on my case about fixing it for her..

Any suggestions? Should I just hardwire everything? All the speakers? and run the backup power directly to the battery? If so what's the best way to do that? Should I put a fuse on that line? Do I just wrap it around the battery post?

What's going on!?
Thanks
ripthesystem