One of the biggest problems with diagnosing electronics, including virtually any electronic device in your car, is that most problems are intermittent. Intermittent problems can be impossible to diagnose.

The unfortunate fact is that if your car stereo suddenly stops working, you could be left with an expensive repair bill or having to replace the unit altogether. The silver lining in this particular cloud is that you are dealing with a problem that you can get to the root of and fix if you approach it methodically. Most radio problems involve radios that won’t turn on, but you can also fix a radio that won’t turn off.

While it is possible for a car stereo to fail completely, there are many internal and external problems that can be fixed, short of a total replacement. Some of the most common problems include a blown fuse, bad or damaged wiring, and anti-theft modes that often activate when the battery is dead.

To determine the reason why your car stereo won't turn on, you'll need to tackle the possible issues below one by one.