With the help of this site and this thread, I just installed a new JVC HDR1 receiver and bypassed the fader. Total time was about 2 hours at a leisurely pace.

A few comments: The AA battery trick to test speaker wires was very helpful and worked great. Thanks!

I cut the speaker wires at the fader switch and pulled them back up to the radio area. 4 of these wires are the ones going to the four speakers. Polarity was obvious by wire color.

The radio went right in with no trouble at all.

BTW: This is my first post and my first upgrade on my new 1984 300SD bought in Austin, TX last week. Great car... I think we are going to get along well once I get the AC working.

Thomas
Houston, TX

84' 300SD 224,880+ miles