I have a stock 2004 6-disc in dash stereo ('04 WRX Imprezza). I'm on a long road trip over Memorial Day weekend and decide to swap out one of the CDs. I hit eject and the CD comes out. I go to insert the new CD only the entire stereo is off. The power button doesn't turn it back on. I've already swapped out the fuses, and even the ones around it. It doesn't seem to be a fuse issue. Does anyone have any ideas? I figure I'll follow the guide for swapping to red blubs and try to locate the problem. Any other ideas?

Haven't come across this on the WRX yet, but in the Civic this happened whenever the battery was disconnected. Its the antitheft technology, and to turn it back on you have to enter a numeric code using the preset buttons. Should be in your manual if this is the case. If you've pulled the fuse then there's a good chance you've triggered any stereo antitheft that is in place. I'd call the local dealership and ask if its not obvious in your owner's manual. Good luck and please share the cause once you determine it.

Subarus do not use the coded anti theft technology in their radios.

Try pressing the CD button before installing another disc. I believe you have to press a number, install a disc, press a number install another disc, etc. It might be telling you that you already have a disc in that number. (I never play with these things...that's the techs job...)

is the radio getting power? have you tried using a test light?

I fixed it last night but I'm not exactly sure what I did. I have a pretty good idea though. I originally swapped out the radio fuse and the surrounding fuses in the fuse box behind the steering wheel. Last night I repeated this step but this time I swapped every fuse in the fuse box. Then I replaced the clock fuse in the fuse box under the hood. Somehow that did the trick. I checked everything else and nothing appears to be amiss. Thanks for all of the speedy responses. This was my first real do-it-myself fix-it. I may be hooked!