i have a 2001 sebring limited, the 3 eq buttons blink. i tried to replace the stereo with an aftermarket, but i cant figure out which wire turns the amp on. please help

 

Pin number 1 on the black connector sends the on-off signal to the amplifier. There are 7 pins on that connector, Pin #1 is on the end away from the end with the little wing.

Sometimes the blinking lights can be cured by completely cutting all power to the radio, allowing it to reset its little brain. You've done that by pulling it out. An easier way is to pop the IOD fuse. It's the one that has "ears" on it in the fuse panel at the left end of the instrument panel. You can easily pop it out without tools.
If that doesn't work, then the radio is probably fried.
Used ones are available fairly reasonably on eBay and other places.

 

after putting in afterket radio, and getting no sound. at this point im thinking its the amplifier. also at this point im looking at getting an amp and 4 speakers installed. this is totally bs! thanks for all your help!

 

The amplifier is controlled by the radio, so it's unlikely that your aftermarket radio properly controls the amplifier. The system is designed to work together and introducing a non-conforming major component shouldn't produce surprises whenit doesn't work.
You might want to go back to the source of the aftermarket radio to see if they have any suggestions. That signal that turns the amp on and off is the same signal that sends the antenna up and down (if you have a power antenna) so if your aftermarket radio has a function for a power antenna, you might tap into that and see if itwill start the amplifier.