the12volt.com spacer
the12volt.com spacer
the12volt.com spacer
the12volt.com spacer
icon

Aftermarket Keyless Entry Fuse Blows When Stereo Connected


Post ReplyPost New Topic
< Prev Topic Next Topic >
mazdaspeed1994 
Member - Posts: 9
Member spacespace
Joined: January 04, 2020
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posted: January 04, 2020 at 4:51 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote mazdaspeed1994
I have a 1993 Ford Festiva L with 5-speed manual transmission. It was originally equipped with manual door locks and the factory AM/FM radio, and I added an aftermarket keyless entry system and power door lock actuators from Amazon. Everything has worked flawlessly for about 10 months until I recently installed an aftermarket AM/FM/MP3 stereo that I received for Christmas. I was able to use all of the factory stereo wiring without cutting any plugs or splicing wires, but since then the 15A fuse at the keyless entry module blows everytime I use the key fob, but only if the stereo wiring harness is plugged into the stereo. The factory constant power wire for the stereo is white with red stripe, which is also the color of the constant power wire that I have tapped into at the steering column for the keyless entry. It almost seems like the constant power for the stereo and keyless entry are being fed through the 15A fuse on the keyless entry module harness which is drawing more than 15A and causing the fuse to blow. The factory constant power wire for the stereo, although the same color as the other wire being used at the column, is a lighter gauge wire than the one at the column. I'm not sure what to try next, but I've gone through about 20 fuses so far trying to troubleshoot this. I was considering running a separate constant power wire directly from the battery to the keyless module to remove that load from the white/red stripe wire to see if that fixed it. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions regarding this that I could try? Thanks in advance for any help.
Ween 
Platinum - Posts: 1,364
Platinum spacespace
Joined: August 01, 2004
Location: Illinois, United States
Posted: January 04, 2020 at 5:21 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote Ween
Does the aftermarket keyless entry have a parkibg light output? Does it flash the lights when locked or unlocked? The stereo should be drawing minimal power when you are using the remote fob, since the ignition switch is off. Disconnect any light flash output wires, or remove the fuse for them, if present. Then retest system.
mazdaspeed1994 
Member - Posts: 9
Member spacespace
Joined: January 04, 2020
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posted: January 04, 2020 at 5:31 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote mazdaspeed1994
Yes, the keyless entry module does flash the parking lights through a brown wire that is not fused separately. I will follow your advice and disconnect this wire and post my findings. Thanks for the help.
mazdaspeed1994 
Member - Posts: 9
Member spacespace
Joined: January 04, 2020
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posted: January 05, 2020 at 4:57 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote mazdaspeed1994
So I disconnected the brown parking lamp wire from the keyless entry module and it hasn't blown a fuse since! Even with the stereo connected and mounted in the dash the door locks continue to work properly without any problems. Thank you very much for your time and advice!
i am an idiot 
Platinum - Posts: 13,666
Platinum spaceThis member consistently provides reliable informationspace
Joined: September 21, 2006
Location: Louisiana, United States
Posted: January 05, 2020 at 6:21 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote i am an idiot
Do the parking lights work? Do your dash lights work? You connected the radio's ground wire to the illumination wire of the vehicle.
mazdaspeed1994 
Member - Posts: 9
Member spacespace
Joined: January 04, 2020
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posted: January 05, 2020 at 9:33 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote mazdaspeed1994
Yes the lights all work fine. I never had the radio ground connected to the illumination wire. All that I changed was that I disconnected the keyless entry module parking lamp flash wire from the car's parking lamp circuit. I am assuming that a problem has developed internally in the keyless module and it is drawing too much power to flash the lights now. With that wire disconnected and the load of the parking lights taken off of the circuit, everything is working fine. The stereo also works fine with no problems.
i am an idiot 
Platinum - Posts: 13,666
Platinum spaceThis member consistently provides reliable informationspace
Joined: September 21, 2006
Location: Louisiana, United States
Posted: January 06, 2020 at 8:45 AM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote i am an idiot
There is nothing wrong with your keyless entry module. Did you purchase a harness to install the radio? The illumination wire in the factory radio harness appears to be at ground, until you turn the lights on, then it has 12 volts on it.
mazdaspeed1994 
Member - Posts: 9
Member spacespace
Joined: January 04, 2020
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posted: February 18, 2020 at 12:47 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote mazdaspeed1994
I thought this problem was solved until this morning when I drove the car to work and it was still dark out. As soon as I turned the headlight switch to turn on the marker lights I heard a fuse blow. From that point on I had no marker lights or dash lights, only headlights, brakelights and turn signals. I checked the new stereo wiring diagram and there should be nothing from the aftermarket stereo wiring harness connected to the factory radio harness. I will have to pull the stereo out again and make sure that nothing is shorting the factory illumination wire to ground. I will post what I find once I'm done.
mazdaspeed1994 
Member - Posts: 9
Member spacespace
Joined: January 04, 2020
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posted: February 23, 2020 at 12:16 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote mazdaspeed1994
I will pull out the aftermarket stereo again and look, but there should be nothing connected to the factory illumination wire because this aftermarket stereo has no illumination wire. I didn't use an adapter harness for the installation because the factory dash harness was just standard size female spade connectors in a plastic plug, so I just plugged into them with insulated male spade terminals and made sure that they fit securely and couldn't short against anything. So at the moment, the keyless entry light flash is also disconnected which should mean no added load to the circuit. Perhaps there is damage to the wire somewhere along its run which is causing the fuse to blow when the lights are switched on? I will get in there and take a good look.
mazdaspeed1994 
Member - Posts: 9
Member spacespace
Joined: January 04, 2020
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posted: February 23, 2020 at 1:44 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote mazdaspeed1994
I pulled the aftermarket stereo and found that there was nothing connected to the factory illumination wire. I traced the wire back into the dash and found that it had been pulled tightly against the metal frame of the dash and had cut through the insulation on the wire. I repaired the wire, replaced the parking lights fuse and now everything works properly as it should.
Page of 2

  Printable version Printable version Post ReplyPost New Topic
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

  •  
Search the12volt.com
Follow the12volt.com Follow the12volt.com on Facebook
Friday, March 29, 2024 • Copyright © 1999-2024 the12volt.com, All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy & Use of Cookies
Disclaimer: *All information on this site ( the12volt.com ) is provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular use. Any user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and use of this information. Please verify all wire colors and diagrams before applying any information.

Secured by Sectigo
the12volt.com spacer
the12volt.com spacer
the12volt.com spacer
Support the12volt.com
Top
the12volt.com spacer
the12volt.com spacer